How to install a SMARTCRAFT system

[No Promises]

Re: How to install a SMARTCRAFT system

Before I go spend any money - I want to make sure I get the correct harness', gauges etc. I have twin 2009 200HP opti's equipped with the System Monitor Smartcraft gauges - they work independently showing each motors data. What do I need to add other gauges? The harness does not have the system link connector to daisy chain gauges - but I would love to add separate tachometers, speedometer & possibly water pressure gauges. With the current setup I have to scroll thru the information & can only watch one variable at a time. Attached are some pictures.

 

[Rotorfixer]

Re: How to install a SMARTCRAFT system

Before I go spend any money - I want to make sure I get the correct harness', gauges etc. I have twin 2009 200HP opti's equipped with the System Monitor Smartcraft gauges - they work independently showing each motors data. What do I need to add other gauges? The harness does not have the system link connector to daisy chain gauges - but I would love to add separate tachometers, speedometer & possibly water pressure gauges. With the current setup I have to scroll thru the information & can only watch one variable at a time. Attached are some pictures.

Hello,

You have a few options here. most twins have a single harness to the back, I assume you have two. You can keep them separate and have a few options but this one is easiest.

Buy new harnesses from the engine that include the system link connection. ie. 84-879982T20 (for 20 ft)

I'm not sure what cable you have . I assume it has yellow bands on each side of the cable?? You MAY be able to add a junction box at the end of your current harness and get a short cable for the system monitor that has the system link connections and plug that into the junction box. But this is not how it is supposed to be done. You should have a cable with a yellow band (ressistor) at the engine side only, than have a ressistor that plugs into the junction box. I suspect it will work the other way because others may have had some luck.

Normally with twins you connect both engines to a junction box at the back of the boat. The port engine gets its "can bus power plug" removed and the port engine is set to port in the computer (at a dealer only) and the starboard set to starboard. Then one harness runs to the helm and another junction box. your gauges connect to the box and you select in the gauge what engine you would like to display. Hope this helps.

Peter.

 

[wyldbillnj]

Re: How to install a SMARTCRAFT system

Howdy all....new here and reading the posts...or as many as my eyes will allow after working all day now!!!
I have a worldcat...266 with Twin 200 2k4 Optis. They have the older analog gauges on them driven by Non-can bus smartcraft...pre 2k2 I believe. My engines are definitely 2004s and digital smartcraft ready....IE can bus connectors are on the engines and ready to install can bus. Given a list of parts by Mercury support....thinking they want to sell parts. Figuring I need 2 can data harnesses....87981t-20 or 25s. Digital sensor harness....in order to tie the fuel and oil into the digital system, the Non can is a different voltage and can burn out the can sensors if I try to tie them in together. So...part # 859743T03...2 of these...one for each fuel and oil tank. They also said I needed 2 J boxes...AND a Can Link Harness to tie the 2 lines together. Cant I just use a 6x harness instead of a 4x and pitch the can link? Ultimate goal is to attach the Smartcraft Merc Monitor and MNEA 2000 gateway. Also to allow for adding on of newer gauges more easily as analog screens are dying on me. I did find an interesting PDF some time ago with a wiring diagram for smartcraft Part #90-879939...or WiringForSmartcraftGauges.pdf.

 

[chrisso]

Re: How to install a SMARTCRAFT system

We recently repowered our boat with a new Mercruiser 5.0L (Serial #1A621275) and have found the old tacho isn't working properly. With the new engine supporting Smartcraft I'm thinking that I should replace it with a new Smartcraft system tach, but after reading through this thread I have a couple of questions. I understand that I will need a CAN Bus cable to plug into the engine and then run it up to the console and plug it into the new tach. As I will only be connecting the tach, I'm just going to use a CAN Bus with a resistor at both ends to avoid having to use a junction box.

1. Without adding any extra sensors or connectors can the tach show me fuel consumption, as in litres per hour usage?
2. In the attached picture, is the plug with the yellow cap on it the CAN Bus connector on the engine? (It says terminator, so I presume so.)
3. Does it matter what sort / model of system tach I use?

Thanks in advance.

Chris

 

[djsinc]

Re: How to install a SMARTCRAFT system

Hi All

I may be way behind the curve on this one, I unfortunately don't have time to read through all the pages on this thread. I am no expert I just found what may be the Holy Grail to this SmartCraft system delema, but as I said you likely already know about this.

If you go here you can download an impressive 115 page manual all about everything you ever dreamed about concerning the entire SmartCraft system. I don't know who created it, there are no names, but it does look Merc like, and carries a PN similar to Merc PNs.

