Mastervolt - Marine

Mastervolt chosen as a technical supplier to Oracle team USA

Thu, 02 May 2013 13:30:15 +0200

Mastervolt has been chosen as a Technical Supplier to ORACLE TEAM USA, 34th America’s Cup Defender.

"It is important for us to work with companies that understand our needs, offer high quality products and knowledgeable technical support," said Chris Sitzenstock, Shore and Build Team Project Manager for ORACLE TEAM USA. "Mastervolt has collaborated with us throughout the design process, offering products that work well in our applications, and they stand by their products."

A wide variety of Mastervolt products including battery chargers, inverters and batteries are fitted on the two chase boats built by Naiad Inflatable Boats. In addition, the Mastervolt Lithium Ion battery is used during training on ORCALE TEAM USA’s AC72 vessel.

"Mastervolt has a deep commitment to the world of sailing. Our products are designed for performance and durability in that competitive environment," said G.R. Schrotenboer, Commercial Leader of the Marine & Mobile group. "We are proud to work with ORACLE TEAM USA, outfitting their boats as they defend the oldest trophy in international sport, the America’s Cup."

Mastervolt powers the new Volvo Ocean 65 fleet

Mon, 22 Apr 2013 11:18:01 +0200

The world's toughest yachts choose the world's most dependable equipment!

The 8 identical yachts being built for the 2014-15 Volvo Ocean Race will all be equipped with Mastervolt’s latest batteries, chargers and power management systems after the Dutch-based pioneer was selected as the supplier of choice for this prestigious event.

Mastervolt has always been at the cutting edge of technological advances since its founding in 1991. Now as part of the American-based Actuant Corporation, the company has been reinforced in its drive to create the most dependable, lightweight and versatile electrical products and systems available today. For the Volvo Ocean Race, that’s exactly what is needed.

Each of the identical Volvo Ocean 65 yachts is being completed by UK-based Green Marine, and will carry two of the latest Lithium Ion Ultra 24/5000 batteries. These second generation models are capable of withstanding punishing recharge cycles that would destroy most conventional lead-acid equivalents. Weighing just 55kg apiece, an 80% weight saving over lead-acid for 5kWh, the remarkable 24V batteries pack a lot of power into a relatively small footprint, and will supply all the energy needs for each yacht. Each can be repeatedly discharged by up to 80% of its total capacity without damage.

More critically, they are also capable of soaking up a full charge in around an hour, which is just as well, as each yacht’s Volvo engine carries two Mastervolt 150ah Alpha Pro alternators and regulators, especially designed for fast charging with intelligent control. This means that each yacht will only have to run its engine for 60 minutes a day to fully recharge the batteries, yet the system can also be recharged from solar and other green sources.

Mastervolt designs its products around total system compatibility, and as a direct result of being part of Actuant’s Electrical division, the MasterBus communication systems will be able to exchange data with other OEM systems on board each yacht that use NMEA2000 protocols as the backbone. This means that data from Mastervolt’s power management network can be displayed on a number of marine instrument screens.

Putting the Mastervolt systems into these high-tech boats is Diverse Yacht Services, a highly accomplished Southampton-based company that specializes in tying advanced technologies together into one rugged platform. Director Will Best, who completed the gruelling Sydney to Hobart Race on the winning yacht in 2011, is delighted with Volvo’s choice.

"This equipment has already proven itself in the previous Volvo Ocean Races," he said. "It performed well as a lightweight, high-performance product, and Mastervolt’s global network means competitors will always have access to support should it be needed. We’ll be staying with Mastervolt not just for this Race, but also for 2017-18 as well."

Commenting on behalf of the Volvo Ocean Race organisers, Head of Yacht Maintenance Centre, Nick Bice said, "Mastervolt products are rugged and reliable, so are a perfect fit with the ethos of the Volvo brand."

Speaking for Mastervolt UK, the suppliers of the equipment, UK Marine Sales Manager, Nick Holland said, "This is a hugely prestigious event where the crews drive each yacht to its limit. As a keen yachtsman myself, I am really excited to be involved at such a critical level, and to know that our equipment will be trusted in the most extreme yacht race on Earth."

The event will start from Alicante, Spain with the first in-port race on October 4th, 2014. The boats set sail for Recife exactly a week later. Progress and updates can be found here.

Mastervolt appoints Fischer Panda as UK Mobile distributor

Mon, 25 Feb 2013 12:47:00 +0100

Mastervolt has appointed Fischer Panda as distributor for its products and systems within the UK mobile & military markets. Fischer Panda already has a strong and established presence in these sectors and has a successful working relationship with Mastervolt.

Mastervolt, the premium power electronics manufacturer, operates across Marine, Solar, Mobile, and Industrial markets, but there are particular areas of the automotive market that require a broad range of power supply solutions, both DC and AC.

Fischer Panda is the leading manufacturer of silenced diesel generators, renowned for their small size & quiet reliable power and has a strong presence in the mobile sector.

This new partnership provides both Mastervolt and Fischer Panda with ready access to increase UK mobile business.

Speaking of the new Mastervolt/Fischer Panda agreement, David Craig, General Manager of Mastervolt UK, said: "This new agreement illustrates a specific synergy between our two companies and their positions within the mobile marketplace meaning that together we can provide a perfect solution for our clients."

