Sleipner Voyage Data Recorder Interface VDRI-1 (PDF)

OWNER'S MANUAL

Log thruster operation to a voyage data recorder with the Sleipner VDRI-1: what it forwards, Speed Source and station configuration, the NMEA 0183 TRC/TRD sentences, cable pinout and installation.

DocumentSleipner Voyage Data Recorder Interface VDRI-1 Installation & User Manual

FormatPDF · 16 pages · 1.0 MB

LanguageEnglish

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Specifications Configuration NMEA 0183 Installation S-Link Bus Products

Sleipner Voyage Data Recorder Interface VDRI-1 — Installation & User Manual

VDRI-1 at a Glance

Purpose

Gateway between the S-Link bus and a voyage data recorder (VDR) with NMEA 0183 interface, supporting SOLAS chapter V Regulation 20 and IMO Resolution A.861(20). Also IEC 61162-1 compliant.
Forwards data from up to 4 thruster locations: Bow, Stern, Bow Starboard, Stern Starboard.
S-Link LED: green = OK, blinking = not connected. NMEA 0183 LED: green blinking = transmitting.

Technical Specification

Parameter	Value
Supply voltage	Min 9VDC / typical 12V/24V / max 31VDC
Rated max input power	< 1W
Operating temperature	-20°C to +70°C
IP rating	IP66
Weight	150g
Size	121x96x43mm (WxHxD)
Fastening holes	104 mm (4.1 in) and 74 mm (2.9 in) apart

Speed Source and Control Stations

Speed Source (per instance)

AC thrusters: PDC-301 (RPM calculated by the VFD) or TMU-1 (measured by external sensor).
Hydraulic thrusters: TMU-1.
eVision DC thrusters: eVision (measured by the internal motor sensor).
No thruster at that location: "-".
At least one Speed Source must be set before VDRI-1 forwards data. Configure with a PJC4xx panel or S-Link Programmer.

Station Control

Panel location is only logged with panels supporting Station Control (PJC4xx).
Locations: 0 Bridge, 1 Port Wing, 2 Starboard Wing, 3 Engine Control Room, 4 Engine (local), 5 Wing (default).
Panels without Station Control report Wing.
Two joysticks on one thruster: same direction → highest % thrust is logged; opposing → the thruster does not respond and nothing is forwarded.

NMEA 0183 Output

4.8KBaud, 8 data bits, parity none, one stop bit.
Every second VDRI-1 sends one TRC (thruster control) and one TRD (thruster response) sentence per installed thruster – up to 8 sentences per second.
TRC: $--TRC,x,x.x,a,x.x,a,x.x,a,a*hh – field 1 thruster (1 bow/port bow, 2 stern/port stern, 3 bow starboard, 4 stern starboard), field 2 % thrust 0 to 100 (negative = to port), field 3 P (%), field 5 V (data invalid), field 7 station (B, P, S, C, E, W), field 8 R (status report).
TRD: $---TRD,x,x.x,a,x.x,a,x.x*hh – field 1 thruster, field 2 % thrust, field 3 P, field 5 thruster motor RPM.
Fault 109.0.0 Configuration Error: no Speed Source set, wrong source (PDC-301 vs TMU-1), or data received on an instance with no source (or the reverse) – check configuration and the devices on S-Link.

Installing VDRI-1

Steps

Screw the box to a solid surface.
Connect an S-Link SPUR Cable between VDRI-1 and a backbone T-connector.
Connect the supplied NMEA cable (flying leads) between VDRI-1 and the data collecting unit.
Set the correct location on every PJC4xx control panel.
Configure the Speed Source on VDRI-1.

NMEA Cable Pinout

Pin	Wire	Signal
1	Green	NMEA0183 TX+
2	White	NMEA0183 TX-
3	Blue	NMEA0183 RX+
4	Brown	NMEA0183 RX-
5	Black	GND_ISO
6	Red	Not connected
7	Black/White	Not connected
8	Yellow	Not connected

S-Link System Rules

Cables & Connectors

Component	Role
BACKBONE Cable (blue ends)	Common power and communication bus through the vessel; standard lengths
SPUR Cable (green ends)	One per connected product, no exceptions; keep as short as practical
POWER Cable	Required in every installation; only one per BACKBONE; protect with a 2A fuse. Yellow and black wires to GND, red to +12VDC or +24VDC
T-Connector	One per SPUR or POWER Cable on the BACKBONE
4-Port T-Connector	Several SPUR Cables on one point; two sealing caps for unused ports
BACKBONE Extender	Joins two BACKBONE Cables
END Terminator	One at each end of the BACKBONE bus

Installation Rules

Keep BACKBONE and SPUR lengths to a minimum; consult your distributor if the total BACKBONE exceeds 100 meters.
Fasten cables to avoid sharp bends, chafe and strain on connectors; close the connector locks fully.
Do not leave cables, T-Connectors or Extenders permanently immersed; make a U-bend before each product connector so water does not run into it.
Ideally connect the POWER Cable in the middle of the BACKBONE for equal voltage drop at both ends.
Route S-Link away from radio transmitters, antennas and high voltage cables.
Unused SPUR cables may be left unterminated for future equipment: protect the open connectors from water.
Connect only original Sleipner S-Link products or authorised equipment directly to the bus; third-party equipment goes through a Sleipner interface, and at least one original Sleipner control panel must still be installed.

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