The device described in this manual is the LIGHTNING by Humphree Interceptor, a stabilization system designed for motorboats.
Function Description
The LIGHTNING by Humphree system is primarily designed to enhance the comfort, safety, and performance of motorboats by actively managing their trim, list, pitch, and roll motions. It achieves this through the use of interceptors, which are dynamically controlled blades that extend into the water to generate hydrodynamic forces.
The core functionality includes:
- Auto Trim: This feature automatically adjusts the boat's trim according to its speed, ensuring optimal running trim at all times. This leads to improved performance, faster acceleration, and significant fuel savings. The system continuously monitors the boat's speed and adjusts the interceptor deployment to maintain the most efficient trim angle.
- Auto List: Designed to keep the boat at an even keel, the Auto List function automatically counteracts leaning caused by uneven loading or crosswinds when running in a straight course. During turns, the system intelligently allows the boat to heel naturally, maintaining stability without hindering maneuverability.
- Coordinated Turn: This function coordinates the rudder and interceptors to automatically control the boat's heeling angle during turns. By reducing side forces, it improves safety and comfort for those on board and allows for higher turning speeds. The interceptors contribute to the steering force, enhancing the boat's turning ability and side-to-side movement.
- Pitch Control: The Pitch Control feature actively eliminates unwanted pitching motions of the boat, significantly reducing seasickness and fatigue for passengers.
- Roll Stabilization: This function dynamically counteracts roll motions caused by waves. It achieves this by very quickly moving the interceptor blades between starboard and portside, providing a smoother and more stable ride.
- Smart Pitch Control (Patented): A new patented feature that detects head seas and automatically trims down the bow by adding extra interceptor deployment. This mimics the actions of an experienced captain, eliminating the need for manual bow trimming in such conditions.
- Underwater Light Option (UWL): Each interceptor is factory-equipped with 10 RGBW LEDs, providing a total of 25W of bright and adjustable underwater light. This is an optional feature that enhances the aesthetic and functional appeal of the boat.
The system is designed to retract interceptors automatically when not needed, ensuring no added hull resistance, a unique advantage among marine stabilization systems.
Important Technical Specifications
- Intended Product Usage: The LIGHTNING by Humphree system is specifically designed for motorboats with the following characteristics:
- Length: 20-45 feet
- Speed: 10-50 knots
- Components: The typical system overview illustrates several key components:
- Control Panel: The primary interface for operating the system.
- Control Unit (LCU): The central processing unit that manages the interceptors.
- Interceptors: The active blades that deploy into the water.
- Connectivity: Supports NMEA2000, Ethernet (optional), EXTBUS (optional), and GPS input.
- Power: Requires a battery (not included) and a main breaker & fuse (not included).
- Key Switch (Optional): Allows for system control via the boat's ignition.
- Function Packages: The system is available in different function packages, each offering a specific set of features:
- Comfort: Includes Auto Trim, Auto List, and C-Turn.
- Comfort PLUS: Includes Auto Trim, Pitch Control, Auto List, and C-Turn.
- Dynamic: Includes Auto Trim, Auto List, C-Turn, and Roll Stabilization.
- Dynamic PLUS: Includes Auto Trim, Pitch Control, Auto List, C-Turn, and Roll Stabilization.
- Underwater Light Activation: An optional add-on for any package.
Usage Features
The system is operated via a touch-screen control panel with intuitive gestures:
- Touch Screen Gestures:
- Tap: Lightly tapping the screen activates functions or selections.
- Tap and Drag: Used to move elements or adjust settings, such as dragging a finger across the screen to change values.
- Swipe: Moving a finger across the screen quickly, for example, to navigate between views or activate functions.
- Scroll: Moving a finger without lifting to scroll through lists or menus.
- Tap and Hold: Used to increase the effect of a function faster.
- Display Features:
- Main Screen: Displays GPS speed, auto function ON/OFF indicators, and a page indicator. A drop-down menu provides access to settings and other options.
- Underwater Lights Control: Allows for turning lights ON/OFF, selecting colors, and adjusting intensity.
- Automatic Function Activation: The control view automatically appears when the boat speed exceeds 5 knots.
- Detailed Controls: Provides visual feedback on interceptor deployment and trim/list angles.
- Trim/List Angle Indicators: Show current boat trim and list angles. If the list indicator is not at 0.0° at zero speed, a reset is needed.
- Interceptor Deployment Indicators: Bars visualize the current interceptor position as a percentage of the maximum deployment.
- Display Settings:
- Orientation: Three options: Portrait, Landscape, and Reverse Landscape.
- Display Theme: Choice between Dark Mode (dark background, darker colors) and Light Mode (light background, lighter colors).
- Blackout Lights: When ticked, lights will be off at the lowest dim settings.
- Manual Control: Allows for manual adjustment of trim and list:
- Bow Down/Up: Deploy/retract both starboard and port interceptors simultaneously to trim the bow down or up.
- List to Port/Starboard: Retract port/starboard interceptors and deploy starboard/port interceptors to make the boat list to port or starboard.
- All manual adjustments are made by tapping and holding until the desired trim or list is reached.
- Standby Mode: When in standby, all electronic units enter a low-energy scheme. It can be entered by sliding the STANDBY slider in the drop-down menu or automatically if a KEYSWITCH is installed and engines are switched off.
- Reset Angle Calibration: Allows for resetting the trim and list angle calibration via the SETTINGS/SYSTEM SETUP/SENSOR SETUP/ANGLE CALIBRATION menu.
Maintenance Features
To ensure the durability and optimal performance of the system, the following maintenance tasks are recommended:
- Antifouling Application: Apply antifouling to parts exposed to water for more than two weeks at a time.
- Interceptor Blade Cleaning: Regularly brush the interceptors to avoid marine growth, which is considered best practice.
- Visual Inspection and Function Test: Perform an annual visual inspection and function test of the entire system.
- Troubleshooting: In case of issues, the manual directs users to a dedicated website for diagnostic trouble codes:
https://humphree.com/aftermarket-support/diagnostic-trouble-codes/.
- Alarm Alert System: The system includes an alarm alert feature accessible via the main screen and status bar.
- Clear Alarm Procedure: A step-by-step process is provided to clear alarms:
- Tap and drag down to access the drop-down menu.
- Go to SETTINGS.
- Select ALARMS.
- View the list of current alarms.
- Select the specific alarm.
- Follow the on-screen instructions to clear the alarm.
- Press RESTART SYSTEM.
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