MASE IS08-11.5 generator control panel replacement?

[vas]

morning all,

got a few things to report on the main rebuilt thread as well as the fins one, however on the first week on the water after the fins where fitted I had to use them as static ones since geny was dead due to some silly short that took the control panel with it.
Took me two days to figure out a solution so eventually I can now turn the gen on using a barrel with key from one of the two Detroits previously fitted on MiToS currently tie-wrapped on a conduit just under the aft deck so you have to open the hatch, bend over, fish for the barrel and turn the key (very, very professional!)
But messing about with all that I run out of time for sorting out the fins control system. More on that next week on my next outing to the Sporades.

So now, I do vaguely remember someone (IIRC Portofino?) posting some links on MASE stuff and I did keep the links, and someone else (or was it again PF, or was it Bart on another discussion on remotely operating the generator from the f/b?) that mentioned alternative control panels to run a generator?

The original one as seen on p5 on this PDF: http://www.masenorthamerica.com/manuals/old-literature/IPB/IPB IS 07.0-11.5.pdf
apart from the ON, START, STOP touch buttons (and respective leds), has a few indicator leds that I find useful plus the feature to kill the gen if something's wrong (did it once that I had a problem with the impeller and no water was going through). Talking about overheat, oil pressure, AC output (ok, find that silly tbh...) and possibly one more.

So instead of spending time to figure out the signals from the oil press and temp sensors and building a new panel myself, is there any cheap and cheerful solution to my problem?

cheers

V.

 

[vas]

forgot to list a few that I have bookmarked, but not sure if they actually work (especially the first one!) :

https://www.ebay.co.uk/itm/Generato...p-Sea-Electronics-Spare-Parts-IS/173241937239

https://www.ebay.co.uk/itm/Auto-Sta...enerator-Controller-Panel-LXC701/112622704979

https://www.ebay.co.uk/itm/Auto-Sta...ontroller-Unit-Controller-LXC706/122791590650

 

[mcanderson]

I have the workshop manual for the MASE 5.0 if you want that. It has a full wiring diagram. PM me your email.

 

[vas]

thanks,

I did get all the manuals and wiring diagrams (that saved me!) from the US MASE site I've quoted, so I'm fine on that respect.
Just need a decent cheap control panel for it now!

cheers

V.

 

[Portofino]

I only have this Vas and shared it on the forum previously for Shane .
http://www.masenorthamerica.com/en/support/old-literature.html

 

[vas]

I only have this Vas and shared it on the forum previously for Shane .
http://www.masenorthamerica.com/en/support/old-literature.html

thanks PF, I have that bookmarked already, so must have been Bart, will PM him

cheers

V.

 

[BartW]

Vas, I also remember a post with these generic remote panels, but it wasn't mine, I believe it was PF.

fwiw, I made a automatic start system for the genny, with a few timer relay's connected to the Victron Battery monitor.
(works every night when we are on anker, towards the morning, one genny starts automatic)

our controll panel for the genny's is extremely simple,

a up / 0 / down toggle switch, for P /0/ SB genny,
one for contact, (3 position switch)
one for start, (momentary switch)
one for stop, (momentary switch)
and now an extra one for "automatic start" (3 position switch)

 

[Whitelighter]

Why not just get the box from Mase?

I have one at the helm and it works well

 

[vas]

Vas, I also remember a post with these generic remote panels, but it wasn't mine, I believe it was PF.

fwiw, I made a automatic start system for the genny, with a few timer relay's connected to the Victron Battery monitor.
(works every night when we are on anker, towards the morning, one genny starts automatic)

our controll panel for the genny's is extremely simple,

a up / 0 / down toggle switch, for P /0/ SB genny,
one for contact, (3 position switch)
one for start, (momentary switch)
one for stop, (momentary switch)
and now an extra one for "automatic start" (3 position switch)

Bart, two Qs,

these are ON TOP of the normal geny control panels? As in, overheat, under pressure, etc are catered for elsewhere, or you just use this system fullstop?

what's the contact 3 position switch about? you confused me here!

Why not just get the box from Mase?

I have one at the helm and it works well

I could, but I don't know whom to contact and I'm afraid of the price I'll hear (if they still have them in stock that is!)
I guess I'll have to email MASE but not going to email the US one and I don't think I have contact details and service/parts email for IT

cheers

V.

 

[BartW]

Bart, two Qs,

these are ON TOP of the normal geny control panels? As in, overheat, under pressure, etc are catered for elsewhere, or you just use this system fullstop?

what's the contact 3 position switch about? you confused me here!

.

there are almost zero fault indications on the genny's controll panel,
I know from experience that the genny switches "off" when there is a certain fault signal
( low oil pressure , high cooling water temp....)
this is indeed very limited, but didn't give major problems so far.

when opening the controll box (on top of the genny) , there are a few led's for fault diagnose...

inside the boat on the electric panel, are just these 4 toggle switches, for start en stop,
the three positions are for controlling one or the other genny, ...
yes this sounds complicated, but is actually very simple.

