Marine electrical wiring has not changed a great deal over the years. Recently, we have seen the introduction of multiplexing or digital switching as a way of simplifying wiring and providing far easier monitoring and control.
A New Zealand company, BEP Marine, introduced CZone a few years ago mostly to new boat construction. CZone is a digital networked power control and monitoring system, using a common NMEA 2000 CAN bus. CZone replaces normal wiring with a single wire to shorten cable runs. By decentralizing the DC power distribution system, and moving circuit control and protection devices closer to loads, CZone enables shorter cable runs and reduces the size of conductors. CZone is scalable on boats ranging from 25 to 90 feet. Modules can easily be added and the plug and play system is designed for simple, fast installation requiring no factory set-up.
PYS has been working with the CZone system for the past few years and recognized an immediate benefit with reductions in cable usage, harness weights and installation times. The CZone system also integrates many stand-alone components into one intuitive system. Wiring is dramatically simplified as the CZone system is designed to remove complex switching clusters and wiring runs. Modules can easily be added into the system to best suit the OEM and end-users’ needs.