MicroCommander Control System.

[oldgit]

No problems, just interested , never heard of them before.
After reading the manual , well as far as the contents page , it would appear there is method of syncronizing the engines.

Anyone come across this control system before.

 

[markc]

I have ZF Micro commander system on the boat. On the version I have I believe there was an option to have engine synchronisation, but I don't have it. I think I have a digital copy of the manual if you're interested

 

[scottie]

I think that they have been around for quite some time 30plus years and predate the now usual subjects and normally found in US

 

[oldgit]

Thanks all.
Syncro was an option and not installed on my boat.
Getting used to delay after the immediate response of previous boats with Bowden cables.
Did however have to help berth my previous boat recently and could not believe how much effort was needed to get in and out of gear and open the throttles.
All in all a vast improvement.

 

[Hurricane]

I think that synchronisation is a function of the general engine electronics.
I always thought that the micro commander is just the levers that you operate.

It isn't obvious how synchronisation works.
On my system, whilst under way, you press the Sync button and the lights flash.
You then have about 3 seconds to put one of the levers into neutral.
The untouched lever then runs both engines (synchronised)
I do this at displacement speed then use one lever adjust the speed (onto the plane etc)

This pic shows the throttles whilst planing - starboard lever is in neutral - the port one is controlling both engines.



If you have micro commanders and think you haven't got synchronisation, maybe check that out.

 

[markc]

The synch info for mine....


SYNCHRONIZATION (ADDITIONAL OPTION)
A green LED light is added to the starboard control lever.
Synchronization is automatic when both engines are in 'AHEAD'
in the cruise range. When engine RPM's are within 15% of one
another the green LED will blink, indicating the system is
working to synchronize. When the green LED is full 'ON' the
engines are in sync. When the light is out sync is 'OFF'.

 

[Hurricane]

The synch info for mine....


SYNCHRONIZATION (ADDITIONAL OPTION)
A green LED light is added to the starboard control lever.
Synchronization is automatic when both engines are in 'AHEAD'
in the cruise range. When engine RPM's are within 15% of one
another the green LED will blink, indicating the system is
working to synchronize. When the green LED is full 'ON' the
engines are in sync. When the light is out sync is 'OFF'.

Mine has another facility that is similar to that.

If we want to change station - flybridge to lower helm etc.
The process is:-
Go to the new station
Make sure that both levers are in neutral
Press the Command button
Move the levers to approximately the same position as the old station.
When both the levers are the same in the new station as they are in the old station, the station will transfer.
I often hear a slight change in engine RPM as the stations change so there is a tolerance - not sure it would be as much as 15% though.
IIRC, this process also works when the engines are synchronised - in tat case, you only have to move one lever (the same one that is controlling the synchronisation at old station)

I seem to remember that the Volvo systems require you to put both engines into neutral before changing stations - I might be wrong though.

 

[oldgit]

The telltale additional Green LED is absent on my controls.

 

[scottie]

Mine has another facility that is similar to that.

If we want to change station - flybridge to lower helm etc.
The process is:-
Go to the new station
Make sure that both levers are in neutral
Press the Command button
Move the levers to approximately the same position as the old station.
When both the levers are the same in the new station as they are in the old station, the station will transfer.
I often hear a slight change in engine RPM as the stations change so there is a tolerance - not sure it would be as much as 15% though.
IIRC, this process also works when the engines are synchronised - in tat case, you only have to move one lever (the same one that is controlling the synchronisation at old station)

I seem to remember that the Volvo systems require you to put both engines into neutral before changing stations - I might be wrong though.

I seem to recall big debate about whether or not to move station with boat moving !

 

[Hurricane]

I seem to recall big debate about whether or not to move station with boat moving !

Yep - I've had my moments.

One such one was a lumpy crossing to Denia.
We were getting wet on the FB so we decamped to the lower helm - doesn't happen often in the Med.
This was about 20 miles from Denia - we could only comfortably manage about 10 knots.
As we got nearer, we managed to go faster.
Keen to get there out of the lumpy stuff, we approached Denia at about 30 knots
I went back onto the FB and decided to keep the speed going until the turn into Denia.
Anyone who knows Denia will know that there is a long fairway before the marina.
As we turned into the fairway (at 30 knots) I throttled back - nothing!!
It was still on control at the lower helm.
I panicked - rather than trying to resynchronise everything on the FB, I dived below and put the lower helm controls to neutral.
Phew - and thanks to that great invention - the internal staircase!!!
But for that moment, you start to think the worst.

That scenarion has only happened once before so I usually do any change of position in the open sea and it works really well.

 

[MapisM]

I seem to recall big debate about whether or not to move station with boat moving !

There's something to be said about old school cable control levers, and transfers between stations is just one among their strengths.
In fact, when each and every lever movement, both for gear and throttle, is constantly mirrored also in the unattended station, there's absolutely nothing to do when moving up or down.
Whatever levers position you leave on one station, you will find exactly the same in the other one, without doing anything at all.
Even the concept of "taking control" doesn't make any sense - wherever you are onboard, you just grab the nearer levers and use them, period.
Imho, if there's one thing where the introduction of electronics has made things worse rather than better on a boat, that's engine controls!

 

[oldgit]

On my "old" boat with Bowden cables it was vital that you ensured that throttles were in the central neutral position (not always easy when in a hurry and /or panic )when swapping stations).
Sort of OK ish on departure going from saloon to fly but more exciting when going down when approaching something hard and or expensive and discovering the saloon throttles are not actually going to do anything very much and you very urgently to go back upstairs.

 

[scottie]

And nothing to stop someone accidentally fiddling

 

[MapisM]

On my "old" boat with Bowden cables it was vital that you ensured that throttles were in the central neutral position (not always easy when in a hurry and /or panic ) when swapping stations).

That's with single levers controlling both gear and throttle, I guess?
The separate levers I was referring to do not require any action/check/position in the "live" station, before moving to the other one.
For the very simple reason that they are always both live, and as I said any movement on any lever is always mirrored in real time on the other one.
In fact, it is indeed true what scottie said: the helmsman can't stop someone else from fiddling with the other, "non-live" station.
But I solve this problem explaining to my guests that anyone daring to touch anything will be treated to walking the plank!