GEAR NEW PRODUCTS
Taken apart: A breakdown of the
components in a typical Mastervolt system
Control Unit – DC Outlets – Digital DC 10 x control units/displays, located
MasterView Easy 10A. These units go at the end wherever you want, and a
This multi-function display of the HD cable and provide ten number of localised hubs from
is used for setting up and 10-Amp connections suitable for where power is distributed to
monitoring any electrical all DC circuits, including lights, supply equipment. Digital DC is
equipment in the boat. If you pumps and electronics. tidy, simple to install, efficient
have an AC generator you’ll and infinitely programmable.
more than likely have one De-centralised Yes, it’s expensive too, but
MasterView dedicated to switches potentially much more
controlling it alone, plus one These are local switches to turn reliable than an
more for everything else. You devices on and off, but also analogue system, as
can use a PC in place of, or incorporating a ‘virtual fuse’. endless long runs of
as well as the MasterView unit, When setting up the system you small-diameter wire
if you so wish. The system tell it what to rate its ‘fuse’ at. If become a thing of
allows for an infinite amount of the current is exceeded it ‘blows’ the past. ■
customisation. If you were to buy – virtually, that is – and reports
a new yacht from Oyster today, the over-current problem to the
the electrical system will have MasterView, or your PC.
been set up not only to tell you
which fuse has blown (if it has), Control Cable
but also where in the boat that This is standard Cat5, 8-pole
fuse is located. Ethernet cable with the same
RJ45 connectors on it that you
Battery Monitor – find in computer networks and
MasterShunt Internet cables.
Clockwise from top:
A 500-Amp shunt to
Mastervolt shunt and
distribution box mated
continuously measure power in Putting it all together
together; 10 x 10A
and power out, so you always Back to the central heating distribution box; control
know how much power you have analogy. You fix all the
cable; GPRS cellphone
available. All relevant outputs can components in place, and then
module; switch; terminator
be read on the MasterView. connect the cables, just as the
(goes at the end of the
control cable). Switches.
DC Distribution box. A heavy- plumber fixes all the radiators
duty (HD) distribution box on the wall then connects them
taking battery power in, with up with copper pipe. Each of
connections for up to four the digital devices has two
The control panel on a
typical cruising yacht
separate, heavy-duty cable runs. RJ45 sockets, so all devices
– unidentifi ed wires
In a 40ft boat you’ll probably are connected in a data daisy make troubleshooting
run one HD cable to the saloon chain. The last device in the line
a nightmare!
area, one to the forward cabin is fitted with a special end-plug,
area and possibly a separate one which tells the system that it’s
to the windlass. The fourth can the end of the line.
be used to connect the battery
charger to the system. Each of Is it worth it?
the four HD ‘rings’ has a high- Think of a digitally-switched
current ANL fuse, of whatever DC system as doing away with
rating is required for that group the one central switch panel,
of circuits. If that fuse blows, with its tangle of wires, fuses
the MasterView Easy will let you and switches (see pic right) and
know which fuse has blown. replacing it with one or more
www.master
www.mastervolt.com
volt.com
September 09 Sailing Today 61
ST149
TechTalk_RTG.indd 53 16/7/09 13:11:31
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