Side Scan Sonar Mod 272TD-Users-Manual PDF

INSTRUCTION MANUAL
MODEL 272-TD
DUAL-FREQUENCY TOW FISH
APRIL, 2008
Part # 119830 Rev. B
P.O. Box 850

4 Little Brook Road
West Wareham, MA 02576
Tel: (508) 291-0057
Fax: (508) 291-2491
Email: service@edgetech.com
Model 272-TD
Side Scan Sonar Tow Fish
This manual is intended to provide the user with an understanding of the operation and care of
the Model 272-TD Dual Frequency Tow Fish with TVG.
EdgeTech has made every effort to document this product accurately and completely. However,
EdgeTech assumes no liability for errors or for any damages that may result from use of this
manual or the equipment it accompanies. EdgeTech reserves the right to upgrade features of this
equipment and to make changes to this manual without notice at any time.
Since clear and concise documentation is inherent for proper operation and understanding of the
equipment, we solicit you to contact us with any questions or comments so that we may enhance
this manual.
EdgeTech
P.O. Box 850
4 Little Brook Road
Tel. (508) 291-0057
Fax. (508) 291-2491
Model 272-TD
TABLE OF CONTENTS
Page
1.
Introduction ........................................................................................................1-1
1.1
1.2
1.3
1.4
2.
Installation ..........................................................................................................2-1
2.1
2.2
2.3
3.
General .....................................................................................................3-1
Pre-deployment Checkout ........................................................................3-1
Tow Fish Deployment ..............................................................................3-1
Tow Noise ................................................................................................3-3
Operating Range.......................................................................................3-3
Theory of Operation...........................................................................................4-1
4.1
4.2
5.
General .....................................................................................................2-1
Tow Fish...................................................................................................2-1
Tow Cables...............................................................................................2-1
2.3.1 Tow Cable Selection ....................................................................2-1
2.3.2 Tow Cable Installation and Deployment......................................2-2
Operation ............................................................................................................3-1
3.1
3.2
3.3
3.4
3.5
4.
General .....................................................................................................1-1
Model 272-TD Tow Fish..........................................................................1-1
Tow Cables...............................................................................................1-3
Specifications ...........................................................................................1-5
General .....................................................................................................4-1
Electrical...................................................................................................4-1
4.2.1 Triggering.....................................................................................4-1
4.2.2 Transmitter ...................................................................................4-1
4.2.3 TVG Receiver...............................................................................4-1
Maintenance, Repair, and Calibration.............................................................5-1

5.1
5.2
Routine Maintenance................................................................................5-1
Repair ......................................................................................................5-1
5.2.1 Access...........................................................................................5-1
5.2.2 Tow Fish Rearming ......................................................................5-2
5.2.3 Damaged Tail Fins .......................................................................5-2
Model 272-TD
Page
5.3
6.
Troubleshooting..................................................................................................6-1
6.1
6.2
6.3
7.
Calibration ................................................................................................5-2
5.3.1 Tow Fish Beam Depression .........................................................5-2
5.3.2 TVG Ramp (New revision board) ................................................5-4
5.3.3 TVG Ramp (Old revision board)..................................................5-7
General .....................................................................................................6-1
Tow Fish...................................................................................................6-1
Tow Cables...............................................................................................6-1
6.3.1 Shorted Wire.................................................................................6-1
6.3.2 Open Wire ....................................................................................6-2
6.3.3 Insulation Resistance Breakdown ................................................6-2
Parts List, Assembly Drawings, and Schematic Diagrams.............................7-1

7.1
7.2
7.3
7.4
7.5
7.7
General .....................................................................................................7-1
Model 272-TD Tow Fish - P/N A27600 ..................................................7-2
Bridle Replacement Kit - P/N A23385.....................................................7-3
Accessory Kit - P/N A22467....................................................................7-5
Tow Fish Electronics Assembly - P/N D27977 .......................................7-6
50-Meter Tow Cable Assembly - P/N F28348-50 ...................................7-9
Appendix C Model 285 Side Scan Tow Depth Depressor .......................................C-1

C.1
C.2
ii
Introduction ............................................................................................. C-1

Using the Tow Depth Depressor ............................................................. C-1
Model 272-TD
LIST OF ILLUSTRATIONS
Figure
Page
1-1
1-2
1-3
Model 272-TD Tow Fish......................................................................................1-2

Model 272-TD Tow Fish features ........................................................................1-3
Tow depth versus ship speed for 150- and 600-meter
tow cables with and without Depth Depressor.....................................................1-4
2-1
Model 272-TD Tow Fish termination ..................................................................2-3
3-1
Tow points............................................................................................................3-2
5-1
5-2
5-3
Tail fin ..................................................................................................................5-3

Transducer Assembly ...........................................................................................5-4
Transducer Hookup ..............................................................................................5-9
7-1
7-2
7-3
Model 272-TD Tow Fish......................................................................................7-4

Tow Fish Electronics Assembly...........................................................................7-7
Transmitter/TVG Amp PCB component layout for
Model 272-TD III Tow Fish.................................................................................7-8
50-meter tow cable assembly .............................................................................7-10
Wiring diagram...................................................................................................7-11
Interconnection cable diagram standard cable ...................................................7-12
Interconnection cable diagram for optional coax type
double armored tow cable ..................................................................................7-13
7-4
7-5
7-6
7-7
Appendix C
C-1
C-2
C-3
Recommended method for attaching Tow Depth Depressor

to tow cable ......................................................................................................... C-3
Tow depth versus ship speed for 150- and 600-meter tow
cables with and without Depth Depressor........................................................... C-4
Model 285 Tow Depth Depressor ................................................................ C-6,C-7
iii
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Model 272-TD
WARRANTY STATEMENT
All equipment manufactured by EdgeTech is warranted against defective components and
workmanship for repair at their plant in Massachusetts, free of charge, for a period of one year.
Shipping costs are to be borne by the customer. Malfunction due to improper use is not covered
in this warranty and EdgeTech disclaims any liability for consequential damage resulting from
defects in the performance of the equipment. No product is warranted as being fit for a particular
purpose and there is no warranty of merchantability. This warranty applies only if:
(i)
the items are used solely under the operating conditions and in the
manner recommended in the instruction manual, specifications, or
other literature;
(ii)
the items have not been misused or abused in any manner or repairs
attempted thereon;
(iii)
written notice of the failure within the warranty period is forwarded

to EdgeTech and the directions received for properly identifying
items returned under warranty are followed;
(iv)
the return notice authorizes EdgeTech to examine and disassemble

returned products to the extent EdgeTech deems necessary to
ascertain the cause for failure.
and
The warranties expressed herein are exclusive. There are no other warranties, either expressed or
implied, beyond those set forth herein, and EdgeTech does not assume any other obligation or
liability in connection with the sale or use of said products.
Equipment not manufactured by EdgeTech is supported only to the extent of the original
manufacturer's warranties.
Model 272-TD
NOTE
The 500 kHz notation used in this manual is a generic term used
to denote the high-resolution operating frequency. Although this
frequency is not 500 kHz, this reference has been used and accepted
in the industry. The term 100 kHz is similarly used.
vi
Model 272-TD
WARNING NOTICE (Old Revision D28349 Board Assembly)

SCR SENSITIVITY
The EdgeTech Model 272-TD Tow Fish uses very-fast-switching silicon-controlled rectifiers
(SCRs) in the transmitter circuit. The 500 kHz output circuit requires a high-voltage SCR that
can switch the storage capacitor energy into the transducer in a very short time. This results in a
very high rate of change of current with time (di/dt). Extreme care must be taken when servicing
the Tow Fish electronics so as not to falsely trigger the SCRs and possibly damage them.
When a SCR triggers, it initially conducts through a small portion of its junction. The size of the
initial conducting surface is a function of the SCRs gate drive current. Therefore, if the gate
drive is not sufficient enough to form an adequate conducting surface at turn-on, the initial
current surge is concentrated in a small area. The junction may then overheat and fail. The gate
drive circuit of the Tow Fish circuitry is designed to provide sufficient current to form an
adequate conduction area. However, if the SCR is falsely triggered without sufficient gate drive,
it will either fail or be weakened.
Two main reasons for SCR failures are the result of false triggering due to improper handling
procedures and tow cable problems. An SCR is a very sensitive device and may trigger on very
low gate drives due to radiated or impressed electrical noise on the gate. Radiated noise may be
from electric arcing due to cable problems. Impressed noise is usually from static discharge into
the gate circuit when one inadvertently touches the gate terminal. The former is usually the case
for SCR failures when the electronics has not been removed from the case. The latter generally
occurs when the electronics is being or has been serviced. Note that false triggering may just
weaken the SCR so that it prematurely fails a short time after Tow Fish deployment.
It is very important to protect the gate when servicing the electronics. This is accomplished by
placing a short jumper across the gate and cathode terminals of each SCR before turning the
power on and keeping them in place until service is complete or the individual transmitter is to be
tested.
Some operators have claimed that they have solved their SCR failures by substituting the SCR
with a different type. Although they may have solved the SCR failure problem, what they have
usually done is substitute a much slower unit. The slower unit will reduce the initial junction
surge current but will also reduce the acoustic source level accordingly. This is not
recommended, especially for the 500 kHz section. EdgeTech is continually looking for
alternative and better SCR sources for units with high voltage, current and di/dt rating. Please
contact EdgeTech for the latest recommended units when replacing SCRs.
vii
Model 272-TD
1. INTRODUCTION
1.1
General
The Model 272-TD Dual Frequency Tow Fish is

a hydrodynamically stable towed body which
contains the transducers and electronics
necessary to generate and receive side scan
sonar signals. It is designed for use with the
Model 260 Side Scan Sonar shipboard unit.
Various tow cable systems provide the
mechanical means for towing the fish near the
seafloor and the electrical means for powering
the fish, triggering the transmitters, and sending
the return signals to the shipboard unit.
The Tow Fish incorporates circuits for
transmitting and receiving the standard 100
kHz side-scan frequency as well as the highresolution 500 kHz frequency. Either one is
selected by a control signal from the Model 260.
The Tow Fish also incorporates a patented time
varied gain (TVG) circuit that compensates for
the known signal losses versus range. This not
only facilitates processing but also reduces the
dynamic range requirements of the tow cable,
thereby reducing the susceptibility to electrical
noise pickup.
This manual describes only the Tow Fish and
cables; consult the Model 260 manual for
remaining details of the system
1.2
Model 272-TD Tow Fish
The Model 272-TD Tow Fish is a compact

metal cylinder that can be handled by one
person (Figure 1-1). It is equipped with
stabilizing fins and lead nose weights for

hydrodynamic balance. Identical but separate
port and starboard transducers are located just
forward of the electronics section.
The
electronics section contains two identical
printed circuit (PC) boards (for the port and
starboard transducers). Each PC board contains
a transducer driver and a TVG circuit for each
operating frequency. The Tow Fish is freeflooding, except for the cylindrical tail section
containing the electronics. The watertight
electronics section attaches to the transducer
casing by means of an O-ring seal and a single
through-bolt for ease of assembly/disassembly.
Cathodic protection is provided internally and
externally. A hinged tow arm is mounted on the
top of the fish, near the center of gravity, and is
fitted with a pressure-proof connector for
electrically attaching the tow cable to the fish.
The Model 272-TD Tow Fish features a nylon
Saf-T-Link shear pin. When cable tension on
the Tow Fish exceeds 180 kg (400 lb), due to
snagging on the seafloor or mooring lines, for
example, the pin shears, and the electrical
connector between the cable and Tow Fish
separates. The Tow Fish then flips 360,
transferring the tow point to the nose of the Tow
Fish and allowing it to be pulled clear of the
obstruction (Figure 1-2). To restore normal
operation, the Tow Fish is simply remounted in
the towing arm with a new shear pin and the
connector refastened. If only the tail fins snag,
they will fall away and be loosely held by a
nylon cord. The cord will eventually break if the
snag persists (to avoid loss of the Tow Fish).
1-1
Model 272-TD
Figure 1-1. Model 272-TD Tow Fish.
1.3
Tow Cables
1-2
Model 272-TD
Tow cables of three optional lengths are
available: 600 meters (deep tow), 150-meter
(deep tow), and 50-meter (shallow tow). The
deep-tow cables are double armored, steel-clad
cables; the shallow-tow cable is an abrasion
resistant polyurethane-jacketed cable with a
Kevlar strength member. The 50-meter cable is
connected directly from the Tow Fish to the
shipboard unit. The deep-tow options require
an additional deck cable.
Typical Tow Fish depths versus speed for several

configurations are given in Figure 1-3. To obtain
greater depths with a given cable, the optional
Model 285 Tow Depth Depressor may be used.
The Model 285 Depth Depressor described in
Appendix A is a small, lightweight unit that
generates over 200 kg (450 lb.) of downward
force at 8 knots.
Figure 1-2. Model 272-TD Saf-T-Link
1-3
Model 272-TD
Figure 1-3. Tow depth versus ship speed for 150- and 600-meter tow cables with and without
Depth Depressor.
1-4
Model 272-TD
1.4
Specifications
Model 272-TD Tow Fish
Standard
Resolution
(100 kHz)
High
Resolution
(500 kHz)
ELECTRO-ACOUSTIC
Operating Frequencies:
Pulse Length:
105 kHz 10 kHz

