Digital Yacht has announced SafeLi, a small sensor that sits next to your lithium battery bank and shouts if the batteries start to misbehave. It’s being previewed at the Annapolis Sailboat Show (15–18 October 2026), with the formal launch at METS in November.
Why a lithium battery gas detector?
LiFePO4 is the calm member of the lithium family, but it isn’t immune. Digital Yacht points out that bad charging (overcharging, voltage spikes) can make cells vent gas, mostly hydrogen, which is flammable at very low concentrations. In a closed battery locker, one spark from a pump, relay or fan is all it takes.
What SafeLi does
- Two kinds of sensing: gas sensors tuned for hydrogen and other VOCs from a distressed battery, plus a temperature sensor.
- Powered from NMEA 2000, and Digital Yacht says it connects in under two minutes.
- Alerts: a pop-up on compatible NMEA 2000 helm displays, a built-in buzzer, live readings on a phone or tablet over its own wireless link, and it can trigger Digital Yacht’s NMEA 2000 Klaxon.
- Remote alerts via Digital Yacht’s Njord Cloud platform (push notifications and messages).
What we don’t know yet
Digital Yacht’s product image shows part number ZDIGSAFELI, but there is no price, gas thresholds or list of tested MFDs yet. “Compatible NMEA 2000 helm display” covers a lot of ground, so we’d want to see which Raymarine, Garmin, Navico and Furuno displays actually show the pop-up before buying. We’ll update when the METS details land.
Our take
Smoke alarms at home are boring right up until the night they aren’t. Plenty of us have swapped lead for lithium in the last few years, and a dedicated gas sensor in the battery locker makes a lot more sense than hoping the BMS (battery management system) catches everything. Price will decide whether this becomes standard kit.
