IBEX 2024: Egis’ XD Series NMEA 2000 remote battery switches

Egis Mobile Electric is a relatively new company with extensive marine industry experience and some creative ideas. Egis’ submissions to innovation awards over the last few years have highlighted their creativity. This year, they’re back with a new version of the their XD Series battery switches, but now with NMEA 2000 digital switching support.

First, a note: I’d hoped to produce a quick series of posts on the bumper crop of interesting new products I saw and learned about at IBEX. Unfortunately, hurricane Milton has other plans. I’m writing this entry from the panhandle of Florida where my family and I will wait out the storm. We are about 10 hours from the storm’s expected landfall. We will return to Fort Myers as soon as we can after the storm. I expect all this driving will slow my pace a bit, not to mention the likelihood of significant cleanup at home.

The storm unpleasantness aside, this entry is about Egis Mobile Electric’s XD series NMEA 2000 and J1939 battery switches. The NMEA 2000 and J1939 compatible switches join an existing and impressive lineup of remotely controlled battery switches. Also, a note that currently the NMEA 2000 versions of these switches aren’t on Egis’ website yet.

To my knowledge, the CAN controlled XD series switches enjoy the distinction of being the first to directly integrate NMEA 2000 into a battery switch. Maretron offers a way to control Blue Sea’s RBS via a Maretron DCR100 and RIM100. But prior to the XD, there haven’t been any native options.

I am planning a full hands on review of the XD series and I’ll cover the many options within the series in that review. However, it is noteworthy that the entire series is extremely configurable. The switches are available in one to three switch models, with or without remote activation, with or without local switch control, and in low voltage disconnect models. All remotely controlled switches can also be used as automatic charge relays. Lastly, clever linking bars provide myriad configuration options. In fact, with so many options it takes some time to figure out all the ways they can be configured.

I’ll dive into the specs in my full review, but, for now let’s take a quick look at a few of the most important specs. First, check out the current handling specs. When cabled with dual 4/0, the switches sustain 500 amps continuously and up to 1,600 amps for up to 30 seconds. I’ve used non-CAN connected versions of the XD switches in a couple of installs. I’ve found that even under very heavy loads, there is no heat build up at the switches.

Using NMEA 2000 digital switching creates the possibility of a loop in which the NMEA 2000 network must be powered to control the switch, but the switch controls power to the network. Egis avoids this scenario by allowing control of their CAN controlled battery switches via NMEA 2000, a simple momentary switch, or the levers on the face of the switch.

CAN controlled battery switches weren’t the only new products Egis showed at IBEX. They also displayed an expanded line of distribution products. All of these new products are the same height so they easily link to XD series switches and other expansion modules.

Founded by a former Blue Sea Systems engineer, it is clear that Egis has plenty of creative ideas to improve marine electrical. I’m excited to see what else they have to offer and also excited to get my hands on a NMEA 2000 controlled battery switch. I will be back with the next installment of my IBEX recaps just as soon as I can. Hopefully Milton will be kind to us and that will come without too much delay.