0.1 msec
390 kHz 20 kHz

0.01 msec
Acoustic Output:
228 dB ref 1 micropascal at meter
Horizontal Beam Width:

Vertical Beam Width:
1.2 (3 dB points)
50, tilted down 20
222 dB ref 1
micropascal at
1 meter
0.5
Same
TVG Range
60 dB to 220 ms
19 dB to 75 ms
MECHANICAL
Maximum Depth:
Weight:
In Water
Crated
Uncrated
Dimensions:
Crated:
Uncrated:
600 meters (2000 ft)

15 kg (35 lb)
50 kg (110 lb)
25 kg (55 lb)
1.5 x 0.24 x 0.41 meters
(59 x 9.5 x 16 in.)
140 cm long x 11.4 cm
dia. x 61 cm dia tail
(55 in. x 4.5 in. x 24 in.)
TOW CABLE
MECHANICAL
DEEP TOW
Type:
Diameter:
Length:
Strength:
Minimum sheave diameter:
Weight in air:
Weight in water:
TOW CABLE (Continued)
Double armored, steel

0.95 cm (0.375 in.)
150 meters (500 ft) or
600 meters (2000 ft)
5000 kg (11,000 lb)
0.5 meter (20 in.)
0.35 kg/meter (0.24 lb/ft)
1-5
Model 272-TD
SHALLOW TOW
Type:
Diameter:
Length:
Strength:
Minimum sheave diameter:
Weight in air:
Weight in water:
Kevlar
0.89 cm (0.350 in.)
50M (150 ft) standard
100M, 150M available on request
1136 kg (2500 lb)
0.25 meter (10 in.)
ELECTRICAL
Number of Conductors:
Power to Tow Fish:
Trigger to Tow Fish:
Signals from Tow Fish:
1-6
Seven
+750 VDC at 12 mA (typical)
+10 VDC pulse, 125s for 100 kHz
250 s for 500 kHz
-60 to 0 dB//1 volt at operating frequency
(both port and starboard channels). 50 ohm
impedance.
Model 272-TD
2. INSTALLATION
2.1
General
The Model 272-TD Tow Fish is supplied with

miscellaneous mechanical spare parts in a
reusable wooden crate. The two cables and
extended electrical spare parts are ordered
separately. Armored cables are shipped on
wooden reels; the 50-meter tow cable is
provided in a reusable transit case.
Before each installation, the system components
should be thoroughly inspected for damage and
all components should be accounted for. Save
all packing materials for reuse.
2.2
Tow Fish
The Tow Fish is relatively lightweight, 25 kg (55

lb), and can be handled by one person. A pin is
provided which locks the tow arm to act as a
convenient carrying handle when the tow arm is
folded all the way back, parallel to the Tow Fish
body. In normal operation, the pin should not be
left dangling. Replace it in the hole on the Tow
Fish body.
Assemble the two tail fin halves together before
inserting them into the grooves on the rear of the
Tow Fish. Pull the steel recovery cable as far to
the rear as possible to allow for easy insertion of
the tail fins. Tighten the two tail fin screws. Tie
one end of the 1/8-inch nylon rope on the tail
fins to the steel recovery cable using two half

hitches. If the Tow Fish hits a snag, the tail fins
will be pulled off by the recovery cable and will
hang from it as the tow point is shifted to the
nose of the Tow Fish.
Locate the Tow Fish near the point of
deployment and make the electrical and
mechanical connections to the tow cable.
Electrical connection is made at the top end of
the tow arm.
Shackling the tow cable strength member to the
shackle plate on the tow arm (Figure 2-1) makes
mechanical connection. Once the cables are
attached, lash the Tow Fish to the deck. The tail
fins will keep the unit from rolling; however,
care should be taken not to bend the fins, as the
hydrodynamic stability will be affected.
2.3
Tow Cables
2.3.1 Tow Cable Selection

Tow cables perform three main functions: 1)
provide a conduit for the electrical signals, 2) act
as a strength member supporting the Tow Fish,
and 3) provide weight to depress the Tow Fish.
EdgeTech provides several tow cable
NOTE
Use the silicone grease provided on
both mating halves to assist in mating and sealing
Be sure to seize the shackle.
2-1
Model 272-TD
configurations to meet various operating

requirements.
One type of tow cable is
lightweight and uses Kevlar as the strength
member. Another type has a double-armored
jacket. As the tow cable length increases with
increased depth or tow speed, the tow cable
characteristics become the predominant factor in
establishing the Tow Fish depth.
With
lightweight cable, there comes a point where the
Tow Fish weight is not sufficient to counteract
the upward forces acting on the cable and
thereby maintain the required tow depth. When
this occurs, armored tow cable must be used.
For shallow water depths, three standard
lightweight cable lengths are available. Two
standard armored cable lengths are available for
deep water.
Both the standard lightweight and armored
cables use individual unpaired conductors.
Because the cable characteristics necessary for
high-frequency operation are neither specified
not controlled in the cable manufacture,
EdgeTech recommends an alternative armored
cable with coax conductors when the cable
length requirements meet or exceed 600 meters.
The coax cable signal losses at the optional
500 kHz are much less than the standard
cable, they are closely controlled, and are within
1 to 2 dB of that of the 100 kHz signal.
The optional coax cable is also recommended
for shorter lengths (450-600 meters) when
operating at 500 kHz in soft areas with poor
acoustic returns. A minimum of two coax sets
2-2
and three individual conductors are required

with the port and starboard signals dedicated to
individual coax pairs. A standard 3-coax, 3individual conductor cable configuration is
available from several manufacturers. Contact
EdgeTech for specific cable recommendations.
2.3.2 Tow Cable

Deployment
Installation
and
The 50-meter tow cable is lightweight and

portable. It should be laid out on a deck near
the point of Tow Fish deployment. Before
connecting the cable at both ends, figure eight
it to take out all the twists and to allow for easy
pay out. A convenient way to remove twists
from a coiled cable would be to pay out the
unattached Tow Fish end from the stern while
running at 2 to 3 knots. The Kellums grip on
the shipboard end should be securely attached to
the vessel to prevent potential loss of the inwater package.
Transfer the double armored cables to a winch.
Securely fasten the shipboard end to the drum.
Plans for handling the deep tow cables should
be made prior to shipboard installation. The use
of a winch equipped with slip rings will greatly
facilitate system operation. If such a winch is
not available, the deck cable from the recorder
must be disconnected from the main tow cable
before the tow cable can be deployed or reeled
in each time the depth of operation of the Tow
Fish is changed.
Model 272-TD
Front End of Tow Arm
Back End of Tow Arm
Figure 2-1. Model 272-TD Tow Fish termination.
2-3
Model 272-TD
3. OPERATION
3.1
General
The Model 260 shipboard unit powers the Tow

Fish and processes the signals from the Tow
Fish. Therefore, consult the manual of the
shipboard unit for most of the details of system
operation.
This manual provides operating
information that is unique to the Tow Fish.
3.2
Pre-deployment Checkout
Once the Tow Fish and shipboard unit have been

properly installed, Tow Fish operation may be
checked out as follows:
1) Set the shipboard unit for 100 kHz
operation.
2) Verify that the port and starboard Tow
Fish transducers are transmitting when
the Tow Fish trigger is enabled. The
trigger light on the Model 260 will flash
and a high frequency clicking sound
should be heard from each transducer.
Verify that the transmitting stops when
the trigger is disabled.
3) In turn, vigorously rub each of the
transducer faces and observe the signal
on the corresponding channel (port or
starboard) of the shipboard recording
unit.
(See Model 260 Manual for
example.)
4) Repeat 2) and 3) for 500 kHz
operation. It may be difficult to hear the
transmission clicking at this selection.
3.3
Tow Fish Deployment
The Tow Fish can be towed off the vessels stern

or from a boom off the bow (Figure 3-1). In
shallow water or rough terrain, side scan records
should be watched carefully to avoid running the
Tow Fish into the bottom. When the ship slows
down, the Tow Fish will sink rapidly. Thus, at
the end of a run, the ship should not be slowed
unless the Tow Fish is simultaneously pulled in.
The handling characteristics of the 50-meter tow
cable are significantly improved if a simple
technique is employed prior to launching the
Tow Fish. Before the cable is connected to the
Tow Fish, allow the Tow Fish end of the cable to
stream aft with the ship underway at about 2 to 3
knots and then retrieve and recoil it in a 6-ft
figure-eight on the deck.
Optimum towing height off the bottom depends
on bottom conditions and on the goals of the
mission - a Tow Fish height of 10 to 20% of the
range setting is recommended. For instance, on
the 200-meter range, the Tow Fish should be
towed at 20 to 40 meters above the seafloor.
Because of the reduced output, it is
recommended to operate at 10% of range when
operating at the 500 kHz high-resolution
frequency.
For maximum shadow effect on the records, and
when searching for objects on fairly flat
bottoms, tow nearer the bottom. In rough
terrain, tow higher off the bottom to avoid
collision.
3-1
Model 272-TD
Figure 3-1. Tow points.
3-2
Model 272-TD
1) Experiment with ship speed to determine

the effect on noise and the maximum
speed for an acceptable noise level.
Some vessels are particularly noisy at
certain speeds; these speeds should be
determined and avoided.
The Tow Fish may be deployed or retrieved by

one person. For deployment, carry the Tow Fish
to the rail and slowly lower it over the side using
the cable. Let out at least enough cable to get
the Tow Fish away from the vessel. Do not
lower the Tow Fish to the full desired towing
depth until the system is turned on. This allows
the actual Tow Fish height above the bottom to
be verified. Use care when bringing the Tow
Fish back on board. Do not allow it to swing, as
it may strike personnel or cause damage.
3.4
2) Experiment with different towing

arrangements, particularly in shallow
water, to determine the quietest
configuration. In general, the farther
away from the vessel, the lower the
noise will be. Avoid locations in or near
the wake.
Tow Noise
As with any sensor, it is important to keep the

system noise at a minimum level to make
maximum use of the available signal. A high
noise level can mask important data, particularly
at long range.
The background noise will vary with each
survey depending on the radiated vessel noise,
the tow depth, and the tow speed. Although it is
difficult to predict what noise level to expect,
under most conditions the noise level will allow
clean side scan data out to 200 meters for 100
kHz operation and 75 meters for 500 kHz
operation, except in shallow water or for soft
sediments.
Once the system is operational, monitor the
noise by turning off the Tow Fish trigger. Then
reduce the noise as much as possible, using the
steps below.
Finding the true minimum noise level may

require repeating the above steps once a change
has been made. When the quietest configuration
is determined, set the trigger on again. Since the
environment is subject to change, recheck the
noise level from time to time.
3.5
Operating Range
Operating range is a function of the signal-tonoise ratio. Stronger targets can be detected at a
greater range than weaker ones. Range is
reduced considerably if the acoustic or ambient
noise is high. Target resolution also decreases
as range increases. The generally accepted
ranges for standard 100 kHz operation are:
100, 150, and 200 meters. Preferred operation at
the high-resolution 500 kHz is from 25 up to
100
meters.
NOTE
When the Tow Fish trigger is off, the TVG is disabled and the
circuit will be at maximum gain. The displayed noise level will be
considerably less on short ranges when the trigger is on.
3-3
Model 272-TD
Digital Side Scan Sonar Tow Fish
4. THEORY OF OPERATION
4.1
General
Unlike a depth sounder, which collects only one

data point for every sonic transmission, side scan
sonar collects a whole line of data. Two identical
transducers collect data to each side, one to port
and one to starboard. Each has a narrow beam in
the horizontal plane and a wide beam in the
vertical plane.
The narrow, horizontal
beamwidth concentrates the energy in a swath
perpendicular to the axis of travel. The wide,
vertical beamwidth gives continuous data from
directly beneath the transducer out to the
maximum system range. The instantaneous echo
level is a measure of the backscattering strength
or roughness of the seafloor material. As the
transducers are moved forward, subsequent sonic
transmissions generate parallel swaths of data
giving continuous seafloor coverage.
4.2
Electrical
An output of 750 VDC from the shipboard unit

supplies power down the cable for both sets of
transmitting and receiving electronics.
4.2.1
Triggering
The trigger pulse width is set by the Model 260