Barry Fower, Managing Director of Fischer Panda commented: "The combination of our two quality ‘A’ brands will allow us to tailor on-board power solutions to suit our customer’s needs, providing a properly engineered system, fully supported."

Fischer Panda will be exhibiting in conjunction with Mastervolt at the following Shows:
- CVS at NEC - 9-11 April
- Blue/Amber Light (ex NAPFM) at Telford - 4-5 June
- DVD at Millbrook - 19-20 June
- DSEi at ExCeL - 10-13 September
- IBC at Amsterdam - 13-17 September
- Emergency Services Show at NEC – 25-26 September

Six megawatt-class solar power plants with trackers installed in Puglia

Thu, 21 Feb 2013 10:23:49 +0100

Amsterdam, 19 February 2013 – A group of six solar power plants employing various PV technologies – including concentrated solar power (CPV) – and with a cumulative output of 6 MW has been installed in the Italian region of Puglia. Alongside CPV technology, the plants also comprise poly and monocrystalline modules. A total of 250 Mastervolt SunMaster CS20s serve as the inverters for all the plant and module technology. The owner and operator of the plants is the German company Solar 8, which also manufactured the single and dual axis trackers used in the project.

Solar 8 used a variety of module technologies to demonstrate the performance of individual trackers in different operating conditions. In order to keep installation and maintenance costs as low as possible, a single inverter model was required that was equally suitable for all the different module types. After initially testing inverters from another supplier, Solar 8's choice settled on the three-phase SunMaster CS20TL RP.

"We were very impressed by the yield achieved in the first module batch installed with the Mastervolt inverter, so my partner and I decided to complete the entire 6 MW installation in Puglia using this model, despite having initially tried another solution," says Werner Wieland, CTO of Solar 8.

Mastervolt’s SunMaster CS family comprises six transformerless inverters with outputs of 7.5, 10, 12.5, 15, 20 and 30 kW. They are characterised by their light weight, compact construction and their high degree of versatility and performance, even in extreme conditions. The CS20 won the prestigious iF product design award in 2010. All SunMaster CS inverters are CEI-021 certified.

Ecobuild: Mastervolt Presents New Soladin Web Inverters

Fri, 15 Feb 2013 11:39:37 +0100

Amsterdam, 05/02/2013. Mastervolt presents the completely new generation of compact Soladin inverters at Ecobuild 2013, booth S3140.

The new Soladin Web series is made in Holland and ideal for smaller PV systems. The range is designed to meet building code requirements in the UK and consists of three inverters with capacities of 700W, 1000W and 1500W.

Integrated Wi-Fi and free IntelliWeb

The new inverter series has integrated Wi-Fi. Using the new and free IntelliWeb Internet portal, owners can monitor their solar systems from anywhere at any time. The Mastervolt design philosophy allows for a simple and flexible installation of the new Soladin. Thanks to their integrated HF transformer and the wide input voltage range, the inverters can be used with all PV modules and any kind of solar roof tiles. For quick and easy installation, every Soladin Web is equipped with ‘quick connect’ AC terminals and safe DC connectors.

IntelliConcept

In spite of the inverters’ compact size, the new Soladin series boasts all eight features of the Mastervolt IntelliConcept. These include the intelligent startup procedure IntelliStart, which extends the annual operating time by up to 200 hours. IntelliGrid reduces production losses in case of voltage dips in the grid and IntelliShade ensures high yields even in conditions of temporary shading. The performance of the smart IntelliTrack has been simulated and tested with results of 99.9% static MPPT efficiency and a 99.7% dynamic MPPT efficiency. The silent IntelliCool system ensures stable high efficiency and constant high power. Taken together, these features result in up to 5% more energy production compared with systems without the IntelliConcept.

Mastervolt's top tips for a trouble-free summer afloat

Tue, 12 Feb 2013 17:29:02 +0100

Mastervolt, the leading Dutch-based specialist of electrical systems, has circulated a series of simple tips to allow yachtsmen and motorboaters to keep their electrics in top condition after the long winter lay-up.

Some yachtsmen find the start of the season frustrated by flat batteries, short circuits, and faulty connections, especially after a cold, damp winter, but Mastervolt’s advice seeks to minimize the disruption. Listed below are some of the most common malfunctions electrical engineers are called to deal with, and simple ways around them.

Use intelligent charging

Unfortunately, many boaters find their batteries almost flat when used in anger for the first time. Extreme cold, self-discharge and lack of recharging will shorten a battery’s life considerably. Some batteries will have spent the winter stored on a cold concrete garage floor rather than lifted onto wooden batons.

"Batteries left on the boat should ideally have been connected to an ‘intelligent’ battery charger, matched to the type of batteries being used," said Mastervolt’s Global Power Conversion Product Manager for the Marine and Mobile Group, Marc Persoon. "This will monitor the state of each battery bank and adapt its charging regime to match the requirements of the battery bank. The best scenario is to have a dedicated charger for each bank. All Mastervolt’s chargers charge in three steps, which has proved to be the optimal choice between fast charging and battery lifetime. If shore power is interrupted, the charger starts again where it left off, whereas rival products would start the cycle again. Having the right charger to suit your batteries, and with the right charging regime, will get your season off to a flying start."

