NMEA & Electronics Crazy

OllieC · Mar 7, 2019

I just pulled the trigger on all of the NMEA items I want to add to the SaraBelle this Spring. Here's the list;

NMEA 2000 Gateway
Ancor NMEA 2000 Starter Kit with dual T
Ancor 2 - 5 Meter Drop Cables
Fusion Marine MS-RA70NSX
Fusion Marine ANT remote
Fell Marine MOB module & Lanyard
...and some other small miscellaneous stuff

So why am I sweating? It's 10 degrees outside.

The plan is to tie the NMEA network into my Garmin unit.

Ollie

401Kation · Mar 7, 2019

I installed a NMEA and added Fusion stereo and remote to my MFD and radar. Everything was plug and play easy. Make sure you have the correct cables and terminators and don't forget that the backbone needs it's own power supply.

bobeast · Mar 7, 2019

Thats a great start. You'll love being able to control the stereo from your MFD. A word of warning however. This stuff is addictive. Pretty soon you'll be looking at an AIS transponder, A rudder position sensor, tank level monitors, etc.

Not....that...I....would....know....

LUnaCY · Mar 8, 2019

I bought my 2002 310DA being clueless about marine electronics.

Apparently its been setup with NMEA, but I need to learn what I have.

The radar works great on the river picking up boats, bridges, and debris.

The VHF is my most proud moment as I believe I found the last replacement cord in the world.

I know the one digital unit gives trim tab position, fuel totalizer, and speed but i use the tachs for rpm.

Honestly Im not sure why this boat is equipped like this on the river. I grew up with paper charts on thbut heres what i get at work.

Sorry I dont have more specifics...

OllieC · Mar 8, 2019

bobeast said:
Thats a great start. You'll love being able to control the stereo from your MFD. A word of warning however. This stuff is addictive. Pretty soon you'll be looking at an AIS transponder, A rudder position sensor, tank level monitors, etc.

Not....that...I....would....know....

Yikes! LOL!

OllieC · Mar 8, 2019

LUnaCY said:
View attachment 66265
I bought my 2002 310DA being clueless about marine electronics.

Apparently its been setup with NMEA, but I need to learn what I have.

The radar works great on the river picking up boats, bridges, and debris.

The VHF is my most proud moment as I believe I found the last replacement cord in the world.

I know the one digital unit gives trim tab position, fuel totalizer, and speed but i use the tachs for rpm.

Honestly Im not sure why this boat is equipped like this on the river. I grew up with paper charts on thbut heres what i get at work.

Sorry I dont have more specifics...

Maybe she was used up in the Great Lakes?

I enjoy tinkering. All Winter I compose a list of items that I want to perform on the boat. Next year will be the less fun stuff. Gimbal bearing replacement along with bellows & gaskets. Also I believe my universal joint is wearing out because I get some grinding every once and awhile.

OllieC · Mar 8, 2019

..and sorry, I wasn't trying to boast or brag about what I'm doing. It's been a lousy Winter and I'm bored as well as anxious about Springtime.

Ollie

OllieC · Mar 8, 2019

401Kation said:
I installed a NMEA and added Fusion stereo and remote to my MFD and radar. Everything was plug and play easy. Make sure you have the correct cables and terminators and don't forget that the backbone needs it's own power supply.

Thanks Doug. It shouldn't matter the length of the drop cable from the Gateway to the backbone, should it? It'll be 15'. I'm bringing everything back to behind the helm.

RollerCoastr · Mar 8, 2019

OllieC said:
Thanks Doug. It shouldn't matter the length of the drop cable from the Gateway to the backbone, should it? It'll be 15'. I'm bringing everything back to behind the helm.

Nope, you'll be fine with 15'.

Keep in mind that you don't have to bring everything back to the helm. If you ever expand the number of NM2K items in your E.R. for example, you may prefer to extend the backbone so one end terminates there instead of running several drops all the way to the dash.

Jaybeaux · Mar 8, 2019

Here's a link to a good Garmin article. It discusses NEMA 2000 network layout, lengths, and voltage drops. I found it helpful.

https://static.garmin.com/pumac/Tech_Ref_for_Garmin_NMEA2k_EN.pdf

Jaybeaux

OllieC · Mar 8, 2019

RollerCoastr said:
Nope, you'll be fine with 15'.

Keep in mind that you don't have to bring everything back to the helm. If you ever expand the number of NM2K items in your E.R. for example, you may prefer to extend the backbone so one end terminates there instead of running several drops all the way to the dash.

I suppose if I add anything in the E.R. I could 'T' off in there. Makes sense.

RollerCoastr · Mar 8, 2019

Yep. NMEA2000 has no shortage of rules to follow, but there are also nearly endless ways to design/configure your network.

flyboycj84 · Mar 8, 2019

I just put a Fell MOB on my Meridian for myself, wife and dogs. Tested well.....hope to never need it!

OllieC · Mar 10, 2019

flyboycj84 said:
I just put a Fell MOB on my Meridian for myself, wife and dogs. Tested well.....hope to never need it!

Sometimes I troll fish alone on Lake Superior. I've had a couple times where I have slipped on the deck while either brining in a catch or just making adjustments. Although its during the Summer, and I'm usually not to far out, I'd hate to be alone floating while my boat slowly pilots itself to Canada.

Fly'n Family · Mar 25, 2019

Is there a N2k oil psi set-up for a Garmin plotter?

RollerCoastr · Mar 25, 2019

Fly'n Family said:
Is there a N2k oil psi set-up for a Garmin plotter?

Yep, just about everything you can think of. They're also making the data more user-configurable all the time, providing choices of where and how data is displayed.

Fly'n Family · Mar 25, 2019

RollerCoastr said:
Yep, just about everything you can think of. They're also making the data more user-configurable all the time, providing choices of where and how data is displayed.

I've been looking, and can't find anything. My oil psi is driven by individual sending units / sensors - and is not part of the ECM supplied information. I have the Fox Marine gateways, and when I inquired about oil psi - he said "the MEFI ECMs don’t quite have a standard for the oil pressure and fuel pressure sensors so we were not able to include them with our data stream output."

So I'm hoping to find some sort of a plug n play unit that I can tie into my N2k backbone for display. Given how inaccurate all the dummy gauges have proven to be, I'd feel a lot better knowing I was working with accurate info versus ballpark info.

RollerCoastr · Mar 25, 2019

Ah - I was referring to a Garmin displaying it. Getting the data to it is another matter.

OllieC · May 12, 2019

Happy Mother's Day!

I've installed everything through the NMEA network to my Garmin chart plotter. The Fusion controls on the chart plotter are cool. I also added an NSX300 remote & tied into the NMEA network. I mention this because the NMEA network is correctly installed.

My question is in regards to the Smartcraft Gateway. When I turn the ignition on ( not firing the engine) and my analog gauges activate (fuel, batt), why do I not see that on the chart plotter? Does the engine have to be running for the Smartcraft Gateway to work?

Thanks,
Ollie

NMEA & Electronics Crazy

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Another blow boater gone to the dark side...

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