Suunto Solution Alpha User Manual
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Suunto Solution Alpha User Manual

Suunto Solution Alpha User Manual

Suunto solution alpha: user guide
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SOLUTION á ( ALPHA) INSTRUCTION MANUAL
The SUUNTO SOLUTION á dive computer features:
- built-in simulator for dive planning before and between dives
- built-in calendar clock
- personal adjustment
- adjustment for altitude
- phosphorescent LCD display
- complete memory capabilities including 25 hour profile memory
- visual and audible alarms
- PC interface capability
- easily replaceable protective shield
- wrist and combo models
DEFINITION OF WARNINGS, CAUTIONS AND NOTES
Throughout this manual, special references are made when deemed important.
Three classifications are used to separate these references by their order of
importance.
WARNING - is used in connection with a procedure or situation that may result in
serious injury or death.
CAUTION - is used in connection with a procedure or situation that will result in
damage to the product.
NOTE
- is used to emphasize important information.
WARNING!
READ THIS MANUAL!
Carefully read this instruction manual in its entirety, including Section 1, "For Your
Safety". Make sure that you fully understand the use, displays and limitations of the
SOLUTION á .
WARNING!
NO DIVE COMPUTER WILL PREVENT THE POSSIBILITY OF DECOMPRESSION
SICKNESS (DCS)!
All divers must understand and accept that there is no procedure or dive computer
that will totally prevent the possibility of a decompression accident. For example, the
individual physiological make up can vary within an individual from day to day. The
dive computer cannot account for these variations. As an added measure of safety,
you should consult a physician regarding your fitness before diving with the
SOLUTION á dive computer.

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  • Page 1 SOLUTION á ( ALPHA) INSTRUCTION MANUAL The SUUNTO SOLUTION á dive computer features: - built-in simulator for dive planning before and between dives - built-in calendar clock - personal adjustment - adjustment for altitude - phosphorescent LCD display - complete memory capabilities including 25 hour profile memory...
  • Page 2 WARNING! NOT FOR PROFESSIONAL USE! SUUNTO diving computers are intended for recreational use only. The demands of commercial or professional diving often expose the diver to depths and prolonged exposures including multiday exposures that tend to increase the risk of decompression sickness.

  • Page 3: Table Of Contents

    TABLE OF CONTENTS INTRODUCTION 1. FOR YOUR SAFETY 2. GETTING ACQUAINTED WITH THE SOLUTION á 2.1 WATER CONTACTS 2.2 ACTIVATION 2.3 THE DIVE SIMULATOR - FOR EASY LEARNING 3. DIVING WITH THE SOLUTION á 3.1 USE OF WATER CONTACTS 3.2 BEFORE DIVING 3.2.1 Activation, Prechecks and Battery Warning 3.2.2 Dive Planning 3.2.3 Calendar Clock Function...

  • Page 4: Introduction

    INTRODUCTION Congratulations on your choice of the SUUNTO SOLUTION á Dive Computer. The SOLUTION á is a compact and most sophisticated dive instrument that will give you years of trouble free and joyful diving. The SOLUTION á dive computer will provide you with important information that you will need during, between, and after your dives.
  • Page 5 Metric and Imperial Units All examples in this manual are shown in metric units, including meters and  C. The corresponding imperial units are shown in brackets. The SOLUTION á is also available with imperial units, i.e. feet and  F. WARNING! VERIFY THAT THE UNITS OF MEASURE, WHETHER METRIC OR IMPERIAL, ARE CORRECT BEFORE STARTING TO DIVE!

  • Page 6: For Your Safety

    CERTIFIED SCUBA INSTRUCTION including training in the principles of decompression. DO NOT attempt to use the Suunto SOLUTION á without reading this entire Instruction Manual. If you have any questions about the manual or the SOLUTION á , contact your Suunto dealer before diving with the SOLUTION á .
  • Page 7 WARNING! DO NOT USE THIS INSTRUMENT TO CONDUCT DECOMPRESSION DIVES! Suunto does not recommend this instrument to be used to conduct decompression dives. However, if through carelessness or emergency a diver is forced to exceed the no-decompression limits on a dive, the SOLUTION á will provide decompression information required for ascent.
  • Page 8 Higher Risk Dive Profiles The user must understand that all decompression devices (decompression tables and/or dive computers) are based on mathematical models and that many experts are currently concerned that these models may not under certain conditions adequately describe the physiological phenomena. These conditions are presently identified as dives which incorporate the following: - REVERSE PROFILES where the diver spends most of the dive at shallow depths and then descends to the maximum depth shortly before surfacing.
  • Page 9 As a safety precaution Suunto recommends that divers using the SOLUTION á should maintain no less than 5 to 10 minutes no-decompression time remaining at all times during the dive.

