SIMARINE PICO Standard Package

FAQ

Battery types

• Do PICO and PICOone devices support lithium-ion batteries?
  The PICO system is compatible with LiFePO4 batteries
• Which battery types are supported?
• Generally all lead / acid batteries such as AGM, GEL and LiFePO4 batteries

  Firmware update

• Is there a smartphone app?
• Yes. The Simarine "PICO Battery Monitor" app is available for free on the Google Playstore or App Store.
• Can I update the PICO firmware myself?
• Yes. The PICO product family is constantly improved and updated with new functions. It is thus recommended to keep the PICO firmware up to date.
  Update can be done with the "PICO Battery Monitor" smartphone app . The app can be downloaded as described above.
  
  Use the serial number of the PICO to create the WLAN SSID and password. You can find the serial number on the back of the PICO display or on the front side of the original packaging or in the PICO system menu (PICO SETTINGS -> SYSTEM -> System Info.).
  
  Example:
  If your PICO serial number is "12345678".
  Your SSID is: Pico5678
  Your password is: pico1234
  
  NOTE
  Before updating the firmware, update the "PICO Battery Monitor" smartphone app via the respective store and then follow the steps below.

  Consumption and generator monitoring

  1. Install or update the "PICO Battery Monitor" app on your smartphone, turn on the WiFi connection of your PICO device and connect your smartphone to the PICO WiFi hotspot (PICOxxxx).
  2. Start the "PICO Battery Monitor" app on your smartphone. Open the "Settings" menu and click "Update PICO Fimrware" to put your PICO device into upgrade mode.
  3. The update process takes less than a minute. Then your PICO restarts.
• Can I monitor the power consumption of my inverter with the PICOs?
• Yes. Using the SC300, SC500, SC302T shunts, the PICOs accurately measure the power consumption of individual large consumers such as inverters, bow thrusters, windlasses, etc. With the SCQ25 module, currents up to max. 100A can be monitored just as precisely. You can read the exact current consumption values and a consumption history from your PICO display.
• I'd like to know if my solar panels generate enough electricity to power a refrigerator. How do I get this information?
• Simply integrate the Simarine SCQ25 module (4 inputs, each with a power of 25A, individual inputs can be summed via the software) into your PICO system.
  The SCQ25 module provides accurate power readings generated by your solar system or consumed by your refrigerator.
• Can the PICO devices show how much power is generated by my solar panel?
• Yes. With the PICO battery monitor, you can measure how much power your solar panels or wind generators supply. This is also a very good tool to detect malfunctions of individual energy sources.
  If, for example, your solar panels get dirty and therefore produce less power, you can easily and conveniently see this on your PICO display.

  External protocols

• Do PICO devices support CI-BUS (special Caravan data bus system)?
• Not yet. A CI-BUS support is planned.
• Do PICO devices support NMEA protocol?
• Not yet. NMEA0183 and NMEA2000 support is under development.

  General

• Is it possible to use more than one PICO display on one battery bank?
• This option is being planned and will be part of a future firmware update.
• Should I use a shunt to monitor battery voltage, battery power and battery temperature? Or is it just enough to monitor the battery voltage?

• What is a battery bank?
• If two or more batteries are used in a parallel or series connection, these batteries are called battery banks.
  
  Parallel connection
  If batteries are connected in parallel, capacity increases (Ah / ampere hours), while the voltage (Volt) remains the same.
  Example:
  Three 100Ah batteries with a voltage of 12V are connected by a parallel connection. This results in a battery bank with a capacity of 300Ah at a voltage of 12V.
  
  Series connection
  When two or more batteries are connected in series, the voltage (V) increases, while the capacity (Ah / ampere hours) remains the same.
  Example:
  Three 100Ah batteries with a voltage of 12V are connected by a series connection. This leads to a battery bank with a voltage of 36V and a capacity of 100Ah.

  Tanks

• Which tank sensors are recommended for use with the PICO devices?
• The PICO system and the PICO tank modules are compatible with all standard resistance boosters, such as: B. 10-180 ohms (VDO), 240-33 ohms (Teleflex, Wema), 0-190 ohms (KUS), 10-300 ohms (various manufacturers).
  Tank sensors with a DC voltage output signal (e.g. VDO capacitive) can also be used. Various measuring points can be defined via the software, which allows tanks with asymmetric shape to be measured precisely.

  Suspected battery capacity failure

• The PICO system is installed and working, but displays an incorrect battery charge status.
• The PICO devices require at least four charge and discharge cycles to indicate the correct charge status.

  Cabling

• The total load of my battery bank exceeds 500A. The PICO shunts have a capacity up to max. 500A. Can I still use the PICO devices?
• Of course, you can, for example, connect two SC500 shunts together and add them via the software, which would give a total capacity of 1000A.
• On my boat there are two separate battery banks with different voltages, a 12V and a 24V bank. Can I monitor both battery banks with the PICO system?
• Yes. PICO devices can monitor up to six battery banks with different voltages, however, a separate shunt must be installed for each battery bank.