Panbo

The Marine Electronics Hub

Category: Editors’ Blog

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LiFePO4 / Editors' Blog / Electrical & Engines

Testing LiFePO4 cycle ratings, are they accurate?

One of the biggest advantages of lithium iron phosphate (LiFePO4 or LFP) batteries is their cycle life. A LiFePO4 battery is likely to last thousands of cycles compared to hundreds of cycles for most lead-acid chemistries. While shopping for batteries, you are likely to see cycle ratings ranging from 2,000 to more than 6,000 cycles. Traditional wisdom also holds that LiFePO4 batteries last ten years or longer. Based on the way batteries are cycled on boats, it is relatively unlikely batteries will ever see 2,000 cycles in ten years, let alone 6,000. So, you may not make a purchasing decision based on cycle ratings, but, they indicate the quality of the cells in the battery and how the battery will perform over its lifespan. So, armed with an understanding of what cycle ratings mean, I set out to measure the life and capacity of a battery over many cycles.

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Getting Technical / Editors' Blog / Wireless & Apps / Network & control / Safety & SAR / The future

Getting Technical: Getting it together

When new classes of technology are introduced to the marine marketplace, they tend to focus on core functionality. Niceties like integrating with the rest of the boat’s control systems are not a priority. Hence, new technology and systems are frequently introduced with dedicated control systems. One result is that helms and control panels are littered with disparate controls, making real estate at the helm a hot commodity.

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LiFePO4 / Editors' Blog / Safety & SAR / The Trade

ABYC 2025 Standards Week, improving safety and evolving standards

ABYC published their first lithium-ion battery standard in the summer of 2022. At the time, I wrote an entry on the standard and expressed some concerns about some requirements not in the standard as well as a strong reliance on manufacturers’ documentation and specifications. My first paragraph began with the words, “I’m not an expert on the many intricacies involved in getting a standard ratified.” Attending this year’s ABYC Standards Week provided me with a deeper understanding of the process. Additionally, since I had some concerns about the initial version, it only seems fair that I participate in its revision. So, here’s what I’ve learned so far.

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LiFePO4 / Getting Technical / Editors' Blog / Wireless & Apps / Network & control / Safety & SAR / Electrical & Engines / The future

Getting Technical: Top tier technologies

Innovation in the past five years or so has been a little bit lumpy. The impacts of a global pandemic, followed by severe supply-chain shortages, slowed the pace of product introductions and advancements. Even so, three major innovations are hitting the marine marketplace with a big splash. Each one is changing the way boaters use their boats, and leaving a lasting imprint on the industry.

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Editors' Blog / Cabin & deck gear / How-to / Electrical & Engines

How-to: Making engraved dash panels

Ben Ellison and I began working together on Panbo seven years ago. For me, that time has been a journey of figuring out a new industry, a new career, and new side gigs. One of those side gigs has me installing marine technology. My work ranges widely including full electronics refits, lithium battery upgrades, troubleshooting, and more. Recently, I took on the update of a friend’s center console. A casual mention that he’d like to modernize the look sent me down a rabbit hole of figuring out how to make a new panel with labels etched into it. Obviously, once I figured that out, I had to add the boat logo. Ultimately, a simple ask turned into nearly a dozen prototypes, countless hours, and a lot scrap before the finished product. I learned a lot during the process and I’m excited to share it.