The general idea behind the system is to provide a decentralised electrical distribution system and to reduce the amount of time and material necessary for the construction of various types of electrical installations.

In most applications a wire is pulled through the boat for each device, for instance a powered windlass or the lighting in a particular area of the boat. In addition, conventional systems would require a fuse to be fitted for most of these runs, thus adding to costs and installation time and design.

The EmpirBus system uses the same basic CANBUS concept already in use in the automotive and aerospace industries in that smaller and lighter gauge wire runs through the boat from a master control "bus" to a number of nodes which are located close to applications such as lighting, alarms, powered winches or almost any other device requiring any level of control.

Each device is assigned a channel and the way in which each channel performs can be pre-set by the owner, designer or builder by using a PC with the control software installed.

It sounds complex and the impression is that a PC is needed to control the boat, but it would seem the design is such that a PC is only required to set up the system. It can then be operated in a conventional way.

Middleton was quick to point out that the software to configure a system is "quite easy to use" and that anyone used to using a PC would be able to use it confidently with only a small amount of training.

Advantages So what are the advantages of using a system like EmpirBus?

The system has built-in fuses rated between 0.5 and 8A that are set when configuring the system. This means that conventional fuses are not required and so space is saved as well as costs.

The user can configure any lights to dim over a given period, only needing the conventional switches to turn on or off. For safety, there are interlocking functions, which mean that two channels would need to be activated to start a major device, such as a windlass.

The delay functions could prove useful allowing interior lights to be turned off after a preset delay: handy when leaving the boat at night.

Default alarms show when lights, such as navigation lights, fail. Similar functions are employed in most modern cars and mandatory on many commercial boats.

A very handy function is the ability to generate a circuit diagram, which is very useful when adding equipment or if any other alterations are needed. Also, the "main switch" is a very handy function allowing the user to configure the system to deactivate all but the most essential functions on board when leaving the boat.

This can be done from one switch, leaving all but things like bilge pumps and alarm active when away for an extended period.

The use of systems like this also allows the addition of features such as remote control, one button control - allowing a single button to configure the system to, for instance, running mode or night mode. All are preset upon installation.

Burglar alarms and GSM features are becoming commonplace and can also be added to this system, as can transducers to indicate low fuel, or low light transducers to activate lights.

All these functions of this system seem great, but do they make boatbuilding easier or cheaper?

Thinner wire It would seem the use of thinner wire between the control position and the device itself is making the building process easier and, although installation in an existing boat is quite possible, Middleton admitted that "the system is more suited to new builds".

The reduction in the space taken up with fuse boxes and associated cables is also of benefit but it's the functionality of the system that is its biggest selling point.

Despite the obvious advantages of such a system, AMP doesn't expect the take-up to be rapid as there is a great deal of information to be taken on board by potential users.

In EmpirBus's homeland of Sweden the system is in use by the Swedish Coast Guard, Nimbus Boats has included the system on its 380 and it's been installed on a Farr 65 and a number of rescue craft. It's clear the system can be used on a wide variety of craft.

However, more basic CANBUS systems are already in place on a number of boats including the Sealine range which uses the Cplex system.

For some time now, engine management systems have been using distribution and control systems but rolling out this type of setup to control more than just the engine is turning into the holy grail for many companies.

One of the main obstacles would seem to be getting cross-platform compatibility to allow one manufacturer's product to talk to, and to even control, another's.

A company's natural inbuilt reluctance to allow others access to its systems would seem to be the main stumbling block.

With these issues to overcome, the take-up of such systems is taking some time and many, including the likes of ETA Circuit Breakers are maintaining a watching brief on the situation, according to Steve Lett, ETA's marine business manager. He feels that CANBUS systems will be introduced in time but over what period, is the question.

ETA's opinion on the CANBUS system was reflected by a number of others, including C Quip's Ian Cooke who also felt that although this type of system is very good it's also very specialist and, as a result, needed a different sales approach.

Similar systems C Quip supplies similar systems, including one produced by the American Charles Industries, which is a modular system based around power management taking into account any fluctuations in shore side voltages, etc, but currently that's as far as the company has gone.

However, Charles has a full line of electrical systems, but is best known for its marine UL listed battery chargers, isolation transformers and iso-boosts (voltage boosting transformers) as well as cable products (cordsets, adapters, etc).

The main growth category seems to be isolation transformers. Apart from overcoming the fluctuation issue, they also help to overcome electrolysis (galvanic corrosion).

These transformers completely isolate the boat from shore "eliminating shore-side power hazards, in water shock potentials" as pointed out by Michelle Goldsmith of Charles Industries.

She added: "We are also seeing many of the European builders begin to install isolation transformers on boats being exported to the US. In the UK both Sunseeker and Princess are using our isolation transformers."

The company's newest product, in this isolation transformer category, is the PM3 which features two 12Kva, 50amp isoboosts and a micro-processorcontrolled control box.

In addition to all of the isolation transformer and isoboost features, this unit has the ability to check for phasing. If possible, the unit will combine power to provide 100amps of power to the distribution busses.

This, the company points out, "is key for many builders, especially if they are putting air-conditioning on board."

If they are, usually one bus is running at maximum load while the other is "coasting along, " as they put it. The PM3 unit features a 20-character fluorescent display that tells the owner/captain the amount of current, volts available, low voltage and high voltage warnings, the mode the unit is in and other power anomalies.

Working hard It would seem that Mastervolt, too, has been (and continues to be), working hard on MasterBus 2005. This is their system which utilises the CANBUS idea.

Paul Kinsman told us the company has been working on this for some time now, but it is not, as yet, in a position to launch it onto the market. The initial reaction by a number of sizable OEM's has been very favourable, but development continues.

Mastervolt's main aim is to integrate with the existing Master Vision system and until the company is happy with the result the product won't appear on the market.

Kinsman said he felt some systems on offer at the moment were not as good as they could be and felt it could "end in tears for one or two."

It remains to be seen whether his prediction is correct.

Rather than any reductions in production cost Kinsman feels that it's the added functionality of a CANBUS based system that is its major benefit, a factor many of the major builders have seized upon.