FREQ SELECT switch. It is 125 microseconds
for 100 kHz operation and 250 microseconds
for 500 kHz. The incoming signal triggers a
190-microsecond one-shot A1-6 (TP2). At the
completion of the 190-microsecond pulse, flipflop A3-1 is set or reset depending on the
presence or absence of the trigger signal. The
state of A3-1 sets the operating frequency by
enabling or disabling the appropriate transmitter
and receiver circuitry.
4.2.2 Transmitter
Transmitters for the 100 kHz and 500 kHz
are basically the same except for minor
differences in the gating and triggering. The
transmitter is a capacitor discharge type. A
storage capacitor is charged to +750 volts and
when a trigger pulse occurs the stored energy is
dumped through a controlling SCR into the Tow
Fish transducer. The transducer rings and
couples acoustic energy into the water at its own
natural frequency. A matching transformer also
forms a tuned circuit with the storage capacitor
at the operating transducer frequency. The
induced transducer voltage is approximately 5
kV peak-to-peak and decays rapidly in about 0.1
msec for 100 kHz and 0.01 msec for 500
kHz.
4.2.3
TVG Receiver
The 100 kHz and 500 kHz TVG receivers

are similar except that the latter has an additional
gain stage to change the shape of the timevarying gain. Operation of the 100 kHz
portion is as follows.
Diodes CR10 and CR11 are essentially a shortcircuit on the high voltage transmit pulse. Once
the pulse diminishes, they then revert to a high
impedance. Acoustic echoes received on the
transducer are converted to electrical signals
which are coupled through T2 to amplifier A8.
A8 and A7 are transconductance amplifiers with
interstage filtering. The gain of each stage is
directly proportional to the control current from
the ramp generator, which sets the TVG rate.
The final output Q13 and Q14 is a fixed gain
amplifier. Transformer T5 matches the output to
a 50-ohm cable impedance.
A 3-msec pulse triggered from the input trigger
initiates the ramp generator. The 3-msec pulse
4-1
Model 272-TD
turns Q8 on, discharging C10. At the end of the
pulse, Q8 turns off and C10 is allowed to charge
linearly via the constant current charging circuit
of Q6. Transistors Q9 and Q10 convert the

voltage ramp across C10 to a current ramp which
controls the transconductance amplifiers gain
according to a pre-established TVG curve.
CAUTION
DO NOT ADJUST THE TVG POTENTIOMETERS.
They are factory set to give the proper curve.
Misadjustment can severely reduce the quality of the data.
Refer to subsection 5.3.2 for the calibration procedure if the
potentiometers are inadvertently misadjusted.
4-2
Model 272-TD
5. MAINTENANCE, REPAIR, and CALIBRATION

5.1
8) Regularly inspect the cables for signs of

physical damage.
Routine Maintenance
The following routine maintenance procedure

should be performed before and after each
mission.
5.2
Repair
5.2.1 Access (refer to Figure 7-1)

1) When the Tow Fish is retrieved after use in
seawater, rinse it with fresh water to
minimize corrosion.
2) Regularly check the screws that hold the
tail fins to the Tow Fish.
3) Apply zinc-rich grease to the Tow Fish
fasteners exposed to seawater before
insertion to minimize fastener corrosion.
4) Check the Tow Fish for deep scratches or
signs of corrosion. Paint the scratches to
prevent further corrosion.
5) Clean the urethane surface of the
transducers with a mild detergent to ensure
wetting of these surfaces to improve
acoustic coupling into the water.
6) Replace zinc anodes in the top channel as
necessary.
7) Check for fin warpage and repair or
replace if necessary.
Transducers may be inspected, repaired, or

replaced without separating the fore and aft
sections of the Tow Fish housing. Remove the
ten hex-head mounting screws and carefully
remove the transducer and cover-plate assembly
from the Tow Fish body (forward end first).
Color-coded jumper wires connect the rear end
of the transducer to the bulkhead of the
electronics assembly. Refer to Figure 5-3 for the
color code designations needed for re-assembly.
The bridle arm assembly is mechanically pinned
to the fore section of the Tow Fish housing and
electrically connected to the bulkhead of the
electronics assembly.
The electronics assembly can be accessed by
removing the through-bolt (alignment screw and
nut) which connects the fore and aft sections of
the Tow Fish body. This should be done only in
a clean, dry location. Carefully separate the two
sections without putting strain on the electrical
connectors. By carefully pulling on the body of
the large bulkhead connector, the electronics
section can be removed from the aft housing
CAUTION
Protect all underwater connectors, O-rings, and O-ring surfaces.
Ensure that they are clean and coated with silicone grease (provided
in Accessory Kit) prior to re-assembly. Ensure that the O-ring is
properly seated in its groove.
5-1
Model 272-TD
5.2.2
Tow Fish Rearming
When the Saf-T-Link trips, the Tow Fish must be

rearmed.
A rearming kit containing nylon screws, fuses,
and silicone grease is included with each Tow
Fish. Additional kits may be obtained from
EdgeTech.
Bring the Tow Fish on board to remount the SafT-Link, and reconnect the connector. The Saf-TLink is held in place by a 10-32 x 1 in. nylon
screw having a breaking strength of 400 lb,
which shears when the Tow Fish snags. This
shifts the tow point to the nose of the Tow Fish
for easier recovery. When reinstalling the Saf-TLink, unscrew the broken nylon screw from the
towing arm.
NOTE:
Insert a new nylon screw from the
threaded side of the screw hole only,
otherwise it will be difficult to remove the
broken section of the screw in the future.
When the cable connector on the Tow Fish arm

pulls out during Saf-T-Link recovery from a
snag, it usually causes the 750V fuse in the
shipboard unit to blow. Check and replace the
fuse as part of the Saf-T-Link reinstallation
procedure. Use silicone grease every time the
connector is separated.
5.2.3
Damaged Tail Fins
A bent tail fin may cause the Tow Fish to veer

from its intended tow path and depth; therefore,
5-2
an extra set of fins is supplied with each Tow

Fish. Figure 5-1 is a drawing of the fins in case
they have to be remotely manufactured in an
emergency.
5.3
Calibration
5.3.1
Tow Fish Beam Depression
The Tow Fish may be set for a 20 or 10

depression angle. It should normally be set for a
20 depression angle. When operating close to
the bottom at 500 kHz at short range (75
meters or less), a 10 depression angle may
improve the range and shadow definition.
Because the Model 260 beam correction is set for
a 20 depression angle, the close-in data may be
improperly highlighted, especially at 100 kHz.
The beam correction factor in this case may be
altered by the Model 260 internal panel switch
settings. Refer to Section 3 of the Model 260
Manual.
The opening or transducer window in the
transducer assembly is slightly off the horizontal
center line (Figure 5-2). When the transducers
are mounted so that the smaller B dimension is
on the bottom, the beam depression angle will be
20 from the horizontal. This is the standard
factory-shipped configuration.
For a 10
depression angle, remove the 10 screws from
each transducer/cover-plate assembly, disconnect
the plugs coming from the electronics, exchange
the starboard and port transducer assemblies, and
reconnect the plugs. The larger A dimension is
now on the bottom and the beam depression is
changed to 10. The 10 and 20 positions are
marked on each transducer, and the position
selected should line up with the index mark cut
into the Tow Fish body.
Model 272-TD
Figure 5-1. Tail fin.
5-3
Model 272-TD
Note:
There may be times when field
experience dictates that TVG values
be changed to optimize the record to
cover most bottom conditions. It is
advisable to contact the factory for
the latest values used prior to making
any adjustments.
Figure 5-2. Transducer Assembly (A>B) (exaggerated sketch).
5.3.2 TVG Ramp Calibration Procedure

(New Version-D32167 Assembly)
5.3.2.2 Equipment Required
Power Supply, 40VDC
5.3.2.1 Forward
Digital Voltmeter
The Tow Fish TVG ramp is factory set.

Because it requires special equipment for
calibration, it should not be tampered with or
adjusted in the field. It is recommended that
the electronics assembly be returned to the
factory for re-calibration if service is required.
The
Pulse Generator
Signal Generator (low-impedance

output)
Step Attenuator
Oscilloscope
Counter
1:1 50 isolation transformer
following procedure may be used by an

experienced technician if time and/or the
situation demands a field adjustment.
This procedure is for the field calibration of the
272-TD III tow-fish receiver section that has
previously been calibrated. Do not be
concerned if some values of the TVG
calibration are not exact as noted below due to
the availability and variability of the test
equipment used. It is more important to have
the same values for both the port and
starboard boards.
5-4
Model 272-TD
Connect low output to terminal E5
(GND).
5.3.2.3 Reference Drawings:
272-TD Manual (P/N 119830)
Transducer connections, Fig. 5-3
Board layout drawing, Fig. 7-3
5.3.2.4 Setup & Calibration Notes

This setup uses a low-voltage supply so the
board under test will not have the high 800VDC
present on it.
The test signals in the following procedure are
injected at designated test points. When the
boards are installed in an electronics assembly,
it may be more convenient to apply the test
signals to the transducer single-pin connectors
on the electronics bulkhead. If this is done,
increase the adjusted voltages in the calibration
sections below by around 10% to account for
losses in the input transformer. Refer to the
bulkhead layout drawing.
The 100 kHz and 400 kHz signal-level setup
settings below may be different. Depending on
the signal generator used either 1) store the
setup setting or 2) mark the position of the
output level control for each frequency. Use
these settings for the respective calibration
procedure.
5.3.2.5 Setup
1. Connect a 50 resistor across terminals
E8 and E9.
2. Power Supply
Connect () to terminal E5 (GND).
Connect (+) to TP9 (TEST).
4.
Signal Generator
Attach counter to signal generator
output.
Also connect step attenuator to signal
generator output.
Attach the isolation transformer to the
output of the attenuator.
Terminate the secondary (output) side of
the isolation transformer with 50 and
connect a set of shielded test leads.
Connect the test leads to the 100 kHz
input (low to E3, high to TP10).
Set frequency to 105 kHz and attenuator
to 20dB. Adjust the signal-generator
amplitude for 0.1 V p-p at the attenuator
output.
Switch in another 20dB and observe that
the amplitude drops to 10 mV p-p. Mark
or store the setting. Use this setting for
the 100 kHz calibration procedure
below.
Connect the test leads to the 400 kHz
input (low to E6, high to TP11).
Set frequency to 390 kHz and attenuator
to 20dB. Adjust the signal-generator
amplitude for 0.1 V p-p at the attenuator
output. Mark or store the setting. Use
this setting for the 400 kHz calibration
procedure below
3. Pulse generator
Connect hi output to terminal E4
(TRIG).
5-5
Model 272-TD
5. Oscilloscope
11.
Adjust MAX control R34 for a 150 mV

p-p signal across E8/E9 at maximum
amplitude.
12.
Adjust SLOPE control R33 so that the

max signal break point is at 300 ms.
13.
Set attenuator for 20 dB input signal.
14.
Adjust INIT control R32 for a 60 mV p-p

signal at minimum signal (3 ms).
15.
Repeat steps 10 through 14 above

because the adjustments interact with
each other.
External trigger from the pulse generator

Use ground connection E5 unless
otherwise noted
5.3.2.6 Turn On
1. Set power-supply voltage to 40 VDC
2. Set pulse generator for:
Amplitude +15 volts
Period
450 ms
Width
125 sec
5.3.2.8 400 kHz Calibration
5.3.2.7 100 kHz Calibration

1. Connect the input-signal test leads to the
100 kHz input (low to E3, high to TP10).
2. Connect oscilloscope to E8 (hi) and E9
(gnd).
3. Set pulse generator width to 125 sec,
period to 450ms.
4. Set signal generator to 100 kHz setup
setting (105 kHz).
5. Set attenuator for 70 dB.
6. Trigger the TVG and remove the TRIG
input when signal across E8/E9 is at
maximum.
7. Sweep frequency from 80 kHz to 120
kHz and note frequency of maximum
amplitude is 110 kHz 5 kHz.
8. Set signal
frequency.
generator
to
the
peak
9. Reconnect the Trigger input

10.
5-6
Set attenuator for 70dB input signal.
1. Connect the input-signal test leads to the

400 kHz input (low to E6, high to TP11).
2. Set pulse generator width to 250 sec,
period to 225ms.
3. Connect oscilloscope to E8 (hi) and E9
(gnd).
4. Set signal generator to 400 kHz setup
setting (390 kHz).
5. Set attenuator for 70dB input signal.
6. Trigger the TVG and remove the TRIG
input when signal across E8/E9 is at
maximum.
7. Sweep frequency from 370 kHz to 420
kHz and note frequency of maximum
amplitude is 390 kHz 5 kHz.
8. If the peak frequency is incorrect,
proceed as follows.
a. Set signal generator to 380 kHz and
adjust L2 for maximum signal across
E8/E9. Note: Use peak with slug near
Note: Peak L2 & L3 with slug near the top of coil. Do not use the
peak near the bottom.
Model 272-TD
b. Set signal generator to 400 kHz and
adjust L3 for maximum signal across
E8/E9.
4. Connect the tow cable to the Tow Fish

electronics package.
Disconnect
transducer cables.
c. Repeat above.
5. Place a clip lead across the two upper

terminals of each of the four SCRs to
prevent false triggering.
9. Repeat Step 7 above.