If you find your boat stored in a winter storage where continuous shore power is prohibited, Mastervolt advises to fully charge the batteries before disconnecting the battery terminals to make sure no loads drain the batteries during the winter. We advise to reconnect the batteries and fully charge every two months. When you have GEL batteries this can be done every three months. For Mastervolt Lithium Ion batteries, the requirements are easier without availability of shore power. Ideally, store batteries at 60-70% state of charge and disconnect the battery terminals. You can store them for 6 months without problems. Mastervolt advises a ‘winter switch’ to isolate your batteries from the system; this makes preparing for winter storage as easy as possible, and allows for quick disconnection of the system when doing maintenance.

Check terminal tightness

It may seem obvious, but yachts and especially engine rooms are full of vibration and movement, so it’s not surprising that battery terminals can work themselves loose. Movement in the batteries themselves can often strain the connections, so ensure the batteries are well strapped down, the terminals kept clean, not over-tightened, and thinly smeared with petroleum jelly to deter corrosion. Often a ‘flat’ battery is actually just poorly connected.

Seek out corrosion

A boat is in the worst possible environment for wiring, and the salty atmosphere can eat its way into the terminal ends and work up the wire, the extent of the corrosion not always fully obvious under the insulation. The use of fully tinned wire for installations may be more expensive, yet will offer a great deal of protection against creeping corrosion. Even during the early season, keep the boat warm and dry with thermostatically controlled heaters or dehumidifiers.

"Condensation has also been known to settle onto the circuit boards of some of the cheaper electronics, causing shorts," Persoon said. "Keep non-marine electronic equipment off your boat, especially in the winter or early season, until you actually need it."

Inspect shore power cables

Shore power may well have been left on during the winter, and will be used a lot during the season, so it’s worth a few minutes to visually check the cable and connections. Cables suffer the occasionally heavy trolley being run over them, the ends being dropped into the water, storage in wet, salty lockers, and accidental pull-outs, so look for damaged pins, corrosion on the metal, and crush or chafe damage to the insulation. Mastervolt’s stylish but rugged range of shore power cables features moulded waterproof ‘pin and sleeve’ connectors to prevent salt water corrosion, and the cable is ribbed to stop it rolling underfoot.

Review the system

If your boat’s electrics have become unreliable, the best way to guarantee a trouble-free season is to consider refitting with a fully compatible system of batteries, chargers and inverters. Many systems are a mish-mash of different manufacturers’ equipment, yet Mastervolt’s components are all designed to work seamlessly together, and connect via the MasterBus CAN-bus system. They’re also fully hybrid-ready. Mastervolt’s catalog and website gives full advice for refitting to achieve complete electrical freedom.

Have fun enjoying your independence ...

Mastervolt consolidates sales and service activities from Germany and Italy

Thu, 31 Jan 2013 15:55:42 +0100

Amsterdam, Cologne, Gallarate, 31 January 2013 – The Dutch inverter manufacturer Mastervolt is carrying out an organizational consolidation affecting Germany and Italy. Mastervolt will provide sales and service activities for Germany from its headquarter office in Amsterdam. Italian customers will continue to be served via the existing strong and experienced distributor Mastervolt Italia Srl and other known distributors. Both local sales offices will be closed by the end of February, 2013. Sales offices in France, UK, Benelux, United States and Asia remain in operation.

The structural change in both countries is in line with Mastervolt’s philosophy of working with a wide-spread, well trained, installer and distributor partner network. As the solar market develops towards smart energy solutions, a core competence of Mastervolt, partners and customers will be supported from the head office where Mastervolt will continue to provide its technological knowledge.

"This consolidation allows us to more efficiently serve our customers while improving operational excellence and our cost structure", states Hans van Nikkelen Kuijper, CEO of Mastervolt. "In a rapidly changing technological environment, an efficient organisational structure will help us to bring our new innovative products and services to the market more quickly". Mastervolt aims to create a solid base for global expansion by focusing on innovation and introduction of the new SoladinWeb inverter range, IntelliWeb monitoring functionality, Lithium Ion Ultra battery range and the completion of the new three-phase SunMaster CS range (7-30kW) in the coming months.

Aquafax to distribute BEP Electrical Equipment

Thu, 17 Jan 2013 15:00:16 +0100

Aquafax, the sole UK wholesaler for Mastervolt’s full range of power solutions, has also just been appointed UK distributor for BEP Marine electrical products.

BEP Marine, a New Zealand-based company and a member of Mastervolt’s parent company Actuant, has evolved since the 1980s into a world market leading designer and producer of battery distribution equipment, such as switches, circuit breakers and wiring looms. Aquafax will be taking on the entire range of products, including switches, circuit breakers, combined switch and circuit breaker panels, covered bus bars, RCD and battery management panels, all of which have a growing reputation for design and quality.

Announcing Aquafax’s new distribution agreement, David Craig from Mastervolt UK said: "As Aquafax is already the wholesaler for Mastervolt, bringing in the complementary products from BEP Marine adds another string to their bow and gives the whole marine trade a much improved ‘one stop’ service."

