Digital - Components & Operation

Overview

Regal Boats' digital systems are controlled from Garmin displays placed around the boat. From the displays, you can access various gauges and information, and control on deck equipment. Digital signals are sent from the displays to Empirbus modules via an internal NMEA 2000 communications network..

Components

Empirbus

An Empirbus is a digital distribution module that receives commands from the digital switching system in each plotter and outputs power to connected devices. When you tap an icon in the DSS, a signal flows from the plotter to an Empirbus module that reads the signal then powers the appropriate device. There are three Empirbus modules on your vessel, battery management board and/or in the dash behind the helm shroud.

Note: Layouts may vary.

1 - Power Supply 2 - NMEA 2000 Port

3 - Breaker Control Buttons 4 - Channel Indicator Lights

There are two kinds of Empirbus modules. Empirbus Connect 50 and HPR modules distribute power to everything from actuators to lights to pumps. Refer to the channel list in the back of the manual for specific module control information.

Each channel on the Empirbus has an LED light that indicates if power is flowing to and from the module. If power is flowing, the light will be green. If the breaker for the channel is tripped the light will be red. If there is no power flowing through the channel, the light will be off.

Some channels are always powered; others are powered only once they receive a signal from the DSS

Breakers are reset using the “Breaker Reset” page within the DSS (see “Digital Switching System” pg. 48 of your owners manual)
In the unlikely event that the plotters go down, you can reset the breakers and activate DSS controlled devices on the Empirbus modules themselves. Channel breakers are controlled using the buttons on the front of the module.

First, use the arrow buttons on the left side of the unit to navigate through the channels. When you press the arrow buttons, all the channel lights will turn off except for the selected channel. Use the ‘left’ and ‘right’ arrows to navigate to the desired channel. The lights will turn on and off as you cycle through channels. Stop when the light for the correct channel is illuminated. After accessing the channel, use the "Man On/Man Off” button to turn the channel on or off. To reset the channel’s breaker, press the “Reset/Auto” button. For a channel list for all Empirbus modules, see the technical drawing glossary at the end of the manual.

Garmin WDUv2

The Web Display Unit or WDU is the translator for the digital switching system and is powered by the NMEA 2000 network (see below). When you tap an icon in the DSS, the WDU receives, interprets, and transmits a signal to the Empirbus modules via the NMEA.

NMEA 2000

NMEA 2000 is a communication system between electronic components. The NMEA backbone is the main hub of the system and as electronic components are added wires are attached to the back bone and branch off. The NMEA network sends control commands to applicable electronic devices.

The NMEA backbone is located under the dash and has a breaker on the 12 volt helm panel located under the helm steering controls. If the breaker trips, the breaker button will pop out. Push the button back in until it clicks to reset the breaker.

The NMEA controls certain electronic components that are accessed from the plotters like the digital switching system, the Seakeeper, and radar. The NMEA makes items visible on the plotters and if an icon is missing or a system is no longer accessible from the plotters, there may be an issue with the NMEA network. Have your boat serviced by your dealer if you believe there are issues with the NMEA 2000.

Operation

Garmin Chart Plotters

The onboard Garmin displays or chart plotters are the central control system for your boat. The plotters are touch screens that function like tablets. There are displays set in the helm, the cabin and the rear cockpit. Your displays are powered by the DC battery bank. To turn on your plotters, make sure the DC battery bank is on (see “Battery Activation Panel” pg. 11 of your owners manual). Once the batteries are on, tap the power icon in the lower right hand corner of each display.

From the Garmin plotters, you can access the digital switching system, entertainment control, engine readings, waste and fresh water levels, and GPS tracking data. Digital switching functionality will be limited on the rear cockpit and cabin plotters (see “Digital Switching System” pg. 42 of your owners manual).

To access pages within your helm chart plotters, navigate to the home screen. Some icons may come preloaded on the home screen. Use these icons to access their corresponding pages.

The "Digital Switching" icon will allow you to access the digital switching system.

