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Gates Underwater Products Alexa Setup, Use And Care Manual

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Alexa Underwater Housing

Setup, Use, and Care Guide

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  • Page 1: Setup, Use, And Care Guide

    Alexa Underwater Housing Setup, Use, and Care Guide...
  • Page 2 Page 2 Copyright 2015, Gates Underwater Products, Inc. Last document revision: 1-27-2015 Photos by John Ellerbrock / Gates Underwater Products This manual and current revision is available in 8.5 x 11 size and full color at http://www.gateshousings.com/documentation.html Gates Underwater Products, Inc.

  • Page 3: Table Of Contents

    Setup, Use, and Care Guide ..........1  Introducing the Alexa Underwater Housing ....... 4  Features ................4  Warranty Disclaimer ............4  Alexa, Alexa XT and Alexa XT Plus Compatibility ..... 5  Unpacking Alexa Housing ..........5  1:  Cautions ................6 ...

  • Page 4: Introducing The Alexa Underwater Housing

    (e.g. your camera and lenses) under any circumstance. We warrant the Alexa housing as an image acquisition tool for a period of 2 years. The Seal Check unit is warranted for 1 year. Optics (Dome and Flat ports) are warranted for a period of 1 year or 100 hours salt water contact, whichever comes first.

  • Page 5: Alexa, Alexa Xt And Alexa Xt Plus Compatibility

    Page 5 Alexa, Alexa XT and Alexa XT Plus Compatibility The Alexa and Alexa XT use a different side window than the Alexa XT Plus. All other housing controls function the same regardless of camera model. The appropriate window will be made available based on your configuration.

  • Page 6: 1: Cautions

     USER RESPONSIBILITY. This Setup, Use and Care guide contains important detailed procedures for setup and use of the Alexa housing. It is the user’s responsibility to read, understand and employ these procedures. Failure to do so can result in poor or non-operation of the housing and may void your warranty.

  • Page 7: 2: Alexa Housing Setup

    Alexa Housing Setup Page 7 2: Alexa Housing Setup Alexa Housing Preparation Port. Remove the Port by rotating 90 degrees while facing the front of the housing. Gently pull the Port away from the Port Extender.  TIP: Liberal lubrication of the Port o-ring allows easy rotation during installation/removal.
  • Page 8 Alexa Housing Setup Page 8 Port Extender. Remove 4 screws, then the Port Extender. Remove 4 screws and washers, then the Port Extender. Rear Shell removal. Release four (4) latches by depressing the lock and pulling up on the latch. Once released the rear shell will remove freely.
  • Page 9 Alexa Housing Setup Page 9 Camera Bridgeplate Removal. Move the lever lock to the unlock position. Slide the camera mount to the rear and free of the housing. Move the lever lock to the unlock position. Slide the camera mount to the rear and free of housing.

  • Page 10: Alexa Camera Preparation

    Alexa Housing Setup Page 10 Alexa Camera Preparation Camera Basics Strip down the Alexa camera to the bare camera body. Remove the following items: Tape measure hook Top Hand Grip Unit Any additional mounts or brackets Camera Lens Antenna (Alexa XT Plus users only) Remove the tape measure hook.

  • Page 11: Camera Installation

    Alexa Housing Setup Page 11 Camera Installation Camera Bridgeplate Installation. Mount the Alexa camera to the Bridgeplate Adapter with five screws. Interior Trim Weights-- Required. Mount one 11oz weight to the interior of the back shell as shown below. Refer to the ‘Buoyancy Adjustment’ in section 3 below for more details.
  • Page 12 Alexa Housing Setup Page 12 Pull out menu control. The Menu Control on the right side window must be retracted for camera clearance during insertion. Refer to Section 3 Operation for more details on the housing controls. Place camera to housing. Locate the Bridgeplate and the Dovetail receiver.
  • Page 13 Alexa Housing Setup Page 13 The Bridgeplate will slide onto the dovetail here. Stop inserting the camera if you encounter obstructions. Move the lever lock to the lock position.

