SkyScan
EWS-PRO Lightning Detector - Operations
Manual
INTRODUCTION
Congratulations!
You have purchased the finest personal,
portable lightning storm detector
available today. EWS-Pro gives you
advance weather warning technology you
can use at home, indoors or out, and take
wherever you go, for any kind of outdoor
activity.
Your
EWS-Pro offers you the ability to detect
the presence of lightning / thunderstorm
activity occurring within 40 miles of
your location. EWS-Pro detects the
characteristic electromagnetic emissions
from individual lightning strokes and
uses patented technology to determine the
distance to the detected stroke. The
distances are indicated in four ranges:
0-3 miles; 3-8 miles; 8-20 miles; and
20-40 miles. This allows you to track the
approach of dangerous storm activity.
IMPORTANT!
EWS-Pro uses the latest electronic
and computer technology to provide
the most accurate information
possible. However, thunderstorms are
a dangerous and rapidly changing
weather phenomenon, The information
about storm activity obtained from
your EWS-Pro should always be used
in conjunction with information from
your local weather professionals.
Common sense and extreme caution
should always be used when
confronting lightning and
thunderstorm activity.
GENERAL
DESCRIPTION
Each
time EWS-Pro detects a lightning stroke,
it emits an audible warning tone (if this
feature has been turned on by the user;
see "TONE SWITCH" in Basic
Operation) and lights the Range Indicator
column. The full column stays lit for
approximately 3 seconds. The single
indicator corresponding to the range of
detected stroke will then blink for
approximately 25 seconds. This feature
allows you to quickly see the distance to
the last, closest detected stroke without
waiting for EWS-Pro to detect a new
stroke.
VERY
IMPORTANT! Because the average
stroke of lightning is 6 miles long,
and because thunderstorms can move at
speeds of up to 25 mph or more, you
are in immediate danger any time
there is detected lightning activity
within 8-10 miles of your location.
You must also remember that EWS-Pro
does not predict where the next
lightning stroke might occur.
Thunderstorms are unpredictable and
should be considered extremely
dangerous. BE AWARE THAT STORMS CAN
FORM DIRECTLY OVER YOUR LOCATION,
OFFERING LITTLE OR NO ADVANCE WARNING
EVEN WHEN USING A EWS-PRO.
IMPORTANT!
Whenever thunderstorms are present,
take immediate shelter and obtain
more information from your local or
regional weather professionals.
Your
EWS-Pro may also identify certain types
of especially strong storms. These storms
can produce dangerous winds, heavy rains
or tornadoes. When EWS-Pro detects
lightning patterns indicating the
presence of these storms, it activates
the Severe Thunderstorm Alarm and emits a
distinctive 15-second continuous audible
tone different from the detection of
normal lightning activity.
Once
activated, the Severe Thunderstorm Alarm
remains on for approximately 15 minutes.
At the end of this special period, the
EWS-Pro checks again for the indications
of severe storm activity. If none is
detected, the Severe Thunderstorm Alarm
is turned off. If severe thunderstorm
conditions are still detected, the
indicator remains on for another 15
minutes, accompanied by another 1
5-second tone.
IMPORTANT!
There are two types of lightning
produced by a thunderstorm,
cloud-to-ground and cloud-to-cloud.
For any user on the ground the
cloud-to-ground is the most
dangerous. EWS-Pro is designed to
detect cloud-to-ground lightning
strokes. While it may detect cloud-
to-cloud lightning strokes, there may
be occasions where storms will
produce cloud-to-cloud lightning
strokes that are not detected by the
EWS-Pro. User should therefore still
exercise extreme caution when exposed
to lightning storms.
EWS-Pro
is designed to operate in a vertical
position. The case is designed for proper
orientation when placed on a flat, stable
surface. If the EWS-Pro is used in any
other fashion, loss of accuracy and
sensitivity may result.
Your
EWS-Pro contains hardware and software
protection against false triggering.
False triggering is defined as displaying
strikes that are not real. Certain
electronic products and other devices
(TVs, computer displays, motors, gasoline
engines, radio transmitters, or other
high power communications equipment) emit
high levels of electromagnetic noise that
can interfere with the normal detection
of lightning/storm activity, and will
cause the unit to false trigger. This is
particularly true of some brands of older
TVs and computer equipment. EWS-Pro has
the ability to identify this type of
problem and alert you by continuously
cycling all of the indicators on the
unit, as it does when the unit is first
turned on.
IMPORTANT!
The false triggering alert process
takes approximately 60 seconds to
initiate. During this time, the
EWS-Pro may continue to display false
triggers as if they were lightning
strokes. When the noise source has
been identified as coming from
something other than Lightning, the
EWS-Pro will start the cycling of its
indicators. Turn the EWS-Pro OFF,
move the unit to a different
location, turn it ON.
BASIC
OPERATION
CHARGING
THE BATTERY
The
EWS-Pro will need charging before use.
