Smartcraft Gauges and Engine Data to my Garmin GPS?

[JBRoberts]

Hello all

I have purchased a new Garmin XS 942 for my boat. I would like to send the engine data to the GPS using a NEMA 2000 network. However, I would like to keep the Smartcraft gauges displaying data also as a backup. Since there is only one engine data harness from the engine - currently used by Smartcraft - I was going to buy a Mercruise NEMA 2000 gateway but how do I connect to engine data if the Smartcraft gauges are using the engine data plug ?

Tks for your help

 

[Chicago_48]

Do you have or can you find a SmartCraft Junction Box on your boat? From my experience are usually behind the helm panel.

My 48DA has a 6-port model with an open/empty port I was able to use for this mod. I know there are also 4-port models available.

Word of caution... Do some research on the SC gateway. It seems to have some flaws and/or nuances, i.e. it will send sensor data to the NMEA 2000 network (and inherently your displays) for sensors that don't even exist on the SC network. I just installed one of these gateways and it looks like I might have to remove it. My boat is out of the water for winter storage but I can already see the gateway conflicting with the rest of the system by way of depth and water temp readings going missing and/or being inaccurate now.

I'm currently investigating other third party gateways that are more programmable and/or upgradable (the SC version is neither) but if anyone else here has experience/guidance on how to best leverage the SC gateway I'm all ears.

 

[beeracuda1]

Like Chicago says, you need an empty port on your SC junction box. Remove the termination plug, and plug the SC gateway in. The gateway has 2 lights, power and NMEA. They should both stay green.

I'm somewhat new but have much boating experience. I'm also a Marine Electronics Techy, so I've installed 3 SC NMEA 2000 Gateways in my boats over the past few years, 2 were a success, 1 was a failure.

Observations - Despite what the manuals say, the SC gateway only successfully transmits a handful of useful information to your chartplotter. I'll use my best success story, my Boston Whaler 180 Dauntless, it has a 135 Mercury Optimax with SC gauges, the SC gateway was a breeze to install with an existing empty port on the SC junction box for the gauges. I have the Garmin 741xs with NMEA 2000 backbone linked to the SC gateway and my Fusion Stereo.

The SC Gateway info only appears on the Garmin in a separate area called 'information' I believe. It doesn't integrate into any of the chart screens with data boxes, so you can either have your chart up, or SC data, but not both. Annoying but the nice part is that the info screen shows you all the basic diagnostics, like eng temp, RPM's etc. But it won't show depth or SOG even if your smartcraft gauges show it. I can raise and lower the volume of the fusion and change songs, also see what song is playing on my Garmin, that part is pretty cool, but once again, once the fusion is up, no chart!

My failure was on my 2004 300DA, I was out of ports on the junction box since the boat has like 5 SC gauges on the dash, so I got a second box with a SC cable to interconnect them. I moved the gauges to the new 2nd box, they still worked fine, so I knew it was all good, but the SC gateway would not display data on the Ray Marine A75 onboard. After hours on the phone with RayMarine and Mercury finger pointing at each other, I just gave up, I still suspect the Raymarine as the culprit on that one.

I can tell you that if you have the SC Vessel View, like I did in my 410SB, one of the engines is the master, you can tell because when you turn the ignition on and the vessel view comes on, that's the master, mine was the port. The port engine had a special 6 inch SC cable that was like a crossover cable on a network, so it knew it was the master. if you have a similar setup, be careful moving SC cables around, as you can really mess things up. I learned that the hard way.

Hope this helps and good luck.

 

[Mittens]

I am looking at the Gateway for a 2002 340. will be installing a Lowrance/ maybe another brand gps.

not sure yet if the boat has open ports/ it ran to the helm in 2002?

what all does the gateway allow? can I check engine alarms from it? or just info? if i can check alarms can i clear them?