LB Altimeters ARES II Bertrand Adrenaline User Manual
- June 9, 2024
- LB ALTIMETERS
Table of Contents
ARES II Bertrand Adrenaline
User Manual
ARES II Bertrand Adrenaline
ARES II is a trademark of LB Altimeters, Denmark
LB Altimeters operates a policy of continuous development
Therefore, we reserve the right to make changes and improvements to any of the
products described in this guide without prior notice
WARNING
The ARES II, even when used as your primary means of maintaining altitude
awareness, may fail. Always use your eyes to determine your approximate
altitude.
Altimeters may give erroneous readings if you are tumbling or the altimeter is
in a burble (wake). Chest mount altimeters are more vulnerable to this problem
compared to hand/wrist mounted altimeters. If you are in doubt about how this
limitation affects your skydiving, consult a licensed instructor
DO NOT use this equipment unless you are currently participating in, or have
successfully passed, an approved parachuting or free fall course
Please read ALL instructions carefully prior to use
The ARES II must be switched ON prior to entering the airplane
INTRODUCTION
The ARES II is the most high-end, accurate, and reliable visual digital altimeter to be developed by LB Altimeters to date. The ARES II software includes second-to-none error correction to ensure correct live altitude readings in any application
Features
– Large high contrast, non-flicker, LCD display
– Electroluminescent backlight for night jumping
– Waterproof and shock resistant aluminum casing with hardened glass
– Quick buttons for access to primary functions
– Jump profile playback
– Basic logbook and daily jump counter
Functions
– Calibration to the local elevation
– User selection of feet / meter and mph / kmh
– Stores up to 10 min of data from last jump
– Log book stores up to 200 jumps including:
o Date / time
o Exit / opening altitudes
o Free fall time
o Max / average speed
DESCRIPTION
- Altitude Offset / Up
- Main
- Back light / Down
- Display
- Battery cover
- Reset button
DISPLAY
Startup
When turning ON ARES, the unit will display the following during the startup
self-test
Main window
The main window is the default window after the unit is turned ON, and starting point for any further actions
- Time/date indicator
- Time/date display
- Altitude display (flashing when negative)
- Battery indicator
- Backlight indicator
- Feet / meter indicator
Altitude window
Shortly after take-off, the main window will automatically display altitude
readings The displayed altitude increments (feet / meter) depend on the
current altitude
Logbook and Jump Info / Settings
Display examples, after performing ACCESS, are shown in the separate sections
Jump Profile
The jump profile window is used when playing back the last jump
- Time display
- Altitude display / Speed display
- Feet/meter indicator
Battery Indicator
The battery indicator shows the current battery status
Full capacity: Two black bars are shown inside the battery symbol
Half capacity: One black bar is shown inside the battery symbol
Low capacity: The battery symbol is empty. The batteries must be replaced as
soon as possible
Empty: The battery symbol is flashing. Do not continue jumping. Replace
batteries immediately
Warning: Do not perform night jumps, or jumps in sub-zero temperatures
(Celsius) when the battery symbol shows low capacity
MENU OVERVIEW
The ARES II menu system consists of 3 separate areas, which include the following (use road map for reference)
Quick Buttons
| Logbook and Jump Info|
Settings
---|---|---
Turn ON unit
Altitude Offset
Daily Jump Counter
Backlight
|
Daily Jump Counter
Total Jumps
Exit Altitude
Opening Altitude
Freefall Time
Average Freefall Speed
Maximum Freefall Speed
Altitude Profile – Last Jump
Speed Profile – Last Jump
|
Year
Date
Time
Jump Counter
Units – Altitude
Units – Speed
Dive Type
Delete Last Jump
Delete Logbook
Turn OFF
PERFORMING ACCESS
In order to access each of the individual areas, the following steps must be performed from the main window (Use road map for reference)
Quick Buttons
Press and hold the designated button for 5 seconds
Logbook and Jump Info
Settings
QUICK BUTTONS
Quick Buttons are accessible from the Main Window and do not require ACCESS
Turn ON unit
Turn ON ARES II on the ground before use. The unit runs a self-test and
calibrates to the current ground level
The ARES II will stay turned ON for 14 hours after the last jump or after last
ACCESS performed
With the unit OFF, press and hold any button for 5 seconds
If ARES II is turned on during flight, the present altitude must be adjusted
manually.