10.
Set signal generator to the peak

frequency.
11.
Reconnect the Trigger input.
12.
Set attenuator for 79dB input signal.
13.
Adjust MAX control R22 for 100 mV pp signal across E8/E9 at maximum
amplitude.
14.
Adjust SLOPE control R21 so that the

max signal break point is at 120 ms.
15.
Set attenuator for 59 dB input signal.
16.
Adjust INIT control R20 for a 60 mV p-p

signal at minimum signal (3msec).
17.
Repeat steps 12 through 16 above

because the adjustments interact with
each other.
5.3.3 TVG Ramp (Old versions Only

D28349 Assembly)
5.3.3.2 Setup
Proceed as follows: Refer to Figure 5-3
1. Remove the Model 260 from its case.
2. Remove two three-pin connectors P1 and
P2 at top of the Model 260 Acquisition
PCB (black handles).
3. Attach a 51 resistor across terminals E8
and E9 on the board(s) to be calibrated.
6. Synchronize oscilloscope on terminal E4;

positive trigger. Monitor across 51
resistor.
7. Put Model 260 to STANDBY and
TRIGGER to ON. Be careful of the high
voltage.
5.3.3.3 Calibrate the 100 kHz section:
1. Set the Model 260 FREQ SELECT
switch to 100 kHz.
2. Set up a low impedance 105 kHz signal
source for both -20 dB and -70 dB signal
referenced to 1 volt peak-to-peak when
applied to the 100 kHz transducer
terminals (port or starboard) on the
bulkhead for the board to be calibrated.
Connect the high lead to the double letter
terminal and low lead to the single letter
terminal (see Figure 5-3).
3. Set RANGE to 300 meters.
4. With the -70 dB signal, adjust the 100
kHz Max. Gain potentiometer R34 for a
150 mV peak-to-peak signal when ramp
is at the maximum level.
5. Adjust 100 kHz Slope potentiometer
R33 for maximum signal level break
point at 300 ms.
6. Adjust 100 kHz Initial Gain
potentiometer R32 for a 60 mV p-p
signal at 3 ms with -20 dB signal input.
5-7
Model 272-TD
7. Repeat 11, 12, and
adjustments interact.
13
as
these
5. Adjust 500 kHz Slope potentiometer

R21 for maximum signal level break
point at 120 ms.
8. Repeat for other board.

5.3.3.4 Calibrate the 500 kHz section:
1. Set the Model 260 FREQ SELECT
switch to 500 kHz.
2. Set up a low impedance 390 kHz signal
source for both a -50 dB and a -70 dB
signal referenced to 320 mV peak-topeak when applied across CR20.
6. Adjust 500 kHz Initial Gain

potentiometer R20 for a 60 mV p-p
signal at 3 ms with -50 dB signal input.
7. Repeat 19, 20, and 21 several times as
these adjustments interact.
8. Repeat for the other board.
9. Turn power off and remove the 51
resistors and jumpers from the SCRs.
3. Set RANGE to 150 meters.

10. Reconnect transducers (see Figure 5-3).
4. With the -70 dB signal, adjust the 500
kHz Max. Gain potentiometer R22 for a
100 mV p-p signal when ramp is at the
maximum level.
5-8
11. Reconnect P1 and P2 to Acquisition

PCB.
Model 272-TD
Figure 5-3. Transducer Hookup.
5-9
Model 272-TD
6. TROUBLESHOOTING
WARNING
High voltage (750 VDC) is present on the cable and the electronics
assembly.
6.1 General
techniques described
subsections.
Historically, most system problems occur in the

tow cable and/or connectors. Before proceeding,
verify cable continuity.
6.3.1 Shorted Wire
6.2 Tow Fish

At this point, it is assumed that the systems test
in Section 6 of the Model 260 Manual has been
completed and that the problem has been
narrowed down to one of the Tow Fish
electronic PCBs. A description of the PCB
circuitry operation is given in subsection 4.2 of
this manual.
in
the
following
The wire resistance of the double-armored tow

cables is 1 ohm/100 ft or 1 ohm/30 meters.
Measurement of the two shorted wires with the
ohmmeter provides the distance to the short. The
following procedure may be used to approximate
the distance to a single short or a point of high
leakage between a conductor pair or from a
conductor to a shield.
1) Disconnect both cable ends.
The transmitter circuitry should be tested with

the transducers connected as damage to the
SCRs may result if an SCR is triggered without
a load. The key critical component of the
transmitter is the SCR.
2) Short the two connector pins (or wires if

unterminated) of the shorted pair at both
ends and measure the total resistance
between the ends.
R1+R2=_______________
The TVG circuitry consists of two basic parts,

the ramp generator and the amplifier. When
troubleshooting these circuits, it is best to follow
the procedures in subsection 5.3.2 of this
manual.
3) Remove the shorts.
6.3 Tow Cables

The presence of shorted or open wire in a tow
cable can be determined by using a multimeter.
Once this condition is isolated to the tow cable,
the open or shorted wire can be located using the
4) Measure the resistance between a shorted

pair on one end with an ohmmeter on the
Rx1 scale.
R1+Rs=_______________
5) Measure the resistance from the other end.
R2+Rs=________________
6) Add the measurements of 4) and 5) above,
subtract the measurement of 2),
6-1
Model 272-TD
7) Divide the result by 2.
Rs=_________________
8) Subtract the value of 6) from the measured

values of 4) and 5).
R1=_________________
R2=_________________
The distance to the short from end #1 is the ratio
of R1/R1+R2 times the total cable length.
Recheck from end #2 which is R2/R1+R2 times
the cable length.
6.3.2 Open Wire
An open wire in a cable is much more difficult to
locate than a short circuit; therefore, a
capacitance bridge is recommended. Measuring
the capacitance from the open wire to the shield
on both ends allows two different capacitance
readings to be recorded. This represents a direct
ratio related to cable length and distance of break
from each end. Before cutting the cable, doublecheck the same ratio of capacitance using an
adjacent good wire. The capacitance will vary
from wire to wire, depending on the separation of
the wires.
A break in the cable may also be found or

confirmed by laying out the cable and flexing it
along its entire length until the break is reached.
Attach an ohmmeter using one lead at each end of
the open wire. When flexing, the ends of the
broken wire should touch, giving a continuity
reading on the meter.
6.3.3 Insulation Resistance Breakdown
Insulation breakdown is the most difficult fault to
locate. Cable leakage is not necessarily located
near the end terminations. However, the area
near each termination receives the most abuse
and is, therefore, subject to suspicion. Successive
cutting of the cable end until the leakage
disappears will prove successful in many cases.
With both ends disconnected, the tow cables
should measure between 100 megohms and
infinity between conductors with a 500-VDC
megohmmeter. When using a multimeter, all
cables wire-to-wire or wire-to-shield should
measure infinity. Any leakage on the multimeter
indicates cable leakage.
CAUTION
Prior to cutting the cable for any of the above reasons, a
careful visual examination should be made for any signs
of physical damage.
6-2
Model 272-TD
7. PARTS LISTS and ASSEMBLY DRAWINGS

7.1
It is imperative that the following information be

supplied with each order:
General
This section includes the parts lists, and

assembly drawings of the system. Included are
all electronic assemblies and mechanical parts
which are subject to wear, damage, or loss.
Orders for replacement
addressed as follows:
parts
EdgeTech
P.O. Box 850
4 Little Brook Road
Tel.
(508) 291-0057
Fax.
(508) 291-2491
should
be
1. Part Number;
2. Part Description;
3. Reference Designation;
4. Assembly;
5. Model Number; and
6. Serial Number.
The identification plate is located on the main
body of the Tow Fish.
When equipment is to be returned to the factory
for repair or evaluation, notify the factory in
advance for a Return Material Authorization
number to be used in all shipments and
correspondence to efficiently track the
equipment.
7-1
Model 272-TD
7.2
7-2
MODEL 272-TD TOW FISH - P/N A27600 (Figure 7-1)
Qty
Part Number
Description
E17760
Machining, Forward Section
E17787
Machining, Tail Section
D17708
Fin, Tail
D22280
Bridle Assy
50369X
Screw, Nylon, No. 10-32 x 1 in. lg
C17836
Cable, Recovery
D17857
Cable, Tow Fish
C17720
Plate, Shackle
D17726
Bridle
B17286
Pin, Retaining, Bridle Arm
500763
Screw, Insulator, Nylon
500275
Clamp, Cable, Nylon (HOLUB)
110892
Ring, Retaining, Stainless Steel (Waldes Truarc)
108227
Pin, Quick Release (Hartwell Corp. Lockwell Prod. Co.)
B17724
Screw, Alignment
A17721
Nut, Alignment
D28366
Transducer Assy
D17719-1
Plate, Transducer Cover, Starboard
D17719-2
Plate, Transducer Cover, Port
12
503592
Screw, Flat Hd, Slotted

No. 6-32 x 3/8 in. lg 100 Stainless Steel
20
503681
Screw, Hex Head - Trimmed

No. 6-32 x 3/8 in. lg Stainless Steel
Model 272-TD
7.2
MODEL 272-TD TOW FISH - P/N A27600 (Figure 7-1) (continued)
Qty
Part Number
B28029-4
Connector, Jumper Set, White
B28029-3
Connector, Jumper Set, Black
B28029-2
Connector, Jumper Set, Green
B28029-1
Connector, Jumper Set, Red
C22334
Lead, Grounding
B22415
Weight, Nose
A22329
Anode, Zinc, Rectangular
B22416
Anode, Zinc, Nose
A23034
Rod, Threaded, Nose Anode
D27977
Electronics Assy
20
509493
Washer, Nylon No. 6
7.3
Description
Bridle Replacement Kit - P/N A23385
Qty
Part Number
Description
A22336
Kit, Rearming
114820
Ring, Plier Retaining
110892
Ring, Retaining, Stainless Steel

(Waldes Truarc)
500763
Insulator, Nylon
B17286
Pin, Retaining
D22280-1
Bridle Assy (Less Recovery Cable and Shackle Plate)
7-3
Model 272-TD
Figure 7-1. Model 272-TD Tow Fish.
7-4
Model 272-TD
7.4
ACCESSORY KIT - P/N A22467 (Included with Tow Fish)
Qty
Part Number
Description
506826
Screw, Set, Slotted HD, No. 5-16 x 1/2 in. lg

(tail fin mounting)
36 in.
503282
Rope, Nylon, 1/8 in. Dia
108227
Pin, Quick Release
500275
Clamp, Cable (Modified)
24
503681
Screw, Hex Head - Trimmed, No. 6-32

x 3/8 lg Stainless Steel
(transducer mounting)
107956
O-Ring, Buna N, 70 Duro.
C22337
Connector Bulkhead, Single Pin
A22329
Anode, Zinc, Rectangular
B17724
Screw, Alignment
A17721
Nut, Alignment
D17708
Fin, Tail
C22335
Connector, Jumper Assy, Single Pin
C22334
Lead, Grounding
A22336
Kit, Rearming
114103
Grease, 8 oz Tube
10
501262
Cable Tie
10
50369X
Screw, Shear Pin, Nylon,

No. 10-32 x 1 in. lg
135070
Wrench,
7-5
Model 272-TD
7.5
7-6
TOW
FISH
(Figure 7-2)
ELECTRONICS
ASSEMBLY
Qty
Part Number
Description
D27933
Plate, Bulkhead
D32167
Assy, PC Board
C22234
Connector, Eight Pin
C22337
Connector, Single Pin (P1)
107956
O-Ring, Material
AR
114103
Grease, Silicone
P/N
D27977
Model 272-TD
Figure 7-2. Tow Fish Electronics Assembly.

