Does anyone know how a Time Out works?

[flyhi 24]

I was on an 8-way jump this weekend. We turned several points and then were starting for the final “Big O” to finish it up. My Time-Out went off at my programmed altitude (4000’), which was our wave off altitude. Broke the cardinal rule and finished the point (a time consuming rotating pieces back to a round), broke and began to track away. Heard the second alert, but it was much shorter than usual. I figured I was tracking over or around someone and got into some type of reduced air pressure differential and was hearing a false warning. I continued what I felt was a normal-length-of-time track and threw out, never having heard what I expected; my “actual” second normal length Time-Out warning. As I was bring my left hand up over my head, I observed I was at 2000’, about 500’ below where I normally start the sequence. I know the obvious; complacency, not breaking as briefed, failing to respond to the alerts,… All of this was discussed in depth when we got on the ground. The question I have is; What determines how long the Time Out alert sounds? I assumed it was a timed circuit that would sound for the same amount of time no matter what. Does anyone know if, in fact, it is based on altitude, i.e. starts at one altitude and will sound until passing another altitude? I am trying to determine if the length of my alert is usually longer because I am normally in a track with more horizontal airspeed and thus descending at a slower rate. I am thinking that on this jump, since I had not yet started a track and I was moving faster vertically than normal, which would support the start-at-one-altitude-stop-after-so-many-feet theory. It worked normally on subsequent jumps. Any insight anyone has on this would be appreciated. And again, I was a self-admitted DumbAss on this jump. That won’t happen again.

Shit happens. And it usually happens because of physics.

[councilman24 37]

What are you worried about? You didn't hear flatline.

I'm old for my age.
Terry Urban
D-8631
FAA DPRE

[alan 1]

Quote

Does anyone know if, in fact, it is based on altitude, i.e. starts at one altitude and will sound until passing another altitude?

It does not operate based on altitude, but rather pressure and changes in pressure and the rate of those changes. Have you tried contacting the manufacurer for specifics?

alan