Markdp
New Member
I´ve been working on solution to a problem I couldn´t find solved anywhere else so thought I´d share.
For some time I wanted to know what wind speed and direction was at my boat when I wasn´t on board - for example when deciding whether to head to the marina for a day of sailing, checking if observed conditions were as forecasted, knowing if wind has picked up on anchor when I´m on shore in protected area, etc
I have a 16m sailboat with full B&G Zeus system, so the best monitoring equipment was already on the boat and I didn´t want to start adding new weather sensors that would never be as effective as those I have already at the top of the mast. But I needed to access that data over an internet connection when not at the boat.
Here is what I had already set up:
1. Teltonika RUTX50 4/5G wireless router - this is permanently connected with dual sim and auto switching based on roaming location, providing on board wifi, and allowing remote communication with the boat
2. Victron Cerbo GX - Already set up to monitor fuel & water tanks, battery levels, various temperatures, bilge, etc. All viewable over the internet through a boat dashboard page built inside Victron VRM, and also small Victron Touch display mounted in saloon
3. VE.Can to NMEA2000 adapter - allows any of the data capture from above in #2 to be presented on my ZEUS3 plotters, but also collects any data on the NMEA system and presents it back to the Cerbo GX
This system has been running for a while, the missing link was to activate Signal K on the Cerbo, and then set up Saillogger to leverage the data.
[Links removed at OP's request]
Saillogger does many great things, now payable by a small $5 a month subscription, but I mostly use just the logging which creates an automated log of every time I move the boat, and solving my weather problem.
By accessing the data in the Cerbo, I can now see the following info remotely through a web page - most importantly the wind speed and direction I wanted. This is all done realtime though the 4G connection > Cerbo > Signal K > Saillogger.
In order to work on my boat, this of course needs the Navigation system powered up, but I don´t want to leave my full B&G system running all the time just to access this data, so I then fitted a small relay across my Navigation panel switch, and remotely switch on and off the Navigation system when I want to remotely check in on the weather ( this is only for NMEA sourced data, everything else is always available as the Cerbo, Router, tank sensors etc are permanently powered). The relay is controlled by the I/O port on the Teltonika router, and I simply send a custom SMS ( NavOn & NavOff ) to the router SIM whenever I need it. I could also use the I/O on the Cerbo but it was just nearer to the switch panel.
Also, my B&G was configured so that when Navigation circuit breaker is powered up, all Zeus Chart Plotters power on too - I didn´t want this for remote monitoring, just access to the NMEA data, so I stopped them auto powering up by disconnecting the yellow signal cable from 12v Positive. Now when Navigation is powered up, I still need to press on / off on the chart plotters.
I´ve still a lot more I can do with this, but even with the subscription fee I think [Links removed at OP's request] is a great solution to both an automated log book, but also my niche requirement.
Happy to help with any questions.. once a Cerbo GX is setup with Signal K and internet access, and sending / receiving NMEA data there is so much potential from this cool mini computer . The saillogger example is just one use case that cost nothing to add once the system was running, and only a relay for the specific weather use case
Mark
For some time I wanted to know what wind speed and direction was at my boat when I wasn´t on board - for example when deciding whether to head to the marina for a day of sailing, checking if observed conditions were as forecasted, knowing if wind has picked up on anchor when I´m on shore in protected area, etc
I have a 16m sailboat with full B&G Zeus system, so the best monitoring equipment was already on the boat and I didn´t want to start adding new weather sensors that would never be as effective as those I have already at the top of the mast. But I needed to access that data over an internet connection when not at the boat.
Here is what I had already set up:
1. Teltonika RUTX50 4/5G wireless router - this is permanently connected with dual sim and auto switching based on roaming location, providing on board wifi, and allowing remote communication with the boat
2. Victron Cerbo GX - Already set up to monitor fuel & water tanks, battery levels, various temperatures, bilge, etc. All viewable over the internet through a boat dashboard page built inside Victron VRM, and also small Victron Touch display mounted in saloon
3. VE.Can to NMEA2000 adapter - allows any of the data capture from above in #2 to be presented on my ZEUS3 plotters, but also collects any data on the NMEA system and presents it back to the Cerbo GX
This system has been running for a while, the missing link was to activate Signal K on the Cerbo, and then set up Saillogger to leverage the data.
[Links removed at OP's request]
Saillogger does many great things, now payable by a small $5 a month subscription, but I mostly use just the logging which creates an automated log of every time I move the boat, and solving my weather problem.
By accessing the data in the Cerbo, I can now see the following info remotely through a web page - most importantly the wind speed and direction I wanted. This is all done realtime though the 4G connection > Cerbo > Signal K > Saillogger.
In order to work on my boat, this of course needs the Navigation system powered up, but I don´t want to leave my full B&G system running all the time just to access this data, so I then fitted a small relay across my Navigation panel switch, and remotely switch on and off the Navigation system when I want to remotely check in on the weather ( this is only for NMEA sourced data, everything else is always available as the Cerbo, Router, tank sensors etc are permanently powered). The relay is controlled by the I/O port on the Teltonika router, and I simply send a custom SMS ( NavOn & NavOff ) to the router SIM whenever I need it. I could also use the I/O on the Cerbo but it was just nearer to the switch panel.
Also, my B&G was configured so that when Navigation circuit breaker is powered up, all Zeus Chart Plotters power on too - I didn´t want this for remote monitoring, just access to the NMEA data, so I stopped them auto powering up by disconnecting the yellow signal cable from 12v Positive. Now when Navigation is powered up, I still need to press on / off on the chart plotters.
I´ve still a lot more I can do with this, but even with the subscription fee I think [Links removed at OP's request] is a great solution to both an automated log book, but also my niche requirement.
Happy to help with any questions.. once a Cerbo GX is setup with Signal K and internet access, and sending / receiving NMEA data there is so much potential from this cool mini computer . The saillogger example is just one use case that cost nothing to add once the system was running, and only a relay for the specific weather use case
Mark
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