  • Page 10: Getting Acquainted With The Solution Á

    2. GETTING ACQUAINTED WITH THE SOLUTION á This brief introduction will utilize the unique built-in dive simulator of the SOLUTION á . Following the simple steps described below you can see exactly what the display might show during different stages of a typical dive sequence. WARNING! READ AND UNDERSTAND THE ENTIRE OWNER'S MANUAL BEFORE DIVING! Failure to complete this step may result in serious personal injury.
  • Page 11 basic dive information, as well as audible and visual warnings. In simulation mode the time has been speeded up, moving four times faster than real time when diving and 12 times as fast on the surface. Enter the Dive Simulation Mode To enter the dive simulation mode, keep your moistened fingers against the TIME/MODE and COM contacts.
  • Page 12 It is also possible to simulate repetitive dives and to see how the SOLUTION á works e.g. during a decompression dive. Exit the Dive Simulation Mode You may any time exit the simulation mode by making contact between all three water contacts.

  • Page 13: Diving With The Solution Á

    3. DIVING WITH THE SOLUTION á This section contains instructions on how to operate the SOLUTION á and interpret its displays. Each display has been carefully designed to provide important information you will need to plan your dive or dive series. You will find that the SOLUTION á...

  • Page 14: Before Diving

    Return: you can at any time exit the above modes by touching all three contacts at the same time. First make contact between the ON/PLAN and TIME/MODE contacts, e.g. by covering both contacts with your right thumb. Without lifting your right thumb, touch the COM contact with your left thumb.

  • Page 15: Dive Planning

    High Altitude Diving and Personal Adjustment WARNING! SET THE CORRECT ALTITUDE/ PERSONAL ADJUSTMENT MODE! When diving at altitudes greater than 700 m [2300 ft] the altitude/ personal adjustment feature must be correctly selected in order for the computer to calculate no-decompression status.

  • Page 16: Calendar Clock Function

    3.2.3 Calendar Clock Function The TIME display can be retrieved any time on the surface by touching the TIME/MODE and COM contacts for about a second. The current time and date will be shown for four. When diving, the dive entry time and date is registered in the logbook memory.

  • Page 17: Audible And Visual Alarms

    Violation of the maximum ascent rate may invalidate the calculations for the next dive. NOTE: SUUNTO highly recommends a safety stop at the end of every dive in the range of 3 m - 6 m [10 ft - 20 ft] for 3 - 5 minutes.

  • Page 18: Decompression Dives

    WARNING! DO NOT USE THIS INSTRUMENT TO CONDUCT DECOMPRESSION DIVES! Suunto does not recommend this instrument to be used to conduct decompression dives. However, if through carelessness or emergency a diver is forced to exceed the no-decompression limits on a dive, the SOLUTION á will provide decompression information required for ascent.
  • Page 19 THE SOLUTION á SHOWS YOU THAT DECOMPRESSION IS REQUIRED! Note the upward pointing arrows. The ascent time (ASC TIME) is the minimum amount of minutes needed to reach the surface in a decompression dive. It includes: The time needed to ascend to the ceiling at an ascent rate of 10 m/min [33 ft/min] plus The time needed at the ceiling.
  • Page 20 In this case it will be more manageable to maintain an additional distance below to the ceiling, to make sure that the waves do not lift you above the ceiling. SUUNTO recommends that decompression takes place deeper than 4 m [13 ft], even if the indicated ceiling is shallower.

  • Page 21: At Surface

    During decompression, ASC TIME will count down toward zero. When the ceiling moves upwards, you can ascend to the new ceiling. You may surface only when the ascent time reaches zero and ASC TIME is replaced by NO DEC TIME. 3.4 AT SURFACE 3.4.1 Surface Interval An ascent to any depth shallower than 1.5 m [5 ft] will cause the DIVING display to...

  • Page 22: High Altitude Dives And Personal Adjustment

    12 hours before flight. Suunto recommends that flying be avoided until both the DAN guidelines and the SOLUTION á wait to fly conditions are satisfied. 3.5 HIGH ALTITUDE DIVES AND PERSONAL ADJUSTMENT The SOLUTION á...
  • Page 23 WARNING! DO NOT USE THIS INSTRUMENT TO CONDUCT DECOMPRESSION DIVES! Suunto does not recommend this instrument to be used to conduct decompression dives. However, if through carelessness or emergency a diver is forced to exceed the no-decompression limits on a dive, the SOLUTION á will provide decompression information required for ascent.

  • Page 24: Error Conditions

    3.6 ERROR CONDITIONS The SOLUTION á is provided with warning indicators that advise the user to react to certain situations that would otherwise give rise to a significant increase risk of DCS if left unattended. If you do not respond to its warnings, it will enter an ERROR MODE, indicating the risk of DCS has greatly increased.
  • Page 25 to very low battery, poor battery contacts or leakage to the battery compartment.

