PDM60 - Cool Power Hub for Electrical/Electronics

[PDM60 Guy]

Hey guys,
I wanted to touch base with regarding the PDM60 Power distribution module. (It's available for purchase here on iBoats) I've seen a lot of traffic on here related to rewiring and adding aftermarket electronics. The PDM60 provides a quality, dependable, long term solution for those efforts.
The unit is a power hub for connecting up your 12V electrical/electronics. (VHF, Sonar, Depthfinders, lighting, audio, etc.) It?s like a fuse panel, only it?s all digital. No fuses or relays needed. It?s fully programmable, has six circuits, is switchable/triggered and handles 60A of power. Best of all for marine, it?s completely sealed; fully encapsulated. Corrosion, with this unit, will never be a problem. If you?re out on the lake, or rounding cape horn, and ?blow? a circuit. No trouble. Fix your fault, turn the unit off and on again, and bang!, you?re up and running again. It?s great. Whether you adding electronics, or rewiring you boat, this thing is great. We've tested the units to over 400,000 cycles at the full 60A capacity. Rock solid.

Check it out and shoot me a message with any questions.

Blake@rowe-electronics.com

 

[agallant80]

Re: PDM60 - Cool Power Hub for Electrical/Electronics

I think this would fall under the category of Spam. If you want to advertise your product the appropriate way would be to contact I-Boats about buying add space in the forums. Forums loose their integrity when you have to sort through what posts are trying to sell you something and what posts are people who are looking for help.

 

[glenn property of pam]

Re: PDM60 - Cool Power Hub for Electrical/Electronics

please remember to carry your laptop and programming cable when you are 22 miles off shore and you have no idea why nothing on the boat is working. Its a great idea but it goes against the first rule of boating......"keep it stupid simple".

 

[NYBo]

Re: PDM60 - Cool Power Hub for Electrical/Electronics

Welcome to iboats!:welcome:

Cool idea! A little overkill for my little boat, but sounds like a plan for a bigger one.

I think this7 would fall under the category of Spam. If you want to advertise your product the appropriate way would be to contact I-Boats about buying add space in the forums. Forums loose their integrity when you have to sort through what posts are trying to sell you something and what posts are people who are looking for help.

Take a look at his designation: "iboats.com Partner". I think he's been vetted.eace:

please remember to carry your laptop and programming cable when you are 22 miles off shore and you have no idea why nothing on the boat is working. Its a great idea but it goes against the first rule of boating......"keep it stupid simple".

From the attached literature, it appears that the USB connection to a computer is only needed for programming, not resetting.

 

[NYBo]

Re: PDM60 - Cool Power Hub for Electrical/Electronics

BTW, this appears to be the same concept as what is being done with many automotive circuits: drivers in the BCM (Chrysler-speak) instead of fuses or circuit breakers.

 

[NYBo]

Re: PDM60 - Cool Power Hub for Electrical/Electronics

Power Distribution Module - Rowe Electronics PDM60 - iboats

 

[PDM60 Guy]

Re: PDM60 - Cool Power Hub for Electrical/Electronics

I think this would fall under the category of Spam. If you want to advertise your product the appropriate way would be to contact I-Boats about buying add space in the forums. Forums loose their integrity when you have to sort through what posts are trying to sell you something and what posts are people who are looking for help.

Good feedback ...... I agree that forum integrity/value can be compromised by spamming, etc. --
As indicated by other posters, Iboats is selling the PDM60 unit (you can see it in the products section). There is, in the forum rules, an exception for posts related to such relationships/products. I'm playing by the rules here, and wouldn't operate in any other way.
You're right, people are looking for help on here, and there are a lot of them looking for help with rewiring, and wiring, powering, and protecting electrical and electronic applications.
I'm a certified boating nut. I try to spend more time on the water than I do on land. (never get it done though) My goal here is to make a viable, and worthwhile contribution to the community I'm a part of. So.... I want to let people know about the product, help them understand it, and answer any questions they might have. In my opinion, that's what the forum is all about. Solutions to problems. The PDM60 is a solution

 

[jhebert]

Re: PDM60 - Cool Power Hub for Electrical/Electronics

I appreciate informative articles that bring new product information to the forum. Thanks for starting the thread.

