Fuel Flow sensors

Nauti 97

Active Member
Oct 27, 2010
207
Lake Michigan
Boat Info
2000 380 Sundancer
2020 Highfield 340 dinghy with 25 HP Suzuki
Engines
7.4L Horizon engines
I Have twin 7.4 L M.P.I. engines and would like to install a fuel flow sensor.
the questions that I have are.
1. can I hook the Lowrance EP-60R sensor directly to my NMEA plug on My Raymarine Chart plotter?
2. I obviously will need a sensor for each tank. Can I hook them to some sort of a connection and then to my Chart plotter?
3. Will the chart plotter show me the data from both sensors?
4. Will I also need to purchase a seperate Lowrance LMF-200 Multi function display to show me the Fuel flow rate.

All i want to do is add Fuel flow sensors.
is there an easy and cheap way?

Is what I am asking impossible to do?

Thanks in advance
 
I don't know any details about your chart plotter. What model is it? Is it NMEA-2000 compatible?

The EP-60R sensors are NMEA-2000 devices, and require an NMEA-2000 network. That consist of several cables, "T"s and terminators. I believe that Lowrance sells a basic "backbone" starter kit, as does Garmin and other suppliers.

What your chart-potter will show is entirely dependent on it's capabilities. If it's NMEA-2000 compatible, it should be able to show data from a variety of different sensors/sources, but you need to review the manual for specific capabilities. Whether or not you need the LMF-200 depends on what your plotter can show.
 
I am sorry
I did forget to tell what chartplotter I have. It is a C-80 around a 2005 vintage.

Thanks
 
As I recall C-series Classic is not NMEA2K campatable.
 
Also Lowrance has had issues with the EP-60R sensors. I tried them and they had a high fail rate on my 300DB and could never really get them to work right with my Lowrance HDS-7.
 
Last edited:
Good site for you to check out

C80

If I'm not mistaken, don't Raymarine displays need something to convert NMEA2000 to Sea Talk?

Have you considered Floscans. EXTREMELY accurate, you install a sensor in the fuel line and run wires to gauge(s) on the dash. Not a cheap installation - gauge about $500 and sensors are probably close to $500 more.

Floscan
 
Does your GPS have an NMEA 0183 output? If so you can use that also, you dont need NMEA2K if you want MPG.

Do you want JUST GPH or do you want gallons used (resettable) and MPG?

Here's a couple options from Floscan:

http://www.wmjmarine.com/s3fb015u1.html

http://www.wmjmarine.com/s9000-231-21.html

http://www.wmjmarine.com/c10783.html

If you dont care about getting the information to/from your GPS (which is only necessary if you want MPG or distance to empty), then you can get a pretty simple flow gauge like this:

http://www.overtons.com/modperl/product/details.cgi?i=76666 (you'd have to get 2, I'd assume)


If your engines are Smartcraft capable your best bet is probably the Smartcraft Merc Monitor Level 3. You get all the stuff you are looking for, and it'll display engine codes too. Its not cheap, plus all the various cables and adapters you'll need to go from analog to digital, but I've yet to read a negative review for it.

http://www.veradoclubparts.com/Merc_Monitor_Gauge_with_NMEA_2000_p/79-8m0079867.htm


I have researched quite a bit and when I decide to pony up the $$$ I'm going with the MercMonitor. Getting the Eco Monitor & engine codes is a really nice bonus in addition to real-time MPG.
 
Thanks Joe5.0

I just want to track fuel usage. I think I will look into getting a couple of the Faria units.
 

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