 Happy New Year from OceanPlanet Energy!  Somehow it’s January again, and here in Maine we’ve had a few wild winter storms and some unseasonably warm weather as well. We’re past the solstice now, which means the days are growing longer – even if it doesn’t feel like it yet. Now’s a great time to take a look at your boat, van, or RV energy systems and think about upgrades! Remote reprogramming with Victron’s VRM Recently, OPE was contacted by an individual who was worried about how their Victron MultiPlus Inverter/Charger was charging their new AGM house bank. The MultiPlus and the AGM house bank were installed by experienced and competent technicians – however, the owner of the boat was concerned that some of the charge parameters were set incorrectly for their batteries. With a sizable investment into the battery bank, a rapidly approaching departure date, and a long list of other projects to complete, the owner contacted us. Using Victron’s Remote Monitoring (VRM), we were able to reprogram the Multiplus – from our office in Maine, over 600 miles away. With a Victron GX device (such as a Cerbo) and WiFi connectivity, you can remotely monitor your energy systems from anywhere. Alarms, logging, and real-time data are all visible, and this data can be shared with anyone you’d like through the web-based VRM portal. We walked the owner through the process of sharing full access to us, and we were able to connect directly with the MultiPlus. After looking the parameters over and making some appropriate changes, we simply reuploaded the programming file to the MultiPlus. The MultiPlus rebooted, and the monitoring page showed us that the system was charging according to the manufacturer’s specifications. If you have a GX device, setting up VRM is free and easy.   Winter sunset on the Midcoast of Maine  Product Spotlight: New programming and support options for the WS-500, Wakespeed’s advanced alternator regulatorThe Wakespeed-500 external regulator is an extremely advanced alternator regulator that can accurately and safely manage your high-output alternator for a variety of battery types and usage desires. We’re introducing new options for programming, including remote support packages, for any type of battery chemistry or system. All packages are designed to utilize the full range of options of the Wakespeed regulators, including custom switching (force to float, equalization mode, etc.) and engine white-space utilization. Programming options for the WS-500 Alternator Regulator.  With 25-30 foot waves and 60+ knot gusts, winter storm Elliot made us glad we were on land, for the moment anyway. FAQ: Lithium Batteries and High-Output AlternatorsA high-output alternator with a custom-programmed regulator can generate more energy, in less time, with less fuel. Lithium batteries and high-output alternators can help you achieve a new level of energy independence, but there are some important considerations to look into first – check out our FAQ! Frequently Asked Questions: Lithium Batteries and High-Output Alternators Coming soon: a tech blog post going into more details on this subject! High Output AlternatorsAdvanced Alternator Regulators  Curious about your daily energy needs? Looking to expand your battery bank, or figure out your solar charging needs? Want to learn more about your boat, van, or RV’s daily energy usage? Check out our re-vamped energy calculator, advanced instructions, walk-through, and filled out examples! For designing your boat’s energy systems, this is the place to start. OPE’s Energy Calculator Nigel Calder’s Shakedown Cruise – Lessons Learned the Hard Way Take an hour to laugh and learn with Nigel Calder in this talk originally recorded for The Cruising Club of AmericaExpand your knowledge! https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=AC8DYxQ5fnI Take your marine electrical system knowledge to the next level with these in depth courses brought to you by Nigel Calder and Dr. Jan C. Athenstädt. Not only is it full of extremely useful information, it’s also fun and easy to follow along! We can’t recommend this course enough for building your knowledge of the basics of electrical systems. BoatHowTo  |
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