7-7
Model 272-TD
Figure 7-3. Transmitter/TVG Amp PCB component layout for

Model 272-TD1II Tow Fish.
7-8
Model 272-TD
7.7
50-METER
(Figure 7-4)
TOW
CABLE
ASSEMBLY
Item
No.
Qty.
Part Number
103039
Connector
100048
Adapter
102466
Cable, Clamp
B29412
Cable, Pigtail
507164
Bushing
105023
Grip
111147
Shackle
P/N
F28348-50
Description
NOTE
F28348 is Part No. for Kevlar Tow Cable. Add
-50 for 50 meter length
7-9
Model 272-TD
Figure 7-4. 50-meter tow cable assembly.
7-10
Model 272-TD
Figure 7-5. Wiring diagram.
7-11
Model 272-TD
Figure 7-6. Interconnection cable diagram standard cable.
7-12
Model 272-TD
Figure 7-7. Interconnection cable diagram for optional

coax type double armored tow cable
7-13
Appendix A
ACI Interface
APPENDIX A
ACI INTERFACE
A958456 Revision A
Appendix A
ACI Interface
Table of Contents
A.1. Introduction............................................................................................................................... A-1
A.1.1 Specifications........................................................................................................................ A-1
A.1.2 Input/Output.......................................................................................................................... A-2
A.1.2.1 Rear-Panel BNC Connectors ........................................................................................ A-2
A.1.2.2 Onboard Header Connectors......................................................................................... A-2
A.2. Installation ................................................................................................................................. A-2
A.3. Operation ................................................................................................................................... A-2
A.3.1 Serial Command/ Status Interface ........................................................................................ A-2
A.3.1.1 ACI Commands ............................................................................................................A-2
A.3.1.2 Tow fish Status ............................................................................................................. A-3
A.3.2 Parallel-Data Output ............................................................................................................. A-3
A.3.2.1 Port Specifications ........................................................................................................ A-3
A.3.2.2 Signal Identification ..................................................................................................... A-4
A.3.2.3 Data Format .................................................................................................................. A-4
A.3.2.4 Operating Modes .......................................................................................................... A-4
A.3.3 DSP Serial-Data Output........................................................................................................ A-5
A.3.3.1 Port Specifications ........................................................................................................ A-5
A.3.3.2 Signal Identification ..................................................................................................... A-5
A.3.3.3 Data Format .................................................................................................................. A-5
A.3.3.4 Operating Modes .......................................................................................................... A-6
A.4. Theory of Operation ................................................................................................................. A-6
A.4.1 General Information.............................................................................................................. A-6
A.4.2 Circuitry................................................................................................................................ A-6
A.4.2.1 Analog Receivers.......................................................................................................... A-6
A.4.2.2 CPU............................................................................................................................... A-7
A.4.2.3 Timers ........................................................................................................................... A-7
A.4.2.4 Digital Output ............................................................................................................... A-7
A.5. Jumper Setup and Calibration ................................................................................................ A-7
A.5.1 Receiver Calibration ............................................................................................................. A-7
A.5.2 Jumper Settings..................................................................................................................... A-8
A.5.2.1 Parallel Programming Jumpers..................................................................................... A-8
A.5.2.2 Serial Programming Jumpers........................................................................................ A-8
A.6. Troubleshooting ........................................................................................................................ A-9
A.6.1 Programming Jumper Plugs..................................................................................................A-9
A.6.2 Tow fish Interface................................................................................................................. A-9
A.6.3 Advanced .............................................................................................................................. A-9
A.6.3.1 Setup. ............................................................................................................................ A-9
A.6.3.2 Commands from Sonar-Processor .............................................................................. A-10
A.6.3.3 Status Message from ACI Card .................................................................................. A-10
A-i
Appendix A
ACI Interface
List of Tables and Figures

Table 1 Programming-Jumper Settings ............................................................................................. A-11
Figure 1 Board Input-Output Connectors ........................................................................................... A-12
Figure 2 Parallel Timing.................................................................................................................... A-13
Figure 3 DSP Serial Timing .............................................................................................................. A-13
Figure 4 Analog test points and controls ........................................................................................... A-14
Figure 5 Timing and control .............................................................................................................. A-15
Figure 6 A/D and parallel output ....................................................................................................... A-16
Figure 7 High-speed serial output ..................................................................................................... A-17
A-ii
Appendix A
ACI Interface
APPENDIX A
ACI INTERFACE
A.1. Introduction
The Analog Control Interface (ACI) circuit
board is an interface between a topside sonar
processor and an EdgeTech Model 272-TD analog tow fish. This board provides the analog to
digital conversion plus individual-channel analog-gain control of the tow fish signal. Both parallel and high-speed serial data are simultaneously available, however, only one type is generally used depending on the selected processor. A
digital I/O or DSP board is required in the processor to accept this information.
All control functions are selected by on-screen
menu or icon selection at the topside processor.
These controls are conveyed to the ACI board
via one of the processors serial ports.
The ACI board has an ISA form factor. It may be
installed in the processor or remotely mounted in
an external enclosure. When mounted in the
processor, the card obtains power from the PC
bus. Other than power, there are no signal connections to the bus.
Onboard programming jumpers provide for various configurations and interface-signal polarities
to meet the requirements for most sonar processors on the market.
A high voltage supply is required along with the
ACI card to power the tow fish.. It too may be
mounted internal or external to the processor. An
analog test signal is provided for troubleshooting
without the tow fish.
Although the ACI board has been designed to
operate with the EdgeTech Model 272-TD tow
fish, it will also work with the single-frequency
Model 272-T tow fish. Only 100 kHz data will
be available. The ACI board will not work adequately with a Model 272 tow fish however.
Note
The electrical interface to the ACI boards

digital data output is the same as that for
the DCI card that is used with EdgeTechs
DF-1000 digital tow fish, except that only 2
data channels are available at one time and
the data sampling is 2X. This minimizes
processor design changes when designing
for both boards.
This document provides information on generic
installation of, and interfacing to, the ACI card.
Refer to other Sections in this manual for specific instructions pertaining to a particular sonar
processor.
A.1.1 Specifications
Card Type.............. ISA
Size ........................ 4.5 in H x 9.5 in L
(11.4 cm H x 24 cm L)
Power..................... +5 VDC via ISA bus or onboard
connector
Serial Control Interface:
Type ............................ RS-232C
Character Baud Rate ... 4800 standard
Number of Data Bits ... 8(D7=0)
Number of Start Bits ... 1
Number of Stop Bits ... 1
Parity ........................... None
Handshaking ............... None required
Digital-Data:
Data-Sample Rate ....... 50 kHz per side scan channel
Data Resolution........... 12 bits per sample
HS Parallel Output ...... 2x16-bit channels in sequence
HS Serial Output ......... One 2x16-bit channel in sequence, port and starboard
Electrical Interface ...... Standard CMOS HC type
Trigger Output
Connector.................... BNC female
Polarity........................ Positive going
Pulse Width................. 89 sec
Signal Level ................ 0 to +5 volts (CMOS)
Impedance ................... 1K ohms to +5 volts
100 ohms to 0 volts
Analog Outputs
Connector.................... 2 x BNC female
Signals......................... Port & starboard
A-1
Appendix A
ACI Interface
Polarity........................ Detected positive signal
Signal Level ................ 0 to +5 volts
Source Impedance....... 100 ohms
A.1.2 Input/Output
Refer to Figure 1 at the end of this appendix for
connector-pin wiring information and Figures 5
to 7 for their location. Refer to section A.1.1 for
specifications.
A.1.2.1 Rear-Panel BNC Connectors
TRIG OUT ...............Provides a short positivegoing TTL level pulse each time the ACI triggers
the tow fish transmitter. With the ACI as master,
it is used to synchronize other sonar equipment
PORT / STBD...........Two separate outputs of
the detected analog signals after filtering and
amplification just prior to digitization.
installed inside the PC chassis, it is mounted in

an unused ISA card slot for power and mechanical support. There are no signal connections
made to the PCs bus. When it is mounted external to the PC, an external power supply is needed
for the tow fish.
Two ribbon cable connections are required between the ACI board and the PC. One is a serial
connection for commands from the PC. The
other is the digital data output to the PC. A digital input board is required in the PC to transfer
the digitized side scan data to the PC bus.
There are several system variations. Therefore
for specific wiring and programming-jumper
settings refer to the appropriate manual addendum supplied with a particular application. The
default settings are for interfacing with the
EdgeTech Model 560A sonar processor.
A.1.2.2 Onboard Header Connectors

Serial Port J2 ... Ten-pin header that provides
bi-directional RS-232 serial communication between the ACI board and a sonar processor. To
w fish commands are input and tow fish status is
output. Off-board ribbon cable configures to a
DB-9F connector.
Parallel Data J4 (ISIS) ........Forty-pin header
that outputs parallel side scan data for external
processing. Configured for 1:1 compatibility
with an internal Triton Technology ISIS connector.
Parallel Data J5 (SIDE SCAN).......Forty-pin
header that outputs parallel side scan data for
external processing. Off-board ribbon cable configures to a DB-37F connector configured for 1:1
compatibility with the Triton Technology ISIS
off-board connector.
Serial Data J3 (DSP SERIAL) ...........Ten-pin
header that outputs high-speed serial data to an
external processor. Off-board ribbon cable configures to a DB-9F connector.
A.2. Installation
The ACI board may be either installed within the
sonar processors chassis or external to it. When
A-2
A.3. Operation
A.3.1 Serial Command/ Status Interface
The ACI PCB receives commands from, and
sends status information to the sonar processor
through a full-duplex serial port. The serial interface is through a 10-pin ribbon cable within
the PC. A DB-9F ribbon cable extension is
available for an external connection. Refer to
Figure 1 for signal identification and connectorpin assignment.
A.3.1.1 ACI Commands
Serial signals from the topside processor control
operation of the ACI card. These operational
commands include setting the tow fish ping rate
and its frequency, setting the individual port and
starboard amplifier gains, and enabling test signals.
Once a command has been set it retains the last
value until the ACI power has been turned off or
re-commanded to another setting. Even though
the last input is retained, it is advisable to periodically re-transmit the command signals to insure that the tow fish is operating at the desired
setting in case a noise input causes an accidental
switch to another setting.
Appendix A
ACI Interface
The command message format is
<STX>Message<ETX>,
where <STX> is start-of-text (02H) and <ETX>
is end-of-text (03H). The Message content denotes the command function. Each function is
individually controlled with its own message.
The messages can occur in any order at any rate.
When turned on, the ACI is immediately active.
The following are the various command messages accepted by the ACI. The default values at
turn on are denoted in bold.
Parameter Command Operation
Range ..........Rxxx.........Sets side scan transmit rate where
xxx denotes the Range setting
in meters. Values of xxx are 25,
50, 75, 100, 150, 200, 300, 400,
600 and 1000. Range is limited to
150 meters maximum at 500 kHz.
Frequency:...F1.............Enable 100 kHz operation
F5 .............Enable 400 kHz operation
Trigger.........T1.............Turn on tow fish trigger
T0.............Turn off tow fish trigger
Test Signal...X1 ............Turn on tow fish test signal
X0 ............Turn off tow fish test signal
Gain (both channels)
.....G0 to G4 ..Gain number. Simultaneous sets
the baseline gain on both port &
starboard channels in 6 dB steps.
Both channels are set to the same
gain. G2 is default setting.
Gain (individual)
......P+, S+
P-, S- ........Each command input incrementally increases or decreases gain
of the respective port or starboard
channel in 1.5 dB steps to a limit
of 12 dB from the G2 default
setting.
Reset............Z...............Software reset of the ACI processor. Resets the ACI board without
having to power down the sonar
processor.
A.3.1.2 Tow fish Status

A serial message from the ACI card provides
information of the its operating mode. This message may be used by the sonar processor to confirm that the tow fish is operating at the commanded settings. This message occurs at a 1 Hz
rate. The Message content consists of six data

fields separated by commas as follows. Note:
Spaces are shown below only for clarity. There
are no spaces in the message.
$ETACI, Range, Frequency, Port Gain, Starboard Gain,
Trigger, Test Signal <CR><LF>
A typical status message is

$ETACI, R100.0, F1, P3.0, S-1.5, T1, X0 <CR><LF>,
where,
Range ................................... 100 meters
Frequency............................. 100 kHz
Port Gain .............................. 3.0 dB
Starboard Gain ..................... -1.5 dB
Trigger ................................. On
Test Signal ........................... Off
The port and starboard gain values are relative to
the default start-up value (G2) used for calibration.
A.3.2 Parallel-Data Output
The parallel output provides two channels of side
scan data; either port and starboard 100 kHz, or
port and starboard 500 kHz. For every sonar
sample, port and starboard data are output in sequence. Either the byte location from start-oftransmission or the built-in ID bits may be used
to identify the particular sample.
Data transfer may be setup for either DMA control from the external host or continuous transfer.
An internal FIFO allows for asynchronous data
transfer between the ACI and host.
A.3.2.1 Port Specifications
No. of Channels...... 2
Port & Starboard,
100 kHz or 500 kHz
No. of Data Bits...... 16 per sample per channel
Data Resolution ...... 12 bits
Data Sample Rate ... 50 kHz per channel
Data Throughput .... 100 kHz
Output FIFO ........... 512 bytes
Output Drive........... 10 LS TTL
Input ....................... CMOS (74HC)
A-3
Appendix A
ACI Interface
Connector................2x20-pin header internal
DB-37F external
tinuous-mode data transfer. (Default is

DACK-)
A.3.2.2 Signal Identification
A.3.2.3 Data Format
Not every signal associated with the parallel port

is used by all sonar processors. Refer to Figures
for input/output pin numbers and for timing information. On-board jumpers select the controlsignal polarity. The default settings are shown.
The 16-bit data word consists of 12-bit of digitized data and four housekeeping bits. Of the
later, two bits identify the side scan channel, one
bit identifies alternate side scan lines, and one is
not used. For each data sample, the output sequences through the two channels with port always the first output.
At the start of each sonar line, Bit D0 toggles
between high and low and remains in the same
state for the duration of the line. This bit can be
used to indicate the start of a line for both realtime or post processing. It may be also be used to
group samples within a line.
D15-D0......Data output signals.

