Panbo

The Marine Electronics Hub

Category: Electrical & Engines

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LiFePO4 / Editors' Blog / Panbo & misc. / Electrical & Engines

My test bench runneth over with lithium from SFK, Mastervolt, and Epoch

I have big things planned for upcoming battery tests. I’m working to evolve my testing of LiFePO4 batteries to match their evolution. Battery capacities are increasing, physical size is decreasing, prices are dropping rapidly, and acceptance is increasing. New options hit the market regularly and keeping up with the pace of change can be challenging. In the coming months, I will review quite a few batteries in different positions in the market and try to help readers decide which price point and battery is right for them.

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Press Releases / Fishing & Sonar / Electrical & Engines

Lowrance Introduces New Recon Trolling Motors Built for Fresh and Saltwater Anglers

Lowrance, a world-leader in fishing electronics, today announced Recon, a new generation electric steer trolling motor, developed for both fresh and saltwater anglers, featuring a unique joystick remote and best in class power and GPS positioning. “This is an exciting launch for Lowrance because not only are we introducing the next generation of trolling motors but we’re also offering a version for saltwater anglers for the first time”…

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Network & control / Navigation / Electrical & Engines

Dometic all electric steering, four years later and now with autopilot

It’s now been four years since I installed Dometic’s all electric steering system (AES) on Panbo(at). When I wrote my initial review of the system, I bragged that after sixty hours on the boat the system worked perfectly and without incident. Allow me to add a zero to my brag. After six hundred trouble free hours I’m back with an update on the system, a new auto pilot, and information on additional all electric systems for more boat types.

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LiFePO4 / Editors' Blog / Electrical & Engines

Charging LiFePO4, what’s the impact of lower voltages?

What voltage should I charge my LiFePO4 batteries? That seems like a simple question likely to have a single, direct answer. But, the actual answers are often unclear. Many LiFePO4 battery manufacturers recommend 14.6 volt absorption. But, that singular recommendation doesn’t account for numerous factors like managing a larger system, battery longevity, and more. Increasingly, we are seeing good reasons to lower charge voltages to 14 volts or below. But, what impact does that lower charge voltage have on capacity and charge time? Let’s take a look.

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Press Releases / Electrical & Engines / Green Boating / NMEA 2000, 0183 & Signal K

Raymarine Collaborates With ePropulsion For Industry-First Integration of Electric Motors With Axiom Chartplotters

Raymarine — global leader in high-performance marine electronics for the recreational boating, marine first responder and law-enforcement market — recently announced that it has joined forces with ePropulsion, the global leader in marine electric propulsion systems and services. Through this revolutionary collaboration, boaters now can display engine data from their ePropulsion electric motors directly on Axiom displays, without the need for additional gateways or add-on interface boxes…

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Press Releases / Electrical & Engines

ARCO Introduces the All-New ARCO Zeus High Output Alternators Designed for Maximum Power Generation

Pensacola, FL – ARCO Marine, a leading provider of high-quality engine parts and innovative electrical system components, today announced the launch of the ARCO Zeus alternators (A275L and A225S), revolutionary high output alternators designed to meet the growing needs of boaters, RVers, military, and commercial applications.

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LiFePO4 / Editors' Blog / Electrical & Engines

Update: Epoch’s 460ah battery, what we’ve learned

In January of this year, I published my review of the Epoch 460 amp-hour, 12 volt battery. My review was quite positive and reflected how the battery performed in my testing. But, once the battery was in the wild, reports began trickling in of troubles with some installations of the 460s. That lead to weeks of investigating the issues. At this point, I believe I have a solid command of what’s happening with these batteries and some of their limitations. While this better understanding of the batteries does serve to take a little shine off them, I still believe these are very solid batteries and capable of delivering excellent service. But, for best service, some tuning is required.

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Cabin & deck gear / What's on board... / Electrical & Engines

Seakeeper 1: installed, on the water, and stable

In the last year, Panbo(at) has had both Seakeeper Ride and now a Seakeeper 1 gyro installed. I know it may seem like it, but Panbo(at) didn’t have a stability problem before both products were installed. In fact, the boat’s ride impressed me even without any aids. But, now that it has these two systems keeping the boat’s movements in check, I can’t help but marvel at how much better the boat rides. Seakeeper’s systems have taken a boat with good manners and made it dramatically better. That’s quite the accomplishment.

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Wireless & Apps / Network & control / Handheld / Electrical & Engines

MIBS 2024: Dockmate DPS

Dynamic positioning systems (DPS) have been around for over a decade. But, until now, DPS has been a feature of joystick control systems tightly coupled with propulsion packages. So, a boater interested in adding DPS to their boat couldn’t unless their existing engine and control package offered it. Typically, that means pods or recent outboards. That propulsion integration means if you own a boat with traditional inboards, shafts, and props, there very likely isn’t a viable DPS option. Until now! Dockmate now offers DPS as an add-on to any twin-engine boat fitted with their remote control.