How to install a SMARTCRAFT system

[Rotorfixer]

Re: How to install a SMARTCRAFT system

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

Hello,

If you look at page 2 I show an email from merc that shows how to connect your harness...

Best idea is to get a 4 way junction box (plug the blue terminator in to one of the ports on the box??) then either:

1. buy a short no ressistor cable (with link gauge connection) and a system monitor (cheapest option)
2. Buy a short no ressistor cable (with link gauge connection) and a mercmonitor (I like these!)
3. buy the tach only and I believe a special cable to run tach only....
4. buy a tach and speedo kit, and it will have the harness to go to the junction box.

Be prepared to have to switch your trim sensor to digital and you will likely want to remove your analog fuel gauge and get the fuel/ oil/ paddlewheel harness to connect your existing sensor to the engine, thus unlocking several functions of the system, like range, economy, fuel to waypoint (if you have your gps connected) etc.

EDIT: Ebay is a great place to buy!!

 

[Rotorfixer]

Re: How to install a SMARTCRAFT system

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.

Hello,

I am not sure I would get caught up in the jargon.... it will do whatever it can do. You will have at minimum the basic functions, it will display all of the parameters it is supposed to (temps, pressures, alarms etc). I would just go for it, I can't imagine mercury getting back to you with this any time soon!

 

[Jack Kuhlmann]

Re: How to install a SMARTCRAFT system

Hello,

I am not sure I would get caught up in the jargon.... it will do whatever it can do. You will have at minimum the basic functions, it will display all of the parameters it is supposed to (temps, pressures, alarms etc). I would just go for it, I can't imagine mercury getting back to you with this any time soon!

Miracle of miracles, I got not only a call but an email with a picture! Quite impressive from what I've been getting. I'll try to attach the picture of the way the Sorry it's turned sideways, but I'm no rocket surgeon...

It'll do what I want, so I'm looking to order it and a 879982T20 cable so I'll have a clue what is up when the Merc sounds a horn and cuts back the throttle. Wish me luck, and thanks again!

JDK

 

[timdan94]

Re: How to install a SMARTCRAFT system

Hello,

If you look at page 2 I show an email from merc that shows how to connect your harness...

Best idea is to get a 4 way junction box (plug the blue terminator in to one of the ports on the box??) then either:

1. buy a short no ressistor cable (with link gauge connection) and a system monitor (cheapest option)
2. Buy a short no ressistor cable (with link gauge connection) and a mercmonitor (I like these!)
3. buy the tach only and I believe a special cable to run tach only....
4. buy a tach and speedo kit, and it will have the harness to go to the junction box.

Be prepared to have to switch your trim sensor to digital and you will likely want to remove your analog fuel gauge and get the fuel/ oil/ paddlewheel harness to connect your existing sensor to the engine, thus unlocking several functions of the system, like range, economy, fuel to waypoint (if you have your gps connected) etc.

EDIT: Ebay is a great place to buy!!

thank you very much for the help. now I just have to figure out what I want and order the parts

 

[stalker14]

Re: How to install a SMARTCRAFT system

Hi guys I posted this thread before I did a search and found this thread.
http://forums.iboats.com/showthread.php?t=529160

I too tried the dealer, what a joke the guy said my motor was not smart craft compatible, if it was the boat would have come with the gages.

I am okay with the analog tach gage but if it is better or cheaper to go that route then that is what I will do otherwise I am interested in the info gage. If I could get a list of all the part numbers I need that would be great.

Thanks, Steve

 

[Jack Kuhlmann]

Re: How to install a SMARTCRAFT system

Hello,

I am not sure I would get caught up in the jargon.... it will do whatever it can do. You will have at minimum the basic functions, it will display all of the parameters it is supposed to (temps, pressures, alarms etc). I would just go for it, I can't imagine mercury getting back to you with this any time soon!

Well, as Paul Harvey used to say, "The rest of the story...".

Installed the gauge after running the wire to the starboard side of the engine and reinstalling the plug on the end. They make it very easy to get the plug apart and back together, so I was lucky. Connected a handheld GPS to the NMEA 0183 leads and we were off and running. The MercMonitor does a fantastic job of relaying fuel usage, temps, RPM, etc, etc...and trim (even though I did not purchase the trim/fuel/paddle harness. Not sure how, but I'm not going to ask, either. All I know is it comes up with an optimization screen and tells me to trim up to get the best economy, and when I do, it is happy and gives me an Optimized label. I really like this gauge.

The only part that I got caught with my pants down on is the need for a male/male connector to go from the gauge harness to the CAN bus harness. I didn't install a junction box and assumed that the CAN cable would plug directly into the gauge harness. Not an issue since a local dealer had one in stock for under $20. The complete install involved:
8M0050765 MercMonitor gauge, non NMEA2000
879982T20 cable for CAN network to engine
892452T01 gender adapter harness

I would strongly endorse this product and the excellent help I got from this group. Mercury and the Merc dealers I asked about the product?...not so much.