  • Page 14: Lens Gear Drives (Lgd's)

    Alexa Housing Setup Page 14 Lens Gear Drives (LGD’s) The Alexa includes three LGD’s – 2x CCW and 1x CW. General Notes. This section addresses the installation of three LGD’s – 2 x CCW (Counter Clock Wise) and 1 x CW (Clock Wise). These designators are applied because two LGD’s point in a CCW direction and...
  • Page 15 Alexa Housing Setup Page 15 The sequence of tightening screws on the LGD’s is important. Step 1. Tighten the LGD mount screw securing it to the guide bar. Critical: the drive shaft/gear hub must be centered with the opening on the bracket.
  • Page 16 Alexa Housing Setup Page 16 Secure the ring with the two set screws in the knob as shown. Verify Operation. Once positioned and secured check operation of the Focus, Iris and Zoom controls. They should rotate freely – but with slight resistance – in both directions and through the entire range of travel.

  • Page 17: Water Alarm (Optional)

    Alexa Housing Setup Page 17 Water Alarm (Optional) If you have the optional water alarm installed there are three alarm conditions to know: Condition Siren New Battery Bright Intense blink Ascending tones played 4 times (Insertion) while siren plays Water Intrusion Bright Intense Blink Grating Warble sound.

  • Page 18: Check Operation

    Alexa Housing Setup Page 18 Check Operation At this point check operation of the system before closing the shell and installing the Front Bulkhead, Port Extenders and Ports. Power on the camera and check the following: Clear Image on TVL55 External Monitor.

  • Page 19: Front Shell, Port And Port Extender

    Alexa Housing Setup Page 19 Front Shell, Port and Port Extender Inspection. Before installing the Front Shell, Port Extender and Port, visually inspect the o-rings for dirt or other foreign matter that may compromise the seals. Do the same with the Front Shell face (where the Front Shell mates) and Port bore where the o-rings seal.
  • Page 20 Alexa Housing Setup Page 20 Lubrication. Lubricate the yellow Port o-ring with silicone grease. Also liberally lubricate the Port bore. This will greatly aid installation of the Port.  TIP: Liberal lubrication of the Port o-ring allows easy rotation during installation/removal.

  • Page 21: Monitor Mount / Video Connections

    Alexa Housing Setup Page 21 Monitor Mount / Video Connections Mount the TVL55 monitor . Secure the monitor to the top of the main shell, as shown and tighten the thumbscrews to secure. Slide the TVL55 onto the housing dovetail and...
  • Page 22 Alexa Housing Setup Page 22 Insert the Monitor Cable to the Alexa Housing. Refer to the illustration. The TVL55 monitor cable is a 'pass through' type that inserts into bulkhead opening on the upper right side of the housing. Insert the BNC connector and route the cable to the rear of the housing to the position shown in the next illustration.

  • Page 23: Housing Closure

    Alexa Housing Setup Page 23 Housing Closure General. The Rear Shell slides from the rear, over the camera and mates with the Mid Shell. If there is obstruction at any time during this process – stop! – remove the shell and locate the obstruction.
  • Page 24 Alexa Housing Setup Page 24 Latches. Once properly mated, secure the 4 latches. Visually inspect there are no gaps around the perimeter.  CAUTION. Faulty Latches can lead to a wet camera! Replacements for faulty latches are available at no charge from Gates.

  • Page 25: Adjustable Handle Grips

    Alexa Housing Setup Page 25 Adjustable Handle Grips The Alexa housing has adjustable handle grips. These are assembled to the housing from the rear and set with the top lever. Slide the Handle Grips onto the top dovetails from the rear. Position and...

  • Page 26: Seal Check

    Vacuum both housings until equal then use Seal Check to verify the Alexa housing. If you fail to do this air will pass through the monitor cable and may show a false leak.

  • Page 27: 3: Alexa Housing Operation

    Alexa Housing Operation Page 27 3: Alexa Housing Operation Right Side Controls Focus/Iris/Zoom Screen Controls Note: Alexa XT Plus window shown. Power...

  • Page 28: Left Side Controls

    Alexa Housing Operation Page 28 Left Side Controls Focus/Iris/Zoom Record Record Assign 2,3 Lock...

  • Page 29: Buoyancy Adjustment

    Page 29 Buoyancy Adjustment The Alexa housing features adjustable buoyancy and trim. 4, 8 11 and 16 oz trim weights can be secured to the housing – both inside and out – to adjust the housing precisely to your liking.
  • Page 30 Alexa Housing Operation Page 30 Top accessory rails. The top of the shell has three rails (used for handles and monitor) that can accommodate 4 and 8oz weights. Port Extender. The top and sides of the Port Extenders can also accept 4 and 8oz weights.

