NMEA 2000 - N2K

rossjo · Post by **rossjo** » Wed Apr 06, 2011 1:32 pm

My gauges are old and my exciter tachs (diesles have no distributor) are always a bit off., so I'm looking at a NMEA2000 network ...

Looks awesome - bring up data on any compliant screen (Garmin GPSMAP would be great).

Anyone else done this yet?

Big D · Post by **Big D** » Wed Apr 06, 2011 9:55 pm

Ross, check this out. It's a good read and may help.

http://madmariner.com/blog/ben_ellison/61468

rossjo · Post by **rossjo** » Wed Apr 06, 2011 10:14 pm

Big D and LandVF36.

Thanks for the help!

This looks like the ticket, and is what LandvF36 is using (PM):

NoLand Engineering RS11: Browsing through the 2010 Gemeco catalog, I stumbled on a product (and manufacturer) I'd never heard of. NoLand is a small Florida outfit that makes a variety of mostly NMEA 0183 splitters and multiplexers. Their new RS11 converts the voltage signals many analog engines use to drive gauges into NMEA 2000 PGNs. The RS11 can be configured for a range of different input types and at $230 is a relative bargain.

LandVF36 · Post by **LandVF36** » Fri Apr 08, 2011 12:10 am

I could not open the link, but I am using a Nolan RS-11 to pickup analog signals from the engine senders and display it on a Lowarance LMS-520c using NEMA 2K technology.
I just found a 2nd LMS-520 on craigslist that I'm picking up tomorrow so I'll have two display at the flybridge helm; one for port and one for starboard. I plan to run depth on one and chart on the other and overlay Tach, Temp, Oil, fuel rate, and Battery. The LMS-520 calculates fuel tank levels based on fuel used so I tank guages on the flybridge, something I never had before.
It will be another 6 weeks before she's back in the water but when I can, I'll take some pictures.
FYI, if you don't have a wireing diagram for you boat, get one from Beacon. Then you can wire the RS-11 in at the screw terminals behind the lower helm vs trying to run wires to the senders on the engine or back of the guages at the lower helm.
Mitch

rossjo · Post by **rossjo** » Fri Apr 08, 2011 9:48 am

Looking into it. I need to convert from an alternator/excitor tach to a tach with a crank mounted magnet as well (diesel) ...

NoLand Engineering RS11:
http://nolandeng.com/rs11.php

Here are the single and dual engine setups:

Look slike it has (2) tachs + 4 analog inputs, so I'd need to buy 2 units for dual engines if I want temp, oil, volt, boost, on each engine) ...

Might need another to add trim, pyrometers, etc.

not sure if I can put 2 or 3 of these on the bus or not?

LandVF36 · Post by **LandVF36** » Sat Apr 09, 2011 9:01 am

Rossjo
I think you can put up to 10 of these on the buss. Below is a screen shot of the setup program. In the "Instance" drop downs, you can select up to 5 devices per port and starboard or 10 of these units. There are pre-sets configs in the software for gasser and diesel single and dual engine setups so it does not take long to wire in, calibrate and get going.

Eventually, I'd like to get a third one for the genny.

Big D · Post by **Big D** » Sat Apr 09, 2011 10:36 am

Ross, like LandV said, you can install multiple units. The network will know what information is coming from what unit by it's instance or address if you will. Each device must be given a unique instance. Different companies use different terms. Merc uses "city". Though there are IMPLIED limits to the number of sensors one can install in a network, there are technically legal ways to get around them. Having said that, I think for our types of vessels, we have nothing to worry about. The bandwidth on N2K is enormous so it can handle a ton of information per second. The only thing I have to add about adding a lot of sensors is that the devices are powered up by the two power supply wires in the backbone. Since most backbones installed are to run a given manufacturer`s devices such as a diplay with sounder, radar, GPS modules etc, the supply wires in the backbone will typically be of minimal gauge. As such, when going beyond a typical nav installation, one must consider how much of a power load will be placed on the existing backbone. Devices should have a LEN (load equivalent number) or a current draw lable on them for this reason. Having foreseen the limitless possibilities and sensors that are starting to be introduced, some network manufacturers are now making backbones with larger gauge power supply wiring to accomodate larger loads.

LandVF36 · Post by **LandVF36** » Tue May 31, 2011 11:30 pm

Finally had time for my digital guage project last weekend. I still have a single RS-11 unit, but was able to get my 2nd display mounted on the dash and have tach, temp, and oil pressure for each engine. I have the port side monitoring the port engine + GPS and the starboard display monitoring the startboard enginer + Sonar. I also have a pair of fuel flow guages, one each side.

I have some calibrating to do on the starboard oil pressure, but its looking pretty good if I don't say so myself.

We were able to get out between rain showers for a 3hr cruise after I got it set up. It was nice to just look forward and key an eye on the "guages" without glancing the the right all the time. I'll give it a few months, and then if all is well, I might turn the old guage cluster into a sandwich tray.

rossjo · Post by **rossjo** » Thu Jun 02, 2011 2:35 pm

Nice - any bigger pix so we can see what you're looking at?

prowlersfish · Post by **prowlersfish** » Thu Jun 02, 2011 6:47 pm

Please no bigger

Big D · Post by **Big D** » Thu Jun 02, 2011 10:32 pm

That's great; nice, clean, uncluttered. I'm jealous. What's the next thing you're going to add in?

rossjo · Post by **rossjo** » Thu Jun 02, 2011 11:27 pm

prowlersfish wrote:Please no bigger

Paul claims to have good eyes (probably all that good, clean living) ... but I would love to see something BIGGER.

LandVF36 · Post by **LandVF36** » Thu Jun 02, 2011 11:56 pm

I'll take a better picture this weekend.
Right now I have the following on the displays:
Port Side:
Ground Speed
Tach
Temp
Oil Pressure
Fuel Rate in GPH
Fuel rate in MPG
Fuel Tank Level (remaing)

Starboard Side:
Port Side:
Depth
Tach
Temp
Oil Pressure
Fuel Rate in GPH
Fuel rate in MPG
Fuel Tank Level (remaing)

What's next? I'd like to add a 2nd engine interface. Today I have one interface being used across both engines. If I had had a seperate engine interface, I would monitor water temp at exhaust and tranny fluid temp.

The next big project though is the fresh water. I am going to relocate the fresh water tanks (one is cracked) to below the aft deck where there used to be 2 50 gal fuel tanks. I'm a little bow heavy, and plan to put two flexible tanks in, 60 gal each back there. I hope the with 800-900 lbs of water at the transom, that should keep the rain water from puddling on the bow.

prowlersfish · Post by **prowlersfish** » Fri Jun 03, 2011 6:49 am

rossjo wrote:
prowlersfish wrote:Please no bigger
Paul claims to have good eyes (probably all that good, clean living) ... but I would love to see something BIGGER.

You can buy reading glasses at the dollar store ( I do )

Over size photos screw up the rest of the postings , go to the right lower corner of your screen and change it from 100% to something larger

I like the displays But I wonder if you will notice If something changes . Is there a alarm setup that goes with this ?

rossjo · Post by **rossjo** » Fri Jun 03, 2011 10:51 am

Have 3.5X readers, bu the photos don't show enough details. I'd love to see more of the screen.

Sorry Paul ... being a blind king doesn't make you the dictator ...

The retired King would like a bigger view!