Aquafax distributes over 16,000 products from companies including Mastervolt, Lewmar, International Paint, Waeco, Forespar, Guidi, Ultraflex, Tecma and Johnson Pumps through its UK hubs in Luton, Hamble, Middlewich, Wroxham, Glasgow and Plymouth, serving both the leisure and commercial marine industries, as well as specialist vehicle builders, horsebox builders and other industrial markets. The company holds high levels of stock for fast delivery and offers full technical support, which is recognised as being amongst the best in the industry.

New Soladin Web inverters with Integrated Wireless LAN and Innovative Monitoring

Thu, 10 Jan 2013 15:55:49 +0100

Mastervolt is set to unveil its completely new generation of compact Soladin inverters at InterSOLUTION 2013, booth 8611. The new Soladin Web series is suitable for all European countries and is made in Holland. The range is designed for residential buildings with 3 to 8 panels and consists of three inverters with capacities of 700Wac, 1000Wac and 1500Wac. The new inverter series has integrated wireless LAN. Using the new and completely free Internet portal IntelliWeb, owners can monitor their solar systems from anywhere at any time.

"Mastervolt has already sold over 200.000 Soladins. This success story will be continued with the new Soladin Web models. To achieve this, the new devices have an excellent price-performance ratio and are equipped with the latest online monitoring and inverter technology. From now on Soladins can be used in every European country," says David Bassie, Product Manager Solar at Mastervolt.

The Mastervolt design philosophy allows for a simple and flexible installation of the new Soladin. Thanks to their integrated HF transformer and the wide input voltage range, the inverters can be used with all PV modules. For quick and easy installation (in 3 minutes), every new Soladin is equipped with an easily accessible AC connection and safe DC connectors.

In spite of the inverters’ compact size, the new Soladin Web series boasts all the features of the Mastervolt IntelliConcept. These include the intelligent startup procedure IntelliStart, which extends the annual operating time by up to 200 hours. IntelliGrid reduces production losses in case of voltage dips in the grid and IntelliShade ensures high yields even in conditions of temporary shading. The performance of the smart IntelliTrack has been simulated and tested with results of 99.9% static MPPT efficiency and a 99,7% dynamic MPPT efficiency. The silent IntelliCool system ensures stable high efficiency and constant high power.

Mastervolt opens new test lab and receives ISO 9001 certification

Thu, 08 Nov 2012 15:00:57 +0100

The Dutch inverter manufacturer Mastervolt continues on its quest for quality excellence. The company’s process management system was recently certified according to ISO 9001. Mastervolt also invested into a sophisticated new test laboratory suitable for photovoltaic inverters of up to 50 kW. The new lab also contains facilities to test off-grid power supply systems and diesel gensets for yachts from Mastervolt’s Marine product range.

In the lab, the behavior of large photovoltaic arrays is simulated, and it provides a 90kW simulated power grid. A large climatic chamber creates extreme ambient conditions with relative humidity levels op to 99% and temperatures between -85°C and 180°C. This allows to test both the input and output characteristics of inverters under all environmental conditions.

"The ISO 9001 certification and the new test laboratory are central pillars of our quality and reliability programme. The lab allows us to thoroughly test new devices under all conceivable ambient conditions. This is important for us because Mastervolt stands for devices and components with outstanding reliability" says Jan Jouke Bootsma, Quality Manager at Mastervolt. Mastervolt's stand-alone power supply systems are used in and vehicles worldwide, where they have to withstand high humidity, extreme temperatures, vibration and dust.

State-of-the-art equipment such as an Ametek High Power AC Source are used for simulations and testing. The RS90-SNK can exactly simulate 3-phase AC utility grids, including peak loads and grid failures that are to be expected in a real-life environment. True to its renewable energy mission, Mastervolt opted for the energy-efficient version of the RS90, which regenerates more than 80 percent of the power.

The new lab also boasts three 32 kW Regatron 1000VDC Sources to simulate the behavior of solar cells under many different conditions, from sunrise to sunset, on cloudy days or under partial shading. Measurement data are recorded by a Yokogawa Power Analyser, which measures power conversion efficiency down to a hundredth of a percent.

Mastervolt introduces the Lithium Ion Ultra Battery

Thu, 01 Nov 2012 11:53:31 +0100

Mastervolt introduces the Lithium Ion Ultra Battery - The next generation of lightweight, deep-cycling portable power.

Mastervolt, the Dutch-based leader in electrical systems and a subsidiary of the Actuant Corporation, is proud to announce the arrival of the Lithium Ion ‘Ultra’ battery, the next generation of deep-cycle power storage technology.

The traditional use of lead plates to store electrical energy has always had strict limitations, but the introduction of Mastervolt’s first generation of high power Lithium Ion battery was a paradigm change.

Lithium Ion batteries are at least 3 times more powerful than lead-based equivalents, a minimum of 3 times lighter, and most significantly, offer at least 3 times the cycle life. They can repeatedly provide useable power to virtual exhaustion with no ill effects, making them ideal for electric propulsion.

After several years of practical use, the award-winning first generation Li-Ion batteries performed beyond expectations. Harnessing the vital knowledge gained from this experience, the Mastervolt team has since developed the only second generation Li-Ion on the market, the Ultra series.

