Protecting your boat

Most leisure sailors invest a considerable amount of time and money into their past time.

As well as the original purchase price of the boat, the tweaks and gadgets, the modifications and regular repairs all add up in both time and monetary value.

That investment is worth protecting. From theft, from loss of ecternal power or from mechanical failure.

EMM-Tek products can be used in a variety of ways to help you protect your boat.
The photo below is from http://www.flickr.com/people/8043800@N05/

Perhaps you want to measure the temperature too?

Location

It's reassuring to know where your boat is and a GPS reporting system is ideal for this purpose. Our own MarineGuard product is an extension of our RMC301 that adds a GPS system. This uses the GPS satellite technology used by TomTom and Garmin to get a position fix on the boat when you arm the MarineGuard.

If the boat should move from this position, an alarm is raised, and you can be alerted by a text message. The internal relay can also be activated to power a siren or similar warning device.

But why a text message? Isn't email better?

Probably not. Modern mobile phones are amazing allowing you to send and receive data almost anywhere; it's the almost that is important.

In a city centre you'll probably get a strong 4G or 3G signal for any mobile device but that's not where you sail. In the harbours of Cornwall or the more remote areas of coastline the strength of the data element (GPRS, EDGE, 3G or 4G) drops away quickly. Eventually it can be a struggle to make a voice call. But, even in these conditions an SMS message will often still get through.

When you really want a message to get through send it by text and that is exactly what our products do.

Power

If your boat uses a mains power connection to keep electrical and electronic equipment going whilst you're away, what happens if that power is interrupted? Pumps stop, refrigerators get warm, alarms become useless. So you need a warning system.

Our RMC301RC has internal Supercap reserve energy technology that means it can send messages when power is interrupted. It can monitor its own DC power feed or even monitor the mains with an adaptor and optional I/O board. (Ask us about this for your application).

Result? You know within seconds if there is a power failure, wherever you happen to be.

Theft

It's a sad fact of life that there will always be a thief willing to take the risk of stealing from your boat. However add a PIR sensor or magnetic reed switch to your boat; hook it up to the MarineGuard or RMC301RC and you'll have an alarm system that will notify you by text and scare of the would be thief if you have it linked to a siren.

Temperature

Winter is here and it's possible that you are more concerned about the interior of the boat getting too cold whilst unattended. Our SENS2 temperature sensor can be connected directly to the RMC301RC or MarineGuard units to provide a warning if the temperature gets either too hot or too cold. It's a simple way avoid frost damage.

EMM-Tek products are designed to used in a wide variety of flexible ways. A little thought or a phone call/email to us can often be the basis of a very workable protection system for your boaty investment.

Can you have a solar only installation?

Can you have a completely solar based installation of a GSM controller or alarm?

The EMM-Tek RMC301RC is very small and very adaptable which means that it is often pressed into service where installation of other systems might be a challenge.

Let's think about protecting an outbuilding; perhaps it's a stable or storehouse.

We'll assume that there is no main electricity available to make this an easy task.

We'll also assume that the stable is in the London area (latitude, that is distance from the equator changes the amount of daylight we get).

What we need is a calculator to help us with all the tricky details of working out the solar data; fortunately there is an on-line one here http://www.solarelectricityhandbook.com/solarcalculator.aspx.

We'll use this for our calculations. It's a free service and the results are delivered to you by email.

Once we have named our project it asks us to list all the power consuming items in our 'off-grid'; in this case it's just the RMC301RC. From the data sheet we know that the average current draw is about 35mA (0.035amps) so at 12V that 0.42watts. Let's assume we have a 0.5watt load.

Then it prompts us to enter our cable lengths, shorter is always better to avoid losses.

Then it asks for a location and what direction the panel will face. The further south you are the better the light will be and a south facing panel will be better than a north facing one. However life is rarely that easy, walls tend not to be movable!

But we'll assume that we can use a south facing wall.

Will you use the system every month of the year? Do you need the system battery backed in case the panel gets covered with snow and produces no usable electricity?

Let's assume we want round the year use and a 3 day power reserve.

So that's all the basic details in, just request the report.