 

[PDM60 Guy]

Re: PDM60 - Cool Power Hub for Electrical/Electronics

I found humor in the comment about carrying a laptop and a cable in your boat so you can use them 20 miles from shore. That being said, the comment simply reaffirms the fact that when people first see this product, very few truly understand it, and how it works. (as for me, I didn't "get it" when I first saw it) The only time you use the cable and a laptop is when you set the unit up. (add accessories etc.)

The same is true for the comment about "keeping it stupid simple". Once you understand the PDM60, you'll find it really is stupid simple. Once it's installed, you don't ever worry about. Never again will you have a blown fuse to replace, or a mechanical relay that goes bad. They're gone.... it's fire and forget. The PDM60 provides information about your circuits via the LEDs.
As indicated, we've tested these things to over 400,000 cycles at full load. No failures. It's easy to configure, it's easy to install, and from there, it 100% hassle free.

I agree with keeping things simple, and that's what the PDM60 does. It makes things more simple!!
I don't pump my bilge by hand, navigate by sextant, use candles for lighting, or send out a dinghy to communicate with other boats. Technology has made all of these functions easier. The greatest watercraft to ever sail the seas are out there on the water right now, and they are loaded with technology. Not because the advanced technology is a weakness, but because it's added strength and dependability.

 

[PDM60 Guy]

Re: PDM60 - Cool Power Hub for Electrical/Electronics

Thanks J -- appreciate it.

 

[bruceb58]

Re: PDM60 - Cool Power Hub for Electrical/Electronics

Sorry, but I wouldn't put this on a boat...ever!

Why would you take a circuit that is protected by a fuse and complicate this simple protection with something that can't possibly be as reliable?

This is the ultimate Rube Goldberg.

 

[QC]

Re: PDM60 - Cool Power Hub for Electrical/Electronics

Guys, when you see "iboats.com Partner" under the Username it means that they have signed up for this with iboats as part of a promotion package. This entitles them to directly discuss an item that they are promoting. It also entitles them to all challenges that guys on this forum are capable of, and he is due our respect as any other member as well.

 

[glenn property of pam]

Re: PDM60 - Cool Power Hub for Electrical/Electronics

I found humor in the comment about carrying a laptop and a cable in your boat so you can use them 20 miles from shore. That being said, the comment simply reaffirms the fact that when people first see this product, very few truly understand it, and how it works. (as for me, I didn't "get it" when I first saw it) The only time you use the cable and a laptop is when you set the unit up. (add accessories etc.)

The same is true for the comment about "keeping it stupid simple". Once you understand the PDM60, you'll find it really is stupid simple. Once it's installed, you don't ever worry about. Never again will you have a blown fuse to replace, or a mechanical relay that goes bad. They're gone.... it's fire and forget. The PDM60 provides information about your circuits via the LEDs.
As indicated, we've tested these things to over 400,000 cycles at full load. No failures. It's easy to configure, it's easy to install, and from there, it 100% hassle free.

I agree with keeping things simple, and that's what the PDM60 does. It makes things more simple!!
I don't pump my bilge by hand, navigate by sextant, use candles for lighting, or send out a dinghy to communicate with other boats. Technology has made all of these functions easier. The greatest watercraft to ever sail the seas are out there on the water right now, and they are loaded with technology. Not because the advanced technology is a weakness, but because it's added strength and dependability.

so if the ground to the unit is compromised are you saying that the unit will still pump out the bilge and keep the lights on until you work out what's wrong with the engine. I see it as one small problem will result in 6 circuits not working. Plus not many people have circuits that are linked to the engine running other than the ones that are protected by the engine electronics.
I do see a huge advantage to using the unit if I was into music as that would be a cheap time delay to avoid the stereo being spiked as the engine is started but then again 60 amp max might not be enough. Im not claiming the unit is rubbish as I can see many advantages of programmable amp/time delay solid state unit as I use them ever day in industrial controls im just wondering if a boat is really the best place for them. Do you think that a spare pre-programmed should be carried if used on vital equipment or are you saying that they really are bullet proof.

