- Technology and Innovation
Motorized Breakers: The Smart AC System That Eliminates Manual Electrical Risk
The Digital Shift: Safety Meets Integration
The world of marine electrical systems is rapidly accelerating toward digital integration, but safety must remain the absolute priority. Simarine, a builder of modular power systems, achieved significant validation at METSTRADE 2025 by winning the DAME Design Award in the Electronic & Electrical Systems category for its SAC15R – NMEA2000 Smart AC Distribution Unit. This technology marks a clear paradigm shift, ensuring that modern vessels can leverage digital efficiency without compromising user safety.
NMEA2000: Making the Chart Plotter the Electrical Hub
The core innovation of the SAC15R is its full compatibility with NMEA2000 networks. This capability allows remote switching and monitoring directly from any compatible marine device, such as chart plotters from Garmin, Raymarine, Simrad, and Furuno. This ability to operate electrical distribution from a navigation interface eliminates the need for direct contact with live AC parts, drastically simplifying the user experience and ensuring digital compatibility is a key asset for modern marine vessels.
The Safety Coup: Motorized Breakers and User Protection
It’s engineered with an uncompromising focus on user safety. The unit features motorized reclosers and is meticulously designed to prevent any direct contact with live AC components during normal operation. This eliminates the risk of electrical shock for both experienced and inexperienced operators. Furthermore, the system includes an intuitive manual override for emergency control, ensuring redundancy without sacrificing safety protocols.
Scalability and Diagnostics: Built for Complex Vessels
The SAC15R is built for growth and operational reliability. Its daisy-chain capability allows multiple units to be interconnected, providing scalable installation solutions for larger or more complex onboard electrical systems. Maintenance and diagnostics are streamlined through real-time monitoring of voltage, current analysis, and temperature. This continuous, precise feedback ensures early detection of potential electrical issues, guaranteeing system performance and simplifying the maintenance process for crew.
The Verdict: The Final Word on Marine Electronics
Simarine’s DAME Award confirms that the SAC15R is the new benchmark for marine AC distribution. The product successfully fuses technical reliability with a compact form factor and affordability, appealing to both sailboats and motorboats. By prioritizing digital compatibility (NMEA2000), advanced safety features (motorized breakers, user protection), and scalable design, Simarine has reinforced its position as a trusted source for modular power systems that deliver clear data and confident operation.
