Vetus’ new top-of-the-line BOWPRO & RIM Drive 48v thrusters employ Vetus’ renowned maintenance-free brushless induction motors to deliver genuine variable- speed, power, greater control and a smoother, quieter experience. Both the BOWPRO & RIM Drive 48v thrusters require significantly less current to deliver the same amount of power as a 12v thruster. This not only results in less heat generation, reduced resistance loss and far greater efficiency, it also means significantly thinner, lighter and more flexible cables can be used, reducing weight, saving space and lowering material costs. The new thrusters are also noticeably quieter and, in the case of the RIM Drive, virtually completely noiseless, thanks to its cavitation-free propeller and a complete lack of gears.
When combined with the patented Vetus motor controller (MCV), the new thrusters’ motors also eliminate the high in-rush currents that are often a feature of conventional DC thrusters. This gives owners the flexibility to power their thrusters from a variety of sources: their start bank, a dedicated bank or even their house battery bank (which is not recommended with conventional DC thrusters). The Vetus thruster models are suitable for vessels from 7m to 40m and can be run directly off a 48v bank of batteries. For vessels 15m or more, thruster models from 180kgf have the ability to run off a 48v source and be charged with either 48v or 24v. The BOWPRO 48v models from 180kgf also have an exclusive built-in DC-DC smart charger allowing them to be run off a 48v battery bank, with this bank able to be charged from an onboard 24v source.
Vetus’ 48v thrusters will be a welcome option for the increasing number of boat owners now choosing full electric 48vDC power systems. These systems, which are better at handling higher power loads, such as those required to run complete-ship air conditioning and heating systems, powerful bow and stern thrusters and the like, also eliminating the need for costly, space-hungry and noisy 230v generators.
