SKYLOTEC DEUS 7300 Instructions D'utilisation page 12

These objectives are much easier to meet when
the DEUS 7300 Series device is rigged overhead
with a high anchor.
• Transition with High Anchor Rigging. With
"high rigging," connect the person who will
descend to the end of the rope running through
the DEUS 7300 Series device and remove
the slack between the person and the descent
device. With slack removed, the person
descending can simply step off the edge (like
stepping off a chair) and descent will begin
immediately. Alternatively, transition can be
managed manually by holding onto the free
end of the rope. (Either the person descending
or a remote operator can hold onto the free
end of the rope.) With manually managed
transition, once the person who will descend
is over the edge and fully supported by a
harness, descent can proceed automatically or
manually.
• Transition with Low Anchor Rigging.
Transition with Low Anchor rigging is
considerably more difficult and dangerous than
transition with High Anchor rigging. Transition
with Low Anchor rigging should be avoided
if possible. The difficulty is getting over the
edge without injury to the person descending
and without shock-loading the person and
equipment. The danger is that getting over
a low edge may shock-load the person and
the equipment. This can cause catastrophic
equipment failure, as well as injury or even
death. There is no "usual" way to transition with
a Low Anchor – it requires athletic ability and
regular training.
Shock Load (Impact Load). Shock load is
dangerous – it can severely injure the person and
it can damage both equipment and rope resulting
in severe internal injuries and death. The DEUS
7300 Series is designed to absorb a limited
amount of shock load without injury to the user or
damage to equipment or rope. Shock load using
a DEUS 7300 Series device must be limited to 12
inches of slack in the rope.
DEUS 7300 Series devices can be custom-tuned
to have different operating characteristics, which
can make the device better or worse at handling
shock load. If shock load is part of your operating
plan, discussing your plan with SKYLOTEC
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is strongly recommended to avoid injury and
equipment failure. People vary widely in their
ability to withstand shock load without injury.
Back-up Belay for Controlled Descent. The
DEUS 7300 is specifically designed for use as
a back-up belay (sometimes called a back-up
safety line). The advantage of using the 7300
for back-up belay is that it operates hands-free
and automatically, so it does not require tending.
This is particularly useful in cases of limited
manpower. Rig the DEUS 7300 in parallel with
the primary controlled descent device. To do
this, use a locking carabiner to connect the end
of the rope running through the 7300 device to
the person descending, and let go. If your DEUS
7300 is to be used as a back-up belay for another
DEUS descent device, or a device from another
manufacturer, you may wish to request a factory
speed setting that will not interfere with the speed
of the primary system.
Select a backup connection location carefully to
ensure that failure of the primary system does not
result in injury. This includes, but is not limited to,
the rope being wrapped around any body part.
"Down Elevator" Controlled Descent. To use a
DEUS 7300 Series device as a "down elevator,"
do the following: a) rig the device in a "high
anchor" position ("top rope" rigging), b) connect a
person to the end of the rope running through the
device, c) remove the slack in the rope between
the person and the DEUS 7300 Series device,
d) hold onto the free side of the rope to ease
through transition, and e) either let go of the rope
for automatic descent or hold onto the free side
of the rope for manually controlled descent. The
reversibility of the DEUS 7300 Series makes the
devices particularly efficient as "down elevators."
They are also effective "down elevators" because
they are designed for all-day, everyday use and
can be used over and over.
Ascending. Although designed for descent,
ascent (going up) is possible with DEUS 7300
Series devices. For a person to ascend without
assistance, the rope running through the device
must be at least 2x the descent distance. To
ascend, the person climbing must climb the free
side of the rope, not the loaded side to which he
or she is connected. The usual way to do this
is to create a foot-loop with the free side of the