Rowing & Sports Performance Monitoring Support

Cox-Vox Operating & Maintenance Instructions (Printable PDF)

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COX-VOX OPERATION

On/Off

To use your Cox-Vox, simply place the unit in the cup bracket and plug it into the wiring harness. Be sure to align the plug and receptacle properly! There is an arrow molded into the rubber for help visually aligning the parts. The P5 is often damaged because of frequent improper alignment.

The large knob turns the unit on and off, and controls the volume. Twist the knob clockwise to turn the Cox-Vox on. Find an appropriate volume so that everyone in the crew can hear the coxswain. Adjusting the speakers slightly may help with this. Keep the volume as low as possible to prolong the battery life.

CARING FOR YOUR COX-VOX SYSTEM

Nielsen-Kellerman equipment is designed, built and tested to withstand the rigors of everyday use, but it is not invincible and it can be damaged. The following information is intended to help you maintain your equipment and prevent unnecessary repairs.

Charging and Storing Your Cox-Vox

  • Place the unit on charge whenever it is not in use, but do not leave the unit charging indefinitely. The unit should never be charged continuously for longer than 2 days.
  • If the battery light comes on, be sure to charge the unit for at least 12 hours.
  • Do not continue to use a unit with the low battery warning light illuminated. Repeated use with the low battery light on may damage the batteries and unit.
  • Under normal conditions, a fully charged battery should last at least 4 hours. If your unit is not providing this much operational time, it may be time to return it to NK to have new batteries installed. We expect our batteries to need replacement after three years of normal full-season use.

Care of Your Microphone

Your microphone is shipped attached to a headband and ready for use. The microphone is fully waterproof, and may be fully immersed, but it will not float on its own. Unless it is attached to a Cox-Vox, the microphone will sink. Microphones should be treated with care.

  • Do not attempt to bend the aluminum boom or twist the mouthpiece.
  • Do not drop the microphone.
  • Do not yank or pull on the microphone cable when disconnecting from the Cox-Vox.
  • Do not tighten the bayonet connector on the microphone to the panel jack on the Cox-Vox. Just slip it into place.
  • Do not carry the Cox-Vox by the microphone.

Often, when a customer attempts to replace a microphone BNC, the replacement connector pin is of an incorrect diameter and damages the center conductor of the Cox-Vox panel mount BNC.

NOTE: The NK warranty covers defects in materials and workmanship. It DOES NOT cover damage caused by abuse, misuse, or attempts to repair the microphone on your own.

REGULAR MAINTENANCE SCHEDULE AND TIPS

Daily Maintenance

  1. If you row on salt water, rinse the Cox-Vox off with fresh water and dry it after every use.
  2. Charge the unit whenever it is not in use, but do not leave the unit on charge indefinitely. The unit should not be charged for longer than 2 days straight.
  3. Slip the metal microphone bayonet on the Cox-Vox panel jack without twisting to lock it. Do not tighten it fully.
  4. Inspect the toggle-switch seal for integrity. This is especially important if you row in salt water and wash your unit regularly.

Once a Month

This maintenance is easy to perform with a Cox-Vox Maintenance Kit, available from NK for $20. All components of the kit can be found in a hardware store as well.

  1. Wash the Cox-Vox display panel with warm water and mild soap. Rinse well and dry.
  2. Use the drill bit from the Cox-Vox Maintenance kit to clean out the metal sockets inside the rubber plug on the unit. Rotate the bit inside the sockets to dislodge any dirt or debris.
  3. Check the inside of the rubber plug on the wiring harness for any dirt. Inspect the wires leading to the plug for any nicks or cuts. If these exist, contact NK about repairing them.
  4. Apply silicone grease to the outside of the rubber plug on the Cox-Vox. This helps to minimize the damage done by repeatedly removing the unit from the boat. Try not to get silicone into the plug itself. If you are using the P5 Protective Jumper, unplug the jumper and grease the plug on the Cox-Vox and the plug on the end of the Protective Jumper.
  5. Microphone BNC and Panel BNC Connector: You can greatly reduce microphone static with regular maintenance of these connectors. Use the provided small screwdriver to gently spread the contact fins in the center of the mic BNC. The Socket Maintenance kit includes instructions and photos of this step. Use the syringe to run a generous bead of Nyogel on the inside diameter of the BNC connector on the Cox-Vox panel. This grease will transfer to the mic BNC when it is next connected.
  6. Inject a small amount of electrical contact grease (Nyogel) into the sockets on the rubber Cox-Vox plug. Connect the unit to the harness. This will coat the pins with Nyogel and push some Nyogel deeper into the sockets, protecting them as well.

