Smartcraft SC1000 data to display on Garmin 840xs

[GoFastr]

I hope everyone had some time to relax and enjoy the holidays with family. May the New Year be prosperous in both health and boats for you!

Ok, so I purchased the Garmin 840xs along with a mid range chirp transducer GT15M-IH which is the In-Hull glue to the inside hull type. Plus I purchased the Mercury OEM Engine NMEA 2000 Gateway Module Part # 84-8M0105243 so hopefully it will convert the Mercruiser data into NMEA 2000 data which can be displayed on my new Garmin 840xs.

My boat does not have digital gauges but between the Speedometer and Tachometer it does have the OEM SmartCraft SC1000 System Monitor gauge that displays all kinds of engine and sterndrive data and OEM transducer depth info. I want to keep all of this OEM setup working and also display whatever data I can onto the Garmin 840xs screen because it is a lot bigger and easier to see than on the little 2 inch SC1000 gauge.

How does all of this connect to get this to work like I want it?
The Gateway comes with some sort of Tee connector but will there be a junction box behind the helm to connect into the OEM SC1000 gauge in order to feed the data to the Garmin?

I don't want to pull apart everything until I have all of the correct cables and connectors. I would have to order any missing parts as there are no places that sell that stuff here on island.

Thanks for any help and advice from someone who might have done this before with the OEM system too.

 

[roberteb]

Compliments of the season!

You will find more info of 'similar' upgrade I did here: http://www.clubsearay.com/index.php?threads/upgrade-plotter-sonar-nmea2000-smartcraft.78151/

To be sure what you need, maybe better to open your dash and check. But based on some assumptions:
- OEM SC1000
- No NMEA2000 network onboard
- You present SC harness (engine - sc1000) has build-in terminators

Needs:
- Smartcraft Junction box
- Smartcraft cable 84-879979A1 or 84-879979T11 (newer model)
This cable will go from Junction Box to SC1000
- Garmin (or other NMEA2000) Starter kit (or order in as parts)

In short:
- SC Harness to Junction box
- SC cable from Junction box to SC1000
- Gateway SC side on Junction box
- Gateway NMEA2000 side on T-bone
- Connect other 2x T-bone to T-bone (on my pics you see several T-bones linked)
- On both sides terminators
- from T-bone to 12 volt (power supply NMEA 2000 network)
- One NMEA2000 cable from T-Bone to Garmin840
Done!

I hope this will help

/Robert

 

[GoFastr]

Great. Thanks a lot.

Yes I did see your thread when I was searching around for info before posting mine. I thought you had all digital SC gauges and I didn't so it might be different for my install.

I may have to wait and do this after New Year's as I don't want to pull down the interior and panels because we want to use the boat from Friday through Monday. This should give me more time to order the junction box, terminators and cables too.

 

[GoFastr]

Update...after some more helpful research on CSR I have purchased the NMEA 2000 Starter Kit model 124-69 for $60.

The Mercury Gateway $359 will convert the OEM engine data to NMEA 2000 and the Starter Kit comes with additional cables, tee's and terminators to connect to a junction box that allows all of my OEM SC1000 monitor to still work (even if it is only on a 2" display!) and can also then display all of the engine/drive info on a separate Gauges page on the 8" Garmin 840xs screen.

This same research has opened my eyes to another feature I'd like to get which is to replace the aging Clarion stereo with a new Fusion unit that is compatible with NMEA 2000 too. The stereo unit is located down in the head and I have a wired remote by the helm but of course the 2" display is really hard for me to see. The Fusion MS-RA205N stereo can be controlled and displayed on a separate Media page on the Garmin 840xs screen too. Wah-la! Too cool!

Can you tell I'm over 45 and my eyes aren't what they used to be! Small print and low light = old age is hell!

 

[GoFastr]

I can now find fish!