D15-D4 ..........Side scan data, MSB-LSB
D3 ..................Not used. Always a zero.
D2, D1............Channel ID
00 Port 100 kHz
01 Stbd 100 kHz
10 Port 500 kHz
11 Stbd 500 kHz
D0 ..................Toggles each sonar ping
IRQ ..... User-selectable positive or negativegoing output pulse approximately 35 sec
wide that indicates the start of a new side
scan line. (Default is IRQ+)
DRQ ..... User selectable positive or negative
going output signal that when asserted,
indicates that data is available for transfer
to the external host. As long as DRQ is asserted, data is available in the FIFO for
transfer. (Default is DRQ+)
RD.. .. User selectable positive or negative
going data clock output 2.6 sec wide
used in the continuous data transfer mode.
Output data is valid on the trailing edge of
RD or at a minimum of 120 nsec after the
leading edge. (Default is RD-)
DACK... User selectable positive or negative
going input signal from the host that
clocks out the parallel data in the DMA
transfer mode. Data read is initiated on the
leading edge and is valid on the trailing
edge. The host can continually apply
DACK pulses for continuous data transfer
as long as DRQ remains asserted. The
DACK pulse width must be 20 nsec
minimum. DACK is disabled for the conA-4
A.3.2.4 Operating Modes

An onboard jumper establishes whether the output data transfer is continuous or controlled by a
handshake signal from the host processor.
A.3.2.4.1 DMA Handshake Mode
At the start of a new line, IRQ is asserted. The
host processor, using IRQ as an interrupt, initializes for DMA transfer. When data is available, DRQ is asserted notifying the host that data
transfer can start. The data byte is output when
the host asserts DACK and is stable for read-in
by the host at the trailing edge. If that is the only
data byte available, DRQ will reset, notifying the
host that there is no more data available. If on
the other hand data is still available in the FIFO,
DRQ will remain asserted signifying to the host
that it can continue data transfer until the buffer
empties.
A.3.2.4.2 Continuous Mode (default)
Data is continuously loaded and transferred to
the output buffer as it is sampled. The FIFO is
not utilized. Neither is the DACK handshake
signal from the host. IRQ is asserted at the start
of a new line and DRQ is asserted when data is
available. RD is used by the host to synchronize
data readout from each channel. The host must
Appendix A
ACI Interface
maintain the word transfer rate for the two channels in order to keep up with data sampling.
A.3.3 DSP Serial-Data Output
The high-speed serial port is designed to interface to a DSP processor. Data is transferred to
the host through a single serial channel. For each
sonar sample, a 32-bit data string is output, 16
bits of port followed by 16 bits of starboard,
MSB to LSB. Output data rate is set by either the
host processor or an onboard clock. Programmable jumpers set the source and rate.
When interfacing to a DSP, operate the DSP in
its variable mode because data is transferred in
bursts, not continuous. Set the I/O board for
continuous mode without host control as presented below. The same applies to third-party
boards that use the TMS-320 series such as
Sonitechs Spirit 30 family.
A.3.3.1 Port Specifications
No. of Serial Ports ....1
P&S, 100 kHz or
P&S, 500 kHz
No. of Data Bits........16 per sample per channel
Data Resolution........12 bits
Data Transfer Rate ...Selectable
External ....................10 MHz maximum.
Internal .....................2, 4, 8 & 16 MHz
Data Sample Rate .....50 kHz per channel
Data Throughput ......100 kHz
Output Drive.............10 LS TTL
Input .........................CMOS (74HC)
Connector .................2x5-pin header internal,
DB-9F external
A.3.3.2 Signal Identification
Refer to Figure 1 for input/output pin numbers
and Figure 3. for timing information.
NEW LINE.... Positive going output pulse approximately 120 sec wide that indicates
the start of a new side scan line.
SYNC OUT .....Positive or negative going output pulse (user selectable), one XCLK cycle wide that notifies the external proces-
sor that the first bit of the 32-bit data

block will be available on the next falling
edge of XCLK.
SER OUT ..... Sequential output data string of
16 bits of port data followed by 16 bits of
starboard data, MSB to LSB, for each data
point. Data is clocked out at the rate of
XCLK and is stable for readout on the
falling edge.
XCLK..... Data transfer clock. A shared input to
the ACI when data transfer rate is set by
the host processor. An output to the host
processor when data transfer is set by the
ACI. Onboard jumpers set clock source.
SEND DATA ....Control input signal that notifies the ACI that the external processor is
ready to accept the next 2x16-bit data
string when in the handshake mode. Enables data transfer when in the continuous
data-transfer mode.
A.3.3.3 Data Format
Data is transferred through a single serial channel. For each data sample, 16 bits of port data are
output followed by 16 bits of starboard data.
Each 16-bit data word consists of 12-bit digitized
data, two bits that identify the side scan channel,
one bit that identifies a side scan line, and one
not used. The output order of the 32-bit word is
illustrated below.
B1.................... Always a zero
B2-B13............ Port side scan, MSB-LSB
B14-B15.......... Channel ID
00....... Port 100 kHz
10....... Port 500 kHz
B16.................. Toggles for each line
B17.................. Always a zero
B18-B29.......... Stbd side scan, MSB-LSB
B30-B31.......... Channel ID
01....... Stbd 100 kHz
11....... Stbd 500 kHz
B32.................. Toggles each sonar ping
Bits B16 and B32 toggle between high and low
states at the start of each sonar line and remain in
A-5
Appendix A
ACI Interface
their state for the duration of the line. These bits
can be used to indicate the start of a line for both
real-time and post-processing. They may be also
be used to group samples within a line.
A.3.3.4 Operating Modes
Data transfer occurs at the XCLK rate. XCLK
can be setup to use either the external hostprocessor clock or an onboard jumper-selectable
clock.
An onboard jumper establishes whether the output data transfer is continuous or controlled by a
handshake signal from the host processor.
A.3.3.4.1 Handshake Mode
Data is continuously available for transfer from
the serial port at a 48 kHz 32-bit data-word rate.
The NEW LINE signal notifies the host processor when a new side scan transmission has
started. A 32-bit serial buffer provides temporary
storage for the previous data sample. When the
host processor is ready to accept a data sample, it
asserts the SEND DATA signal. Then when a
sample is ready for transfer, the ACI asserts the
SYNC OUT signal, notifying the host processor
that data transfer will start at the next rising
XCLK signal and continue until the buffer empties or SEND DATA is de-asserted.
The host processor must transfer the entire sample within the 48 kHz data-word rate to prevent
data loss. For handshake operation, the onboard
jumper is set to the INTERrupt position.
A.3.3.4.2 Continuous Mode w/o Host Control
In the Continuous mode, data is continuously
output from the serial port at a 48 kHz data-word
rate. The NEW LINE signal notifies the host
processor when a new side scan transmission has
started. A 32-bit serial buffer provides temporary
storage for the previous data sample. When a
new sample is ready, the ACI asserts the SYNC
OUT signal, notifying the host processor that the
first data bit is available and sequential transfer
will start at the next rising XCLK signal and
continue until the buffer empties. See Figure.
A-6
For continuous output, set the onboard jumper to

the CONTinuous position.
A.3.3.4.3 Continuous Mode w/ Host Control
Operation is the same as the continuous mode
w/o host control above except that the host controls the data transfer by asserting the SEND
DATA signal. Set the onboard jumper to the
CONTinuous position.
A.4. Theory of Operation

A.4.1 General Information
The ACI is the data and control interface between a topside sonar processor and an M272TD tow fish. It amplifies, filters, and digitizes
the analog tow fish signals for processing. There
are no operating controls on the ACI board. All
operation comes from the sonar processor
through an RS-232 serial connection.
These serial command signals are converted by
ACI into control signals that set the tow fish operating frequency and transmit rate. Control signals also set analog gain and test modes.
The ACI card is a combination of hardware and.
software-driven functions. Certain features can
be modified by firmware. Onboard programming
jumpers tailor individual I/O signals to different
sonar processors.
Serial and parallel formats of the tow fish data
are available to the sonar processor. The ACI
also provides a trigger signal for synchronizing
external equipment to the sonar transmission
A.4.2 Circuitry
A.4.2.1 Analog Receivers
Two identical receiver circuits individually process the port and starboard signals. They provide
amplification and filtering that is controlled by
the onboard CPU. The analog signals are fullwave detected and multiplexed to a high-speed
12-bit analog to digital converter. Analog receiver gain is controlled by software.
Appendix A
ACI Interface
A.4.2.2 CPU
The main function of the CPU is to receive serial
signals from the sonar processor and transpose
these signals to appropriate actions that control
the tow fish and ACI board. These include analog gain and filter settings, setting the tow fish
firing rate and frequency, and enabling test signals. The CPU also provides a status message to
the processor.
A.4.2.3 Timers
A set of three timer chips set various timing
functions controlled by the CPU. They include
the tow fish trigger rate and pulse width, the
data-sampling rate, and the test signal frequency
and pattern.
A.4.2.4 Digital Output
This circuitry formats the digitized sonar data
output to the sonar processor. High-speed serial
and parallel data formats are simultaneously
available.
The high-speed serial port is configured to drive
a processor with a DSP input channel. Serial data
is buffered in an output shift register. It can be
transferred out at either a fixed rate controlled by
the ACI or the sonar processors clock, or by a
series of handshake signals between the two
units.
Serial sonar data is also shifted into a parallel
register for serial-to-parallel conversion and then
transferred in sequence to a buffered FIFO register for storage. The FIFO provides temporary
storage when the sonar processor momentarily
cannot keep up with the input rate during parallel
transfer. This also prevents data loss when the
processor is setting up for a new side scan line.
The requirement for strict timing between the
two units is eliminated with asynchronous datablock transfers from the ACI to the processor in
burst-mode transfers.
A.5. Jumper Setup and Calibration

The ACI board contains both digital and analog
circuitry. The receiver section has several analog
gain and offset adjustments. The digital section

requires various jumper settings to set interfacesignal polarities as required by the sonar processor and data-transfer modes. All adjustments are
preset at the factory and should not require any
modifications in the field unless certain components are changed or the adjustments are inadvertently altered. No periodic maintenance is required.
Note: It may difficult to get at all the controls
and test points when the ACI card is installed in
the processor unit. The ACI card may be removed and power applied to connector J9, configured to accept a standard PC power plug. Refer to the figures for component location.
A.5.1 Receiver Calibration
The ACI board has a built-in test signal that can
be used for calibrating the receiver. An oscilloscope and DVM are necessary for calibration. A
command source with a serial port is also required to send commands to the ACI board. This
may be either the sonar processor itself or a PC
with a communications-software package installed. Refer to Section A.3.1 for the command
protocol.
Calibration can be performed with the ACI card
either mounted in the M560A or on the bench.
An extender is required to gain access to the adjustment pots and test points when mounted in
the M560A chassis.
Proceed as follows to calibrate each receiver on
the bench out of the M560A. The test points and
controls noted are for the Port channel. Their respective Starboard values are enclosed in parenthesis. Refer to Figure 4 for component locations
and Figure 1 for the command signal connections.
1) Connect power source to J9, configured for a
standard PC-power connector.
2) Connect the command source to J2 or to a
DB9 cable adapter.
3) Turn Power on. The ACI board will default
to standard gain, 100 kHz and test signal disA-7
Appendix A
ACI Interface
abled. Wait 5 minutes for the board temperature to stabilize before proceeding with
the calibration.
4) Short pins 1 and 2 of signal-input connector
J1 (J6).
5) Adjust Offset control R16 (R43) for 0 VDC
0.001V at TP7 (TP8).
6) Remove the input short and send the X1
command to enable the test signal.
7) Adjust trimmer capacitor C25 (C58) for a
peak signal at TP5 (TP18).
8) Adjust the balance control R25 (R50) so that
the adjacent peaks at TP40 (TP39) are of
equal amplitude.
9) Adjust the Gain control R14 (R37) for a
+250 mv peak signal at TP7 (TP8).
10) Turn Power off and then after 10 seconds,
back on. Repeat Steps 5) to 9) above to
eliminate any control interaction.
11) Send the F5 command to enable the 390
kHz test signal.
12) Adjust trimmer capacitor C27 (C56) for a
peak signal at TP5 (TP18).
13) Turn Power off and remove external connections.
A.5.2 Jumper Settings
Different jumper settings may be required for
use with different sonar processors. Refer to
Table 1 for settings used by various processors.
Please note that these settings are applicable for
a particular DIO board specified by the processor
developer. The developer may however change
the DIO board depending on its availability and
cost effectiveness. Contact EdgeTech for the latest information.
A.5.2.1 Parallel Programming Jumpers
Jumper plugs are used to modify the operation of
the parallel port. See Figure 6 for their location
and setting information. Default settings are
noted below in bold.
Note: On some boards, the default settings for
those other than JP11 & JP13, are pre-wired on
A-8
the backside of the board by a small track across