So please don't shoot the messenger if you all knew about it already.

I don't frequent forums and may never be here again, I was just looking for the same kind of info you were looking for, I found this manual and am sharing my good fortune.

Check out http://www.scribd.com/doc/62157495/Smart-Craft-891965-1-Complete-Guide

V/R
D

 

[Rotorfixer]

Re: How to install a SMARTCRAFT system

We recently repowered our boat with a new Mercruiser 5.0L (Serial #1A621275) and have found the old tacho isn't working properly. With the new engine supporting Smartcraft I'm thinking that I should replace it with a new Smartcraft system tach, but after reading through this thread I have a couple of questions. I understand that I will need a CAN Bus cable to plug into the engine and then run it up to the console and plug it into the new tach. As I will only be connecting the tach, I'm just going to use a CAN Bus with a resistor at both ends to avoid having to use a junction box.

1. Without adding any extra sensors or connectors can the tach show me fuel consumption, as in litres per hour usage?
2. In the attached picture, is the plug with the yellow cap on it the CAN Bus connector on the engine? (It says terminator, so I presume so.)View attachment 119383
3. Does it matter what sort / model of system tach I use?

Thanks in advance.

Chris

Hello,

I'm a bit late I guess and you probably already know. Yes the tach will show consumtion, just not range without a fuel level sensor input. Yes that is the correct connector. As long as the tach is for the "newer" system (2001+?, 2002+??) then it will work (SC1000 system of course). If you are using just the cable and no junction box then you will need one with a terminator resistor in each end of the cable . I would suggect you get a cable with a terminator in the engine side and then buy a 4 place junction box for the helm. You then plug the tach into the box and the terminator resistor you unplugged to install the cable on the engine plugs into the junction box. This way you can add the speedo later. And yes, you will want to.

Roto.

 

[Rotorfixer]

Re: How to install a SMARTCRAFT system

Hi All

I may be way behind the curve on this one, I unfortunately don't have time to read through all the pages on this thread. I am no expert I just found what may be the Holy Grail to this SmartCraft system delema, but as I said you likely already know about this.

If you go here you can download an impressive 115 page manual all about everything you ever dreamed about concerning the entire SmartCraft system. I don't know who created it, there are no names, but it does look Merc like, and carries a PN similar to Merc PNs.

So please don't shoot the messenger if you all knew about it already.

I don't frequent forums and may never be here again, I was just looking for the same kind of info you were looking for, I found this manual and am sharing my good fortune.

Check out http://www.scribd.com/doc/62157495/Smart-Craft-891965-1-Complete-Guide

V/R
D

Amazing find!

 

[Rotorfixer]

Re: How to install a SMARTCRAFT system

Howdy all....new here and reading the posts...or as many as my eyes will allow after working all day now!!!
I have a worldcat...266 with Twin 200 2k4 Optis. They have the older analog gauges on them driven by Non-can bus smartcraft...pre 2k2 I believe. My engines are definitely 2004s and digital smartcraft ready....IE can bus connectors are on the engines and ready to install can bus. Given a list of parts by Mercury support....thinking they want to sell parts. Figuring I need 2 can data harnesses....87981t-20 or 25s. Digital sensor harness....in order to tie the fuel and oil into the digital system, the Non can is a different voltage and can burn out the can sensors if I try to tie them in together. So...part # 859743T03...2 of these...one for each fuel and oil tank. They also said I needed 2 J boxes...AND a Can Link Harness to tie the 2 lines together. Cant I just use a 6x harness instead of a 4x and pitch the can link? Ultimate goal is to attach the Smartcraft Merc Monitor and MNEA 2000 gateway. Also to allow for adding on of newer gauges more easily as analog screens are dying on me. I did find an interesting PDF some time ago with a wiring diagram for smartcraft Part #90-879939...or WiringForSmartcraftGauges.pdf.

Your question confuses me. I will just tell you how I would hook things up and hopefully it makes sense to you. You need two short cables to go from each engine to a junction box at the back of the boat. Then one cable to the helm. That cable plugs into a junction box at the helm. This is where you can attach your tachs/ speddos, whatever you like. The "fuel/ oil/ paddlewheel harness" plugs into a DIFFERENT plug on ONE or EACH of the engines. It then connects to the oil tank and fuel tank on the boat (nothing to do with the main CAN BUS). You will not be able to run any older analog gauges in this configuration. If you replaced your trim sensor then you would also have trim in the smartcraft displays.