  • Page 26: Menu Based Modes

    4. MENU BASED MODES The menu based functions include the logbook, profile and history memories, the altitude/ personal adjustment setting, the dive simulator and the date and time setting. The menu based functions are activated using the water contacts. Keep your fingers on the TIME/MODE and COM contacts while the SOLUTION á...
  • Page 27 The following information will be shown on three alternating displays: DISPLAY I, main display: - maximum depth - dive time - dive number - altitude/ personal adjustment setting - temperature at maximum depth - a blinking SLOW if the diver has surfaced with this warning on - ASC TIME symbol if the dive became a decompression dive - downward pointing arrow if the ceiling was violated DISPLAY II:...

  • Page 28: Dive History Memory

    When scrolling the Profile Memory, surfacing (depth 0.0 m [0 ft]), surfacing with SLOW warning on, the ASC TIME and downward pointing arrow are shown when they occurred during the actual dive. At the end of the profile the depth 0.0 m [0 ft] is displayed together with the total dive time of that dive.

  • Page 29: Dive Simulator

    2. Connect the ON/PLAN and COM contacts until a beep is heard and all three altitude/ personal adjustment modes appear. Release your fingers immediately at this point. The current mode is now blinking. Wait at least two seconds but not more than four seconds before the next step.

  • Page 30: Pc Interface

    The SOLUTION á can be connected to an IBM compatible personal computer (PC), using the optional SUUNTO PC interface and its software. With the Interface the SOLUTION á dive data can be downloaded to a PC. The PC interface software can be used for educational and demonstrational purposes, for planning dives, as well as for keeping complete record of your dive history with the SOLUTION á...
  • Page 31 Complete logbook data can also be included. Paper copies of your dive log and profiles can then easily be printed. The data transfer is carried out using the water contacts of the SOLUTION á . The following data is transferred to the PC: - depth profile of the dive - dive time - dive number...

  • Page 32: Care And Maintenance

    The service requires special tools and training. Therefore, it is advisable to contact an authorized Suunto dealer for biennial service. Do not attempt to do any service that you are not sure about how to do.

  • Page 33: Battery Compartment Inspection

    Suunto does not take any responsibility for damage caused by moisture in the battery compartment, if the instructions of this manual are not carefully followed. In case of a leak immediately bring the SOLUTION á to an authorized Suunto dealer/ distributor.

  • Page 34: Technical Description

    7. TECHNICAL DESCRIPTION 7.1 OPERATING PRINCIPLES The Suunto SOLUTION á is a multi-functional sport diving instrument, which provides information on depths, times, and decompression requirements. Its electronic microprocessor mathematically models the absorption and release of nitrogen during all phases of diving, including ascents, surface intervals and repetitive dives.
  • Page 35 Table 7.2 NO-DECOMPRESSION TIME LIMITS (min) FOR VARIOUS DEPTHS [ft] FOR THE FIRST DIVE OF A SERIES. Depth [ft] Unlike the U.S. Navy tables, the SOLUTION á interpolates between depths, giving a diver "credit" for time spent in shallower water, rather than calculating no-decompression limits based on the maximum depth of a dive.
  • Page 36 surface interval increases, so does the available dive time for the next dive. To perform these calculations, the SOLUTION á continuously models the absorption and release of excess nitrogen from theoretical compartments. Each compartment absorbs and releases nitrogen at a different rate. The compartments that absorb and release nitrogen rapidly are believed to have a high tolerance for excess nitrogen, whereas compartments that absorb and release nitrogen more slowly are believed to be more sensitive.

  • Page 37: Technical Specification

    Depth Limits WARNING! SUUNTO STRONGLY RECOMMENDS THAT SPORT DIVERS LIMIT THEIR MAXIMUM DEPTH TO 40 m [130 ft]! However, the SOLUTION á will calculate below that depth to provide a wide margin of flexibility if, through carelessness or emergency, you are forced to exceed this recommended depth limit for a dive.
  • Page 38 However, it is recommended that the unit be stored in a dry place at room temperature. NOTE: Do not leave the SOLUTION á in direct sunlight! Battery - One 3,6 V lithium battery (Saft LS 14250), size 1/2 AA (ANSI) or 1/2 R6 (IEC), spare part number K5504 + O-ring 26,7 mm x 1,78 mm 70 ShA, spare part number K5508 - Battery life: typically 2000 hours (at 20 ...

  • Page 39: Warranty

    The claim will be honored and the product repaired or replaced at no charge and returned in what your Suunto Dealer determines a reasonable amount of time, provided all necessary parts are in stock. All repairs made, not covered under the terms of this warranty, will be made at the owner's expense.

  • Page 40: Glossary

    9. GLOSSARY Altitude dive A dive made at an elevation above 700 m [2300 ft] above sea-level. Ascent speed (rate) The speed at which the diver ascends toward the surface. ASC SPEED Abbreviation for ascent speed (ascent rate). Ascent time The minimum amount of time needed to reach the surface in a decompression dive.
  • Page 41 depths and whose no-decompression limits are not determined solely by the maximum depth attained. No-decompression time The maximum amount of time a diver may remain at a particular depth without having to make decompression stops or remain below a ceiling during the subsequent ascent. No-decompression dive Any dive which permits a direct, uninterrupted ascent to the surface at any time.

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