The Li-Ion Ultra battery is a completely new design, with every component upgraded and improved for increased performance across all applications. As always, safety and ease of installation were top priorities, yet in addition, the Ultra battery also holds more power, is far quicker to recharge, and now has most of the peripheral systems fully integrated. The footprint remains the same, allowing a straight swap for existing first-generation Li-Ion battery banks.

Inside the new-look casing are eight cells of Lithium Iron Phosphate, a silver-like substance that is a third of the weight of water, yet as safe as lead-acid. The low density of Lithium Iron Phosphate allows the battery to be much smaller and lighter than conventional equivalents. At 55kg, this is a weight saving of some 80% for 5kWh. The other big advantage of Li-Ion is that 80% of the power stored is useable, compared with just 40% for lead-acid. Unlike lead-acid, deep discharging to tap this power can be done with impunity, giving an ultra-long battery life of some 2,000 cycles; six times more than conventional batteries, and with no memory effect.

The real key to Mastervolt’s success with this technology is the active-cell balancing system. This moves energy from the highest-charged cells to those lower down, to keep energy levels equal right across the battery. Competitors use a far less efficient system called passive balancing, where the higher-charged cells lose their energy as heat, whilst the others play catch up.

In addition, the Ultra batteries can soak up a fast recharge to full capacity in less than an hour, and a common rail connection allows two Ultra batteries to be wired in series without costly external balancing. The batteries can also be connected to a fully integrated power management system, a speciality of Mastervolt, via a simple MasterBus CANbus cable. This reduces charge time by communicating the battery’s needs to all Mastervolt charging devices on board, and can also work through other protocols such as NMEA2000 and ModBus.

Changing a conventional battery installation to a Lithium Ion system previously used to require additional external components, yet in the second generation these have nearly all been incorporated into the battery, simplifying installation and further reducing costs.

"We are extremely proud of the new Ultra series," said Marc Persoon, Actuant’s Power Conversion Product Manager for the Marine and Mobile Group. "It is the distillation of years of practical experience in the field of marine Lithium Ion, gained since we brought the first ever battery of its type to the market. The longevity, light weight and versatility of Li-Ion, combined with lower installation costs for the new Ultra series makes them good value in the long-term compared with lead-acid equivalents. This brings amongst other applications cost-effective electric boating for everyone a big step closer."

For product information, click here.

Mastervolt's Comfort System makes buying a complete charger/inverter system quicker, cheaper and easier

Thu, 16 Aug 2012 16:43:20 +0200

Mastervolt, the leading Dutch-based manufacturer of marine electrical power systems, has made the buying and installation of a complete shore power battery charger and inverter system remarkably straightforward, whilst also passing on some useful discounts to the customer. Comfort System supplies all the components needed to charge starter and domestic batteries from shore power, and also run a powerful yet silent inverter for mains-powered domestic appliances.

Mastervolt has always pioneered the concept of a system-wide approach to marine electrical installations, creating components that work seamlessly together for maximum reliability. Yet these components should also be easy to buy together, and this is the idea behind the new package.

Knowing that trawling through catalogues collecting part numbers for various components and designing a system can be time consuming, Mastervolt has cleverly created the ultimate kit. Normally, the 7 components needed would all require their own part numbers, however, now just one part number - and one box - covers them all.

For yet more convenience, the individual instruction manuals have been condensed into just one, easily understood reference guide, sub-divided into ‘installation’ and ‘end user information.’ Better still, the savings made in the simplified packaging and logistics, amounting to some 10% of the retail price, have been passed on to the customer.

The Comfort System kit includes a 12V/2,5 KW Mass Combi combined charger/inverter, along with the main DC distribution components. There is also the MasterView Easy LCD monitor, a 25-metre shore power cable, and a polished stainless steel shore power inlet.

As with all its products, Mastervolt designed every single component in the system, with some recent innovations to each. These include the ribbed ‘anti-roll’ cover of the shore power cable, and the new pin and sleeve anti-corrosion design of the stylish shore power inlet. Developments like these ensure maximum efficiency and reliability, especially in extreme environments, which is a Mastervolt speciality.

"Supplying a complete installation in one package is hugely convenient for the customer," explained Marc Persoon, Power Conversion Product Manager for the Marine and Mobile Group. "It’s easier to order, provides one proven system, and it all arrives in one box with a single manual. For the distributor, that single box means easier stock control, and should any trouble-shooting be required, it’s much easier to handle because they know that everything will be compatible at source. The savings created will also make the kit much more competitive than buying each item individually."

The system-wide approach to the Comfort System also means that customers can upgrade and expand this straightforward installation with further ‘plug and play’ Mastervolt components in the future.

Comfort System specification:
- Mass Combi 12/2500
- Mastershunt
- DC Distribution (Inc ANL fuse 250A)
- MasterView Easy LCD panel
- 25m/16A shore cable
- Stainless steel shore power inlet

New Alpha Pro Charge Regulator

Mon, 06 Aug 2012 16:29:40 +0200

Mastervolt, the leading manufacturer of electrical and marine systems, is pleased to announce the launch of a brand new model of Alpha Pro regulator, effectively replacing four earlier models with just one, able to communicate with all Mastervolt products and work together as a complete system.