Hope this helps ,
Roto.

 

[oahuclay]

Re: How to install a SMARTCRAFT system

Thanks loads for the information rotor, I have recently purchase a small boat with a smartcraft system and although it came with a manual it had no installation info at all, in fact it may not have been installed 100%, I have a little something to go on now, much appreciated.

 

[rsalvarez]

Re: How to install a SMARTCRAFT system

Mr Rotofixer i read some installation guides and i cant figure the solution , i have a 150 optimax without gauges and after evaluate the price of a full gauge set and the mercmonitor, with out read more about the systems and aplication just the chart on the mercmonitor flyer , just after pay for the monitor i start to think, then i need a harness, a junction box, and other harness, i admit it was not a cheap option, mr rotofixer the monitor will work on the 2001? the blue cable with the resistor as on the SC1000 series? ( THIS FROM THE SYSTEM MONITOR INSTALLATION GUIDE) the distance from the console to the motor are 12 feet the motor have the smartcraft logo and the ecm 555 ,so i can use the 84-859743A1 to add oil and gasoline info and the 879981T15 to conect the engine to the junction box as the other gauges ?? can you help me to select the right one would be graeat have the boat wired for the New Years Night Boat trip.
sr i just read all the post in this section VERY USEFULL, THANKS

I am in Baja Ca Mexico

 

[Rotorfixer]

Re: How to install a SMARTCRAFT system

Mr Rotofixer i read some installation guides and i cant figure the solution , i have a 150 optimax without gauges and after evaluate the price of a full gauge set and the mercmonitor, with out read more about the systems and aplication just the chart on the mercmonitor flyer , just after pay for the monitor i start to think, then i need a harness, a junction box, and other harness, i admit it was not a cheap option, mr rotofixer the monitor will work on the 2001? the blue cable with the resistor as on the SC1000 series? ( THIS FROM THE SYSTEM MONITOR INSTALLATION GUIDE) the distance from the console to the motor are 12 feet the motor have the smartcraft logo and the ecm 555 ,so i can use the 84-859743A1 to add oil and gasoline info and the 879981T15 to conect the engine to the junction box as the other gauges ?? can you help me to select the right one would be graeat have the boat wired for the New Years Night Boat trip.
sr i just read all the post in this section VERY USEFULL, THANKS

I am in Baja Ca Mexico

Hello,

If you have the PCM555 then you can use the newest smartcraft parts. You can wire it as you suggested but you can do it easier, but I assume you want the junction box for adding more in the future, which is good. You can also install the monitor with just one cable, but it does not allow you to add the tach and speedo later. Yes, you will unplug the yellow terminator resistor from the engine, and plug in the cable with ONE yellow end (one resistor). then plug that into the junction box at the helm. You will plug the terminator resistor you removed from the engine to one of the unused ports on the junction box.

Sorry this info is late!

I don't have time to look up your part numbers, but you need the "fuel/ oil/ paddle wheel" harness and that will connect to another port on your engine. I'm sure the numbers you have will work.

Roto.

 

[rsalvarez]

Re: How to install a SMARTCRAFT system

Thanks for the help i was able to find the smartcraft rigging manual on the SCRIBD.COM web site and did the installation, many options on the wiring, hard but a great reward i also add an old magellan gps , by an strange reason after order the
8m0050765 i recive the 8m0050764 reflashed, i install it but will search for the nnmea 2000 model. also i extend a 10 ft cable 879981T as i did not found a T-15, that was the worst experience a 60 dlls 10 pin cable with just 5 wires , again thanks for the information and support

 

[chrisso]

Re: How to install a SMARTCRAFT system

Allright. Managed to get it installed no problem. Thanks everyone for all your help here. I only have one issue and that is as I don't have the engine hooked up to the fuel tank sensor it keeps giving me a system warning about this. I managed to turn off all the other sensors (sea temp, speed and so on) but can't work out how to stop it showing an alarm and telling me the fuel tank sensor is not connected.

 

[Rotorfixer]

Re: How to install a SMARTCRAFT system

Allright. Managed to get it installed no problem. Thanks everyone for all your help here. I only have one issue and that is as I don't have the engine hooked up to the fuel tank sensor it keeps giving me a system warning about this. I managed to turn off all the other sensors (sea temp, speed and so on) but can't work out how to stop it showing an alarm and telling me the fuel tank sensor is not connected.

Has to be a setting in the cal 1 OR cal 2 menus.

