[PUP] Distributed Power Systems

[2elnav at netbistro.com]

----- Original Message ----- 
Steven Dubnoff wrote
> For a different approach to same problem, see this:
> http://www.panbo.com/archives/2007/08/distributed_power_no_bus_no_code.html
> This involves a power bus with relay/circuit breakers at each load point. 
> It is wildly complicated to wire and clearly expensive, but it is very 
> fault-tolerant.


REPLY
It is unfortunate that nearly all these approaches  look intimidating to the 
non techical persons.  Its also true that in most cases the person making 
the crucial yes/no decisions in most companies are often not technical.  And 
many buyers are even less technical.  Their first reaction to seeing 
something complex  is "how would I ever cope with a problem in this system" 
Would I have to pay for flying in a specialist from  the factory to fix it? 
"

Problem solving by replacing a light bulb or resetting a circuit breaker  is 
something they understand and feel comfortable  with doing.  Once the 
technology  goes beyond that stage, owners become increasingly uncomfortable 
about dealing with any trouble shooting.

The automotive world recognized this and kept quiet about how they 
implemented  digital controlled power busses in their new vehicles. Just 
look at how many vehicles now have digital distributed  control power 
busses.  Given the number of  service centers, dealership etc.  it was not a 
big hardship for  an owner to go to nearest dealer asking to have something 
fixed.
Boat owners by contrast like to get off the beaten  path and frequent quiet 
coves,  distant shores and  generally get away from the maddening crowd. 
Now the situation alters drastically.  They know they have to be more self 
reliant.  Replacing bulbs, fuses or reseting breakers they can deal with. 
Trouble shooting a complicated myriad of wires intimidates them.  So 
naturally they will not opt for such a system if it scares them.

How about a system where the only trouble shooting consist of resetting a 
breaker or plugging in a replacement relay?  And you never have to  worry 
about reprogramming a computer  as is the case with every one of the systems 
Nigel Calder and others are presently advocating. That is probably  more 
comforting to a non technical  boat buyer.  They can feel comfortable with 
it.   Even Calder who admittedly has lots of  knowledge and experience says 
he is installing a parallel  non digital  system - Just in case.

cheers

Arild