About Us
Graeme Polley designed and built the ZM4 smart alternator regulator for his marine application in 2004. Over 400 ZM4 units have been produced since.
In August 2019 the ZM5 had gone into production with improvements in design, we now have 200 in the market. A total of 17 years’ service of our smart regulator range.
We have continued to add value to the product with the release of the ZM6 unit
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My professional background is in aircraft engineering, but boating has always been a passion. After facing persistent battery charging issues on my own launch — and replacing one too many failed batteries — I began investigating the cause. A local battery manufacturer in New Zealand pointed me toward a key issue: the widespread use of automotive alternators in marine vessels. These alternators aren’t designed for the heavy loads typical of boats, such as anchor winches, bow thrusters, or large house batteries running overnight. Surprisingly, this seems to be a well-kept secret, as car-style alternators are still commonly used in boats. That led me to explore ‘smart’ voltage regulators — the proper solution — but I found them prohibitively expensive. So, with some Kiwi ingenuity, my scientist son and I decided to build our own. We designed and built a unit for personal use, and it worked flawlessly. Soon, friends with boats heard about it, and I began making small batches for them. What started as a personal project became a rewarding hobby — one that lets me meet people from all walks of life, learn about their setups, and help solve their battery problems. The Smart Alternator Regulator has performed reliably in my own launch since 2004. I’ve since sold the boat and now travel in a motorhome. Today, I work with electronic mentors and consultants to refine the design. I also run Aero Consult, an aviation business specializing in accident investigations, valuations, and pre-purchase inspections for aircraft and helicopters.
Graeme Polley |
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