Vessel Systems Monitor

[GordMay]

Vessel Systems Monitor VSM 422

Blue Sea Systems new Vessel Systems Monitor VSM 422 provides boaters withinformation on four critical boat systems in one compact and low cost meter. This advanced meter is a solution for monitoring the increasingly complex systems found on boats today.

The VSM 422 monitors four distinct systems with twenty-two measurements.
These include:
- Tank levels for up to three tanks;
- Bilge Pump cycles / 24 hours, last cycle run %, and highest cycle run %; AC System voltage, current, and frequency;
- DC System current, House battery state of charge, and Battery 1, 2, 3 voltage.
- Programmable legends and fifteen adjustable alarm functions allow the boater to customize the VSM 422 for their specific needs.

Goto: Vessel Systems Monitor - Blue Sea Systems

And: http://bluesea.com/files/resources/sales_sheets/Vessel_Systems_Monitor_422_(1,500_KB).pdf

[delmarrey]

Now, if they could set it up to send a message to my cell, while I'm away, that there is a problem it would be perfict.

[Chief Engineer]

That does that.

Originally Posted by delmarrey

Now, if they could set it up to send a message to my cell, while I'm away, that there is a problem it would be perfict.

[delmarrey]

Who makes it?

[Microship]

This looks very nice and I love Blue Sea products (and the price is reasonable)... but I have to wonder about the interfacing options. I know that N2K is sorta marketing flavor du jour, but it's also a nice way to avoid lots of cable runs and take advantage of existing sensors.

Of course, by the time Maretron DC, AC, and a trio of tank level sensors are added along with a suitable display and software to recognize alarm conditions, we're well over the price of the Blue Sea box (my own data collection system also handles bilge sensors and pump cycling, but that's off in custom territory and doesn't count in comparison). This also looks like it's very power-efficient, especially with that retro passive-matrix LCD... certainly the right choice for an always-on monitoring application where frugal use of milliamps trumps eye candy. (Besides, it's certainly time to replace my LINK 10, which forgets everything whenever anything interesting happens.)

Interfaceability is a big deal, though, and it's not clear at first glance what the alarm outputs do. It is intriguing that they include a 4-pin communication port that says, in the fine PDF print, "Communication port is for use with future modules and should be treated as a non-connect." Might have to watch this space, as they say...

Cheers,
Steve
Nomadness

[Chief Engineer]

Originally Posted by delmarrey

Who makes it?

www.sensaphone.com

We have it set up for Fire, Flooding, Low Engine Room Temperature (wintertime), Breakins and if shorepower is disrupted.

It Calls the Captain or Me if he is away.

If you want to protect your investment, it sure beats getting a call from a marina.....many if not all WILL NOT DO A THING 'cept call you.

It is all that liability stuff the liars, I mean lawyers dream up.

[David M]

Nice idea. On the other hand, it sounds like more stuff to fix.

[Chief Engineer]

mostly with winter temperature settings....it has been trouble free.

Originally Posted by David M

Nice idea. On the other hand, it sounds like more stuff to fix.