All instruments that are sent to Nortek for service, hardware upgrade or repair need to be approved and registered by Nortek Support. All instruments will receive a separate RMA number used as reference for the a specific repair or upgrade. To avoid any delays in customs, it is strongly recommended to follow the procedure outlined in the FAQ How do I return a damaged instrument.

When the instruments are received at the Nortek warehouse, details about the instrument as well as any other equipment included with the shipment are registered. All shipping documentation following the instrument is archived, or will be requested if missing. We will inform you by e-mail that the instrument has been received and provide the expected lead time to finalize inspection and quotation. 

Initial check

Before the responsible RMA technician starts working with the received unit, they will read up on the specific instrument history, current incident, and any previous repairs to make sure they have all the relevant information. A thorough visual inspection of the outside and inside of the instrument is carried out to uncover corrosion, physical damage or wear that might affect the life of the instrument.

Doppler instruments are often deployed in long term installations, and in the open sea they are often exposed to rough conditions. External connectors can corrode over time and if necessary should be replaced to avoid communication issues, or in the worst case leakage.  

All instruments are dismantled and checked carefully. All O-rings are checked and replaced if damaged or showing sign of wear and tear. The electronics are closely examined for damage, debris or corrosion, and specific instrument tests are carried out to make sure it responds as expected. Any data on the record is downloaded and stored for safety.

When the electronics have passed all tests, the performance of the auxiliary sensors and transducers is checked. Temperature, pressure, tilt and compass response and outputs are verified. Signal strength on each transducer is analysed to reveal any defects or changes in performance.

All findings are carefully evaluated and documented, and depending on the nature of the damage or wear, the instrument is passed on to the respective technician who will carry out necessary maintenance and repairs.

When the instrument's overall condition is approved, it will be reassembled and passed on for a dock test. A dock test is a monitored deployment in the factory water tank. The instrument continuously record data, and the system log and data output are thoroughly analysed and approved by a technician. All test data is stored in the instrument production database. Finally, a last inspection is carried out before the instrument is packed and prepared for shipment. The instrument is opened again and visually inspected, and new desiccant bags are added before the unit is assembled. All auxiliary sensors, technical setup and transducer performance is once again verified.

All quotes will include an initial check fee which covers the initial instrument check, dock and final tests, as well as the administrative paperwork and shipment handling.

The initial check is always carried out before repairs and when instruments are only sent in for service or hardware upgrade. For details about our service routine, please visit the FAQ Nortek instrument service description.