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Peter Kennedy has been in  business since 1991 designing, installing and servicing marine electrical systems. The purpose of this blog is to offer support to both professional installers and  do-it-yourself boat owners who wish to undertake this work themselves.
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Peter Kennedy has been in  business since 1991 designing, installing and servicing marine electrical systems. The purpose of this blog is to offer support to both professional installers and  do-it-yourself boat owners who wish to undertake this work themselves.

A key to identifying your alternator terminals

Posted by Peter Kennedy on 12/13/2018 to Alternators
This key might be helpful to identify the output terminals on your alternator
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Testing your Lithium Ion battery system

Posted by Peter Kennedy on 12/7/2018 to System Integration
When you have completed your lithium battery system you need to take if for an extended test drive so that you understand fully that it works the way it was designed. Don't assume it works, try it out.
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Extreme RV's

Posted by Peter Kennedy on 12/6/2018 to Camper Vans
Extreme RVThis is a collection of photos of an extreme RV that caught our eye
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Important firmware update v1.37 for Victron SmartSolar Chargers

Posted by Peter Kennedy on 12/4/2018 to Solar
Victron recently released firmware update v1.37 for their SmartSolar Chargers. This fix is especially important for all 150V and 250V SmartSolar Charger models. The BlueSolar Charger range is not affected. The new v1.37 firmware fixes a problem that can, in certain cases, cause the device to fail.
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Inverter Specifications: The difference between VA and Watts

Posted by Peter Kennedy on 11/30/2018 to Victron MultiPlus and Quatro
The terms Watts and VA are often used interchangeably when referring to inverter specifications, but are they the same?
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Update the firmware in your Smart Lithium Ion Battery and get built-in low temperature protection

Posted by Peter Kennedy on 11/30/2018 to Batteries (Lithium Ion)
The latest version of the Victron Connect App has a firmware update for Victron Smart Lithium Ion batteries that allows you to set their low temperature "allow to charge" parameters.
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Victron Glass Bridge System Integration coming in 2019

Posted by Peter Kennedy on 11/21/2018 to System Integration
The Victron Venus GX or Color Control GX will be able to provide a seamless plug and play integration with many models of Raymarine, Garmin and Navico MFD's starting in 2019
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Data Logging your battery system using the Victron BMV battery monitor and the Victron BMV reader software

Posted by Peter Kennedy on 11/19/2018 to Battery Monitoring
Many of our industrial customers would like to be able to set up data logging on their battery systems. With the Victron BMV battery monitor and the Victron BMV Reader software this is an easy project......
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An overview of wiring standards for boats in the US

Posted by Peter Kennedy on 11/16/2018 to Electrical Standards
he standards that apply to wiring your boat in the US are the ABYC standards and the Code of Federal Regulations Title 33 CFR Sections 183.401 - 183.460 The ABYC standards are voluntary and the CFR standards are mandatory. The ABYC standards incorporate the CFR standards so a boat built to the ABYC Standards should automatically meet the CFR standards. This article is a brief introduction to the subject
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Keep your wiring neat and tidy

Posted by Peter Kennedy on 11/15/2018 to Projects
Neat wiring is hard to achieve but it makes everything about the project go better. Take a look at these project photos if you need a bit of inspiration.
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Programming your Victron MultiPlus inverter charger with the VE Configure program - Part 2 - The Settings

Posted by Peter Kennedy on 11/14/2018 to Victron MultiPlus and Quatro
Programming with the VE Configure program is easy and Part 1 of this Blog Post described the proceedure. This part describes the settings themselves
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Programming your Victron MultiPlus inverter charger with the VE Configure program - Part 3 - "The Assistants"

Posted by Peter Kennedy on 11/14/2018 to Victron MultiPlus and Quatro
Programming with the VE Configure program is easy. Part 1 of the Blog Post described the proceedure. Part 2 described the settings, and this is Part 3 which discusses the use of "Assistants" which are apps you can load and which control how the MultiPlus behaves in certain circumstances.
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Programming your Victron MultiPlus inverter charger with the VE Configure program - Part 1 - The Proceedure

Posted by Peter Kennedy on 11/9/2018 to Victron MultiPlus and Quatro
Programming with the VE Configure program is so easy compared to trying to program your MultiPlus using the dipswitches. You will require the Mk3USB interface. Here are part 1 of the instructions which describes the proceedure. Part 2 wil then go into the settings themselves
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Installing your Victron MultiPlus Inverter Charger

Posted by Peter Kennedy on 11/8/2018 to Victron MultiPlus and Quatro
The post details unpacking, mounting and wiring your new MultiPlus, subsequent articles will detail the programming options.
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Programming your Victron MultiPlus Inverter/Charger - Using the dipswitches

Posted by Peter Kennedy on 11/7/2018 to Victron MultiPlus and Quatro
There are various ways to program the Victron MultiPlus inverter charger, this article details using the dipswitches to do basic programming
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How to install a simple shore power system on a small boat

Posted by Peter Kennedy on 10/19/2018 to Shore Power
30 Amp Dock Pedestal

This is a description of how to install an ABYC compliant shore power system for a small boat. The goal is to connect to a standard US 30 Amp 120 Volt dock pedestal
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Camper van project using Victron 24 volt Lithium batteries

Posted by Peter Kennedy on 10/18/2018 to Batteries (Lithium Ion)
This 2017 Dodge Promaster 3500 Van has been tricked out for boondocking and is loaded with solar panels and a Victron Lithium Iron Phosphate battery system with all the trimmings all supplied by PKYS
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Converting a European 16 Amp 230 Volt boat to US Shore Power

Posted by Peter Kennedy on 10/18/2018 to Shore Power
European 16 Amp shore power cord

This article discusses the easiest way to convert a European 230 Volt boat with 16 Amp service to work in the US with a 30 Amp 120 Volt dock power.  
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Programming your Balmar alternator regulator for Lithium Ion batteries

Posted by Peter Kennedy on 10/12/2018 to Alternators
The Balmar MC-614-H alternator regulator comes with a built-in program for Lithium Ion batteries but it needs to be adjusted to suit Victron's specifications
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Serpentine kit installation on a Yanmar 4JH4E

Posted by Peter Kennedy on 10/11/2018 to Alternators
Read about this Balmar Altmount Serpentine Kit installation on a Yanmar 4JH4E
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Duplex and Triplex wire versus using Single Conductors

Posted by Peter Kennedy on 8/4/2018 to Electrical Standards
Should I use duplex and triplex wire for my rewiring project or is it easier to use single conductor wire?
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Troubleshooting your Alternator

Posted by Peter Kennedy on 7/13/2018 to Alternators
Troubleshooting your alternator

Has your alternator stopped working? Often the tachometer will stop too. First check the drive belt to see that the alternator is turning. Here are some other troubleshooting tips
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Sourcing High Voltage DC Equipment

Posted by Peter Kennedy on 7/13/2018 to Circuit Protection
I get asked all the time about high voltage DC applications.  Most equipment we sell at PKYS tops out at 48 Volts DC rating, only a few items are rated higher, and quite a lot have lower ratings.  Finding equipment for high voltage applications is not that easy.  
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Wondering how much further forward the Balmar Serpentine Kit will be on your engine?

Posted by Peter Kennedy on 6/25/2018 to Alternators
Wondering how much further forward the Balmar Serpentine Kit will be on your engine? We took a photo to explain it. Click for more.......
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Raymarine announce end of support for a long list of legacy products

Posted by Peter Kennedy on 6/1/2018 to News
This list of products no longer supported was posted by Raymarine on June 1st 2018
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