The first thing the report does is to recommend the best angle from vertical to mount your panel. If it is to be fixed at one angle then the winter setting is the one to go for, in this case 22 degrees from vertical.

22 degrees from vertical

We then note that it recommends a 20-Watt panel  with a 4Ah (Amp hours) battery. Not too bad then.

A quick check on the web shows that http://www.grantsolarpanels.co.uk/ can provide us with a 20 Watt panel and charge regulator for £95 (ex VAT)

A small 12V gel style lead acid battery will be perfect as our back up supply. A quick look on the Maplin web site shows that we can get a this for £31.99 (inc. VAT) from here http://www.maplin.co.uk/sealed-lead-acid-batteries-19363

So for around £146 (excluding any brackets needed) plus the RMC301RC we can have a very practical solar only installation to protect your 'off grid' building.

Is a solar installation possible? Yes it is.

We're under cyber attack!

Britain's infrastructure is being cyber attacked every day by foreign, hostile states according to the UK Government. http://www.bcs.org/content/conWebDoc/49106

These attacks are attempts to disrupt networks that control our energy infrastructure and seem likely to continue as the UK energy grids become increasingly web based and IP enabled.

The result for end customers is likely to be unpredictable power cuts or brown-outs where the power grid 'dip's and causes problems.

So much of what we do today needs continuous electrical power and whilst for small installations like a computer file server a UPS (uninterruptible power supply) is ideal short term protection, this is impractical for larger installations such as chiller units.

Of course it's not just cyber attacks that take down the mains grid, recent high winds and floods have caused millions of pounds worth of damage through power being interrupted.

Whilst EMM-Tek does not have a line in portable power generation, our equipment can warn you of a rise in temperature of a chiller unit and warn you if the power is disconnected for any reason.

How?
In our RMC301RC controller system there is a power reserve provided by Super Capacitor technology. These capacitors (used in hybrid cars to store energy) provide a power reserve, so that even when the main supply goes off, up to three warning text messages can be sent. Unlike a rechargeable battery these capacitors last for the life of the product.

It may be that a temperature controlled system has failed for some other reason, our optional temperature sensor can provide you with an immediate warning, potentially saving you an expensive bill for spoiled goods.

For less than £200, with an RMC301RC you can monitor and control your systems to insure against these threats.

Commercial property now the squatters prime target

Earlier this year, changes were made to the squatting laws that made squatting in a residential home a criminal (rather than a civil) offence. This has the effect of involving the police is such situation where before they typically did not want to be involved.

However what many people have missed is that the change does not apply to commercial properties. So while warehouses and office blocks may not be a squatters first choice, empty pubs, hostels and hotels are ideal for a new squat.

Empty pub in Witham - picture from the Braintree & Witham Times

There are reports of a 100% increase in calls to commercial property lawyers on this topic alone (http://www.out-law.com/en/articles/2012/november/changes-to-squatting-laws-should-be-extended-to-commercial-property-expert-says/)

It may be that a commercial building is only briefly empty between tenants, but that window of opportunity is enough for a squatting group to take over the building and cause the owners trouble and potentially additional costs.

A rapid deployment alarm system like the EMM-Tek RMC320 can provide the first warning of trouble by alerting the building owners or site manager that an intrusion has taken place. It does not require mains electricity or a phone line to work and can be placed by any person (no wiring or special skills needed, just set it down in the area to be protected). The building is protected within two minutes and the long life battery can power the RMC320 for up to a year. The alarm user receives SMS text messages if the alarm is triggered. An early intervention at this stage can nip the squatting process in the bud. Often an entrance way is breached by person unknown and the squatting group will 'discover' an open building some time later. A fast response is vital in this situation to avoid the squatters getting in and changing the locks.

The price for this peace of mind the RMC320 can bring? £299 delivered to any mainland UK address.

Marine Guard features in Motor Boats Monthly magazine

There's no getting away from the fact that if a thief can take what's your without being detected, he'll probably try to do so.

Theft from all kinds of recreational vehicles (including boats) is a persistent threat.

This month Motor Boats Monthly Magazine ran a feature on low cost security devices and included our own MarineGuard product.

