EasyTrolling (Low speed) Volvo Penta D3

1st ‘EasyTrolling’ unit for Volvo Penta D3 installed

This week I successfully installed the first ‘EasyTrolling’ unit on a Volvo Penta D3-EVC in combination with HS45A reverse gearbox.

lowspeed electrical unit

This electronic unit, which has been fully developed and tested in-house, makes it possible to sail at low speed ‘low speed’ with a Volvo Penta D3 from year 2010. The EasyTrolling unit is completely secondary to the Volvo Penta EVC system and thus ensures that the original wiring etc remains intact. The unit is supposedly plug-and-play to mount on the standard connectors. An additional button with LED indication can be mounted on the dashboard to activate the unit, if certain safety conditions are met, the unit will control the forward magnet valve with a configurable value. As a result, the reverse clutch (HS45) will switch forward, but allow a certain amount of slip, causing the propeller shaft to rotate at a lower rotational speed and therefore there will be less propulsion.

Safeties

To protect the components and always switch to the original operation in emergency situations, various safety devices have been installed:

  • The unit can not be switched on if the engine is not running
  • The unit can not be switched on if the original control is in forward or reverse
  • The unit can only be switched on if the original trade is in Neutral mode
  • If the unit is switched on and the original trade is switched forward or backward, it will switch off automatically and the original operation will be active

LowSpeed installed overview

Fault code free

The unit has been carefully tested and also takes into account the self-diagnosis functionality of the Volvo Penta EVC system. The unit, if it is active, will fool the original computer with a signal that is the same as in the original situation. For example, there will be no error messages on the display and you will be assured of proper operation if it is switched off again.

Availability

I am busy preparing for production of the product and expect to have sales ready within a few weeks. There is even a variant with NMEA2000 communication on the schedule, which can be adjusted at a fixed (GPS) speed. These and other nice electronic accessories for your marine diesel engine will soon be available at: dutchmarineelectronics.nl which is not currently live.

If you have any questions in the meantime, please let me know: info@ddr-projects.nl

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