With the need to rapidly charge batteries from limited engine hours, Mastervolt developed the Alpha series of highly efficient alternators. These serve as primary or secondary alternators to a yacht’s main engine, making the very best use of the running engine when under propulsion.

The Alpha Pro regulator maximizes the output of Mastervolt Alpha alternators or any other alternator by regulating the alternator in a way that the batteries receive the optimum charge. The proven three-step+ charging regime used by all Mastervolt chargers guarantees the most efficient way to top the batteries up.

The new Alpha Pro regulator is designed as a ‘fit all’ solution, so now just one unit is needed for both 12V and 24V applications, with a simple selector switch to set the regulator to the right voltage. The unit can also be used on any other brand of alternator that has a standard Bosch connector, with a cable supplied as standard in the box.

Easy operation LEDs on the body of the regulator indicate the charge phase. The new Alpha Pro is also fully connectable to the MasterBus CANBus system, allowing easy monitoring via a single wire to a MasterView touch screen. In a MasterBus system the voltage drop over the battery cable will also be compensated automatically, as will battery temperature, improving the charging time without having to install additional cabling. When used in combination with Mastervolt Li-Ion batteries, the charging curves will be communicated automatically between the battery and the Alpha Pro regulator, ensuring the quickest and safest charge again without installing any additional cabling or components.
The Alpha Pro helps to cut emissions by requiring less run time because it maximises the power from any alternator; a battery can be charged quickly even at very low RPM, especially when connected to an Alpha series alternator. By connecting the Alpha alternator to a Battery Mate or Battery Isolator, several battery banks can be charged simultaneously.

"Combining highly efficient recharging with ease of installation and monitoring has always been a Mastervolt objective," said Marc Persoon, Actuant’s Global Power Conversion Product Manager for the Marine and Mobile Group. "The Alpha series, with the new ‘fits-all’ Alpha Pro regulator is a major step in easy operation and system functionality. Ultimately, by providing a higher efficiency of charging, you therefore gain a greater independence afloat."

Each Alpha Pro regulator carries a 2- year guarantee, and is supplied with two cables and an installation manual.

Brand new PowerLab!

Tue, 29 May 2012 16:31:23 +0200

Mastervolt, the Dutch-based leader in marine, solar and off-grid power products has invested in a major new research laboratory to drive forward its quest for ever more efficient electrical generation and propulsion systems. This will greatly assist the company in further developing its extensive range of hybrid and electrical drives for boats, with longer ranges and an even greater ability to regenerate underway.

Now part of the giant American Actuant Group, Mastervolt has access to a wide range of new – and previously competing – power products, especially within the mobile, solar and marine markets, and these products are gradually being merged into one impressive portfolio of solutions.

The modern and extensive new laboratory carries state-of-the-art equipment, such as the Ametek RS90-SNK High Power AC Source. This is one of only two such units in theNetherlands, and cost over €100,000 alone. The RS90 can exactly simulate 3-phase AC utility grids with all the peaks, troughs and sudden blackouts that boaters have suffered when connected to some of the world’s less reliable shore power hook-ups. It will be used to expand Mastervolt’s range of intelligent and highly efficient inverters. True to its renewable energy mission, Mastervolt specified the ‘green’ version of the RS90 (for an extra €45,000) that enables the lab to regenerate 80% of the power used during testing.

Also included in the new Power Lab are three Regatron 1000V/40A/32kW DC Sources to simulate the output of solar cells in a variety of conditions, from sunrise to sunset, under grey skies, blazing sunshine, or partial shade. Data is collated by a new Yokogawa WT1800 High Precision Power Analyser, which can measure power conversion down to literally hundreths of a percent.

In order to simulate climatic conditions in an engine room anywhere from the polar ice caps to the Equator, a Votsch WK1000 climatic chamber has been installed which can set any temperature between -85^oC and +180^oC, and change relative humidity to any value between 10% and 99%. Innovations destined for life in the most challenging of engine spaces will be trialled here.

Other equipment includes three diesel cabins for testing diesel/electric hybrids, and an electrical propulsion torque bench, enabling the R&D team to analyse both electrical and mechanical output and regeneration potential from an electrical propulsion system to the highest degree of accuracy. This new bench can handle loads of up to 20kW, replacing an earlier 5kW tester.

"The Power Lab is a major investment in our bid to take our products forward with a constant programme of development, improvement and innovation," said Daan Hobbelen, Product Development Manager, Marine & Mobile, Mastervolt. Hobbelen will be closely involved with the new Power Lab, particularly in the field of e-propulsion with an emphasis on regeneration.

"The new Lab will enable us to test products of up to 50kW," he said. "We are convinced that highly efficient electrical propulsion sourced from renewable sources such as solar panels, wind power and the free-wheeling propellers of boats under sail is the future for the leisure boating industry. This Lab will help us to achieve new goals for conversion efficiency."

The new Lab is based at Mastervolt’s headquarters in Amsterdam, and became operational in May 2012.

New distributor appointed for Indonesia

Mon, 07 May 2012 09:35:48 +0200

Mastervolt, the leading supplier of electrical power solutions to the worldwide marine, automotive and solar markets, has added a new distributor to its network – PT. Bordtechnik International Pacific (BIP) – specifically to coverIndonesia.

