Fail-Safe Features

Dependable AC and DC power is critical to the safe operation of a marine vessel.

Moritz Aerospace has striven to develop a system that not only provides incredible benefits, but, most importantly, embodies the utmost in dependability. The Octoplex System incorporates maximum redundancy and protection against single point failure, a constant goal in aerospace manufacturing.

• Dual bus system and Dual Processor Components
  The system is installed with two separate NMEA2000 bus lines, a primary and a secondary, and operates with two processors in the online devices driving both buses. In the event of the failure or severing of the primary bus line, the system automatically switches to the secondary bus and provides notification of the primary bus failure; likewise, should one of the primary bus processors fail in an MCS online device, the system will automatically switch to the secondary bus and provide notification of the failure. At all times the system will also provide immediate notification of secondary bus failure since, while the system operates normally on the primary bus, the secondary bus is kept in active reserve and constantly monitored.
• Stand-alone AC and DC Systems
  In the extremely unlikely case of a complete shutdown of power and/or data transmission on the bus, there is no effect on the continuity of the AC or DC systems. While there would then be no available remote status monitoring or remote control of AC breaker actuation, the AC system would continue to operate safely and normally in a manual mode. The DC system would also continue to operate normally, as active independent power supplies within each DC panel will maintain the dual processors within each panel. These two processors assign the appropriate trip current ratings to the electronic circuit breakers. The internal dual processors and power supplies within each DC panel provide redundancy in case of single point failure. Thus both the NMEA 2000 bus lines could be totally severed and the AC and DC circuit protection systems would continue to function!
• Manually Configurable DC System
  Should both power supplies, or both processors, fail within any DC panel, the operator may substitue mechanical DC modules at the desired ECB locations to render the circuits active.
• Fail-safe Electronic DC Circuit Protection
  The system protects against the unlikely event of an Electronic Circuit Breaker failing in the “ON” position. Should the operator elect to turn “OFF” an ECB and the ECB fails to open the circuit, the system will take the ECB offline. This action will necessitate replacement of the ECB, which will be indicated by the ECB diagnostic LEDs.
• Multiple Environmental Protections
  The system is designed with multiple features to protect against EMI, RFI, voltage spikes and lightning strikes. The system is rigorously tested to comply with aerospace industry standards and RTCA test levels as specified in DO-160E.