Cox-Vox Panel Connectors - MONTHLY

WASH the Cox-Vox panel with warm water and mild soap. RINSE well. DRY thoroughly.

rotate drill bit ROTATE DRILL BIT inside metal sockets of rubber
P5 connector to dislodge dirt and corrosion and lift debris out of sockets.
apply electrical contact grease APPLY ELECTRICAL CONTACT GREASE from syringe inside metal sockets. Avoid overfilling sockets or getting into rubber.
apply grease from syringe APPLY GREASE from syringe inside metal BNC connector in a small bead between white conductor and metal can.
apply silicone USE FOAM SWAB to apply SILICONE from small plastic tub to...
outside p5 OUTSIDE OF P5 until a visible film of SILICONE covers surface. (Keep foam swab in provided bag for future use.)
inspect rubber boot INSPECT rubber boot around toggle switch for tears or damage. RETURN to NK if any visible damage.

 

Microphone - MONTHLY or As Needed

WASH the Cox-Vox panel with warm water and mild soap. RINSE well. DRY thoroughly.

spread ground conductor GENTLY SPREAD GROUND CONDUCTOR "FINS" of the microphone BNC away from the center white insulator using the small screwdriver. A slight gap between the fins and insulators should remain. Slip the BNC onto the greased Cox-Vox panel BNC to transfer grease into the body of the microphone BNC. INSPECT cable for intact heat shrink and connection to BNC. Return to NK for repair if there is visible damage.

REMEMBER! DO NOT lock the BNC ring when plugging in to the Cox-Vox. DO NOT carry the Cox-Vox by the microphone. DO NOT bend the microphone boom, twist the mouthpiece or twist or yank the cable.

 

End of the Season

  1. Inspect the toggle switch seal. Perform this step before washing the unit.
  2. Wash the Cox-Vox with fresh water and dry it carefully.
  3. Repeat the cleaning and lubricating steps under “Once a Month” maintenance.
  4. Fully charge the Cox-Vox then unplug it and store it in a cool, dry place.

Speaker/Harness Connectors - TWICE A YEAR (End of Season)

rotate drill bit ROTATE DRILL BIT inside metal sockets of rubber P2 connectors to dislodge dirt and corrosion and lift debris out of sockets.
apply electrical contact grease APPLY ELECTRICAL CONTACT GREASE from syringe inside P2 metal sockets. Avoid overfilling sockets or getting onto rubber.
apply silicone USE FOAM SWAB to apply SILICONE to outside of P2 connectors. Reconnect all P2/R2 connectors firmly.

 

Inspecting the Toggle Switch

After several years of use, the gray rubber seal around the ON/OFF toggle switch may crack, tear, or otherwise lose its ability to properly seal the switch. If this happens, water may enter the unit, potentially doing permanent damage. Examine this seal regularly for any signs of splitting, tearing, or incomplete sealing around the toggle lever when it is moved to the two extremes. If such damage is noticed, the unit should be immediately returned to NK.

Battery Life

The life of your battery depends upon many things: the age of the battery pack, the volume and used by the coxswain and the extent of charge. Here are some performance guidelines that should help you plan your Cox-Vox use.

  • A fully charged battery will power a Cox-Vox with NO audio (volume turned all the way down) for 16 hours.
  • With the volume turned all the way up, the battery can supply power for 50 minutes of continuous talk.
  • Therefore, with an average volume setting and a coxswain talking less than half the time, a fully charged Cox-Vox will provide at least two to three hours of power, and usually more.
  • Having the Coxswain turn the volume down as low as possible will help prolong the battery life.
  • A fully drained Cox-Vox battery requires 12 hours on charge to attain maximum capacity.
  • It is not necessary to try to discharge the Cox-Vox batteries fully between charging — there is virtually no memory effect in modern nickel cadmium batteries.
  • If your Cox-Vox unit is more than three years old, the battery performance will decrease. Simply return the unit to NK for a new battery replacement. If the unit has been serviced within the past five years, the age of the battery is usually indicated on the bottom of the can (month/year). If you would like to determine the age and/or repair history of a unit, please send an e-mail to support@nkhome.com.

Avoid overcharging your Cox-Vox. NK chargers are current-limiting and help prevent battery damage from overcharging. However, leaving the unit plugged in for many days or weeks (past full charge) may still cause damage. Please be sure to unplug and store your units during your off season breaks.

 

COX-VOX DO'S

DO put the Cox-Vox on charge whenever it is not in use, but never for more than three consecutive days.

DO charge for at least 12 hours should the low battery light come on.

DO wash well with fresh water after exposure to salt water.

DO occasionally apply silicone to the OUTSIDE of the rubber plug.

DO regularly inspect the toggle switch for cracks or damage.

DO occasionally apply a thin layer of Nyogel to the TOP of the rubber plug.

DO contact NK in case of problems.

Any attempt to open the Cox-Vox will void the warranty.
COX-VOX DON'TS

DON'T ignore the low battery warning light. Repeated or extended use with a low battery will damage the battery.

DON'T pull on the microphone cable or carry the Cox-Vox via the microphone cable.

DON'T leave the Cox-Vox anywhere the temperature might exceed 120° F (50° C).

DON'T fully close the metal connector on the microphone. It is only necessary to push it on and pull it off the connector.

DON'T leave the Cox-Vox on while charging.

DON'T charge the Cox-Vox for than three consecutive days.

DON'T attempt to open the Cox-Vox.