Safiery product manuals, install guides are now located on the specific product page. Each product will show a video relating to it and the ebook or manual that relates to it.

Good News for Simarine Users but a note of Caution on Timing your Upgrade

One of the great benefits of joining the Simarine Family is the over-the-air (OTA) firmware upgrades.

However, there is caution for users who are satisfied with the current app and firmware version to hold off from upgrading until a maintenance version is released.

There are two parts to the latest firmware upgrade:

• The Pico based system upgrade with several new features.
• The Smartphone app which is a totally new look with a great range of new features.

Safiery has been an official tester of the firware upgrade and we have witnessed a great development of the new smartphone app over the last 6 months.

• The new release is call Version 2.
• Changes in the release of Android and selected iPhone models has produced some instability.
• Right now for some smartphone models. it should be viewed as Beta software.
• The Picoupgrade is stable and has immediate benefits if you use this and not the smartphone for programming and/or monitoring.

We have these recommendations for current users right now.

If you are dependent on the Simarine smartphone app to monitor your system and performance of the app is mission critical, then:

• Do not upgrade the app right now.
• The current app will perform satisfactorily.
• The current Pico version is very stable and performs well.

If you are NOT dependent on the Simarine smartphone app to monitor your system and performance, then:

• Upgrade the app which has the firmware. 
• Check that you force the firmware upgrade to at least 2.115
• This Pico version is relatively stable.
• The new “security” feature of locking the Pico works well.

If you have purchased your Simarine system from Safiery, we will tailor an upgrade recommendation for you that will protect your data. We can provide an Android , previous version APK to revert to should you need the app for mission critical monitorin. Please email us and we will call you to talk through your options. If you purchased directly from Simarine or another dealer, then refer back to this post for documentation and guidance.

Here is the current process to upgrade firmware:

SIMARINE PICO FIRMWARE UPGRADE INSTRUCTIONS

PICO is only upgradeable from your smartphone via the latest App. You may need a wifi connection to download.

MOBILE APP

Go to the Iphone App store or the Google Play store and search for “Simarine”. The app is very clear. Click download or “upgrade”.

PICO FIRMWARE UPGRADE

To get the latest Pico display version, follow this process: 

WiFi SSID and Password

The default SSID and Password are generated from your PICO serial number. You can find the serial number on the back of the PICO, on the side of the retail box and in PICO SETTINGS > SYSTEM > System Info. 

EXAMPLE: If your Pico serial number would be 12345678

SSID: Pico <note Capital P> plus [last 4 digits of serial number]

Example: Pico5678

Default password: pico <note lower case p> plus [first 4 digits of serial number]

Example: pico1234

In case of forgotten password you will not be able to see old password, you can only set new one in: Settings>WIFI>PASSWORD

Then if you wish to load the Simarine software with the caution noted above, follow this process: 

1. Install or upgrade the SIMARINE application on your smartphone.
2. On PICO turn WIFI on.
3. Check that you have selected “AP” mode. This is short for “access Point”. Read below the difference in AP and STA mode.
4. Connect your smartphone to PICO Wi-Fi Network.
5. Launch the SIMARINE application on your smartphone.
6. The App displays: “Status: SIMARINE device is connected”. 
7. Press the button LIVE VIEW. Always select Live View before selecting “settings”.
8. Press the SETTINGS MENU Icon in the top right corner of your Smartphone.
9. Select FIRMWARE UPGRADE. The upgrade process will put your PICO in upgrade mode.
10. Press ENTER on PICO to confirm the Firmware upgrade. (as stated on the screen) 
11. Wait for the Firmware to upload on PICO.
12. PICO will perform a flash upgrade.
13. After the upgrade, PICO reboots and is ready to use.

In rare cases a Emergency Firmware Upgrade is necessary. 

1. To enter the Emergency Mode follow the following steps:
2. Disconnect PICO from power outlet.
3. Turn on PICO and wait for the SIMARINE logo to appear.
4. As soon as SIMARINE logo appears, press and hold the back button (<).
5. Warning: you have to be quick as the logo disappears quickly.
6. Under the SIMARINE LOGO on PICO a series of dots will appear.
7. PICO will enter into Firmware upgrade mode (as stated on the screen).
8. Connect your phone to PICO Wi-Fi Network.
9. Start the SIMARINE PICO app.
10. The app displays: “Status: SIMARINE device is not connected”.
11. Press CONNECT
12. The app displays a Firmware upgrade option.
13. Press Upgrade and wait for it to upload.
14. PICO will reset and the new firmware is uploaded.

In case the firmware upgrade would not work in normal mode please try with the Emergency Upgrade.

Wifi Modes “AP” and “STA”

Wifi mode “AP” stands for “Access Point”.  This means the Simarine Pico is broadcasting a connection as a “master” access point to connect to. Whilst you are connected, you wont receive any other data or emails as the connection is solely to the Simarine device.

Wifi mode “STA” stands for “Station Mode”. This means the Simarine Pico can connect to an established WiFi network as a Staion on the network. Providing this same network has internet access, which we expect it would, then in this mode, you should receive normal emails and internet browser access.

SAFIERY UNIVERSITY
UPGRADING TO LITHIUM
KEEPING OLD CHARGING SYSTEMS

This technical article is designed to give value to the reader knowledge on upgrading to Lithium batteries but keeping older charging systems. 

