Planning out installing NMEA 2k

[SkaterRace]

I have a 2019 Blackfin 212CC which while all the electronics mostly have NMEA 2k on them none of them are connected together. I'm looking to change that in the spring so I am starting a proper planning out of it this winter.

Currently in the boat I have a 2x Simrad Go 9 multi-function displays, a Simrad Halo 20 radar, a Simrad RS40 VHF, unknown model Fusion stereo, 2019 Mercury 225XL, 2x Mercury gauges using what appears to me NMEA 0183.

I am looking to add a Mercury Vessel View Link as well as replace both gauges if I can't reuse what is there (I like the look better of the round than the just another screen..

The layout I have so far is

power -> back bone
-> Terminator
-> Cable
-> Multi port
-> Screen 1
-> Screen 2
-> Radar
-> VHF
-> Stereo

-> Cable
-> Vessel View Link
-> Engine
-> ???
-> Guage 1
-> Guage 2
-> Terminator


Does this seem like a sane plan that would work? If not where have I gone wrong?

 

[dingbat]

I have a 2019 Blackfin 212CC which while all the electronics mostly have NMEA 2k on them none of them are connected together. I'm looking to change that in the spring so I am starting a proper planning out of it this winter.

Currently in the boat I have a 2x Simrad Go 9 multi-function displays, a Simrad Halo 20 radar, a Simrad RS40 VHF, unknown model Fusion stereo, 2019 Mercury 225XL, 2x Mercury gauges using what appears to me NMEA 0183.

I am looking to add a Mercury Vessel View Link as well as replace both gauges if I can't reuse what is there (I like the look better of the round than the just another screen..

The layout I have so far is

power -> back bone
-> Terminator
-> Cable
-> Multi port
-> Screen 1
-> Screen 2
-> Radar
-> VHF
-> Stereo

-> Cable
-> Vessel View Link
-> Engine
-> ???
-> Guage 1
-> Guage 2
-> Terminator


Does this seem like a sane plan that would work? If not where have I gone wrong?

What are you trying to do?

Just beware that manufacturers play games with their network communications.

Their proprietary communications (sea Talk, Simnet, etc.) protocols typically support more and faster data transmission than NMEA 2000. I would use the proprietary communications unless you need to communicate with non-native sensors.

Not a Lowrance/Simrad guy, both you should be able to “network” the Simrad units and Peripherals together using the Simrad Ethernet ports and SimNet

I know of no gauges that use serial data (NMEA 0183)

What gauges/manufacturer?
What are they displaying?

 

[alldodge]

While it doesn't matter which direction the multi port or Tee fitting is connected, it does matter that they are all connected in same direction. Don't start it 2 spots and connect in the middle without really paying attention

 

[SkaterRace]

What are you trying to do?

Just beware that manufacturers play games with their network communications.

Their proprietary communications (sea Talk, Simnet, etc.) protocols typically support more and faster data transmission than NMEA 2000. I would use the proprietary communications unless you need to communicate with non-native sensors.

Not a Lowrance/Simrad guy, both you should be able to “network” the Simrad units and Peripherals together using the Simrad Ethernet ports and SimNet

I know of no gauges that use serial data (NMEA 0183)

What gauges/manufacturer?
What are they displaying?

The guages are these series

https://www.mercruiserparts.com/sc1000-sc100-family-glass-len-black-fa?srsltid=AfmBOopazPy7dPlc-WwfUeqdujqH-Y0TTFlu9qzT3c75PZFkElszXb9V

I might be wrong on the NMEA 0183 that was a guess as I knew of nothing else.

My primary reason for NMEA 2k was the Mercury Vessel View Link has NMEA 2k on it and the screens did as well. I know there is an Ethernet looking port between some of them though was hoping to keep a standard protocol to hopefully make adding anything in the future easier.

 

[dingbat]

The guages are these series

https://www.mercruiserparts.com/sc1000-sc100-family-glass-len-black-fa?srsltid=AfmBOopazPy7dPlc-WwfUeqdujqH-Y0TTFlu9qzT3c75PZFkElszXb9V

I might be wrong on the NMEA 0183 that was a guess as I knew of nothing else.

My primary reason for NMEA 2k was the Mercury Vessel View Link has NMEA 2k on it and the screens did as well. I know there is an Ethernet looking port between some of them though was hoping to keep a standard protocol to hopefully make adding anything in the future easier.

Your existing gauges are “Smart Craft” so you currently have two network protocols available for use on the boat.

You have “SimNet” to interface your plotters and radar and you have “Smart craft” to interface with the engine instrumentation.

Not sure what introducing a third party protocol to the mix buys you

As noted earlier, converting “SimNet” to NMEA 2000 may limit data capabilities between the navigation unit. Any Smart Craft module/display will plug and play w/o the need for the vessel view link module.

You only need Vessel View link module to convert CAN to NMEA 2000 if interfacing to third party devices.

 

[SkaterRace]

Your existing gauges are “Smart Craft” so you currently have two network protocols available for use on the boat.

You have “SimNet” to interface your plotters and radar and you have “Smart craft” to interface with the engine instrumentation.

Not sure what introducing a third party protocol to the mix buys you

As noted earlier, converting “SimNet” to NMEA 2000 may limit data capabilities between the navigation unit. Any Smart Craft module/display will plug and play w/o the need for the vessel view link module.

You only need Vessel View link module to convert CAN to NMEA 2000 if interfacing to third party devices.

Ah interesting. I was hoping to use the Link to have my engine data show up on my Simrad displays and also be able to use active trim. The adjusting exhaust for sound would be a cool trick too but not worth paying extra for.

