SEP50 PRO™ tunnel bow thruster

SEP50 PRO™ tunnel bow thruster

Call 954-577-2850 or Send Enquiry for Pricing

SEP50 PRO™ with variable speed control is a compact thruster with 50-62 kg thrust, suitable for boats between 27-37 feet. Only available for bow installation.

The thruster offers great installation flexibility as it can be mounted at any angle on the tunnel. Additionally, the electric motor can be rotated 90 degrees on the motor bracket.

It is galvanically isolated and features Sleipner’s patented IPC technology for intelligent power control and safety. See more of the product features below.

Thank You for your interest!

SKU: SEP50/140S Categories: ,

Product Description

Sleipner’s tunnel thrusters are the world’s top-selling thrusters resulting from over 35 years of development. Over the years, our tunnel thrusters have been installed in over 350,000 boats worldwide.

Bow and stern thruster

They are fitted either in a tunnel through the boat’s bow or into a stern tunnel at the boat’s stern. Available as standard version (on/off), PRO™ version (variable speed control), and IP PRO™ version (with ignition protection and variable speed control), extending from 20 kg to 300 kg of thrust.

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Sleipner’s stern tunnels are designed with solid and durable fiberglass to enhance the thruster’s performance and are installed effortlessly in the boat’s transom. Additional cowls (sold separately) allow installation in boats with shallow drafts or obstructions on the stern.

The electric motors, solenoids, patented IPC control system, and mechanical parts of the propulsion system are all custom designed and built – utilizing the extensive experience gained through years of leadership in the global thruster market.

 

Docking has never been easier

Our PRO™ thruster models are equipped with speed control, giving you full variable control of the thruster. The speed control is more intuitive for you as a boater and makes for a quieter and more relaxed maneuver. If you install a dual thruster system (bow and stern), you get the revolutionary hold function, pinning the boat to the pier while docking.

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Ignition protection

We offer ignition-protected thruster models to provide a reliable and safe installation in locations where the thruster motor may be exposed to water or gasoline fumes.

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Our IP models have a hermetically sealed composite housing around all electric parts. 

An additional advantage is that electric parts that could obtain water damage are also covered and protected, making these thrusters the ideal choice for stern thruster installations where ensuring that the thruster will always remain dry is difficult. The IP versions have all the benefits and proven reliability of our standard tunnel thrusters.

Additional Information

Select a Thruster Model

24V, 48V
S-LINK™

S-Link™ is a CAN-based control system used for communication between Sleipner products installed on a vessel.

Compact and waterproof plugs

Keyed and color-coded connectors to ensure correct and easy installation

Different cable lengths, extenders and T-connectors makes the system scalable and flexible to install

Q-PROP™

The Q-PROP™ has measured noise reductions of up to 75% in controlled environments. The five-bladed skew propeller reduces noise levels while maintaining exceptional efficiency. Some thruster models even see an increase in thrust power.

The expected noise reduction in average installations: 20-40%

Upgrade kits are available for most Sleipner thruster models with special adaptors

PRO™

A PRO™ thruster system enables you to apply only the necessary power to complete your maneuver. The variable speed control eliminates the noise associated with standard on/off thrusters.

The system also includes a practical hold-function. In a dual system (bow and stern) a single press of a button will keep you alongside the docks – making docking truly a one-person job.

Speed controlled thrusters are the best choice for joystick interaction.​

INTELLIGENT POWER CONTROL

Sleipner’s patented intelligent power control provides a minimal delay between drive directions to reduce wear of the mechanical parts while monitoring solenoid functions. In the case of a solenoid lock-in, the thruster will automatically stop without extra user action or controlling the main switch.

HOLD-FUNCTION

Docking your vessel has never been easier. With a single press of a button, you can rely on your thrusters to maintain the boat controlled against the dock while stepping off to secure the lines — making docking truly a one-person job.

OVERHEAT PROTECTION

When high temperatures are detected, On/off thrusters are automatically shut off to prevent overheating. PRO™ thrusters with speed control provide extended run-time by derating power to maintain temperature within safe levels.

SAFE START-UP

This control panel use dual ‘on’ buttons to prevent accidental activation for a child-safe environment.

FLEXIBLE INSTALLATION

Sleipner offers installation flexibility to work with the space you have. Our thruster models allow installation at any angle on the tunnel, tailored to fit any space available in your vessel.

GALVANIC SEPARATION

Immersed parts exposed to seawater are galvanic isolated from the onboard electrical system, eliminating stray currents.

SEALED DRIVE LUBRICATION

The thruster gearleg is pre-filled for lifetime lubrication and sealed using a long-time mechanical seal with ceramic and carbon surfaces for ultimate security against water intrusion.

SINGLE PROPELLER

A properly engineered single propeller will be the most energy efficient thruster. Its compact design fits easily into narrow bows making it the perfect match for our smaller thruster range.

Category Specification Value
Main Power & Electrical Power supply 24V DC
Nominal voltage 21V DC
Current consumption 170A
Power output 2.4kW / 3hp
Recommended fuse ANL 150
Cold Cranking Amps (CCA) Minimum battery CCA (DIN) 175
Minimum battery CCA (SAE) 332
Minimum battery CCA (EN) 280
Performance Motor cycle duty 2 – 3 min. (at 20°C ambient)
Thrust Ratings (24V / 21V) 62kg (136lbs) / 50kg (110lbs)
Features Key Technologies Intelligent Power Control, Q-Propeller, Single Propeller, Sealed Drive Lubrication, Galvanic Separation, Variable Speed Control, S-Link, Overheat Protection, Safe Start-Up / Child safety, Hold Thrust, Ceramic Seals, Flexible Installation, Plug and play signal cables
Dimensions (H) Height 264mm / 10in
(L) Length 208mm / 8in
(W) Width 200mm / 7in
(ID) Internal Diameter 140mm / 5in
(WD min.) Min. Water Depth 140mm / 5in
(TL min.) Min. Tunnel Length 124mm / 4in
(TL) Recommended Tunnel Length 152mm / 5in
(T min./max) Tunnel Wall Thickness 5mm / 7mm
(CT) Cable Terminal M8
Installation & Integration Capability (Bow / Tunnel) Yes / Yes
Typical class / size Motor boat, Sail boat / 8-11m / 26-36ft
Net Weight 15kg / 33lbs
Are Lithium-ion (Li-ion), LiFePO4 or Lithium batteries a good solution for thruster battery banks?