BIP, based inJakarta, represents many International brands, such as BEP Marine, Marinco and Fischer Panda as well as Mastervolt. The company provides electrical solutions and distribution services to the entire Indonesian marine industry.

With extensive experience of working within the German marine industry, and many years in particular with the Mastervolt brand, Mario Graeser, Director of BIP, decided to establish a new company inIndonesia. This came as a result of two years spent working on a specific project with power electronics and Mastervolt products.

"We are absolutely delighted to be appointed Mastervolt’s Indonesian distributor. Mastervolt is an exceptional brand, and we are very proud to be part of their International team," Mario explained. "We know the equipment; we know it’s innovative, reliable and perfect for the market and our customers here."

Erik van Wilsum, the Commercial Manager for APAC and ME within Mastervolt, commented on the new appointment: "When we heard that Mario had moved toJakarta, we did not hesitate to offer him this new opportunity with Mastervolt. BIP will now set up and establish a new dealer network and work closely with the OEM boatyards within the region."

A new dynamic at Mastervolt with the promotion of Marc Persoon and Laura Willems

Mon, 02 Apr 2012 15:54:38 +0200

Mastervolt, the leading Dutch-based electrical specialist, has promoted former Marketing Manager Marc Persoon to the post of Global Power Conversion Product Manager for the Marine and Mobile Group. Also promoted to fill his previous role, is former Brand Manager Laura Willems, who now takes on the new position of Marketing Manager.

The promotions are part of Mastervolt’s ambitious plans to grow its global position within the marine, mobile and solar markets over the coming years, with the continuous launch and management of innovative power conversion products.

Marc joined the company in 2005, and has since become a well-known authority on Mastervolt’s cutting-edge portfolio. He is also a familiar personality to journalists and customers at International exhibitions. His new role will extend across all the Actuant owned brands of Mastervolt, Marinco, BEP Marine and ParkPower. Marc will focus on product commercialisations and liaise with the company’s customer base and with the talented engineers.

Taking over his role as Marketing Manager is Laura Willems, who joined Mastervolt 18-months ago as Brand Manager. Before that, she enjoyed a fast-paced 10-year career with global companies such as Cadbury Stimorol and Perfetti Van Melle. In the coming months and years, Laura will be bringing her expertise to bear with the in-house marketing team by identifying Mastervolt’s ongoing marketing priorities.

Commenting upon the promotions, General Manager Hans van Nikkelen Kuijper said, "As part of our strategy for growth, it is very important to define the right products and solutions, and to manage our customers’ needs with technological possibilities and competitive product prices. I am very pleased that Marc and Laura are taking on these new positions; they are a great asset to the company, and I am confident that both will do an outstanding job for us."

Marc Persoon added, "I’m absolutely delighted with the new role in product management. Now I have the opportunity to be even more closely involved in the integration of marketing, sales, and engineering of our branded products. We have many great new ideas taking shape, and being right at the heart of these developments is very exciting."

Outlining her new role in marketing, Laura said, "Mastervolt has a very discerning client base, and my job will be to increase the brand awareness through a wide variety of International media, and highlighting the benefits of investing in our premium product range."

OBMG preferred supplier for McConaghy Yachts & Luxury Yachts

Thu, 01 Mar 2012 12:24:13 +0100

Following their appointment last year asHong Kongdistributors for Mastervolt products, On Board Marine Group (OBMG) has won ‘preferred supplier’ status for all batteries, AGM Gel and Li-Ion on all new vessels built by the McConaghy yard.

OBMG Directors Dylan Waterhouse and James Bourke had just a short time to familiarise themselves with the complete Mastervolt range of electrical systems equipment to enable them to pitch for the prestigious business of supplying for the full range of sailing and power yachts built by McConaghy and other boat builders.

Erik van Wilsum, Commercial Manager for APAC and ME within Mastervolt commented, "Dylan and James have worked hard to win this contract and have proved that we made the right decision to appoint OBMG as Mastervolt’sHong Kongdistributor. We’re very pleased for them and for ourselves."

In addition to Mastervolt, OBMG also handles product ranges from such top rank marine equipment companies as Simrad, B&G, BEP Marine, FLIR Systems, Ocean LED and Hella Marine. The company also offers electrical design, supply, distribution and engineering consultancy services to the Asian marine industry, providing top quality products and engineering solutions.

McConaghy boats, with production yards in both Australia and China, has a history of building highly successful racing yachts, composite components and dinghies, but also caters for the high end luxury yacht market – both in sail and power. Their expertise with composites has led to the production of various products from Maxi Yachts such as Wild Oats and Alfa Romeo to production boats like the MC 38 One Design and also their components; steering wheels, pedestals, propulsion units, carbon tubing, rudders and foils.

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MasterBus and CZone come together

Fri, 11 Nov 2011 09:30:49 +0100

Since the integration of Mastervolt into the Marine division of Actuant Electrical the engineers at Mastervolt headquarters inAmsterdamand the BEP engineering team inNew Zealandhave been busy working together to provide a seamless connection between the two companies networked technologies into one system.