Altitude Offset
Use Altitude Offset to adjust for altitude difference between landing zone and
take-off elevation
To ensure proper ground reference on landing zone:
Select a positive offset, if take-off elevation is HIGHER than the landing
zone
Select a negative offset, if take-off elevation is LOWER than the landing zone
Press and hold for 5 seconds
Press to increase altitude
Press to reduce altitude
Press to confirm Altitude Offset setting
The Altitude Offset will now be displayed in the main window (flashing when
negative)
Altitude Offset must be confirmed within 15 seconds following an altitude
change
Altitude Offset is cancelled if no button is pressed within 15 seconds
Note: If using Altitude Offset during flight either use the aircraft
altimeter for reference
Daily Jump Counter
Display daily jump counter for individual dates
Press and hold for 5 seconds
Press to select later date(s)
Press to select earlier date(s)
(Press to exit Daily Counter)
Daily Jump Counter will exit if no button is pressed within 15 seconds after ACCESS
Backlight
ndicates if backlight is ON or OFF
Enable/disable backlight:
Press and hold for 5 seconds
Backlight will turn OFF automatically after 30 seconds, if ARES II is not
in Flight Mode
Backlight will remain ON while ARES II is in Flight Mode
LOGBOOK AND JUMP INFO
Logbook and Jump Info contain detailed information regarding previous jumps
Perform ACCESS to enter the first entry of Logbook and Jump info
Press to scroll through all the entries
ARES II exits Logbook and Jump info if no button is pressed within 15 seconds
Daily Jump Counter
Displays daily jump counter for individual dates
Press to select later date(s)
Press to select earlier date(s)
Press to continue
Total Jumps
Displays total number of jumps
Select jump number to display more information
Press to select next jump
Press to select previous jump Date and time for the selected jump is shown at
the top of the screen
Press to continue
Exit Altitude
Displays exit altitude for selected jump
Press to select next jump
Press to select previous jump
Selected jump number is shown at the top of the screen
Press to continue
Opening Altitude
Displays opening altitude for selected jump
Press to select next jump
Press to select previous jump Selected jump number is shown at the top of the
screen
Press to continue
Freefall Time
Displays freefall time registered for selected jump
Press to select next jump
Press to select previous jump Selected jump number is shown at the top of the
screen
Press to continue
Average Freefall Speed
Displays average speed for selected jump
Press to select next jump
Press to select previous jump Selected jump number is shown at the top of the
screen
Press to continue
Maximum Freefall Speed
Displays maximum speed for selected jump
Press to select next jump
Press to select previous jump
Selected jump number is shown at the top of the screen
Press to continue
Altitude Profile – Last Jump
Displays the altitude profile, at a given time, for the last jump
Press to scroll forward in time (seconds)
Press to scroll backwards in time (seconds)
Holding down either / will fast scroll
Time is shown at the top of the screen
Press to continue
Speed Profile – Last Jump
Displays the speed profile, at a given time, for last jump performed
Press to scroll forward in time (seconds)
Press to scroll backwards in time (seconds)
Holding down either / will fast scroll
Time is shown at the top of the screen
Press to continue
Note: Freefall time must be minimum 6 seconds to store a speed profile
Exit Logbook and Jump Info
is flashing
Allows manual exit from menu
Press or to exit from menu
Press to start from the beginning
SETTINGS
Settings are used to customize the ARES II
Perform ACCESS to enter the first entry of Settings
Press to scroll through all settings
ARES II will exit Settings if no button is pressed within 15 seconds
Year
Sets current year
Press to select next year
Press to select previous year
Year is displayed at the top of the screen
Press to continue
Date
Sets current date
Press to select next date
Press to select previous date
To change month:
Scroll DAY until reaching 31 or 1, then ARES II will scroll MONTH up/down
Press to continue
Time
Sets current time in 24-hour format
Press to add minutes/hours
Press to subtract minutes/hours