Plug the charger into a 110-volt wall
outlet and then plug the charger
connector into the jack, located just
beneath the warning horn. This jack is
used for charging the unit only. Make
sure the EWS-Pro is turned off and is not
in use while charging. Generally, an
overnight charge of 8-10 hours will
restore the battery to full power. The
EWS-Pro will operate for several days on
a single charge, depending on the amount
of lightning activity detected during
that period. The charger provided with
the EWS-Pro is designed so that it will
not over-charge the battery. However, the
unit should not be left charging for more
than a 24-hour period. Do not use any
other charger to charge the EWS-Pro
battery. Use of another charger may
damage the product and void your
warranty.
IMPORTANT!
Always recharge the battery as soon as
the Low Battery Indicator comes on. As
battery power drops, the EWS-Pro loses
accuracy and sensitivity.
POWER
ON/OFF SWITCH
Pressing
the switch turns the unit on or off. When
the EWS-Pro is turned on, the indicators
cycle once, beginning with the severe
thunderstorm indicator and ending with
the On/Off Indicator. This allows the
user to be certain that all indicators
are functioning. After several seconds,
the On/Off Indicator will begin to blink.
The EWS-Pro is now operating normally.
EWS-Pro
is programmed to automatically turn off
if left unattended, and if no storm
activity is detected for a period of 5
hours. This automatic turn-off feature
can be deactivated by using the Battery
Save Switch described in "BATTERY
SAVE SWITCH."
RANGE
SELECT SWITCH
Range
Select allows you to choose the distance
at which detected lightning strokes will
trigger the Audible Warning Tone.
IMPORTANT!
It is recommended you use the Audible
Warning Tone at maximum range whenever
possible.
To
activate the Range Select function, press
the switch repeatedly until the desired
range category indicator is on. Do not
touch the switch for a period of 3
seconds, and this range will be entered
in the computer. To change the selected
range, simply repeat the process.
TONE
SWITCH
The
Audible Warning Tone sounds for
approximately 1 second each time the
EWS-Pro detects a lightning stroke. The
Audible Warning Tone can be turned on or
off by pressing the Tone Switch. When the
Tone indicator is blinking, the Tone is
operational. When the indicator is off
the Tone has been deactivated.
IMPORTANT!
The Tone function must always be turned
on by the user when the EWS-Pro is turn
on. ALWAYS check to see that the Tone
Indicator is blinking to be sure it is
active.
BATTERY
SAVE SWITCH
The
Battery Save feature allows you to extend
the operational life of the battery by
deactivating most of the EWS-Pro visual
indicators. To activate the Battery Save
feature, simply press the Battery Save
Switch once. The Battery Save Indicator
will blink, and all other indicators on
the EWS-Pro will turn off. Activating the
Battery Save feature automatically turns
on the Audible Tone, even if this
function has been previously turned off.
Once in Battery Save mode, the EWS-Pro
continues to detect lightning strokes.
Now, however, each detected strike is
indicated only by a 1 second warning tone
at the range set by the user (see ''RANGE
SELECT SWITCH"). To return the
EWS-Pro to normal visual display of
detected lightning strokes, simply press
the Battery Save switch once.
IMPORTANT!
If the Audible Tone was
deactivated before selecting Battery
Save it will be disabled when the
EWS-Pro is returned to normal display
mode.
Pressing
the Battery Save Switch twice in quick
succession turns off the automatic 5-hour
turn-off feature. To indicate activation
of this feature, the On/Off Indicator
stays on continuously, without blinking.
Even
In Battery Save mode, the Severe
Thunderstorm Indicator will illuminate
whenever this type of storm has been
identified by the EWS-Pro.
CARE
AND MAINTENANCE
EWS-Pro
has been manufactured of the highest
quality materials and components. It
should provide you with years of service
with minimum maintenance. A few important
tips will maximize the operational life
of your EWS-Pro.
Remember,
EWS-Pro is weather-resistant, but it is
NOT waterproof. Your EWS-Pro should NEVER
be immersed in water.
If
EWS-Pro is to be stored for an extended
period of time, the unit should be stored
away from high temperature, high
humidity, or corrosive substances.
IMPORTANT!
Your EWS-Pro contains no user
serviceable parts and is not intended
to be opened. Opening the case will
void the Product Warranty.
CUSTOMER
SERVICE AND SUPPORT
As a
EWS-Pro customer, we are committed to
your satisfaction for the life of your
EWS-Pro product. The EWS-Pro service and
customer support system is designed to
ensure fast and friendly solutions to any
problems you may have with this quality
EWS-Pro product.