Thanks again, Rotorman

JDK

 

[journryman]

Re: How to install a SMARTCRAFT system

here's a question? hopefully someone can answer. i have twin 250xs mercs going on a catamaran and i have a smart veiw 5000 and link guages and a gps speedo, now i bought the motors and all cables as in one for each motor and trim and fuel,paddle wheel,etc. but the main cables were going to the tachs and speedo,where as i need them to goto vessel veiw than to link guages,can i use the cables i have? or do i need new ones to incorperate my set up? they are 2004 mercs. and for my set up i need,2 for fuel,2 for oil tanks,trim pumps,no water temp or paddle wheels. my cables do have part numbers on them but thats does me no good without some sorta schematic. any help would be welcomed as i'm trying to save costs and build as much of this boat as possible.

 

[Rotorfixer]

Re: How to install a SMARTCRAFT system

Hi guys I posted this thread before I did a search and found this thread.
http://forums.iboats.com/showthread.php?t=529160

I too tried the dealer, what a joke the guy said my motor was not smart craft compatible, if it was the boat would have come with the gages.

I am okay with the analog tach gage but if it is better or cheaper to go that route then that is what I will do otherwise I am interested in the info gage. If I could get a list of all the part numbers I need that would be great.

Thanks, Steve

Hi Steve,

You seem to have got the answer you needed in the other thread, could not have given you better info than post # 4...... ? use those p/n's and talk to a good merc dealer and if they have been superseded they will tell you what the latest greatest is.

 

[Rotorfixer]

Re: How to install a SMARTCRAFT system

Well, as Paul Harvey used to say, "The rest of the story...".

....and trim (even though I did not purchase the trim/fuel/paddle harness. Not sure how, but I'm not going to ask, either. All I know is it comes up with an optimization screen and tells me to trim up to get the best economy, and when I do, it is happy and gives me an Optimized label. I really like this gauge.

Thanks again, Rotorman

JDK

Haha, well I am glad it worked for you, sometimes you just have to take a blind leap. That's what I did!

Now, I have to tell you even though you say you are not asking... about the trim.... the harness you didn't get is the "fuel/ OIL/ paddle wheel" harness. Nothing to do with trim, trim is linked through the main harness!

Roto.

 

[Jack Kuhlmann]

Re: How to install a SMARTCRAFT system

Thanks, Rotorman! I've read and re-read these posts so many times I'm beginning to show my age. Your thread still remains the single best information source for the Smartcraft system available.

I just hooked up a VHF with DSC and interfaced the GPS leads that I had connected to the Smartcraft gauge and everyone seems to be talking to everyone else just fine. Now if I could interface a fishfinder with "Autolocate" on it, I'd be shatting in tall cotton...

Squid

 

[rsalvarez]

Re: How to install a SMARTCRAFT system

Hi, again i need help, i install the tach and speed to the ignition switch harness, they work fine with the engine and now the monitor gauge ver 4.0 did not work a message about lost engine com and the stb engine not detected or no stb engine detected message apear, and worsk
ENGINE UNKNOW.
did some one have info,i read the manual and dont sure if the monitor will work on my 2001 optimax ( 2.5 My 01 ) in junction with the gauges??? i am lost at this point the DDT DETECT AND WORK FINE, so lost engine com after a few seconds???

 

[Timestep]

Re: How to install a SMARTCRAFT system

In my limited experience "lost engine com" appears after an initial unsuccessful communication, and not that it had it and lost it. I have a faulty speedometer that does this, the tachometer works fine. So I would suggest the instrument is faulty or it does not support your engine?

Regards

Dave

 

[rsalvarez]

Re: How to install a SMARTCRAFT system

In my limited experience "lost engine com" appears after an initial unsuccessful communication, and not that it had it and lost it. I have a faulty speedometer that does this, the tachometer works fine. So I would suggest the instrument is faulty or it does not support your engine?

Regards

Dave

I am not sure now, i connect the normal speed and tach to the ignition switch harness and both instruments works good, then add the ecogauge version 4. 1 reflashed to the engine connector with resistor and junction box, i am not really know if this happend the first time that i start the engine but after check this 2 messages appear, the lost engine com alarm after a few seconds and when i enter to the setings screen the engine appear as unkow. will try to record a video and post the link, the ecomonitor was a 300 dlls investment that maybe will not work on a 2001??? then may be i can buy a newer ecu??? or send it to somewere to reflach or i can buy the prom?? i am a mercury user since the mark 58 and now noone on mercury knows about it is the problem with all the new company?s the workers are just workers not users and loyalti to the brand. and the service support are call centers with some on looking on google ( no really but make me feel in that way) when i call

 

[Timestep]

Re: How to install a SMARTCRAFT system

Did you buy it from a Mercury dealer?

