Page 627 - The ROV Manual - A User Guide for Remotely Operated Vehicles 2nd edition
P. 627
When something goes wrong, the first step is to determine whether the trouble results from a failure, a loose connection, or human error. Once it is confirmed that the failure has occurred (i.e., the operator lays the blame squarely on the ROV), the next step is to determine which portion of the ROV system is not operating—mechanical or electrical.
Then, step by step, partition each section into stages and track the trouble to a single compo- nent. For example, if one function is not working, the problem could be in the switch itself, the connector/connecting wires, or the electronic circuitry of the controller. For these procedures to be effective, a basic understanding of the operation and design of an observation-class ROV system is necessary.
22.2.3 Tools and spares for fieldwork
In the field, anything can happen. A good work routine with some simple spares will help solve or eliminate most field problems.
As a general rule, a clean workplace is a safe and productive workplace. If there are items unse- cured, someone will naturally trip on them. If an electrical connection is frayed, it will short out and bring down the entire system (requiring extensive troubleshooting and/or trips to the hospital).
The following is a general field tools and spares listing that will assist any OCROV pilot/ technician in outfitting a field pack for servicing ROV equipment (MSROV and WCROV systems require a much more robust system-specific inventory):
• A good Swiss Armytype knife or one of the newer multitools
• A good folding pocket/diving knife (although many industrial settings have gone to a “no knife”
policy, for obvious reasons, in favor of high-quality scissors)
• A roll of electrical tape (black vinyl type) as well as a roll of high-quality duct tape
• Plenty and varying lengths of cable ties
• Video cable adapters:
BNC to RCA
RCA to BNC
BNC Tee
Spare adapters for as many types of connectors as anticipated
Spare video cables
• A
• A
pocket magnetic compass (for calibrating vehicle compass)
pocket magnifying glass (for the gray-haired technicians losing their eyesight)
The following electronic accessories are also recommended for the field toolkit:
• A 50 ft, 12/3 extension cord
• A minimum of one high-quality power bar (with surge protection)
• At least one A/V three-way amplifier (common Radio Shack part #15-1103)
• A four-way A/V selector (common Radio Shack #15-8250)
• An amplified audio/video selector (common Radio Shack #15-1951)
• A video RF modulator (common Radio Shack #15-1283A—for those times when the TV
monitor doesn’t have RCA-type video inputs)
• A video isolation transformer, an example of which is North Hills, FSCM 98821, Wideband
Transformer, Video Isolation, Model 1117C, 10 Hz5 MHz
22.2 Servicing and troubleshooting 627