Both companies have extensive CAN based networked systems made up of Digital Switching, Systems Monitoring and Power Conversion devices. "Bringing the CZone and MasterBus systems together has been a relatively easy task", says Jarrod Sagar, Global Product manager for Digital Switching at BEP, "as both companies had the same original philosophy for these systems, which was to bring all the points of control and monitoring of the on board systems onto one intuitive display, a central point and seamless automation simplifies boat use for the user."

The engineering teams have developed ‘CZoneMasterBusBridge’ as the link between the MasterBus and CZone systems. The Bridge is a simple plug-in unit that reads both protocols and allows units from each manufacturer, and others such as Simrad that use BEP’s NMEA2000, to become fully compatible. This means that components such as pumps, alarms, battery chargers and monitors can be controlled from a single touch screen.

"The popular MasterShunt battery monitor and ChargeMaster battery charger can now be connected to a BEP marine network, which is based on NMEA2000," explained Marc Persoon, Mastervolt’s marketing manager. "As a result, the monitoring and control of the battery charger can now be done via the CZone display or other compatible display such as the multi-function marine navigation screens from Simrad andB&G. TheCZoneMasterBusBridge has been developed to connect two great systems together, and bring you the best of both worlds."

As with all Mastervolt products, the Bridge is made from robust, corrosion resistant materials. The compact unit has strategically-placed screw holes allowing it to be attached to any convenient surface. Two simple 5-pin universal sockets facilitate the quick and simple connection of the two network cables, and an LED indicator shows the network status.

"By connecting the Bridge into an existing system, it will allow a boat owner to expand a boat’s systems without having to stick with just one manufacturer," Persoon stated. "This is just one example of the benefits of becoming part of an organization such as Actuant, where the pooling of expertise reaps huge benefits for the customer. Furthermore, the Bridge gives our OEMS a complete simple package: a networked system made up of the worlds best power conversion and digital switching products."

"The inclusion of the Mastervolt product range and the integration highlights the BEP marine division strategy to be become a leading global supplier of integrated electrical system solutions and electrical components," says BEP’s Jarrod Sagar.

TheCZoneMasterBusBridgewere displayed at IBEX and METS, and is due for release in the first quarter of 2012. The bridge will include all the necessary connector cables and have a 2-year warranty.

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Unique training program for chinese OEM market

Thu, 20 Oct 2011 09:55:50 +0200

Sunny Sun, Director of PSS, and Erik van Wilsum Commercial Manager (APAC & ME regions) for Mastervolt organized a 4 day professional product training and workshop for the Chinese OEM market and its dealer network. A large group of engineers and purchasers from different yards participated in this unique training for China.

The training consisted of an overview of the complete product portfolio and also technical training and practical interaction with the products. The presentations and workshops were conducted in the Chinese language, in order to enhance the understanding of all the benefits, the installation options and quality differences. This is something Mastervolt would not have been able to achieve without PSS as a local partner.

Sunny Sun commented; "Normally a training of this magnitude is not possible in China because of the simple fact that many OEM yards will not pay the participants if they do not work at the yard and participants would need to pay for the training costs themselves." However, PSS and Mastervolt have worked together to organise these training sessions for the first time, as they have convinced OEM yards to understand the system approach of the Mastervolt product range and the need of optimizing service and after sales.

Mastervolt’s Erik van Wilsum said; "This training is the next step in the close cooperation between PSS and the OEM yards inChina. OEM yards start to understand the need for quality power products from a worldwide supplier with a worldwide service network."

The training sessions have focused on the central region ofChina, with more planned for the North and South regions.

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New office for Mastervolt France

Fri, 14 Oct 2011 16:11:29 +0200

Present inFrancefor 15 years, Mastervolt, leading supplier of electrical power solutions to the worldwide marine, mobile and solar markets, has recently moved into new premises that are located in a large business centre in Mouans Sartoux. Still in theCannesarea, on the French Riviera, the French team wished to remain close to their marine customers, but made the move due to needed expansion of their working and warehousing space.

Stuart Ingram, Director of Mastervolt France, explained, "The new premises now offer a 350m² building, with modern training and service facilities and larger storage areas at our disposal. The move allows the whole team to work in a more professional environment and we now plan to offer regular training courses for installers and customers in both the marine and solar business."

In addition to the new offices, MastervoltFrancehas also recently begun to work with Vidal Diffusion Marine (VDM) as the new distributor for Mastervolt products, specialising in the electric-propulsion range. Chosen for their high level of customer service, VDM is an active existing distributor of technical parts for the marine industry with a range including mechanical equipment linked to e-propulsion systems. This makes them a perfect choice for Mastervolt and their growing e-propulsion portfolio and other product ranges.

Situated nearToulonin the south ofFrance, VDM is in an ideal location to work closely with Mastervolt as well as being in close proximity to the large marine customer base in the south. Furthermore, VDM’s nationwide network of installers is able to service all areas of France.

"Franceis a key market for Mastervolt and we want to offer optimum service to our customers here," Stuart Ingram commented, "We believe our new partnership with VDM will improve this service. I am also looking forward to working with some of the key e-propulsion specialists on their team, to jointly further the e-propulsion market potential inFrance."

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