Dave

 

[Rotorfixer]

Re: How to install a SMARTCRAFT system

Hi, again i need help, i install the tach and speed to the ignition switch harness, they work fine with the engine and now the monitor gauge ver 4.0 did not work a message about lost engine com and the stb engine not detected or no stb engine detected message apear, and worsk
ENGINE UNKNOW.
did some one have info,i read the manual and dont sure if the monitor will work on my 2001 optimax ( 2.5 My 01 ) in junction with the gauges??? i am lost at this point the DDT DETECT AND WORK FINE, so lost engine com after a few seconds???

I assume you have a single engine? The engine needs to be programmed at a dealer with a DDT to be the "Starboard engine". I would look at that first.

 

[Rotorfixer]

Re: How to install a SMARTCRAFT system

I am not sure now, i connect the normal speed and tach to the ignition switch harness and both instruments works good, then add the ecogauge version 4. 1 reflashed to the engine connector with resistor and junction box, i am not really know if this happend the first time that i start the engine but after check this 2 messages appear, the lost engine com alarm after a few seconds and when i enter to the setings screen the engine appear as unkow. will try to record a video and post the link, the ecomonitor was a 300 dlls investment that maybe will not work on a 2001??? then may be i can buy a newer ecu??? or send it to somewere to reflach or i can buy the prom?? i am a mercury user since the mark 58 and now noone on mercury knows about it is the problem with all the new company?s the workers are just workers not users and loyalti to the brand. and the service support are call centers with some on looking on google ( no really but make me feel in that way) when i call

Hold the bus!!! You have the one set of gauges connected at the connector that comes off the throttle and then you tried to connect one at the engine connector???? That would most likely be the problem. You need to have them all on the same "can bus trunk". You would want to connect a junction box to the connector at the throttle and plau all (3?) gauges into that junction box. I will check on the compatablility with 2001, I am not sure it is.

 

[fshon]

Re: How to install a SMARTCRAFT system

great thread, kudos to Rotorfixer!!

I've been searching for answers for weeks, printing diagrams, writing down part numbers, reading post and starting over again. My goal is to use the smartcraft feature on my Navman 6600 combo unit. I know it's old but it would be the cheapest way gain motor information including troll control. I have 2 2005 150 opti's and finally yesterday I found a harness on the engine that has a PN of 84-859244A2 and says "smartcraft". It only has 6 pins though. Is this the plug to plug in PN-879981T25?

Thanks,
David

 

[sasax]

Re: How to install a SMARTCRAFT system

Hello,this is my first message,i live in italy,so sorry for my bad english.
My first question is:
I have a boat with mercruiser mag 350 smartcraft,but i have all instruments analog,if i understand,for install the system monitor,i must buy harness smartcraft(blu cable) and connect one terminal to the engine and the other directly to system monitor,and no change the analog links.In this way on the system monitor i have all function:fuel ,temperature pressure ecc.. or no??
Second question, if i buy the gauges faria mg2000,then i have to buy a junction box and connect the tach. and the system monitor to it?
Thank you Salvatore

 

[sasax]

Re: How to install a SMARTCRAFT system

After that i read the 3d with more attention, i have understand better the connection smartcraft(i hope ).
But i have some doubt.
If i want connect directly the engine to monitor system,than i can to buy the harness 879982t20,this is blue cable that has two terminator,one final i connect to engine(10 pin and 4 pin)and another to system monitor ...If instead i want use the junction box(for future connections) i must buy the harness that has one resistor(and than use a resistor yellow on the side of the junction box),or i can use the cable with two resistor(879982t20) ??And in this case i must use the yellows terminator on the j.box too,or no??
Another questions:
If i connect a blue cable(with connector to 10 pin and connector to 4 pin),i ended the wiring or i must connect the connect cable(fuel ecc..)
A last question:
Anyone know the code of the harness that connect system monitor to junction box??
Regards Salvatore

 

[henryj]

Re: How to install a SMARTCRAFT system

Firstly, I have learned a great deal through this thread. It has a wealth of information and thanks to all for taking the time and effort, especially the OP.
Secondly, I feel stupid. I upgraded from 99 200 opti's to 05 225 opti's. I wanted to go the smartcraft route so I purchased two SC1000 tachs, a fuel gauge, and two temp gauges. I have run the harnesses for the tachs with the dual resistor ends as I will not be running through junction boxes and I can do without certain functions this method will limit me to. My issue is with the paddle wheel, fuel and oil harness. I called Mercury Service and I was provided with two harnesses I would need. 859743T03 and 898285T01. The latter is an adapter because my motors are 05's and not newer. I am not using the paddle wheel or the oil tank level. I cannot find where to connect the stinkin plug for the fuel. It supposed to be just under the starter but I cannot find it for the life of me. Here are some pics.


It is a four pin square connector. maybe I have the wrong connector. Or maybe as my wife says, I am just stupid.
Either way, any help would be most appreciated.