 

[5teve]

Hi Vas

Have you looked on AliExpress? I'm looking at a generator control panel from there and they seem to include inputs for overtemp etc. Pricing as you would expect is reasonable or cheap depending on how complex a unit you go for.. they seem to be universal so may well be a good starting point

Steve

 

[vas]

Hi Vas

Have you looked on AliExpress? I'm looking at a generator control panel from there and they seem to include inputs for overtemp etc. Pricing as you would expect is reasonable or cheap depending on how complex a unit you go for.. they seem to be universal so may well be a good starting point

Steve

wasn't even aware of AliExpress, thanks, bookmarked now

yes, could do, but in the meantime I found a piece of perspex, bought a 1kΩ volume control, and put that together with the old Detroit barrel in the lower helm. Wired them up and now I can start the gen from the helm and start the stabs from there as well as starting the hydraulics pump inverter. Three birds with one stone!

During the winter I'll find how to kill the fuel solenoid when the yanmar overheats or oil pressure is low.
most likely this will mean dropping the barrel and going touch buttons and some logic (got enough perspex for 3 more incarnations...)

cheers

V.

 

[5teve]

Ah lots of stuff to waste your money on there - some good - some crap!

I have been looking at something similar to this.. https://www.aliexpress.com/store/pr...e6e0-48c2-b807-78b753f0acb3&priceBeautifyAB=0

Dirt cheap relatively - nice looking and very configurable.. with programmable outputs. There are far more complex ones for not a huge amount more..

Steve

 

[Chicchis435]

Sorry to dig up an ancient thread.

I recently fried the varistor in my mase generator panel, and have had trouble fixing it. I think the damage may go furtehr down stream than just the varistor. I ammm now starting the generator without the control panel, but I would like some of the panel functionality back.

I wonder how you got on 5teve and vas with replacements?
I'm not going to go and pay £400 for a mase panel if it can be avoided.

 

[vas]

hi,

my solution wont help you as I ended up building a custom PCB with an arduino teensy 3.5 on it (ok, got 4 on the boat one on each main engine and one for general fluid levels et al) taking input from various sensors I've fitted on the yanmar (oil pressure, coolant temp, seawater circuit pressure, rpm, EGT) and based on all that, I've programmed a linear actuator to operate the governor and start the thing at 1200rpm, wait for the engine coolant to warm up, slowly up the rpm to normal operation (3000) and do the reverse when stopping it. Scrapped the crappy diesel cutoff valve doing so. Same controller instructs a solid state relay to drive the starter.
All that through NMEA2000 custom messages controlled from a 7in touch screen on lower helm.
Endless hours programming and setting things up, and amazingly it does work

Not sure what Steve did.
Post a pic of your panel and what's wrong with it, mine's also dead but not sure why and how.

cheers

V.

 

[Chicchis435]

Wow, fantastic solution. Well done.

Here's a photo of the offending panel.

It faded out when the generator got water on it and blew the3am and 30 amp fuses. When I removed it the varistor on the power circuit was completely toast. I've tried re-soldering a new one on but haven't had any luck yet.

I like the idea of using an arduino.

 

[Steve__]

hi,

my solution wont help you as I ended up building a custom PCB with an arduino teensy 3.5 on it (ok, got 4 on the boat one on each main engine and one for general fluid levels et al) taking input from various sensors I've fitted on the yanmar (oil pressure, coolant temp, seawater circuit pressure, rpm, EGT) and based on all that, I've programmed a linear actuator to operate the governor and start the thing at 1200rpm, wait for the engine coolant to warm up, slowly up the rpm to normal operation (3000) and do the reverse when stopping it. Scrapped the crappy diesel cutoff valve doing so. Same controller instructs a solid state relay to drive the starter.
All that through NMEA2000 custom messages controlled from a 7in touch screen on lower helm.
Endless hours programming and setting things up, and amazingly it does work

Not sure what Steve did.
Post a pic of your panel and what's wrong with it, mine's also dead but not sure why and how.

cheers

V.

Greatly resolved. I wonder how exactly linear actuator was programmed to operate like this.

 

[vas]

Greatly resolved. I wonder how exactly linear actuator was programmed to operate like this.

quick answer, with great difficulty. Cannot present a longer answer now I'm afraid quite busy with work. Obvs forgot in the previous post to mention that there's also a reed valve and magnets (no alternator on the yanmar) that gives me accurate rpm measurement. Also linear actuator has feedback sensing in it (although could simply use real rpm as long as engine is running)

V.

 

[Steve__]

quick answer, with great difficulty. Cannot present a longer answer now I'm afraid quite busy with work. Obvs forgot in the previous post to mention that there's also a reed valve and magnets (no alternator on the yanmar) that gives me accurate rpm measurement. Also linear actuator has feedback sensing in it (although could simply use real rpm as long as engine is running)

V.

It's okay you cannot give a full answer, I'm impressed enough. Thank u!