 

[dingbat]

Re: PDM60 - Cool Power Hub for Electrical/Electronics

Cool device, put I have to question the cost effectiveness. I replaced the helm distribution panel 2 years ago with a 12 circuit panel with bus bar for less than $50. The same project would have cost me over $300 using this device. I just don't see the value.

Call me old fashioned, but I'll take the cost effectiveness and reliability of a glass fuse over an expensive programmable device any day of the week. You can buy a lot of fuses for $150.

 

[MH Hawker]

Re: PDM60 - Cool Power Hub for Electrical/Electronics

I was also going to bring that up. Last year I replaced my fuse panel with a 14 ATC circuit unit that ran 22.00.

 

[bruceb58]

Re: PDM60 - Cool Power Hub for Electrical/Electronics

This device is all of a sudden showing up in multiple forums in the last couple of weeks. Sound a little strange? :facepalm:

http://www.cruisersforum.com/forums/f126/pdm60-cool-new-product-113165.html#post1362166
http://www.thehulltruth.com/marine-electronics-forum/543099-pdm60-cool-power-hub.html
http://forums.endlessboating.com/forums/showthread.php?t=3127

 

[bruceb58]

Re: PDM60 - Cool Power Hub for Electrical/Electronics

So, the device draws 50mA constantly. If left energized, it will draw down your battery 1.2AH every day or 8.4AH every week. Guess that leaves off hooking your bilge pump to it.

 

[PDM60 Guy]

Re: PDM60 - Cool Power Hub for Electrical/Electronics

No offense taken Bruce. You're not the first guy to offer up those kinds of sentiments, and you sure won't be the last.
It calls to mind a couple of quotes. "But what...is it good for?" -- Engineer at the Advanced Computing Systems Division of IBM, 1968, commenting on the microchip. Or......... “Do not bother to sell your gas shares. The electric light has no future.” —Professor John Henry Pepper.
The PDM60 is a solid solution, and given careful thought and full understanding, it's value comes to the surface. It may not be for everyone, but then again, I don't know of any product that is. Some people think we're stupid for wanting to spend our time floating around on the water. To each his own.
That being said, don't discount the technology. Houses used to have glass fuses too..... and they went away.

 

[PDM60 Guy]

Re: PDM60 - Cool Power Hub for Electrical/Electronics

So, the device draws 50mA constantly. If left energized, it will draw down your battery 1.2AH every day or 8.4AH every week. Guess that leaves off hooking your bilge pump to it.

Hi Bruce,
The 50mA current draw you reference is correct, if you have any or all circuits programmed to be "always live". If none are programmed to be "always live", there is virtually no draw at rest. It really depends on how a boat is used/stored, what battery capacity is, etc. For instance, I have two 100Ah batteries on my boat. So, I could leave the PDM60 on with 'always live" circuits for about 166 days (over 5 months) before my batteries would drop below 10.5 volts, and be compromised. It would be about 80 days (2.5+ months) if I had just one battery. If I'm not running the motor for 80 or 160 days to recharge the batteries, that means it's in storage. I run mine on a tender when it's in storage. Once again, different strokes for different folks, but the 50mA is by no means a wreckless amount of draw to manage.

 

[bruceb58]

Re: PDM60 - Cool Power Hub for Electrical/Electronics

No offense taken Bruce. You're not the first guy to offer up those kinds of sentiments, and you sure won't be the last.
It calls to mind a couple of quotes. "But what...is it good for?" -- Engineer at the Advanced Computing Systems Division of IBM, 1968, commenting on the microchip. Or......... “Do not bother to sell your gas shares. The electric light has no future.” —Professor John Henry Pepper.

Seriously! You are on here for less than a whole day and this is how you try to promote your product? I am surprised you don't accuse me of thinking the earth is flat!

Good luck!