If you have AGM batteries and an AGM charging system and are looking at upgrading your batteries, this is a practical and lower cost way of upgrading.

Lets say you have this setup on your AGM batteries:

• 2 x 100Ahr to 130Ahr AGM batteries
• Redarc BCDC 1240 Charger
• Ctek 30A 240V Charger (with quiet night mode)

Here is our guidance with the reasons why that follow:

Keep:

• Redarc BCDC 1240 Charger
• Ctek 30A 240V Charger (with quiet night mode)

Add:

• 1 or 2 x 125Ahr Lithium with Victron Mesh Enabled feature inbuilt
• 1 x Victron Smart Solar 10/15/20A depending on the size of your solar panel system

Why?

• The Exisiting Redarc BCDC will output 14.4V in bulk mode (if AGM has been selected). This will raise the Lithium battery to 95% charge quickly and over a very long time eventually get to 99%. Holding at this charge in the event that nothing else is connected, will not damage nor reduce the cycle life of the lithium batteries.
• Providing the Ctek charger doe not have an automatic “de-sulphate or eualization” mode, it will perform in  a similar way to the DC to DC. Most of the Ctek chargers require a manual “press” to activate the “de-sulphate” mode. So avoid selecting this and there is no impact on the batteries.
  If it does have an automatic “de-sulphate”, you will have to replace it.
• The Victron Smart Solar communicates directly via Bluetooth mesh Network with the Safiery Lithium battery and reads the exact battery voltage via bluetooth. It then ramps up the smart solar output volatge and holds it until the Lithium Batteries get to 100%.
• The Victron Smart solar will operate in addition to the Readarc BCDC so you get charging from both sources at the same time.

Are they other benefits?

• Yes, the Victron Smart Solar is an ultra fast MPPT charger and out-performs the Redarc BCDC in solar mode by at least 20% in variable weather. It is perfectly coupled to Lithium batteries.
• You will read the solar charging history AND the battery voltage on the Victron Smartphone App. This is not possible on Redarc , Enerdrive or Intervolt systems. 

What if I dont have Redarc?

• Any DC to DC that has an AGM profile applies with the same logic above. Other brands are Projecta, Intervolt, Sterling and Enerdrive.
• Likewise with the 240V charger…Other brands are Projecta, Intervolt, Sterling and Enerdrive.

What are the displays for older BCDC before and after upgrade?

You get excellent histroy and trend data on solar, something you wont see in other brands:

Two Victron Smart Solar examples :

SAFIERY UNIVERSITY
LITHIUM BATTERY
OPERATING MANUAL 

This screen display will show the batteries within Bluetooth range:

1. The Signal strength is shown in “dB”.

2. The number shown is the strength of the signal.

3. This signal strength is stronger as the negative number gets closer to zero.

4. So -48db is a stronger signal than -80db.

 

 

Extending battery life has these main parameters:

1. Average Depth of Discharge of the battery

2. Extreme deep discharge

3. Shelf temperature in storage

4. % charge in storage

1. Average Depth of Discharge of the battery

• The relationship between depth of discharge of a battery (called DOD) and battery life in cycles is not linear. The cycle life is a logarithmic change to the amount of depth of discharge. This means the number of cycles you can expect at 50% depth of discharge will be proportionately much more than the change in depth of discharge. 

• Buying a second battery and running it in parallel will extend the cycle life considerably. The DOD will be half what it would have been otherwise. As a rule of thumb, operating two Lithium Batteries at 30% DOD instead of 60% DOD will extend the number of cycles by 300-400%

• This significantly improves the economics in the long term… providing the battery shelf life is sustained.

2. Extreme deep discharges have a significant detrimental effect on the cycle life. This is the main reason to have a smart battery monitor.
It can pay for itself on the first trip.

3.  Storage temperature is important for battery shelf life. For Lithium batteries, keep them below 30 degrees C for best results. If the storage temperature rises to 60 degrees c, the life will be significantly reduced.

4. The % State of charge when stored is also a factor but a less significant one. For AGM batteries, storing at 100% is ideal. For Lithium batteries, storing at 50% will extend the storage life.

Here lies the management challenge:

• Keep the DOD of your batteries as small as possible while the battery is cycling;

• Arrive home with 50% SOC in the Lithium battery for best storage life.

To manage this you will need an advanced battery monitor…. with artificial intelligence.

You need to know two important items:

• State of charge (called SOC)

• Time to go (called TTG)

Simple Clean Colour Display with high contrast Gorilla Glass.

• Displays the State of Charge (SOC) as a percent with a coloured circle indicating the battery health (blue for healthy, orange for unhealthy, red for alarm)

• The “lightning” icon and blue “up-arrow” indicate 100% SOC is expected in 9.5 hours

ARTIFICIAL INTELLIGENCE

PICO is constantly monitoring battery current, voltage, (temperature). Parameters are constantly being adjusted using AI.

• You can set the averaging interval for calculating TTG (time-to-go) from “short” to “long”.

• You can tweak the target State of Charge (SOC) threshold for the time to go. A “pre-alert’ to a low battery state.

EASY TO SET ALERTS

To read the difference with Lithium Batteries click here.

• Change alerts based on the camping or boating conditions.

• Do on the smartphone with a simple select and slide.

• Set alerts to visible, audible or both.

• Set ALARM DELAY 

• Set an OUTPUT on ALARM