Hercules® expansion processor

The Hercules® Expansion processor is an expansion module designed to increase the capabilities of your B&G navigation system. It does not operate independently but connects to a main processor (such as Triton™ Edge™ or Hercules®) to allow connection of a larger number of sensors, including analog or serial sensors that are not NMEA 2000 compatible.

The Hercules® Expansion processor is designed to operate in conjunction with the following B&G navigation processors:

Triton™ Edge™Hercules®Hercules® WTPIt connects to one of these processors via an Ethernet cable to extend their data acquisition capabilities.

The Hercules® Expansion processor provides extended connectivity for various sensors:

9 12-bit analog channels2 bidirectional NMEA 0183 serial ports2 Ethernet ports (100BASE-T) for connection to the main processor2 configurable alarm outputs1 input for Man Overboard (MOB) button

The module is compatible with 12V or 24V DC electrical systems. The accepted power supply voltage range is 9.0 to 31.2 V DC.

No. Although the module has a CAN port physically present, the technical documentation specifies that this port is not used on the Hercules® Expansion. This module is specifically designed to integrate sensors via its analog inputs, pulse inputs, and NMEA 0183 serial ports.

Configuration of inputs, calibration of sensors, and data management are performed via an intuitive web interface. This interface is accessible from a computer, tablet, or smartphone connected to the boat’s Ethernet network, via the main navigation processor to which the Expansion module is connected.

The Hercules® Expansion processor has an IPX6 and IPX7 ingress protection rating. This means it is protected against powerful water jets (IPX6) and temporary immersion in water (IPX7), allowing it to be installed in demanding marine environments.

Once the data has been collected by the Hercules® Expansion and centralized by the main processor, it can be displayed across the entire B&G network, including the following screens:

Triton™ 2 and H5000 displaysNemesis™ screensHV displaysVulcan™ and Zeus® chartplotters

Software updates are installed using a microSD™ card. Download the update file, transfer it to a microSD™ card (maximum size 256 GB, formatted as FAT32), then insert it into the dedicated port on the processor.

The Hercules® Expansion processor is designed to operate within a temperature range of -15 °C to +55 °C (5 °F to 131 °F).

No, the Hercules® Expansion is not a standalone navigation processor. It is an expansion module that must be connected via Ethernet to a primary B&G processor (Triton™ Edge™, Hercules® or Hercules® WTP) to function.

To protect the module's power supply, use a 3 A fuse.

The maximum power consumption of the Hercules® Expansion processor is 19 Watts with a 12/24 V DC supply voltage.

The Hercules® Expansion connects to the main navigation processor (Triton™ Edge™, Hercules®, or WTP) via a standard network cable using one of the two 100BASE-T (RJ45) Ethernet ports available on each device.

These inputs allow you to integrate sensors that do not communicate via NMEA 2000. You can connect, for example:

Load cellsCustom angle sensorsExisting analog instruments (wind, speed, temperature)Pulse-output sensors (paddlewheel speed log)

Yes, the Hercules® Expansion processor includes security features. It has two configurable alarm outputs (for buzzers or lights) and a dedicated input for an "Overboard" (MOB) button, allowing you to trigger an alarm across the entire system in case of an emergency.

The Hercules® Expansion processor weighs 0.70 kg (1.55 lb).

The module is equipped with 2 serial ports compatible with NMEA 0183. The default communication parameters are as follows:

Transfer speed: 38,400 baudData bits: 8Parity: NoneStop bits: 1

The processor has a dedicated input for an MOB push button. Connect the two wires of the button to the MOB send and MOB return terminals on the alarm connector to activate this safety feature.

Yes. The Hercules® Expansion is designed to integrate various sensors. Any sensor with an output compatible with the module's inputs (analog, pulse, or NMEA 0183 serial) can be connected, regardless of brand, and then calibrated via the web interface.