NMEA engine interface

BruceB · 17 July 2008, 20:07

The instructions supplied for these are completely pants
I have the covers off my 2006 DF90 and I am stumped about how it connects.
Looking on the net there seems to lots of contadictory information about what will and will not work with what.
I have analogue gauges and want to keep them, don't want to use the trim function but do want the other info on the network to show up on my plotter.
How the h**l do I get it hooked up at the outboard end and where and with what!

Erin · 17 July 2008, 21:41

Easier said than done as there are two different connectors depending on engine year. Your engine probably has the round diagnostic plug, which probably has a black rubber cap on it. It'll be on the port side just above the black plastic casing which protects the ECU. However, if you have a new style nmea interface, it'll probably have a square connector on the end, in which case you will need an adaptor. If not, it should just plug in fine.

BruceB · 17 July 2008, 21:46

Edited cos I looked stoopid and was talking complete nonsense, or at least more than normal................

BruceB · 17 July 2008, 21:57

Oops, just had one of those "blond moments"

I had the whole outboard casing apart looking for this plug and assumed the drawing showing the comms port was the grey plug. This is the Joint connector which explains the shorting cap!
The rubber covered plug looked like a engine warning buzzer to me so I didn't try and take the cover off or look at it closely as I didn't realise thats what it was.
As soon as you said above the ECU it was just "Do'h!"
I assume I can have the trim analogue gauge working as well as the network version? Its one or the t'other?
Now my credibility destroyed I'm away to sit in the corner..............

Erin · 18 July 2008, 12:49

Don't worry, you have my full sympathy.... the Lowrance instructions are pathetic, and the info on their webite as to what data the unit can show is totally non-existant.

Just to clarify, you can only have one trim display connected. Either the nmea loom or the traditional guage.

BruceB · 18 July 2008, 15:33

That was my understanding of the trim function.
I reckon I will use the analogue gauge I was supplied and installed and it it ever chucks it will replace with an LMF-200 and go onto the network.
I am awaiting a lowrance 4800 to use as a slave repeater off my LCX-27 so it will be fun programming it all, the instructions from Suzuki, Lowrance and generally for NMEA 2000 are almost non-existent!

geoffs · 28 July 2008, 23:41

Hi Bruce, What Lowrance unit are you trying to display the data on? i am a Lowrance dealer, so will be able to assist.

I can also do you a list of bits required and diagram of how to connect it all up if you want.

BruceB · 28 July 2008, 23:48

Hi Geoff,
Its all in and working, despite the Lowrance instructions!
I have an LCX-27 repeating onto a GM 4800 in full gauge mode. Both running interfaced with a Suzuki engine interface.
The user interface for Lowrance isn't nearly as intuitive as Garmin so I still need to learn how to use it all, basic parameter and programming is done, just the actual using to be learnt now and programing in my waypoints.
Once I get used to it I should be fine, I hope

geoffs · 28 July 2008, 23:58

NMEA 2000 is really easy, just looks difficult!

Will make my life easier on the long run!

Let me know if you get stuck.

BruceB · 06 October 2008, 21:35

Quick question on NMEA engine networks and lowrance LMF-400 gauges.
I mind reading somewhere that in the US the Suzuki motors are supplied with network gauges only (rebranded Lowrance) instead of the analogue gauges supplied here.
Does this mean that I can use two LMF-400 gauges and remove the Suzuki supplied gauges entirely, ie all the engine alarm functions etc will work on the network gauges?

kwil · 07 October 2008, 08:59

Quote:

Quick question on NMEA engine networks and lowrance LMF-400 gauges.
I mind reading somewhere that in the US the Suzuki motors are supplied with network gauges only (rebranded Lowrance) instead of the analogue gauges supplied here.
Does this mean that I can use two LMF-400 gauges and remove the Suzuki supplied gauges entirely, ie all the engine alarm functions etc will work on the network gauges?

Hi Bruce

Not sure about Suzi but can tell you that Evinrude will as they also use LMF-400 rebadged as an I-command gauge. But there is a caviate to this in that if the engine is under warranty then if you do this you have invalidated the warranty. The reason is that the firmware in the guages are different and the system check function is missing from the LMF-400, it can be programmed to do a basic engine diagnostic but this is not acceptable to Evinrude if you have a warranty claim. I do know that the Suzi tachometer has a similar system check, so I would check with Suzuki first.

