Engine Data & Instrument Display

[mikew4]

I am looking for a cost effective screen to display engine data.

I have engine data available via NMEA2000 and can view it on my chart plotter.

However I want a 2nd screen dedicated to engine data that can serve as my instrument panel.

Mercury do one, but its very expensive.

I could get another chart plotter, but that seems over kill.

Struggling to find a screen that just shows instrumentation data.

After some options.

Ideas?

Ta !

[JonnyR]

The Simrad IS35 is brilliant for engine data...the bad news is it might not tick your'cost effective' box!

[Pikey Dave]

I've just done something similar on BP. I've gone down the additional plotter route. You can pick up Lowrance HDS7 gen3 up for around £600. A gauge is going to cost around the £300 mark so by applying "Dave's law" the plotter only cost £300 & and you get all the benefits of the plotter.

[RickW]

Is this a twin plotter Dave? Any chance you can post pics of the end result?

[Pikey Dave]

Originally Posted by RickW

Is this a twin plotter Dave? Any chance you can post pics of the end result?

Yup, twin plotters, 9" & 7", I'll get pics later

[Pikey Dave]

Originally Posted by Pikey Dave

Yup, twin plotters, 9" & 7", I'll get pics later

Here you go, not the best photos, but you get the gist.

[RickW]

Thank you for the post

[willk]

Originally Posted by Pikey Dave

Yup, twin plotters, 9" & 7", I'll get pics later

[Pikey Dave]

Originally Posted by willk

Only their mother can tell them apart[emoji1]

[willk]

Originally Posted by Pikey Dave

Only their mother can tell them apart[emoji1]

I have "twins" as well, 9" & 7", bit older though...

[Pikey Dave]

Twins aren’t always identical

[jonp]

Not sure why you don't simply use data overlay on your plotter. I have all the engine data I choose dragged and dropped around the different page layouts I use for different occasions.

I do like to keep my fuel burn, fuel range , engine temp, rpm, volts etc on every page so I can easely see them at a glance but none interfere with charts or sonar. I've never used the engine data page even in any of the split combination configurations, as I can clearly see and choose exactly what data I prefer and at what size I chose those tabs to be.

This is basicly how to ellect data, he doesn't show how simple it is to drag any of that info to any location on the screen, also hitting the +- allows these to be enlarged or reduced. These can also be turned white or highlighted in a box, there are around 10 engine functions in the engine tab that can be dropped around the screen. This can also be done on the older units, only difference is you have to use the arrows to move them intstead of dragging with your finger.

https://m.youtube.com/watch?v=r67ENGSmZvQ

[Pikey Dave]

Originally Posted by jonp

Not sure why you don't simply use data overlay on your plotter. I have all the engine data I choose dragged and dropped around the different page layouts I use for different occasions.



I do like to keep my fuel burn, fuel range , engine temp, rpm, volts etc on every page so I can easely see them at a glance but none interfere with charts or sonar. I've never used the engine data page even in any of the split combination configurations, as I can clearly see and choose exactly what data I prefer and at what size I chose those tabs to be.



This is basicly how to ellect data, he doesn't show how simple it is to drag any of that info to any location on the screen, also hitting the +- allows these to be enlarged or reduced. These can also be turned white or highlighted in a box, there are around 10 engine functions in the engine tab that can be dropped around the screen. This can also be done on the older units, only difference is you have to use the arrows to move them intstead of dragging with your finger.

I do have the data overlay set up on the various pages. The helm plotter usually shows the engine data page & navigation/autopilot. The navigators plotter has chart & sonar. I have depth overlaid on all the pages except the sonar page.

Hint:- when you’ve got everything set up as you like, go into “save settings” & export them to the SD card. That way, if you have a unit crash on you & have to do a factory reset, you can easily get everything back as was. Don’t ask how I know this[emoji849]

[boristhebold]

I think 'cost effective' is probably the issue, I love the look of the Raymarine I70 display that you can customise to show engine data or other data points, but .... at around £600 it's something that feels a tad too pricey.

[Chanchan168]

You can buy a simrad go7 xe from Cactus Marine at the moment for £358.
Has nmea2000 built in and would serve your purpose.