Holding down either / will fast scroll time
Press to continue
Jump Counter
Sets the current total number of jumps
Press to add jumps
Press to subtract jumps
Holding down either / will fast scroll Press to continue
Units – Altitude
Sets altitude display in either feet or meters
Press or to switch units
Press to continue
Units – Speed
Sets altitude display in either miles/hour or kilometers/hour Press or to
switch units
Press to continue
Dive type
Sets the current dive type used for logging data:
0: Standard
1: Slow The exit and deployment parameters are designed to fit very slow fall
rates, such as wingsuiting Freefall detection is very sensitive, and may
register jumps if the airplane descends
2: Student The descent rate parameters are changed to fit very short free
falls (2 seconds)
Press or to switch between Dive Types
Press to continue
Delete Last Jump
Deletes the last jump in the logbook
To avoid unintentional deletions, the counter at the top of the screen must be
set to ‘5’
Press and to match counter to ‘5’ Press to accept deletion of last jump
WARNING:
If the counter is set at ‘5’, cannot be used to scroll through settings and
will delete last jump. Once deleted, the jump data is lost
Press to continue
Delete Log Book
Deletes the entire logbook
To avoid unintentional deletions, the counter at the top of the screen must be
set to ‘19’
Press and to match counter to ‘19’
Press to accept deletion of entire logbook
WARNING:
If the counter is set at ‘19’, cannot be used to scroll through settings and
will delete the entire logbook. Once deleted, the logbook data is lost
Press to continue
Turn OFF
Turns ARES II OFF
To avoid unintentionally turning the ARES II OFF, the counter at the top
of the screen must be set to ‘5’
Press and to match counter to ‘5’
Press to accept turning ARES II OFF Warning:
If the counter is set at ‘5’, cannot be used to scroll through settings and
will turn ARES II OFF
Press to continue
Exit Settings
is flashing
Allows manual exit from menu Press or to exit from menu
Press to start from the beginning
FUNCTIONALITY
Automatic Calibration / Flight Mode
After the ARES II is turned ON, it will continue to automatically calibrate
itself to the field elevation where it is currently located. This will
continue after each jump /landing, to ensure the unit is always zeroed before
jumps are made and will take into account weather related pressure changes
After take-off, the ARES II will enter Flight Mode.
Altitude Offset
When performing Altitude Offset, the ARES II enters Flight Mode and will
retain any offset for 14 hours if no jump is made.
After 14 hours the unit calibrates itself to the field elevation where it is
located.
To exit Flight Mode, turn the unit OFF, then ON.
Manual Zeroing
If the unit does not display the correct altitude when arriving at the drop
zone, it must be manually zeroed
Turning the unit OFF, then ON, will clear any Altitude Offset and re-enter
automatic calibration
Automatic OFF
The ARES II automatically switches OFF if no jump has been made within
14 hours, no button has been pressed within 14 hours, or the unit has not been
in Flight Mode within 14 hours
MAINTENANCE
Reset ARES II
A reset may be necessary for troubleshooting and firmware verification
Locate the small hole on the side of the battery cover Insert a paper clip or
similar into hole, press and release Battery system calibrates
The firmware version will be displayed after reset
Battery Change
Only use Renata CR-2325 batteries (2 ea.)
Battery cover screw specs: M3/T6 head (4.5mm length)
Remove the screws and battery cover
Remove both batteries and note the polarity
Install 2 new batteries
Install battery cover, and ensure rubber seal is in correct placement
Place and tighten screws, using a torque screwdriver set at 0.3 Nm
Reset ARES II after battery replacement
All settings and logbook is kept in a non-volatile memory and will not be
lost, however time may need to be set again after battery change
WARNING: The battery cover and seal must be installed correctly, using
correct screws and torque, before any water jumps are made
**WARNING**
KEEP BATTERIES OUT OF REACH OF CHILDREN Swallowing can lead to chemical burns,
perforation of soft tissue, and death. Severe burns can occur within 2 hours
of ingestion. Seek medical attention immediately.