ONE-YEAR
LIMITED WARRANTY
Xtreme
Research Corporation, SkyScan Division,
P.O. Box 336, Port Richey FL 34673-0336
agrees to repair or replace this product
for one year from the original date of
purchase absolutely free. This warranty
does not include any physical damage to
the unit or any of its accessory items
and does not cover damage to the EWS-Pro
unit resulting from the use of
accessories not manufactured or
authorized for use by EWS-Pro. Any
modifications or repairs by unauthorized
service personnel will void this
warranty. The warranty card included in
the product package MUST be completed and
returned to Xtreme Research Corp. in Port
Richey, Florida within 30 days of
purchase to validate the warranty. If the
warranty card included has not been
completed and returned to Xtreme Research
when a unit is presented for warranty
service, a copy of the original sales
receipt will be required. You are
responsible for all shipping charges to
Xtreme Research Corp. Xtreme Research
Corp. will pay for ground UPS back to the
customer.
NO
OTHER EXPRESS WARRANTY HAS BEEN MADE OR
WILL BE MADE WITH RESPECT TO THE UNIT AND
NO PERSON IS AUTHORIZED TO PROVIDE ANY
OTHER WARRANTY IN CONNECTION WITH THE
SALE OF OUR PRODUCTS BEYOND THE
DESCRIPTION ON THE FACE HEREOF. IMPLIED
WARRANTIES, INCLUDING ANY WARRANTIES OF
MERCHANTABILITY OR FITNESS FOR A
PARTICULAR PURPOSE ARE LIMITED TO ONE
YEAR FROM THE DATE OF ORIGINAL PURCHASE.
XTREME RESEARCH CORP. RESERVES THE RIGHT
TO PERFORM MODIFICATIONS OR IMPROVEMENTS
ON ITS PRODUCTS WITHOUT INCURRING THE
OBLIGATION TO INSTALL THE CHANGES ON
UNITS PREVIOUSLY SOLD, DELIVERED OR
SERVICED. SOME STATES DO NOT ALLOW
LIMITATIONS ON HOW LONG AN IMPLIED
WARRANTY LASTS, SO THE ABOVE LIMITATION
MAY NOT APPLY TO YOU. XTREME RESEARCH
CORP.'S LIABILITY SHALL BE LIMITED TO THE
COST OF REPAIR OR REPLACEMENT OF THE UNIT
AND XTREME RESEARCH CORP. SHALL IN NO
EVENT BE LIABLE FOR INCIDENTAL OR
CONSEQUENTIAL DAMAGES. SOME STATES DO NOT
ALLOW THE EXCLUSION OR LIMITATIONS OF
INCIDENTAL OR CONSEQUENTIAL DAMAGES, SO
THE ABOVE LIMITATION OR EXCLUSION MAY NOT
APPLY TO YOU.
SERVICE
POLICY
This
Service Policy is valid in the United
States only. This applies to EWS-Pro
units returned to our factory in Port
Richey, Florida, and is subject to change
without notice.
EWS-Pro
reserves the right to deem any product
un-serviceable when replacement parts are
no longer reasonable available or
impossible to obtain. After the original
warranty period, a standard service
charge will be assessed for each repair
(physical damage and missing parts are
not included). Please call our Customer
Support Department to verify the service
charge for your unit. The standard
service charge includes UPS or Parcel
Post freight only. If charges are not
prepaid, the unit will be returned C.O.D.
Repairs are warranted for ninety (90)
days.
The
EWS-Pro toll-free number and address is
listed below.
Xtreme
Research Corporation
1-888-732-0665
SkyScan Division
P.O. Box 336, Port Richey, FL 34673-0336
FACTS
ABOUT LIGHTNING AND THUNDERSTORMS
Thunderstorms
and the associated lightning
cause an average of 200 deaths
and many times more injuries in
the US. every year. Most of these
deaths and injuries could be
prevented by the warning provided
by EWS-Pro.
The
average lightning stroke is 5-6
miles long. A lightning stroke is
incredibly powerful; up to
30-million volts at 100,000 amps
flow in less than 1/10 of a
second.
The
average thunderstorm is 6-10
miles wide and moves at a rate of
25 miles per hour.
Once
the leading edge of a
thunderstorm approaches to within
10 miles, you are at immediate
risk due to the possibility of
lightning strokes coming from the
storm's overhanging anvil cloud.
This is the reason many lightning
deaths and injuries occur with
clear skies overhead.
On
average, the thunder from a
lightning stroke can only be
heard over a distance of 3-4
miles, depending on the terrain,
humidity and background noise
around you. By the time you can
hear the thunder, the storm has
already approached to within 3-4
miles!
The
sudden cold wind that many people
use to gauge the approach of a
thunderstorm is the result of
down drafts and usually extends
less that 3 miles from the
storm's leading edge. By the time
you feel the wind, the storm can
be less than 3 miles away!
Approximately
100,000 thunderstorms occur in
the US. each year. Approximately
10% of all thunderstorms are
severe enough to produce high
winds, flash floods and
tornadoes.
|
Radar and Lightning
Detection Specialists
