Lowrance fuel meter help

[FNQCairns]

I have just got one of those LMF 200 fuel meters.

I would like to use it as a stand alone fuel meter device with out the other stuff it can do for the time being.

This has got me quite lost:-[ The instructions state there is 3 sets of cables from the head unit although there is only 2 in real life, one terminates in one of those special connectors and the other a small bunch of loose wires.

I have some loose T connectors included, do I fit this to the fitted connector from the head unit, connect the transducer into another end of the T (which end?) then run what they included as a power cable (which is loose also) one end will also plug into this T and the other to power?

Do I need any more power cables? They mention somewhere that the NMEA device runs from it own power supply and the head unit also, that is great when there are 3 seperate cables, mine only has two??? the advice included is very confusing with no diagram that copies what I have now or when I am finished.

Any help appreciated

thanks fnq

[frank100]

FNQ,
Sorry can't offer direct help with the Lowrance fuel meter. But do have some electronics / electrical experience so if you can't find expert help give me a call instead ! 40450389.
BTW tanks for the post on the NMEA converter, it's probably what I want if ever I have the dough to install NMEA 2000 which I would love to do.

Frank

[FNQCairns]

Thanks Frank, glad the link might help, think I have worked out whats going on, LowraNCE CHANGED FROM THEIR EARLIER WAY OF WIRING UP THE 2000 TO THE NEW WAY (oops bumped a key) so my fuel transducer doesn't need it's own power source like some of the other stuff does, dunno for sure hope I will do not blow it up, will see.

cheers fnq

[Xtreme]

FNQ,

I have just been through this whole deal but am yet to do the install. Without having the parts in front of me, this is how it SHOULD work...

The Fuel sensor plugs into the botom of the "T"

The 2 other plugs at the top of the tee form part of the backbone to which all other devices are connected via separate tee's. ie - Your Head unit(s), GPS Aerial, fuel meter and any other NMEA 2000 devices all hang off the bottow of these linked tees.

The power supply forms one end of the top branch and you'll need to fit an end of line terminator to the other open end of the backbone.

IF YOU HAVE AN EXISTING NMEA NETWORK, YOU NEED TO REMOVE THE EXISTING POWER SOURCE THAT IS COMING FROM THE HEAD UNIT AS THE NEW POWER SUPPLY CABLE IS NOW THE POWER SOURCE AND YOU CAN ONLY HAVE ONE....

Powering the NMEA network from a separately switched independant power supply will mean you can run your fuel guage without need ing your sounder turned on and if the unit is fitted with GPS, you will have instantaneous lock once you turn the head unit on.

The alternative is to throw away the dedicated power supply cable, keep using the power from the existing head unit and use the 2 end of line terminators to cap the ends of the network.

Hope that helps....If you're still confused, call Navico in Sydney and ask for Lance. He's the guru of all things Lowrance and NMEA 2000.

Steve

[FNQCairns]

Nice!! thanks Steve thats a big help, this was a gift from my wife to stop hearing me complain about my Navman fuel flow, she will be happy now I can stop swearing quietly at the new instructions:)

So relating what you said to my setup here, is they included a transducer that cannot be stand alone powered so the option to run from a GPS etc at the same time is nil (I think), will only run from the head unit, but also included other fittings so that I can also link to it other sensor areas that it is capable of displaying at the same time.

Nowhere in the manual/instructions is something as simple as this explained.

Good stuff thanks, this should be a snap now.

cheers fnq