My main goal is the active trim, though, right now I have a bunch of dead/useless spots on my displays and they seem to want to show engine data so was trying to do it all in one rather than adding to an already cluttered console with an active trim pad.

 

[dingbat]

Ah interesting. I was hoping to use the Link to have my engine data show up on my Simrad displays and also be able to use active trim. The adjusting exhaust for sound would be a cool trick too but not worth paying extra for.

My main goal is the active trim, though, right now I have a bunch of dead/useless spots on my displays and they seem to want to show engine data so was trying to do it all in one rather than adding to an already cluttered console with an active trim pad.

Can't see giving up display space on a MFD to display engine data with SmartCraft gauge(s) already in place.

As an automation guy, Active Trim sounds like a nightmare waiting to happen.

 

[SkaterRace]

Can't see giving up display space on a MFD to display engine data with SmartCraft gauge(s) already in place.

As an automation guy, Active Trim sounds like a nightmare waiting to happen.

The MDF already displays the bar on the side just with half the data missing. It is where I get depth and such. Also currently some data for speed and depth in on one, direction is on the other. I'd love to have it all be able to show anything on either display or the smartcraft guages.

The active trim I think has potential to be useful though I work in tech/software so I am not 100% convinced it will be better than I can do 100% of the time. I have heard it is not buggy but never tried it.

 

[alldodge]

Active trim works great if programed correctly. I see the down side as the trim pumps run a bunch so may burn out sooner

 

[SkaterRace]

Active trim works great if programed correctly. I see the down side as the trim pumps run a bunch so may burn out sooner

I never even thought of that part of it. I think that alone makes me give up on the idea of active trim. I've never had a good relationship with trim pumps and rather not stress them more than I have to.

 

[dingbat]

The MDF already displays the bar on the side just with half the data missing. It is where I get depth and such. Also currently some data for speed and depth in on one, direction is on the other.
I'd love to have it all be able to show anything on either display or the smartcraft guages.

No reason you can’t. The data fields should be fully configurable.

I run one display full screen chart plotter and the other full screen sounder. Add things I want to monitor at the same time in the corners of each display.

Created custom displays for fuel flow, water pressure, side scan, etc. accessible through tabs at the bottom of each display

 

[SkaterRace]

No reason you can’t. The data fields should be fully configurable.

I run one display full screen chart plotter and the other full screen sounder. Add things I want to monitor at the same time in the corners of each display.

Created custom displays for fuel flow, water pressure, side scan, etc. accessible through tabs at the bottom of each display

Interesting, for me I have no fuel data on my MFDs, and any data that shows on one will not on the other even if I add an area for it.

I've attached a photo of the back of my MFD (both are the same), I see no ports on connecting anything other than NMEA 2k to share the data.

My ideal case would be the port screen has navigation and radar only and the other has all my information.

 

[Scott Danforth]

do you have a fuel flow meter, or are you relying on the pseudo calculated information from the merc ECM?

 

[dingbat]

Interesting, for me I have no fuel data on my MFDs, and any data that shows on one will not on the other even if I add an area for it.

You can't share data between the units unless the two units are networked.

I installed a GFS-10 fuel monitering system.
Gives me real time fuel flow, digital fuel tank level indication, usage, DTE calculations, etc.
Sounds good, but not as useful as you would think.

I've attached a photo of the back of my MFD (both are the same), I see no ports on connecting anything other than NMEA 2k to share the data.

My ideal case would be the port screen has navigation and radar only and the other has all my information.

Dug up your manual
Looks as if they stripped your unit of the Ethernet capabilities the N-XX series MFDs have

At this point, you have no other option than to install the NMEA 2000 back bone and a Vessel View module if you want engine data on your display(s).

 

[SkaterRace]

do you have a fuel flow meter, or are you relying on the pseudo calculated information from the merc ECM?

I'm not 100% sure but I'd bet on no fuel flow meter as i don't think my boat comes with one stock and I know I have not added one

 

[SkaterRace]

You can't share data between the units unless the two units are networked.

I installed a GFS-10 fuel monitering system.
Gives me real time fuel flow, digital fuel tank level indication, usage, DTE calculations, etc.
Sounds good, but not as useful as you would think.

Dug up your manual
Looks as if they stripped your unit of the Ethernet capabilities the N-XX series MFDs have

At this point, you have no other option than to install the NMEA 2000 back bone and a Vessel View module if you want engine data on your display(s).

That's what I suspected for getting the data there. I'm not sure how useful the data would be exactly as I have made it 2 years without issue. I think it is mostly the tinkering aspect and the idea of it all working together that initially set me down the path of wanting it.

 

[dingbat]

That's what I suspected for getting the data there. I'm not sure how useful the data would be exactly as I have made it 2 years without issue. I think it

Well, I would definitely install a backbone.

Have both mfd networked sharing gps antenna, paddle speed and fuel flow monitoring.

 

[SkaterRace]

Well, I would definitely install a backbone.

Have both mfd networked sharing gps antenna, paddle speed and fuel flow monitoring.

Fair enough give the MFD with a backbone a shot and see if that works well enough I don't care about the little bit of data from the engine.

 

[SkaterRace]

Based on just installing the backbone, is the layout I had in my original post good other than removing the link/engine guages from it?

 

[dingbat]

Based on just installing the backbone, is the layout I had in my original post good other than removing the link/engine guages from it?

NMEA 2000 does not support radar.
Not sure what connecting a stereo to NMEA buys you?

All you really need is a NMEA2000 starter kit and a couple of extra drop cables and tees