Not necessarily. These systems typically come with a Battery Management System (BMS) that will disconnect the thruster in case of any issue with the battery (for instance, if the thruster draws more current than the BMS allows). Just imagine a sudden cut-out in the middle of a maneuver without any pre-warning.

At Sleipner, we recommend a solution with a simple, separate battery and without a disconnect BMS system (such as the lead acid bank frequently used for starting or similar). The helmsman will then be warned when the battery is getting low and feel that the thrusters are gradually losing power, which is significantly better than losing your thrusters without any pre-warning.

Disclaimer: Ensure battery/energy source is installed according to CE/ISO current rules and regulations and by licensed electricians.

Can I use LiFePO4, Lithium or Lithium-ion batteries for my thrusters?

Yes, you can, but not without taking some precautions. Sleipner produces two product lines of thrusters that will work well with high-capacity batteries and one product line which should be used with caution in combination with LiFePO4, Lithium, Li-ion, or similar batteries, which may be capable of delivering higher voltage under load than traditional batteries (such as lead-acid, AGM, gel or similar).

All Sleipner proportional thrusters will work well with Li-ion or LiFePO4 batteries, as the included PPC unit will control the output voltage to a safe level for the thruster. Make sure, though, that you actually get a good battery intended for maritime use. NB – make sure you have the latest embedded software installed.

All Sleipner eVision thrusters have built-in functionality to limit the maximum voltage delivered to the thruster. Again, make sure your battery is intended for maritime use.

Traditional DC on/off thrusters may be damaged or have a reduced life expectancy if operated at voltage levels outside their specifications.

Disclaimer: Ensure battery/energy source is installed according to CE/ISO current rules and regulations and by licensed electricians.

Can the thruster cause the BMS (Battery Management System) to disconnect the batteries?

Yes. Most engineers would tell you that it is not ideal for connecting the bow thrusters to a service bank protected by a Battery Management System. Thrusters are heavy consumers, and they may create sudden peaks in current draw, which again may cause the BMS to disconnect the batteries if the thruster draws more current than allowed. If this happens in the middle of a maneuver, you would be left without thrusters and may lose control of the boat.

Hence, Sleipner recommends that the thrusters be connected to a separate battery bank (that is not lithium) without a Battery Management System that can disconnect the batteries (and consequently the thrusters).

Disclaimer: Ensure battery/energy source is installed according to CE/ISO current rules and regulations and by licensed electricians.

What is IPC (Intelligent Power Control)?

This is a unique patented Sleipner safety feature supplied with all standard (on/off) DC electric Sleipner thrusters. The IPC functionality provides two unique features:

1) It will detect “flapping” of the solenoid (typically caused by badly charged batteries that are subject to a huge current draw and voltage drop when the thruster motor is engaged), and will stop trying to run the thruster, preventing excess solenoid contact tip wear and dramatically reducing the risk for a weld-in situation of the solenoid. A ‘weld in’ (run away) situation is when a thruster continues operating without a signal from the operator at the control panel.

2) Even if the solenoid has a weld-in situation, which even with the IPC prevention actions is still possible, as all mechanical switches can weld-in at a point, the unique IPC function will STOP THE THRUSTER, without active action by the operator. This will give the operator time to locate and Select OFF on the thruster system Isolation/Main Switch.

What is the S-link control system?

S-link is a Sleipner CAN BUS based control system with full intelligent communication between all devices within the system, much like a computer network. It is used for all retract thrusters and Pro thrusters with a DC control system.

Main advantages include:

• Round, compact and waterproof plugs with unique keying and color coding to avoid faulty hookups.

• An unlimited number of commands or information transfer on a single cable.

• It has user feedback to panel

• Intelligent troubleshooting

What type of batteries are recommended for thrusters?

Sleipner recommends that the thrusters are connected to a battery bank that is not protected by a Battery Management System (BMS). Typically this means lead-acid, AGM, gel, or similar kinds of batteries. This is important because thrusters draw a lot of currents quickly, and the high amp draw may lead the BMS system to think that there is an issue with the system and consequently disconnect the batteries from the circuit, in which case you would lose maneuverability.

If you have Lithium batteries powering your thrusters, the best advice we can give you is to check the actual voltage measured on the thrusters during operation. Sleipner thrusters are designed to operate within a specific voltage range, and as long as you are within these boundaries, it doesn’t matter for the thruster if the current is delivered by this or that battery pack.

It may also be a very good idea to check the actual current drawn from the battery during full power at the thruster to see that you are not at the limit for the BMS to avoid sudden loss of maneuverability if the BMS disconnects the battery.

With installations where the battery pack is far from the thruster, the higher voltage delivered by LiFePO4 or similar batteries might not be a problem as you will experience a voltage drop through the long cables.

Always make sure you measure your voltage on the thruster to avoid the risk of early thruster wear.

As battery technology is changing rapidly, we always recommend consulting a professional battery supplier.

Disclaimer: Ensure battery/energy source is installed according to CE/ISO current rules and regulations and by licensed electricians.

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