their respective pads. To change from the default
value, first cut the track and then add the appropriate jumper if required.
JP11&13 ... Selects either CONTinuous output or hand-shake DMA-transfer
mode. (Default is CONT)
JP6............. Sets the polarity of the IRQ output signal. (Default is IRQ+,
jumper installed)
JP7............. Sets the polarity of the DACK input signal. (Default is DACK-,
jumper not installed)
JP8............. Sets the polarity of the RD output
signal. (Default is RD-, jumper
installed)
JP9............. Sets the polarity of the DRQ output signal. (Default is DRQ+,
jumper installed)
A.5.2.2 Serial Programming Jumpers
Several jumpers modify the operation of the serial port. See Figure 7 for their location and setting information. Default settings are noted below in bold.
Note: On some boards, the default settings for
those other than JP14, are pre-wired on the backside of the board by a small track bridging across
their respective pads. To change from the default
value, first cut the track and then add the appropriate jumper if required.
JP1............. Ties in the external host clock to
the onboard XCLK line. Internal
clock has to be disabled if connected. (Default is JP1 not installed)
JP2-JP5 ..... Enables and sets the internal datatransfer clock (XCLK). Remove
all jumpers when external clock is
used.
JP2 ........... 2 MHz
JP3 .......... 4 MHz (default)
JP4 ........... 8 MHz
JP5 ........... 16 MHz
Appendix A
ACI Interface
JP10 ...........Sets the polarity for the Synch
Out signals. (Default is SYNC+,
jumper installed)
JP12 ...........Sets the polarity for the Send Data
input signal. (Default is SEND+,
jumper is not installed)
JP14 ...........Establishes whether the output
data transfer is CONTinuous or
INTERrupt controlled by the
SEND DATA signal from the
host processor. (Default is
CONT)
A.6. Troubleshooting
The ACI card uses surface-mount components
and as such, there are only a few serviceable
components. Serviceable components are located
on sockets for replacement. They are chips that
interface to the outside world and are susceptible
to damage during handling when hooking up to
external equipment.
With a CPU processor, different hardware competes and arbitrates for the same data and address
lines. A failure of one may result in a failure of
all. This makes it very hard to isolate some
digital problems without the proper equipment
and a thorough knowledge of the data flow. This
equipment is not normally found on a vessel.
A.6.1 Programming Jumper Plugs
Programming jumpers configure the ACI board
for different sonar processors. During handling,
they may fall out. Refer to Table 1 and the enclosed figures for the default settings when used
with different sonar processors.
A.6.2 Tow fish Interface
Listen for clicking sounds emanating from each
side scan transducer. The clicking rate should
change according to the selected Range and the
intensity should change for the different frequency selections.
The ACI board drives the tow fish directly.
Monitor the trigger pulse going to the tow fish at
the TOW FISH connector. The trigger rate

changes according to the Range and the width
changes according to the operating frequency.
Check the high voltage going to the tow fish.
There is a low amperage fuse in series with the
high voltage line.
A rub sequential test on each transducer will
give a relative indication of the operation of the
analog circuitry. Try it at different Gain selections.
The ACI card has a built-in test signal that can
be applied to the analog input to simulate the tow
fish. It generates a series of parallel bands at the
operating frequency. There is one at T0 followed
by a blank area representing the water column. It
is then followed by a continuous series of bands
out to the maximum range. The test signal is enabled from the sonar processor or any other serial device that can send the appropriate command message. See Section A3.1.1.
A.6.3 Advanced
Commands from and status messages to the sonar processor occur over a bi-directional serial
link between the processor and the ACI board.
These operational functions include setting the
tow fishs ping rate and transmit frequency, and
enabling a test signal. Refer to Section A3.1.1
for a listing of these messages.
The operating configuration is contained in the
status-message from the ACI. This message can
be used by the sonar processor to confirm that
the tow fish and ACI are operating at the commanded settings.
The serial link between the sonar processor and
the ACI board can be broken and a PC, with
communication software, inserted to check both
the processor-generated commands and the ACI
status message without any involvement of the
processor unit.
A.6.3.1 Setup.
Obtain a PC with a serial port and communication software (HyperTerminal, Mirror, ProCom)
A-9
Appendix A
ACI Interface
to read and transmit serial ASCII characters. The
sonar-processor PC can even be used. Refer to
Figure 1 for connector-pin assignment.
1) Set PC serial port to:
Type ..............................RS-232C
Character Baud Rate .....4800
Number of Data Bits.....8 (D7=0)
Number of Start Bits.....1
Number of Stop Bits .....1
Parity.............................None
Update Rate ..................1 Hz
Handshaking .................None required
2) Remove the 10-wire ribbon cable going from
the ACI board to the processor serial port.
3) Obtain a 10-pin to DB-9F ribbon interface
cable and a standard 9-pin serial cable.
15) Monitor the ASCII characters coming from

the sonar processor. These messages have the
format noted in Section A.3.1.1.
<STX> is start-of-text (02H) and shows up
as a smiley-face character, and <ETX> is
end-of-text (03H) and displays as a heart.
The Message content denotes the command
function as set by the sonar processor.
16) Change the commands from the sonarprocessor control panel and observe that the
transmitted messages correspond to that of
Section A.3.1.1. Also note that the command
set repeats every second.
A.6.3.3 Status Message from ACI Card
Verify the serial status message from the ACI
board as follows.
A.6.3.2 Commands from Sonar-Processor

Verify the serial commands coming from the sonar processor to the ACI board as follows.
14) Attach the standard serial cable between the
sonar processors serial port and the test PCs
serial port.
A-10
1) Attach the 10-pin ribbon cable between ACI

connector J2 and the test PCs serial port.
2) Monitor the ASCII character string coming
from the ACI board. This message has the
format noted in Section A.3.1.2.
Appendix A
ACI Interface
Table 1. PROGRAM-JUMPER SETTINGS
Default
Data
Transfer
Method
Serial
Jumper
JP1
EXTERNAL CLOCK
JP2
INT CLOCK 16 MHz
JP3
8 MHz
JP4
4 MHz
JP5
2 MHz
JP6
Parallel
Signal
IRQ +/-
Triton/TEI
ISIS
Parallel
Hunter
Sea Sone
Parallel
Signal
Jumper
Settings(2)
Internal
no
na
na
no
na
na
no
na
na
yes
na
na
no
4 MHz
IRQ+
yes
na
na
(1)
na
na
(1)
JP10
SYNC OUT +/-
SYNC+
yes
na
na
JP12
SEND DATA +/-
SEND+
no
na
na
JP14
INTERrupt / CONTinuous
INTER
INTER
na
na
JP6
IRQ +/-
IRQ+
yes(1)
IRQ+
IRQ+
JP7
DACK +/-
DACK+
no
JP8
RD +/-
RD-
DACK+
DACK+
(1)
RD-
RD-
(1)
DRQ+
DRQ+
yes
JP9
DRQ +/-
DRQ+
yes
JP11
CONTinuous / DMA
CONT
CONT
CONT
CONT
JP13
CONTinuous / DMA
CONT
CONT
CONT
CONT
CODA
Tech
DA
Series
Notes: na = not applicable

yes = jumper installed
no = jumper not installed
(1) Later boards have a track on the backside of the board bridging the pins in place of the jumper plug.
(2) Jumper settings are a function of the selected DIO interface board. Contact EdgeTech for information on these boards.
A-11
Appendix A
ACI Interface
J5
J4
SIDE SCAN
DB-37F
1
20
2
21
3
22
4
23
5
24
6
25
7
26
8
27
9
28
10
29
11
30
12
31
13
32
14
33
15
34
16
35
17
36
18
37
19
IRQ
1
2
3
4
5
6
7
8
9
10
11
12
13
14
15
16
17
18
19
20
21
22
23
24
25
26
27
28
29
30
31
32
33
34
35
36
37
38
39
40
DRQ
RD
DACK
D15
D14
D13
D12
D11
Gnd
D10
Gnd
D9
Gnd
D8
Gnd
D7
Gnd
D6
Gnd
D5
Gnd
D4
Gnd
D3
Gnd
D2
Gnd
D1
D0
ISIS
ISIS
D1
D2
D3
D4
D5
D6
D7
D8
D9
D10
D11
D12
D13
D14
D15
1
2
3
4
5
6
7
8
9
10
11
12
13
14
15
16
17
18
19
20
21
22
23
24
25
26
27
28
29
30
31
32
33
34
35
36
37
38
39
40
PARALLEL SIDE SCAN
1
2
3
4
5
6
7
8
9
10
11
12
13
14
15
16
17
18
19
20
21
22
23
24
25
26
27
28
29
30
31
32
33
34
35
36
37
38
39
40
IRQ
DRQ
DACK
Gnd
Gnd
Gnd
Gnd
Gnd
Gnd
Gnd
Gnd
Gnd
Gnd
Gnd
PARALLEL SIDE SCAN
J3
DSP SERIAL
DB-9F
J2
1
2
3
4
5
6
7
8
9
10
1
6
2
7
3
8
4
9
5
DCI XMIT
DCI RCV
GND
1
2
3
4
5
6
7
8
9
10
RS-232 SERIAL
1
2
3
4
PORT
J9
1
2
3
4
STBD
HI
LO
SHLD
TRIGGER
SS INPUT
1
2
3
4
+12V
0V
0V
+5V
POWER
Figure 1. Board Input-Output Connectors

A-12
1
6
2
7
3
8
4
9
5
HIGH-SPEED SERIAL
J6
J1
DB-9F
GND
NEW LINE
CLK OUT
SEND DATA
SYNC OUT
SER OUT
CLK IN
SYNC OUT
SER OUT
Appendix A
ACI Interface
Figure 2. Parallel Timing
Figure 3. DSP Serial Timing
A-13
Appendix A
ACI Interface
Figure 4. Analog test points and controls

A-14
Appendix A
ACI Interface
Figure 5. Timing and control
A-15
Appendix A
ACI Interface
Figure 6. A/D and parallel output

A-16
Appendix A
ACI Interface
Figure 7. High-speed serial output
A-17
Appendix A
ACI Interface
A-18
Appendix B
External Power Unit, ACI to M272-T/TD
APPENDIX B
KIT, EXTERNAL POWER UNIT,
ACI to M272-T/TD
A958478 Revision B
Appendix B
Appendix B
APPENDIX B
KIT, EXTERNAL POWER UNIT,
ACI to M272-T/TD
B.1 Introduction
The EdgeTech Model 272-T series include the
M272-T and M272-TD tow fish. All further references to the 272 throughout this Appendix
will therefore refer to both the T and TD
models.
A separate power unit is required to power the
tow fish when an ACI card is used to interface
with a 272. With an EdgeTech Model 560A
processor or Model 260 recorder, the power unit
is built in the respective topside unit. When the
ACI card is installed in a third-party processor
however, an external power unit is needed.
The following describes a kit to provide the high
DC operating voltage to the 272 tow fish. This
kit consists of an external power unit, an adapter
module, and interconnect cabling. The Power
Unit is installed between the processor and the
tow fish. It converts low voltage DC power from
the topside unit to the high tow fish operating
voltage.
The adapter is installed in the processor. It is
used to simplify cabling between the ACI cards
sonar input, the computers power supply and the
external Power Unit.
B.2 Specifications
B.2.1 Power Module
Material ..................Painted polycarbonate
Flame Rating ..........UL94 5V
Size.........................6.9 in L x 4.9 in W x 3.0 in H
(175 mm W x 125 mm H x 73 mm H)
Weight....................3 lbs (14 kg)
Input Voltage..........12 VDC nominal. Can operate over a
range of from 9 to 36 VDC.
Output Voltage .......+750 to +800 VDC depending on
load.
Environment:
Humidity .........0 to 100% (non-condensing)
Operating Temperature:
0 to +45C (+32 to +113F)
(shaded conditions)
Shock & Vibration:
Normal transit and shipboard environment
Connectors:
Port ................. 4-pin header
Stbd ................ 4-pin header
Power ............. Standard PC 4-pin power socket
Sonar .............. DB9-S
B.2.2 Cable Adapter

