What is meant bythe term having a NMEA 2000 Network?

[Pseudomind]

Hello,

I now have a boat with a Yamaha 115 HP outboard. I have located the white NMEA 2000 connection just inside the engine cowling, which is currently not in use. I currently have analog tachometer, speedometer, battery, trim, fuel gauge. I am installing a Garmin 741xs and a West marine 580 VHF radio. The Garmin will also show engine functions as well as fuel flow rate/usage, water PSI, engine overheating. Since I have the capability to use this I would like to do so. I mean just how accurate is a fuel gauge compared to actual flow/usage rate, the same fro water PSI engine overheating, etc.

I currently have no NMEA items of any type installed,

I do not understand just what is meant by having a NMEA 2000 network.

I know the Garmin and VHF will connect to NMEA 2000

So with that being stated, is this what I need to do;

1. Obtain the EP20-37 cable and a NMEA starter kit
2. Run the cable from the engine to a T-connector which has a terminating resistor on one end.
3. Add two additional T's one with a terminator on the end and then connect these T's? One connected to the Garmin 741xs, the other one connected to the 580 VHF radio.
4. Or do I need another two T's to provide power to the Garmin 741xs and 580 VHF radio?

Thanks

 

[SR400DB]

Full disclosure: I know nothing about the Garmin gear.

I just completed installing a NMEA 2000 network yesterday on my boat. The one item I see missing from your list is power. The "backbone" itself should require power in at one location. This is a very simple "plug and play" set up. I have my ais, gyro compass, weather and gps all feeding/running through the network and everything was accessible and visible on my Simrad NSS12 upon connection. So far, very happy.

 

[Pseudomind]

I guess I should have mentioned it, I have two free accessory switches wired up all ready, just nothing currently attached, but I am a bit vague as to just what is meant by a NMEA2000 network. I am aware there is NMEA 183, Sea Talk etc. but since I have no NMEA anything at the moment, just what is a NMEA2000 network?

I am starting to I think? believe I am seeing a picture, that I have to have a handful of components to setup a "Network?" Terminator, a Power "T" with connection to another T which is connected to a device, say the 741xs, then another T for the radio and then another terminator.

 

[SR400DB]

So, it looks to me like your description is accurate of how to set it up. The NMEA 2000 is just a more "advanced" type of sharing data than the older NMEA 0183 protocal. I do not pretend to be an expert on the data strings and how they are shared, but the 2000 network is much simpler and allows easier integration.

As a side note, I still have items shared via NMEA 0183 (older and do not support the newer protocal), but will be looking to upgrade things over time and integrate into my new network. I was basically "forced" to install the NMEA network to get AIS and have my Simrad NSS12 drive my older autopilot. I could have gone with an advanced multiplexer, but the NMEA 2000 gave me the ability to tie in other components in a "plug and play" environment.

Yes, it seems to me that you are seeing the "picture". You should be able to tie your components together via the new "back bone" and then receive the appropriate DSC information and coordinates for your radio etc.

 

[trit21]

The enclosed is a good example of a NMEA 2000 network.

 

[ttmott]

Be careful to believe your Garmin device will read and display the engine data. Technically, you are on the right track from a hardware aspect however the Can Bus NMEA 2000 data streams in which the data packets are called PGN's must be common to both the communicating devices. For example your outboard engine temperature must first be PGN 127489 using field #4 and your Garmin device must also list the same PGN to display it.
First get your engines NMEA PGN's and then understand what the Garmin can read; Garmin, from my experience, isn't very clear on their NMEA 2000 capabilities.
My first experience - http://clubsearay.com/showthread.php/66004-Save-your-transmission-modifications