Keith

Erin · 07 October 2008, 18:38

The LMF-400 shows exactly the same data as the standard analogue gauges, so I can't see why you couldn't swap over entirely to digital and interlink a few together. I think I'd keep the main tacho with the warning lights as a backup incase of nmea2000 malfunction though.

BruceB · 07 October 2008, 19:57

I have the main 4" tacho and two 2" gauges fitted at the moment (volt and trim). I may mount two LMF-400's and stick the tacho in the middle, will see what takes my fancy.
I have the whole network up and running including the outboard and two seperate plotters, it seems to work very well.
the reason I am thinking of fitting the gauges is that I am using one plotter in gauge mode to display fuel, speed, depth etc etc and If I split this off onto gauges they will be easier to see and the plotter can be used as a plotter again for the cox with the other as backup and for navigating with by the crew (ie the wife) and later as the AIS display.
The real reason of course is that I like my toys

BruceB · 14 October 2008, 08:23

I am trying to get the white faces for the LMF-400 gauges but nobody seems to have heard of them in this country.
Even navico don't list them but they are available in the US.
Anybody know where I could get a couple in the UK?

kwil · 14 October 2008, 09:06

Quote:

I am trying to get the white faces for the LMF-400 gauges but nobody seems to have heard of them in this country.

Hi Bruce
I have not heard of white faces and cannot see how an lcd could be white except in inverse video mode but different bezels are available via Evinrude and as they are the same guage they should fit. I have attached copy of the relevant page of parts manual.

Keith

BruceB · 15 October 2008, 00:01

It bezels I am after, They are listed in the US but Lowrance (navico) have no idea what I am talking about. Got them to look on a US site and they are trying to chase them down but no luck so far.
Suzi and Rood gauges are the same Lowrance units so this may be an option If I can find someone that both lists and sells them in the UK.
If they are the same as Lowrance kit then there should be a night mode which is reverse video, black screen and white (or really light grey) lettering and numbers.
I found this after playing with the simulator, hadn't came across it in the manual but bearing in mind Lowrance instructions it isn't surprising!

I have two LMF 400's on the way and the holes are cut waiting on them. Should take 15mins to fit and connect once they are here. It would be nice to match them to the existing white faced gauges hence the query.

Erin · 15 October 2008, 09:31

Let me know if you find a UK supplier of the bezels. It'd make mine a lot smarter if it was in white to match the dials as well. Hadn't thought of doing it before, even though I knew you could get different bezels from Brownspoint.

kwil · 15 October 2008, 10:39

Quote:

It bezels I am after, They are listed in the US but Lowrance (navico) have no idea what I am talking about. Got them to look on a US site and they are trying to chase them down but no luck so far.

I had the same problem, wanted the 2" chrome bezel and an EP-85R memory module, parts listed in the states but Navico will not supply here. Only available through Evinrude dealers at twice the price.
I have kept the Evinrude guages of volts, trim, pitot speed and tachometer with digital engine check and added a Lowrance net of engine, LMF 200, Globalmap 8200c and LGC3000 GPS. Still need the bezel and EP 85R, have to see if relatives in the states can get them.

Keith

BruceB · 15 October 2008, 17:25

I have the standard Suzuki tacho with engine check and a 2" voltmeter, trim is moving onto one of the new LMF400 gauges.
My network once they arrive will be LCX-27, LGC 3000, Gmap 4800, Suzuki interface and two LMF 400's.
Eventually I am going to change out the 4800 plotter for a colour version with internal aerial to back up the LGC 3000.
It all seems to work very well once you get past Lowrance instructions, or lack of them!

BruceB · 17 October 2008, 16:52

I called Suzuki UK to check the issue about using the standard analogue Tacho instead of networked gauges as the US does on Suzis as it had been mentioned on here that there was a warranty issue doing so.
The advice I got was that there was no warranty issue going fully NMEA2000 as long as the alarms on the supplied tacho were monitored via the network.
So I ordered two more gauges and am going networked completely via three LMF 400's and a LMF 200.
More toys!

I have them also looking into white bezels for all the gauges, apparently they are available to special order.