Size ........................ 1.5 in (38mm) square PCB
Mounting ............... Standard computer-board bracket
Connectors:
Sonar .............. DB9-S
Tow Fish ........ MS 11-pin female
B.3 Installation
Refer to Schematic B958451 for cabling and
wiring information.
B.3.1 Adapter Module Installation
An adapter and interface cable supplies power
from the topside processor to the Power Unit in
one direction and passes the sonar signals to the
ACI card in the other. The adapter assembly
consists of a small PC board with interface connectors mounted on a computer-board bracket.
Install the adapter in one of the unused openings
on the backside of the sonar processor. Within
the processor, connect cable 1W1 between the
adapter and ACI card. Make sure that the port
and starboard connections are not reversed. Also
within the processor, connect one of the PCs
unused power cables to the adapter board.
Outside the processor, connect wire W1 between
the adapters SONAR connector and its corresponding connector on the Power Unit.
B-1
Appendix B
B.3.2 Power Unit Location and Mounting
The Power Unit may be installed anywhere in
line with the adapters SONAR connector and
the tow cable. It should however be conveniently
located to have access to its power switch.
B.3.3 External Power Source
The Power Unit may be powered from an external supply. It will work over a wide range of DC
input voltages. Refer to the Specifications Section. Plus (+) 12 VDC is the nominal operating
voltage. Because the input voltage wires can run
in the same cable as the sonar-return signals, the
external supply should be clean and free of high
frequency voltage spikes. If not, these noise signals may degrade the sonar signals quality.
B.3.4 Connections
Refer to Figure B-1 for a typical system connection.
INPUT/OUTPUT
Signal to the DCI card.
TOWFISH
An 11-pin female MS connector that interfaces
to either the tow or intermediary deck cable. It
provides both power and trigger to the tow fish
and sonar data from the tow fish to the ACI.
B.4 Operation
B.4.1 Cable Interface Module
The adapters only function is to simplify cabling to the sonar signals and power that pass
between the processor, ACI card and external
Power Unit.
The high voltage output is fixed with minimum

regulation. The final voltage is determined by the
tow fishs load. A TD fish draws more current
than the T model; therefore, the output is accordingly lower.
B.4.2.2 Controls and Indicators
POWER
A rocker switch that controls power to the tow

fish. A separate LED indicator turns on when
power is applied.
TRIGGER
A red neon lamp that flashes each time the

tow fish fires.
B.5 Maintenance
The tow fish high voltage is factory set and not
adjustable. No periodic maintenance is required
except for checking the condition of the connector pins and external cabling.
B.6 Troubleshooting
There are only two main serviceable components. One is the PCB mounted inside the box
and the other is the replaceable fuse. When a
system failure occurs and the tow fish is not operating, the first thing to check is the LED
POWER light. It lights when power is switch on.
The next thing to check is the neon TRIGGER
light. This lamp should flash for each sonar
transmission. If it remains on, there is either a
problem with the tow fish or leakage in the tow
cable.
B.4.2.1 DC/DC Converter
If the TRIGGER light remains off, check the

high voltage fuse. Check it with an ohmmeter
because the wire filament is not readily visible
with the naked eye.
The main component is a circuit board with a

DC/DC converter that transforms the low voltage
DC input to the high voltage required by the tow
fish. All the other components on the board provide filtering of the input and output voltages.
If the input power and fuse are okay, check the

high voltage output on the TOW FISH connector. See caution note below. If the voltage is present, check the tow cable and its connections for
an open circuit.
B.4.2 Power Module
B-2
Appendix B
If all is okay up to this point, open the box and
check the connections. If they look fine, replace
the PCB.
B.7 Parts List

Kit, M272-T/TD External Power Unit
.........................A958481
Component
CAUTION
CAUTION
Use caution when servicing, taking measurements from, and working near the Tow
Fish connector and HV Power Supply.
Although the supply is current is limited,
injury can occur due to the bodys automatic reflex when coming into contact
with high voltage. Remove the Tow Fish
fuse when doing any servicing or calibration at the Tow Fish connector.
Part Number
Assy, PCB, ACI ........................................... D958434

Assy, PCB, Cable Interface, 1A2 ................. A958471
Assy, Power Supply Module, A2 ................. A958468
Assy, PCB, Power Supply, 2A1 ............. B958475
DC/DC Converter, 2A1PS1..............................
Box.......................................................... D958467
Connector, Bulkhead, MS, 2J2 ..............................
Connector, Bulkhead, DB9, 2J1 ............................
Fuse, 1/16 A...........................................................
Lamp, LED Indicator .............................................
Lamp, Neon ...........................................................
Cable, Interface W1 ..................................... A958469
Cable, Sonar 1W1 ........................................ A958483
B-3
Appendix B
Figure B1 System Configuration

B-4
Appendix B
J1
1
2
3
4
POWER IN
+12V
D1
1N4004
F1
1.6A
J2
POWER
L1
400 mH
PS1
1
2
3
4
FB2
FB1
3
R1
680
PL1
+V IN
400 VDC
+ C125uF
C2
0.1uF
ON/OFF
400 VDC
-V IN
1
2
3
-OUT2
C3
0.047uF
1200V
+OUT1
J3
+800V
+OUT2
R3
4.7K, 2W
R2
1M
HV OUTPUT
-OUT1
H30-400/400
E1
E2
Schematic, HV Power Supply PCB (Early Units)
F1
4A
J1
1
2
3
4
POWER IN
+12V
D1
1N4004
PL1
POWER
R1
680
J2
L1
400 mH
FB1
PS1
FB2
4
3
2
1
D2
5.1V
+ C1
6800uF
R4
1K
C2
0.1uF
+V IN
+OUT2
400 VDC
2
-OUT2
OFF/ON
+OUT1
-V IN
400 VDC
-OUT1
J3
+800V
C3
0.047uF
1200V
R2
1M
R3
4.7K, 2W
1
2
3
HV OUTPUT
0V
H30-400/400
E1
E2
Schematic, HV Power Supply PCB (Later Units)
B-5
Appendix B
Layout, PCB, HV Power Supply, B958475 (Early Units)
Layout, PCB, HV Power Supply, B958475 (Later Units)

B-6
Model 285
Tow Depth Depressor
APPENDIX C
MODEL 285 SIDE SCAN TOW DEPTH DEPRESSOR
C-1
Model 285
Tow Depth Depressor
TABLE OF CONTENTS
APPENDIX C..................................................................................................................................... C-1
C.1
INTRODUCTION.................................................................................................................... C-1
C.2
USING THE TOW DEPTH DEPRESSOR ............................................................................. C-1
TABLE OF FIGURES
Figure C-1. Recommended method for attaching Tow Depth Depressor . ....................................... C-3
Figure C-2. Tow depth vs ship speed for 150- and 600-meter tow cables........................................ C-4
Figure C-3. Model 285 Tow Depth Depressor.................................................................................. C-6
C-2
Model 285
Tow Depth Depressor
APPENDIX C
MODEL 285 SIDE SCAN TOW DEPTH DEPRESSOR
C.1
INTRODUCTION
The Model 285 Tow Depth Depressor is

designed for use with the Model 272 series Tow
Fish to gain greater tow depth when using 150and 600-meter deep tow cables. The depressor is
effective to counter drag forces on the cables that
tend to lift the Tow Fish at tow speeds above 2
to 4 knots.
EdgeTech tests have indicated a much higher
depressive force for the size and weight of the
Model 285 Tow Depth Depressor than any
previous designs tested. This new design weighs
only 27 lb in air, yet develops a depressive force
of over 450 lb at speeds of 8 knots.
develop a large downward force as the unit is

towed through the water. Each vane within its
wing section multiplies the lift coefficient of the
vane before it, and each vane is placed in an
optimal position to prevent turbulence and
cavitation. This design permits a high lift-drag
ratio in a significantly lightweight assembly.
C.2
Using the Tow Depth Depressor
The recommended method for attaching the

depressor to the tow cable is shown in Figure C1. The variation of tow depth with towing speed
is
shown
for
several
depressor/cable
configurations in Figure C-2. Figure C-3 is a
configuration drawing of the depressor.
The negative lift of the Depth Depressor is

derived from two multi-vaned wings that
WARNING
The Tow Depth Depressor should be deployed first with
the ship at near dead-rest in the water because of the
strong downward force produced by the depressor.
This downward force can be as high as 450 lb and can
easily pull a man overboard. Any forward motion of
the ship will make the depressor difficult to restrain and
hold near the surface while deploying the Tow Fish.
C-1
Model 285
Tow Depth Depressor
After the depressor is deployed, deploy the Tow

Fish, being careful to keep its electrical tow
cable from wrapping around and becoming
tangled with the depressor tow cable. When
recovering Tow Fish and depressor, handle
carefully to avoid banging them into the side of
the ship.
The depressor tow arm is connected to the

depressor tow cable by a 6-in. weak link. The
weak link is designed to break if the depressor
snags and to shift the tow point to the top of the
depressor to increase the chance of recovery.
Two spare weak links are supplied with each
depressor.
CAUTION
Wire all shackles on the depressor cables to prevent the shackle
pins from unscrewing.
C-2
Model 285
Tow Depth Depressor
Figure C-1. Recommended method for attaching Tow Depth Depressor to tow cable. Depressor should be below
Tow Fish, so that it strikes bottom first.
C-3
Model 285
Tow Depth Depressor
Figure C-2. Tow depth versus ship speed for 150- and 600-meter tow cables with and without
Depth Depressor.
C-4
Model 285
Tow Depth Depressor
C-5
Model 285
Tow Depth Depressor
Figure C-3. Model 285 Tow Depth Depressor.
C-6
Model 285
Tow Depth Depressor
Figure C-3. Model 285 Tow Depth Depressor
C-7
Return of Material Procedure
Procedure for Returning Material

All Returned Material
It is necessary to obtain a Returned Material Authorization (RMA) number from the EdgeTech service
department prior to returning any material or equipment. This is to assist in arrival recognition and
tracking your equipment while it is at our facility. The material should be shipped to and all
correspondence made to:
EdgeTech
P.O. Box 850
4 Little Brook Road
Tel: (508) 291-0057
Fax: (508) 291-2491
Email: service@edgetech.com
Outside Continental United States
The following steps apply only to material or equipment being returned from outside the Continental
United States. These steps should be followed carefully to prevent delays and additional costs.
1. All shipments must be accompanied by two copies of your commercial invoice showing value of
the material and the reason for its return. Whenever possible, please send copies of original
export shipping documents with the consignment.
2. If the value is over $1,000 (USD), the following shippers oath must be sent along with the
invoice. This can be typed on the invoice or on separate letterhead.
I, ___________________, declare that the articles herein specified are, the growth,
produce, or manufacture of the United States; that they were exported from the United
States from the Port of ________________, on or about ___________________; that
they are returned without having been advanced in value or improved in condition by any
process of manufacture or any other means; and that no drawback, bounty, or allowance
has been paid or admitted hereof.
Signed_______________
3) If there is more than one part per consignment, a packing list must also accompany the shipment.
It is acceptable to combine the commercial invoice and packing list as long as the contents of
each carton are clearly numbered and identified on the commercial invoice.
4) Consign all air freight shipments to EdgeTech in care of Intercontinental Air Frt., Inc. Logan
International Airport, East Boston, MA 02128.
5) If the equipment is property of EdgeTech, please insure for full value.
6) Route via Logan International Airport only as the final destination.
7) Mail one invoice, packing list and copy of airway bill to EdgeTech upon shipment.
8) Please refer to the issued RMA number on all documents and correspondence.
9) Airfreight must be prepaid on all returns.

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INSTRUCTION MANUAL

P.O. Box 850

Maintenance, Repair, and Calibration.............................................................5-1

Parts List, Assembly Drawings, and Schematic Diagrams.............................7-1

Appendix C Model 285 Side Scan Tow Depth Depressor .......................................C-1

Introduction ............................................................................................. C-1

Model 272-TD Tow Fish......................................................................................1-2

Model 272-TD Tow Fish termination ..................................................................2-3

Tail fin ..................................................................................................................5-3

Model 272-TD Tow Fish......................................................................................7-4

Recommended method for attaching Tow Depth Depressor

This page intentionally left blank

written notice of the failure within the warranty period is forwarded

the return notice authorizes EdgeTech to examine and disassemble

WARNING NOTICE (Old Revision D28349 Board Assembly)

The Model 272-TD Dual Frequency Tow Fish is

Model 272-TD Tow Fish

The Model 272-TD Tow Fish is a compact

stabilizing fins and lead nose weights for

Figure 1-1. Model 272-TD Tow Fish.

Typical Tow Fish depths versus speed for several

Figure 1-2. Model 272-TD Saf-T-Link

Model 272-TD Tow Fish

105 kHz 10 kHz

390 kHz 20 kHz

228 dB ref 1 micropascal at meter

Horizontal Beam Width:

600 meters (2000 ft)

Double armored, steel

The Model 272-TD Tow Fish is supplied with

The Tow Fish is relatively lightweight, 25 kg (55

fins to the steel recovery cable using two half

2.3.1 Tow Cable Selection

configurations to meet various operating

and three individual conductors are required

2.3.2 Tow Cable

The 50-meter tow cable is lightweight and

Front End of Tow Arm

Back End of Tow Arm

Figure 2-1. Model 272-TD Tow Fish termination.

The Model 260 shipboard unit powers the Tow

Once the Tow Fish and shipboard unit have been

Tow Fish Deployment

The Tow Fish can be towed off the vessels stern

Figure 3-1. Tow points.

1) Experiment with ship speed to determine

The Tow Fish may be deployed or retrieved by

2) Experiment with different towing

As with any sensor, it is important to keep the

Finding the true minimum noise level may

Unlike a depth sounder, which collects only one

An output of 750 VDC from the shipboard unit

The trigger pulse width is set by the Model 260

The 100 kHz and 500 kHz TVG receivers

of Q6. Transistors Q9 and Q10 convert the

5. MAINTENANCE, REPAIR, and CALIBRATION

8) Regularly inspect the cables for signs of

The following routine maintenance procedure

5.2.1 Access (refer to Figure 7-1)

Transducers may be inspected, repaired, or

Tow Fish Rearming

When the Saf-T-Link trips, the Tow Fish must be

When the cable connector on the Tow Fish arm