And here is the article in the magazine (apologies for the rather snap happy picture)

The MarineGuard is a feature rich version of our RMC301 product that includes a Geo-Fencing function allowing you to set an alarm based on how far the boat has moved from its original position. You can set this area as being very tight (3 metres or so) or as loose as a 100 metres or more to allow for movement in a harbour area.

When the alarm is tripped the unit will text you straight to your mobile phone. You can also use the control features to turn on heaters or pumps via the onbaord relays. (Low voltage only, use an external contactor if you need to switch mains voltages).

See more about the product here http://www.emmtek.co.uk/boat-security.html

Cost? just £223 pounds plus £6.50 delivery to a UK address. A worthwhile insurance we think you'll agree.

Interesting web site for GPS news

I found this web site recently and I though our users might find it of interest.

http://www.gpsworld.com/

They seem to cover all things GPS from the launch of new satellite systems to discrete tracking products and services. Well worth a look if GPS is interesting for you.

Protecting the tiny house and mobile home

There is quite a movement growing especially in the USA to downsize your home and get back to living in smaller, cheaper and more manageable spaces.

These small dwellings (often less than 500 square feet) can in some cases be mounted on a trailer chassis and moved around caravan style.(This blog site by Lloyd Kahn is great jumping off point for more information http://lloydkahn-ongoing.blogspot.co.uk/)

Protecting that potentially mobile home calls for a different approach to the usual domestic alarm system.

The EMM-Tek RMC301RC is a versatile GSM based controller that can act as an alarm system and can also be integrated with a GPS receiver. It can be powered by battery in conjunction with a solar panel to provide an 'off-grid' protection system you can rely on.

The RMC301 can protect your home or garage or garden office

Link the RMC301RC to a PIR sensor and/or magnetic door switch and it can tell you (by SMS text message) that you have an unwelcome visitor immediately. In these times of reduced policing, it's likely you'll get to your home before police do to scare off the intruder.

The unit is easily powered by a small solar panel and lead acid battery combination; ideal where there is no mains power available. The unit is small (122mm long), weatherproof and is easily fixed almost anywhere. If you add the optional GPS module it can text you a warning that your home, caravan or trailer is being moved and then tell you where it is!

If you are going to downsize then it makes even more sense to protect what you value the most and the RMC301RC does just that.

Cold weather and empty buildings = trouble

We have now added a new temperature reading capability to our portable wireless alarm system, the RMC320.

Why?

As I write this blog entry the temperature outside is -1 degree centigrade and there is a sharp frost on the cars too. Frost damage in an unheated building can be a major risk and very costly too.

An example of just how damaging a burst pipe can be

We have a temperature sensor built in to the RMC320 so that it can text you a warning when the temperatures drop (you can set the temperature at which it does this). Actually the capability is built in to all our current products but only as an option, on the RMC320 it is fitted as standard.

This unit will help to avoid those costly frozen pipes that split and then burst causing thousands of pounds of damage. You can take preemptive action to add portable heating units as required during the cold weather periods.

The new RMC320 front panel

Not the best picture of the front panel but It shows how it looks until we get the latest product shots done.


Sent from my BlackBerry® wireless device

I have neglected the blog...

But now I'm back blogging!

We have been busy over the course of the spring and summer. We have been building on our tracking technology with some new services that we'll announce later this year.

We have also been working on the the Vacant Building Wireless Alarm System, the RMC320.

The prototype RMC320. The production one has a larger label on the front

It's a completely self contained building protection system. No mains needed, no phone line needed. Just put it in place with the PIR sensors facing the main thoroughfare of the building and turn it on. Easy.

It's a great way for Letting Agents to protect their clients (and earn some extra cash too). The RMC320 makes it easy to protect a building between lets.

It'll send a text message if either the front or rear PIR is triggered so that you can investigate immediately and secure the building.

It will also send you a daily status update so that you know the system is working correctly.

It's battery powered and the battery will last up to a year .

Take a look here for the specifications.

Back to work for the New Year

It's back to work on Tuesday 3rd (although we have been trying out some new electronic designs over the Christmas break).

We have several interesting programs on the go at present so the next few months should prove to be exciting. One of the areas we will be looking at is our sales channel; we'll be actively recruiting new dealers for EMM-Tek products. Please get in touch if you like to be involved.

Happy New Year!