The “Engine” icon accesses the engine page which includes all the gauges.

Once there you can monitor your speed, RPMs, fuel levels, and engine temperature. In the unlikely event of an engine malfunction, the plotters will issue an alarm that includes a code denoting the specific malfunction. Refer to your manufacturer's manual for a list of specific alarms and their solutions.

The “Chart/Sonar” icon accesses the chart page, a digital version of a traditional chart plotter. From the chart page, you can keep track of your position using GPS and look for underwater obstructions with the
sonar. The chart page is a handy tool in limited visibility.

To access the additional pages, tap the “Layouts” icon at the bottom center of the screen. This will bring up a scrollable row of icons and tap-able words. To scroll through the bottom row, slide your finger from right to left along the screen.

To access pages not preprogrammed to your home screen, tap the word “Vessel” from the horizontal scroll or from the icon on the home screen.

Garmin plotters are customizable. Icons and data can be removed, added, or rearranged to suit your needs. To customize an icon, hold the icon until a drop down menu appears. To remove an icon, tap the remove option in the drop down menu.

To replace the icon, tap the replace option and another drop down menu will appear. This menu includes all of your icon and data display options. Tap an option to replace the current icon or data with the new selection. For more specific Garmin operational instructions, refer to your Garmin owner’s manual included in your welcome packet.

Regal programs and organizes chart plotters based on our years of boating experience, so that you have the most useful information easily accessible. Regal recommends utilizing the Garmin system as it comes delivered from the factory before customizing pages. Customization is best done once you become familiar with your personal needs after embarking a few times.

Digital Switching System

Digital switching is a new way to control all electrical devices on Regal boats. Where there were once rows of physical switches, now there are convenient and minimal touchscreen displays.. Most devices are one touch activation and one touch deactivation unless safety is a concern. 

Note: Layouts may vary.

Turning On

When your boat leaves the Regal factory, the digital switching system– DSS–is set as each display’s launch screen. To access the system, turn on your boat and power up your displays. The DSS should appear automatically. At the helm, there will be a map of your boat shown in the center of the display.

If the DSS does not appear or you would like to navigate there from another page on your display, tap the digital switching icon indicated by the Regal boats logo.

When utilizing the switching system from the helm, you have access to five pages: Helm, Lighting, Fluids, Actuators, and Breaker Reset.

Helm

Note: Layouts may vary.

1 - Active Icon 2 - Inactive Icon 3 - Active Light Locations

4 - Power Supply 5 - Hold to Enable Icon

On the ‘Helm’ page, you can control general on-deck electrical devices. When you tap on a device, on any page, an icon will appear on the boat map showing you where the device is and that it was activated.

Use the ‘Lights’ section to turn exterior lights, including the navigation lights, deck lights, and underwater lights, on and off.

Use ‘Ventilation’ to turn the head fan and the bilge blower fans on and off .

Use ‘Accessories’ to turn the helm fan on and off.

Use ‘Wipers’ to control the cockpit windshield wipers.

From the ‘Windlass’ section you can raise or lower the anchor. Make sure your breaker is on (see ‘Anchor Windlass’ pg. 66 of your owners manual), then hold down the enable button until it lights up. Once lit, you can raise or lower the anchor.

Along the bottom of the screen you will find a horn icon, a battery voltage indicator, a mute icon for the speaker system, a quick wipe windshield option, and a fire suppression system indicator light.

To run the bilge pumps, tap the fore or aft icon.

The voltage indicator will change from green to yellow to red as the boat's systems use power stored in your battery. Keep an eye on voltage levels to avoid running out of power.

The fire suppression indicator light will turn yellow if your automatic fire extinguisher ever malfunctions. If the light turns yellow, have your Regal dealer service the vessel and do not operate again until the fire suppression system is fixed.

Lighting

Note: Layouts may vary.

1 - Brightness Slider 2 - Active Light

3 - Inactive Light 4 - RGBW Slider

From the ‘Lighting’ page, you have greater control of all external and internal lighting.