  • Page 31: Accessories

    Carry Handle (included) A carry handle is included in your Alexa housing kit. It can go on any of the top rails for a convenient way to move your housing. If you plan to place it on the center top rail, it must go on prior to installing the Front Bulkhead.
  • Page 32 Alexa Housing Operation Page 32 Tripod Legs (optional) Gates Tripod Legs are three extensible legs mounted to the housing for stabilizing your shots. They pivot in all directions, and allow collapsing close to the housing when not in use. The front Tripod...
  • Page 33 Alexa Housing Operation Page 33 Light Bar (optional) The Light Bar is a convenient method to mount lights forward and to the outside edges of the housing. It accepts a wide variety of Ultralight Controls Systems ball mounts and bases.

  • Page 34: Port Options

    Page 34 Port Options At this time of publication Gates SP80 Dome and FP80 Flat Port options are available for the Alexa housing. When choosing a Port consider the following tradeoffs and limitations.  The optical interaction between any given lens and a Dome or Flat Port is NOTE: unpredictable.
  • Page 35 Alexa Housing Operation Page 35 Flat Port Optical material: Optical-grade acrylic or anti-reflective coated glass. Purpose: Medium to macro imaging. Advantages: Zoom through. Flat Ports retains the zoom capability of a lens. Macro. Flat Ports are excellent for macro shots and/or the use of close up diopters to capture small subjects.

  • Page 36: Remote Lens Control (Rlc) (Optional)

    Alexa Housing Operation Page 36 Remote Lens Control (RLC) (Optional) The Alexa housing can be setup for remote control of lens functions. This optional kit requires several items: Element Technica FIZ lens control kit. Purchased separately from ElementTechnica. SKU 791-0464. This contains the lens motors, Wireless Motor Driver (WMD) and hand controller.
  • Page 37 Mount the Element Technica Wireless Motor Driver (WMD) to the bracket using 3x metric socket cap screws. Mount the WMD to the bracket as shown with M3 screws. Mount the 15mm Rod Mounts, 15mm rods and WMD/Bracket assembled previously to the to the ALEXA top plate as shown in the photo.
  • Page 38 Alexa Housing Operation Page 38 When assembled properly the mounting rods / brackets looks like the image below. NOTE: Changing Batteries. Depending on the brand / model, it may be necessary to remove the 15mm rods and bracket to change the battery.
  • Page 39 Alexa Housing Operation Page 39 Install the Servo Motors. Position each Servo Motor over the focus, iris or zoom gear. Mate with the gear and secure the bracket to the guide bar. Refer to the image below.  NOTE. Servo Motor clearance to Port Extender. It may be necessary to adjust the Servo Motor on the bracket to provide clearance inside the Port Extender.
  • Page 40 Alexa Housing Operation Page 40 Route Motor Cables. Servo Motor cables will route along the lower left side of the inside housing as shown in the photo. Route Power, CAN and surface control cables. As noted in the photo, the power cable plugs into a D-Tap location on the battery mount.
  • Page 41 Test. Install a battery to THC, and ensure the ‘CABLE / BATTY’ switch is set to ‘BATTY’. Install a battery on the Alexa camera and the WMD should power on. The Servo Motor Drivers may calibrate. Once complete, you should have full lens control of focus, iris and zoom from The Hand Controller.

  • Page 42: Lighting Systems

    The Alexa housing has provisions to utilize a variety of lighting systems. Ball mounts for the light arms may be located in several locations on Alexa housing: a) threaded into the top of the Handle Grips: b) on the Foot Rails; or c) onto accessory mounts that slide onto the same dovetail slots as the handle grips.

  • Page 43: Travel / Transport

    Alexa Housing Operation Page 43 Travel / Transport The Alexa housing requires several preparations for travel.  CAUTION: No Camera. DO NOT transport your Alexa camera inside the housing. Severe damage may result.  CAUTION: No Trim Weights. DO NOT transport the Alexa housing with trim weights installed.

  • Page 44: 4: Alexa Housing Maintenance

    Alexa Housing Maintenance Page 44 4: Alexa Housing Maintenance O-Ring Care and Maintenance Your Gates housing has 3 serviceable o-rings: Housing Main Seal (ORANGE ); Port (YELLOW); and Port Extender (ORANGE). Servicing the o-rings is easy and covered in the “Housing Care and Maintenance”...

  • Page 45: 5: Customer Support

    Customer Support Page 45 5: Customer Support Should you have any questions about the Alexa housing and its operation, please contact Gates at the numbers below. Email: Customer.srvc@GatesHousings.com Web: www.GatesHousings.com Phone: 858.391.0052 Fax: 858.391.0053...

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