Figure 1 - Traditionally wired vessels tend to have huge arrays of cryptic and unattractive switches, indicators and controls.
Anchor Lights, Aerators, Bilge Pumps, Blowers, Cabin Lights, Courtesy Lights... does this sequence sound familiar? It’s the switch panel on your helm, and it's just part of the A to Z listing of your boat’s electrical equipment. In addition to switches and alarms, indicator lights and gauges cover many portions of a boat’s helm and interior. Remembering what they all do, and making sure they are all in the correct positions can be challenging even for experienced captains.
To solve this challenge Raymarine has partnered with Sweden-based Trigentic AB to bring their EmpirBus NXT Digital switching technology to the boating market. Trigentic’s systems have been used in hundreds of marine, automotive and industrial applications for over 10 years.
Figure 2 - Digitally switched systems use logically presented soft switches, indicators and rich graphics to communicate vessel status.
Why should you consider employing digital switching on your next boat or yacht? Quite simply, it makes monitoring and controlling your boat’s systems easy, intuitive, and logical. The EmpirBus NXT system allows you to easily create highly customized power distribution, control, monitoring and alarm management systems for any sized vessel.
Dom Wiseman of BoatAdvice.com.au recently looked at 2 different vessels equipped with Raymarine Digital Switching. Watch their video to see how this technology makes life onboard easier for owners of small and large boats alike.
Using digital switching, data from different systems on a vessel can be integrated and centralized, increasing the availability of important information. Status indicators and alarms can be consolidated onto virtual panels that allow you to monitor the entire vessel at a glance.
Figure 3 - MFD-based controls can be highly customized to suit the needs and tastes of the boat owner.
Digital switching systems offer many ways to interact. Custom pages with soft-switches, readouts, and status indicators can be programmed onto multifunction displays. Short-range, self-powered, wireless switches can be installed at key locations to toggle frequently used circuits like lighting from multiple locations. Traditional push-button switches can be added where needed for control of specific items. Dedicated, weatherproof keypads can be tied in using NMEA2000 or SeaTalkng networking for convenient control in remote locations. Even remote switching via wireless networks, the internet, and GSM text messaging* is possible.
*GSM text messaging capabilities vary by country. Consult with a Raymarine Digital Switching Specialist for details.
Figure 4 - Digital Circuit Control Modules (CCMs) are multi-channel devices programmable to support the specific loads connected to them.
Raymarine’s Digital Switching system is scalable for any-sized vessel, with near limitless capacity and opportunity for customization. Raymarine boat building partners are increasingly adopting Digital switching systems on new boat models, giving new boat buyers simplified vessel automation control right at their helm station. Recently though, many Raymarine Premier Dealers have begun offering Digital Switching technology to owners of existing boats as add-on or retrofit systems.