Air Filter Change
The ARES II is waterproof to a depth of 3 feet, for 2 hours
If the ARES II is submerged into water, allow the unit and air filter to
dry in a warm place for 48 hours
The air filter must be replaced if jumping is to be resumed immediately, or if
the air filter is suspected to be contaminated
Remove the screws and battery cover
Install new battery cover and ensure rubber seal is in correct placement
Place and tighten screws using a torque screwdriver set at 0.3 Nm
Reset ARES II after battery cover replacement
Air filter, and filter removal tool, are accessories that can be purchased
separately
Trouble Shooting
If the ARES II detects an issue, an error symbol is shown (ERR) with a number
at the top of the screen
Error codes:
1: Transducer defective
2: Transducer out of range
3: Transducer Time Out too long
4: Crystal defective
5: Communications error to flash
100: Flash defective
Always restart ARES II to attempt to remedy a single ERR code
If the ERR code persists, then also perform battery change
After unsuccessful restart of the ARES II, a Factory Reset is necessary:
Press and hold during reset, to perform Factory Reset
WARNING: All logbook data will be lost with Factory Reset
If the ARES II is still faulty after Factory Reset, it must be serviced by
an LB Altimeters Service Center
SPECIFICATIONS
Mechanical:
| Casing: | Rugged and precision machined aircraft aluminum |
|---|---|
| Screen glass: | 2mm thickness – Hardened glass lens |
| Dimensions: | 64mm x 44mm x 15mm |
| Weight: | 68g |
| LCD viewing area: | 34mm x 29.5mm |
| Backlight intensity steps: | 1 – fixed |
Altitude Adjustment:
| Altitude in feet /meter offset: | Yes |
|---|---|
| Altitude feet /meter offset range: | -19900 ft. to +19900 ft. (-6000 m to +6000 |
m)
Present altitude steps:| +/- 10 ft. (5 meters)
Tolerances:
| Altitude display: | +/- 1% |
|---|---|
| Exit altitude: | +/- 1.2% |
| Deployment altitude: | +/- 1.2% |
| Freefall time: | +/- 1 sec |
| Speed: | +/- 3 mph (+/- 5 km/h) |
Logbook:
| Minimum freefall time for logbook generation in Normal mode: | 8 seconds |
|---|---|
| Minimum freefall time for logbook generation in Student mode: | 3 seconds |
| Maximum logging altitude (Normal mode): | 30,000 ft. (9,150 m) |
| Maximum logging altitude (Student mode): | 40,000 ft. (12,200 m) |
| Maximum Profile storage (last jump): | 10 minutes. Sampling rate: 4/sec. |
| Accumulated number of jumps: | 999 |
| Exit Altitude, Deployment, Freefall Time, Speed: | 200 Jumps |
| Storage principle: | First In First Out |
Factory default settings:
| Feet / meter: | Feet |
|---|---|
| Mph / kmh: | Mph |
| Type of Dive: | 0 |
| Date: | 2018:1:1 (year : month : date) |
| Time | 12:00:00 (hours : minutes : seconds) |
Other:
| Operating altitude: | 0 to 40,000 ft. (0 to 12,200 m) |
|---|---|
| Clock: | +/- 4 min/month |
| Storing Temperature: | -20C to +70C |
| Operating Temperature Range: | -20C to +60C continuous operation 10 minutes |
| Will operate at -50C for Storing Pressure: | 200 to 1075 mbar |
| Maximum allowable humidity: | Up to 99,9% relative humidity |
| Waterproof: | 3 feet for 2 hours |
| Function Period: | 14 hours |
| Maintenance: | 4, 8 and 12 years, from date of manufacture |
| Battery type: | 2 x Renata CR 2325 |
| L&B part no.: | 295929 |
| NATO Stock no. | 6675-22-630-2343 |
WARRANTY
The following conditions apply to the ARES II warranty:
If within 12 months of the purchase of ARES II a defect or damage is
identified by faulty manufacture, LB ALTIMETERS will repair the unit at no
cost to the end user
To make a claim under this warranty, send the unit to an authorized dealer or
directly to LB ALTIMETERS together with the dated purchase invoice or receipt
The warranty becomes void if damage is caused by external circumstances or if
the unit has been serviced or repaired by third parties unauthorized by our
national agents or LB ALTIMETERS. All further claims, especially for defects
after skydiving accidents, are excluded. LB ALTIMETERS has no obligation to
honor any extension of warranty granted by any national agent
WAIVER OF LIABILITY
The buyer and user of the ARES II indemnify the manufacturer and vendor from any liability for damage incurred before, during and after skydiving with the instrument
ROAD MAP
For download and support visit
www.LBAltimeters.com
ARES II – Rev. 1.30 Oct. 2022