CANbus

Empirbus on Rustler 44

I have been using Empirbus on my new Rustler 44 for a few years now. Overall, I am very pleased.

Reasons I like it.
Easy to add new devices
Easy to change switching arrangements
Computer based programming
Remote controls
Remote monitoring
Smaller, more elegant switch panel

Reasons I dont like it
Control program is PC only, and I use Mac, so i have to have one of those awful Microsoft machines on board as well. (Yes, I do know about Parallels or VM).
Fault finding is not as straightforward for the less technically inclined as problems can be wiring or nodes, or individual cards and its not always easy to identify which. Having said that, I have had almost no problems after the initial few months.

What sort of boat are you considering?


Edit:- I also like being able to designate light switches as dimmers. We have made all our internal lights dimmable. Unlike domestic dimmers, these really do mean you use less juice.
 
Last edited:
marklucas said:
Thinking of this for a new build yacht.

Does anyone have any experience / recommendations / pratfalls to avoid?
Click to expand...

Why bother? The circuitry on a boat is basically very simple and reliable. Its not complicated / sophisticated in the way a modern car is. Adding in canbus makes it more complicated and more difficult to understand - anybody can understand conventional 12 v wiring.

Do you really fancy having to visit your boatbuilder to get him to plug in his lappy to trace a fault somewhere in the system like you do with your car?

Its technology for technology's sake
 
Bosun Higgs said:
Why bother? The circuitry on a boat is basically very simple and reliable. Its not complicated / sophisticated in the way a modern car is. Adding in canbus makes it more complicated and more difficult to understand - anybody can understand conventional 12 v wiring.

Do you really fancy having to visit your boatbuilder to get him to plug in his lappy to trace a fault somewhere in the system like you do with your car?

Its technology for technology's sake
Click to expand...

I couldnt disagree more. On a larger boat the circuitry is not simple at all, and modern boats are a lot more like cars than you think.

Whilst there are new things to consider when fault finding, you do not visit your boatbuilder to fix it. You plug your laptop in and the builder can remote access the boat using the internet. We have done this several times and it works a treat.

For example, I wanted to be able to switch on all the saloon lights and my deck flood lights from beside my bunk as a security measure. As a retrofit, to do this on a normal boat would be hugely expensive and involve miles of wire.

The builders engineer just dialled into the boat, changed a few switch designations and job done in half an hour.

Most of the CANBUS suppliers are also rebuilding their front end software so that it can be easily configured by non-technical people as well, so the remote dial in will be less important.
 
SolentBoy said:
I couldnt disagree more. On a larger boat the circuitry is not simple at all, and modern boats are a lot more like cars than you think.

Whilst there are new things to consider when fault finding, you do not visit your boatbuilder to fix it. You plug your laptop in and the builder can remote access the boat using the internet. We have done this several times and it works a treat.

For example, I wanted to be able to switch on all the saloon lights and my deck flood lights from beside my bunk as a security measure. As a retrofit, to do this on a normal boat would be hugely expensive and involve miles of wire.

The builders engineer just dialled into the boat, changed a few switch designations and job done in half an hour.

Most of the CANBUS suppliers are also rebuilding their front end software so that it can be easily configured by non-technical people as well, so the remote dial in will be less important.
Click to expand...


I'm with you on this. Our Jeanneau is wired with a Simnet bus (basically CANBUS) throughout plus a 12v distribution backbone. The result is very easy installation and modification of all electronics. Running wires neatly from one end of a modern boat to the other is often difficult with the fully fitted interiors that are common these days. With a full network backbone, you just go to the nearest hub and plug up to there, knowing that the device will be visible throughout the boat.

Our rather basic Yanmar does not have integrated diagnostics, so there is no option to plug in a diagnostic laptop.
 
Bosun Higgs said:
Why bother? The circuitry on a boat is basically very simple and reliable. Its not complicated / sophisticated in the way a modern car is. Adding in canbus makes it more complicated and more difficult to understand - anybody can understand conventional 12 v wiring.

Do you really fancy having to visit your boatbuilder to get him to plug in his lappy to trace a fault somewhere in the system like you do with your car?

Its technology for technology's sake
Click to expand...
+1.
Have my 406 for a couple of months with the central locking working on its own, with the abs light coming on for no reason, with the diesel additive lo light coming on for no reason, then ask the same question again!
I know what the answer will be!
Stu
 
Maretron's systems are quite nice and user friendly, they have been around for a long time and are very robust. Less sophisticated than some agreed but will do almost all you could ever want.
 
I have CANBUS on new camper van, very pleased with it as can simply configure basic changes from the fitted interface (very basic but works OK). One problem though has been trying to get the system manufacturers to release any details, but slowly getting there (I have used varies bus systems, interfaces and software in industry, so not unfamiliar with them), but still struggling to get enough details from them. So if you do go for CANBUS, make sure and get all the technical details that you want as part of the purchase contract, up front.
 
SolentBoy said:
For example, I wanted to be able to switch on all the saloon lights and my deck flood lights from beside my bunk as a security measure. As a retrofit, to do this on a normal boat would be hugely expensive and involve miles of wire.

The builders engineer just dialled into the boat, changed a few switch designations and job done in half an hour.

Most of the CANBUS suppliers are also rebuilding their front end software so that it can be easily configured by non-technical people as well, so the remote dial in will be less important.
Click to expand...

Many thanks to all for the input.

The example above is the sort of flexibility I am looking for as situations / cruising area change, as well as easy control from multiple locations e.g. either pedastal, nav station and main cabin, maybe even from a tablet over the boat's Wi-Fi network?

Whilst car manufacturers will not provide their CANbus details in order to manage warranty issues on a large volume of vehicles, they are quickly reverse engineered - and any marine supplier would want it to be open as each boat will be individual.

Any recommendations for suppliers other than those mentioned so far?
 
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