From the ‘Lights’ section, you can control deck lights, bilge lights, and speaker lights. From the ‘Interior’
section you can control all cabin lights. Some lights use a slider to adjust brightness. Specifics will depend on your model number and any optional packages you may have added.

From the ‘RGBW’ section, you can select color settings and brightness levels for all applicable deck, speaker, and underwater lights. To change a light’s color, use your finger to move the slider left or right. To change a light’s brightness, use your finger to move the slider left to dim or right to brighten.

Fluids

Note: Layouts may vary.

1 - Freshwater Tank Level 2 - Waste Tank Level

3 - Fresh Water Pump 4 - Bilge Pumps

The ‘Fluids’ page displays your fresh water and waste water levels. If your vessel comes equipped with optional overboard discharge for your waste management device, you can run the pump from the digital switching system by holding down the ‘Macerator’ icon, however, dumping untreated waste into any inland bodies of water is illegal. Refer to ‘Overboard Discharge’ pg. 66 before operating your discharge pump.

Tap the ‘Fresh Water Pump’ icon to run your freshwater pump. If your freshwater tank is empty, the pump will not run.

If you believe the sensors are not reading correctly and there is water in the tank, you can override the system by holding the icon for three seconds. Do not override unless you are certain there is water in the tank; running your pump dry could cause damage.

From this page you can also control your baitwell light, and your fishbox drain. Tapping the fishbox icon will activate the fishbox drain.

Note: Some items are optional and may not be included in your vessel.

Actuators

Note: Layouts may vary

From the ‘Actuators’ page, you can control all electric actuators on your boat. These actuators are used to open and close some doors and hatches and access some auxiliary equipment.

From the right side of the page, you can raise or lower the cockpit TV and extend or retract the power shade.

On the left side, you can raise or lower applicable on-deck seating, open and close the cabin door, and open and close the engine hatch. While most switches in the digital switching system are one-tap-open and one-tap-close, the engine compartment icon must be held to close for safety.

When running actuator equipment from the digital switching system, make sure there is no blockage and none of your passengers are in the equipment’s path. Actuators will reverse course when presented with
resistance, but always practice safe and common sense boating to avoid malfunction or injury.

Do not sit, stand on, or try to impede actuator equipment. Doing so can cause damage to the actuator or trip a digital breaker (see below).

Actuators will wear down over time. Have your actuators serviced by your dealer periodically.

Breaker Reset

The ‘Breaker Reset’ page will display any tripped breakers in the system. All breakers in the digital switching system are digital and can be reset by tapping the breaker when it appears on the ‘Breaker Reset’ page. You will receive a notification if a breaker trips.

Breakers trip when more power is sent through the breaker than the breaker can handle. Digital breakers can be easier to trip than physical breakers. Impeding the motion of an actuator is one way to trip a breaker.

Functionality

Some displays have limited functionality. Displays in the cabin, and cockpit only control devices in their immediate vicinity.

The helm is the only display that can control all devices and the only display with an overhead boat map. Display options can vary.

Should you ever need to reset your digital switching system, turn your boat on and off and the display will reset.

Troubleshooting

Follow these steps for simple troubleshooting solutions to potential problems.

Screen is dark and won’t come on.
 1. Screen may be asleep. Tap the screen.
 2. Screen may be off. Turn the screen on.
 3. Check wiring and battery connection.
 4. Cycle power by turning vessel on and off.

Screen is frozen.
 1. Cycle power to reset.

Tap an icon, but nothing happens.
 1. Check the digital breaker. Make sure it is not tripped.
 2. Check applicable equipment: ensure light bulbs are new, pumps have power flowing to them, and   actuators are working properly.
 3. Cycle power to reset. While digital breakers are more sensitive than physical breakers, if a breaker is   tripped often it may indicate an issue with the circuitry and you should have your vessel serviced by the   dealer.

If problems persist after trouble shooting contact Regal Support.