 

[timdan94]

Re: How to install a SMARTCRAFT system

I have a crestliner superhawk 1700 that has the 14 pin ignition key/choke/horn/harness(non-DTS) part 84-896537a_ It looks like it has the CAN 1 CAN 3 connections already in the harness. Do I need to run different cables or does the one in the boat have the capabilities for the smartcraft gauges? If so what do I need to add the spedo and tach?
Thanks

 

[Jack Kuhlmann]

Re: How to install a SMARTCRAFT system

Am I ever glad I found this site. Like others, I've heard it all from the dealers and from Mercury, too, but nobody can tell me the answer to this question:

On a 2006 Optimax 150 with a yellow terminator plug on the engine, what will be displayed on a MercMonitor W/O NMEA2000 gateway, (part number 8M0050765) when an overheat alarm is recieved? Seems 2007 was the year they went with Gen 1 and the discriptive text, but what will show on the MercMonitor gauge when I have an alarm? Will it just show a thermometer on the screen?

This site is the greatest resource I've found, and I greatly respect any experienced replies I get.

Rotoman Rules!!!

 

[Rotorfixer]

Re: How to install a SMARTCRAFT system

I have a crestliner superhawk 1700 that has the 14 pin ignition key/choke/horn/harness(non-DTS) part 84-896537a_ It looks like it has the CAN 1 CAN 3 connections already in the harness. Do I need to run different cables or does the one in the boat have the capabilities for the smartcraft gauges? If so what do I need to add the spedo and tach?
Thanks

if you have new newer wiring harness (new boat?) between the helm and engine, and you have the connectors at the throttle area then yes you can connect the cables there, that is how it was designed, only recently the boat manufacturers started using these new harnesses. You can compare the connector on the engine with the yellow cap to the one you think you can connect to, if they are the same, you are good to go!

 

[Rotorfixer]

Re: How to install a SMARTCRAFT system

Am I ever glad I found this site. Like others, I've heard it all from the dealers and from Mercury, too, but nobody can tell me the answer to this question:

On a 2006 Optimax 150 with a yellow terminator plug on the engine, what will be displayed on a MercMonitor W/O NMEA2000 gateway, (part number 8M0050765) when an overheat alarm is recieved? Seems 2007 was the year they went with Gen 1 and the discriptive text, but what will show on the MercMonitor gauge when I have an alarm? Will it just show a thermometer on the screen?

This site is the greatest resource I've found, and I greatly respect any experienced replies I get.

Rotoman Rules!!!

Flattery will get you everywhere! Thanks for the props.

I am not aware of any difference between 2006 and 2007. As far as I know they should all display the same information (which depends in engine type not year?). I have descriptive text on my opti 150, but it is a 2007. Sorry I can't help you for sure.

No matter what it will show you what temp your engine is at (or a value for any alarm), not just a picture. Mine also tells the captain what to do (usually return to port immediately, haha)

 

[timdan94]

Re: How to install a SMARTCRAFT system

if you have new newer wiring harness (new boat?) between the helm and engine, and you have the connectors at the throttle area then yes you can connect the cables there, that is how it was designed, only recently the boat manufacturers started using these new harnesses. You can compare the connector on the engine with the yellow cap to the one you think you can connect to, if they are the same, you are good to go!

The boat is a 2011 and the engine is a 2008 115 merc 4stroke efi. I looked under the dash and saw a connector that looked like the one at the engine with the yellow cap but had a blue cap that had 120 ohm written on it.
I'm not sure what gauge I want to add, I really don't want to replace all the gauges but would like to have access to engine hours and basic engine info. Is that even possible with out changing all gauges? From the looks of it I'm going to need a junction box and the gauge?
Where is a good place to purchase what I need?
Thanks

 

[Jack Kuhlmann]

Re: How to install a SMARTCRAFT system

Flattery will get you everywhere! Thanks for the props.

I am not aware of any difference between 2006 and 2007. As far as I know they should all display the same information (which depends in engine type not year?). I have descriptive text on my opti 150, but it is a 2007. Sorry I can't help you for sure.

No matter what it will show you what temp your engine is at (or a value for any alarm), not just a picture. Mine also tells the captain what to do (usually return to port immediately, haha)

Allegedly, Mercury is going to set up a test motor of my vintage and try one of the monitors and let me know definitely what they find. I'll update this post when and if they get back to my local dealer and they get back to me. It seems to me that sales would increase exponentially if dealers...and Mercury...knew what their product would do and how to configure the needed parts to make the system work like it is intended to.

Again, this site is primo.