Even if the main battery bank fails, your AyeAye® doesn't fail you. It stays operational for a while and allows you to use basic functions.
Internal device battery
Hardware
The AyeAye® has an integrated rechargeable battery that keeps the plotter, GPS and sensors running for some time in the event of a main power failure. With batteries, it is basically the case that you have to maintain them. Among other things, temperature and charge control are very important to keep the battery functioning and to ensure a safe power supply. That’s why we have a computer-controlled charge regulator that takes the battery through certain cycles that are crucial for long life and safety. The temperature is also monitored so that it stays in the optimum range.
Internal battery capacity
The internal 5 V battery will make sure the internal computer and sensors, like GPS and 4 G will remain working for some time. With a capacity of 12000 mAh, the AyeAye® boat computer will keep running for a few hours under normal circumstances.
Please note: When an autopilot is powered directly from the AyeAye® and there is a problem with the main 12/24V battery bank, the AyeAye® will not be able to power the autopilot or power instruments that require more than 12V. The battery is only used to keep the main system and sensors running.
Failsafe automation
Computers like to be shutdown gracefully. And to be honest the AyeAye® is such a computer. That’s why, if you just unplug the AyeAye® or switch off the power from the main battery breaker, the AyeAye® will shutdown safely on its own. In the advanced settings, you can also program different scenarios in case of an unexpected power failure.
Monitor battery charge
The internal battery of the AyeAye® is charged by the 12V main battery of your boat with a special program which keeps the 5V battery healthy. You can monitor the condition of your 12V main battery bank from wherever you are.
Use case 1: Empty battery
When you are sailing and the engine or generator is off, the batteries are not normally charged unless you have solar, wind or hydro turbine power. However, if you are using electronic equipment, you are using battery power and should monitor when you need to switch the engine or generator back on to recharge the batteries. You can prevent the batteries from being completely discharged if you keep track of the status of your battery at all times. That is easy with the AyeAye® app – even when you are not on board.
Use case 2: Battery dead
If your battery is dead, you will most likely no longer be able to navigate electronically. If the battery is really broken, the voltages may be low or fluctuate. Especially when using non semi-traction batteries , you cannot discharge them very low without risking damage. With low or empty batteries you cannot start the engine with the starter motor, but also not use any 12V electric devices. The AyeAye® is the all-in-one solution, that will keep delivering the basics that you will need for navigating in such an event. It is a standalone device, that is redundant to your already present instruments and that can work completely independent of your main battery bank for a period of time.
Use case 3: Winter storage
After the sailing season is before the sailing season – at any time you have to take good care of your boat. However, especially in winter, the health of the batteries is very important to keep in mind. If you don’t take your batteries off the board and connect them to a trickle charger, you will have to check them more often on site. For safety reasons, charging on the boat during longer absences is not recommended and is also not permitted in most harbours. With the AyeAye® boat computer, however, you can always keep an eye on the status of the batteries, even from home and in particularly cold temperatures, thanks to the practical AyeAye® app.
Use case 4: Shore power offline during heavy rain
Are you constantly worried about your boat during heavy rain and storms? Especially if you don’t live near the harbour and can’t regularly check on your boat, boat monitoring with the AyeAye® boat computer is the ideal solution. Heavy rainfall can affect electrical equipment, but also the charging facilities in the harbour. Unfortunately, you often only find out that the batteries are discharged when you are back on board yourself after days, weeks or even months and it is already too late to prevent the damage.
New batteries are expensive. And the time you wasted because you once again drove to the boat unnecessarily would have been better spent elsewhere. Fortunately, a quick look at the AyeAye® app brings peace of mind.
Future: Stand-by mode & boot cycles
If you are anchored or not connected to shore power and for instance only use solar panels to generate energy, you cannot leave all electric devices on all the time. The solar charge may not keep up with the power consumption. However, you may want to check in on your boat once in a while. That’s why the AyeAye® has a timer and a power-saving standby function. Its system runs on its internal battery in standby mode and can be set to boot up at a predefined time and frequency. This way you have a healthy battery bank and are still able to keep an eye on the safety of your boat.
