Victron have pioneered a graphic user interface that allows open collaboration as well as cloud based remote management and support.
This ability to assist customers and even see the last 6 months of history changes the way support is done for adventure travellers whether on land or sea.
Its a honour for Safiery to be invited to collaborate our STAR range of digital switching so that for the first time, the Victron touch display can switch devices and dim lights.
Safiery’s STAR controller range includes IP67 controllers up to 150A 12 channel with 6 x 30A circuits and on device manual backup.
Safiery’s controllers are all advanced fuseless and open circuit in the event of a short circuit in less than 80 millionths of a second.
In parallel to the Victron screen are 8 and 12 button CAN connected keypads IP65 with interchangeable icons.
There are 4 bluetooth wireless 4 button switches also to choose from and any one output can be addressed by up to 6 switches.
The user can configure a Master or Submaster switch on the Victron display and all the programming is done with a smartphone. No laptop necessary.
The STAR controller connects to Victron’s Cerbo or Ekrano using encyrpted WiFi. No additional cabling is required. Together with the wireless switch we estimate typical installation times are halved for installers.
This new technology simplifies communication with no hub or “middleware” between the STAR controllers and the Victron system. This dramatically reduces system cost and configuration time.
There are 10 products in Safiery’s STAR range. All designed and built in Queensland… even better on the Gold Coast. The STAR range was a finalist at Metstrade’s prestigious DAME (Design and Manufacturing Excellence) Award in Amsterday last November.
Firstly, what is MATTER?
Matter is an open-source, royalty-free connectivity standard developed to unify smart devices . It ensures they can communicate and interact seamlessly regardless of the manufacturer. Devices are tested by an independent testing laboratory who only give approval with strict compliance. Matter is backed by Apple, Google, Amazon and Samsung who require blockchain encryption on each and every controller. The ultimate in privacy and security.
Using MATTER devices lowers installed cost because of extensive use of wireless. For example a sound system on a boat can be a matter compliant system that synchronises with multimedia screens and controlled from any smart display. When a light is turned off using STAR controller in main cabin and its late at night, the sound system is turned off everywhere, the night light in the ensuite is turn on and dimmed to a low level, plus inverters can be turned off, plus… This automation is done on the users smartphone. Google even has AI for it now!
AC outlets and devices can be turned on/off within the same display – wirelessly.
Bosch are incorporating MATTER in every appliance. So they can simply be turned off remotely from your smartphone when not using the boat.
You see the status of all devices on your smartphone at home.
In late 2025 camera imaging will be included in MATTER with blockchain encryption. You can see the maintenance technician entering your boat from home, but the same camera won’t share images outside of your secure network.
It’s Energy Management where there are big benefits.
Demand control of “non essential” loads can be made based on battery SOC or even better, based on solar forecast and battery SoC. For electric propulsion, estimating the battery energy to retain for overnight living can be automatically calculated.
That’s the power of AI in smartphones, they do the heavy lifting. There is no laptop to program… or need of a technician to re-program. Another significant cost saving.
Controlling lights, dimming them and even changing colour is all done on smart display or smart phone in the same native app as the multi-media and energy devices.
One homogenous app. It will no longer be “Hey Google or Hey Siri”. Smart displays will recognise you and say “Hey Marilyn, energy and water levels are good but the temperature is dropping tonight so the heater and hot water will be turned on earlier if you agree. Do you?”
There are around 2,000 compliant devices and all can be integrated with automation from Safiery’s STAR conrollers which can be activated by a wireless switch.
However, Safiery’s STAR system can be deployed and operated without MATTER which is only added if the user wishes it. How Good’s That!
| Comparison of BMG to Old School Alternator | 48V 200A Bi-directional Motor Generator with Scotty AI (BMG) | Traditional 48V 130A Alternator with Wakespeed 500 remote field control. |
|---|---|---|
| Alternator Type | Hybrid Excitation Synchronous Generator (permanent magnets + hairpin windings) | Field-excited rotor only |
| Rotor Design | 16 permanent magnets + excitation windings in stator | Field windings only |
| Power Density | 1.65 kW/kg (advanced hairpin) | Lower due to round-wire winding |
| IP Level | Brushless Motor: IP25. | Generally Brushed |
| Waterproof Inverter: IP6K9K | IP23 or lower | |
| Dual Stator Design | Dual three-phase, 30¡ shifted | Single three-phase |
| Ripple Current Reduction | Significant (30¡ phase shift) | Higher ripple |
| Noise Vibration Harshness Performance | Optimized (low ripple and torque smoothness) | Higher NVH |
| Efficiency | Higher (permanent magnets + hairpin winding) | Lower (field-excited losses) |
| Fault Tolerance | Dual stator allows operation in partial failure | Single stator, no redundancy |
| Peak Generator Power | 12 kW | 6.2 kW |
| Efficiency | BMG is 90% Inverter Controller is 94% | 60-70% (Less when hot) |
| Power at Idle (engine ~600RPM) | 2-2.7kW | 300-500W Typically |
| Continuous Power Hot | ³7.0kW | 5~7.0 kW |
| Maximum Speed | 18,000 RPM | ~8,000Ð10,000 RPM |
| Operating Temperature | -40C to 105C | -20C to 80C |
| Lifetime Expected | 10 years, 300,000 km, 8,000 hrs | 5-7 years, 150,000Ð200,000 km |
| 12V, 48V Negative Isolation to Earth | Yes | No |
| Integration with Factory 12V or 24V Alternator | Full Integration for added power with Scotty AI DC DC | None |
| Load Dump Protection | 100% load dump protection | Limited Protection as it depends on Battery notification before battery relay opens. |
| Automotive Safety ISO 26262 ASIL B | Compliant | Not compliant |
| Insulation Grade | Grade H (180¡C) | Grade F (155¡C) |
| Comparison | Safiery Bidirectional Motor Generator and Scotty AI V3 | APS130* | APS 160* | Nations 8292HPX-100* |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Alternator/ Motor Efficiency | 90% | Not Published but estimate is less than 80% | Not Published but estimate is less than 80% | Not Published but estimate is less than 80% |
| Inverter Fitted and its Efficiency | 94% | Uses Diodes which are low efficiency and External Field Current Regulator | Uses Diodes which are low efficiency and External Field Current Regulator | Uses Diodes which are low efficiency and External Field Current Regulator |
| Estimated Power Output at Engine Idle | 3000W | Small | None | Small |
| Estimated Power cruising speed 1800 engine RPM | 9000W | 6000W | 5000W | 6000W |
| Maximum Output | 11000W | 6000W | 7400W | 6000W |
| Patented Auto-tuning | Yes | No | No | No |
| Limp Home Mode if CAN connection to Battery lost | Yes Set at 2kW | Yes Power level not published | Yes Power level not published | Yes Power level not published |
| Multipoint temperature Monitoring | 4 temperature measurements | 1 temperature measurement | 1 temperature measurement | 1 temperature measurement |
| Bidirectional 48-12-48 included | Yes at 1500W or 3000W at 12V | Requires separate DC DC | Requires separate DC DC | Requires separate DC DC |
| Isolated Negative | Yes | No | No | No |
Safiery creates power, energy, switching products so people enjoy adventure travel globally on land or water without a genset.
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