Suzuki NMEA Engine Interface

[leezor]

Today I installed the Suzuki NMEA 2000 engine interface which I ordered from the US.
The installation was pretty straight forward, though I had to remove the side cover from my DF225 and cut the hydraulic line to my steering to route the NMEA cable. Though that wasn't a problem, the dealer where I got the engine gave some replacement fittings, thanks guys

The interface cable connects directly to the engines ECU (as pictured), there is also a second connector which displays engine trim on the NMEA 2000 network. I decided not to connect this up and use the Suzuki analog gauge for now.
There are no paddle wheels or cutting into fuel lines as Suzuki interface cable gets all info directly from the ECU.

I have all NMEA 2000 info displayed onto my Lowrance Globalmap 3500c, it displays plenty of details such as engine hours, lt/per hour, k/m per litre, fuel remaining, cylinder temp plus heaps more.

Though I havn't water tested the system yet, it did register fuel flow at idle which is something that my previous fuel flow system struggled to do.

Let mw know if anyone needs any further info on this setup.

Cheers,

Lee

[Spaniard_King]

Very impressive Leezor, looks a terrific setup

Garry

[Spaniard_King]

should have asked... what sort of $$ to do that?

cheers

Garry

[leezor]

Hi Garry,

The interface, cables and tee pieces etc cost me $350 which included freight from the US. On top of that you need a device which can display the info, in my case I used the Globalmap 3500c.
Last time I checked the Suzuki NMEA 2000 interface cable was not availiable from Australian distributors, though I imagine we should be able to get them in the next 15 years or so....

[Spaniard_King]

Hi Leezor,

did you get this stuff through suzuki or through Lowrance and do you know if it will interphase with another brand of display.. for eg Furuno

Garry

[leezor]

Garry,

I got the gear from a Suzuki Dealer in the US, the interface cble is a Lowrance product however I called lowrance in Australia with the part numbers and got some blank responses from them.
Anyway, it was easy enough to import the gear I needed. I believe the NMEA 2000 network is available with other manufacturers, however the unit displaying the details must have the appropriate fuel management software included. Lowrance do a couple of multi-function gauges capable of displaying the fuel management / engine info which are quite reasonably priced.

Cheers,
Lee

[whichway]

Hmm

I rang Haines about this a few weeks ago and they told me it was only available on the latest 300 hp motor. Has anybody ever heard of a salesman not understanding their product?

Whichway

[Greg P]

Good stuff Lee

I posted a question about that in Electronics a couple of weeks ago.

http://www.ausfish.com.au/vforum/sho...d.php?t=109189

Seems to be a bit of confusion as to which earlier zuke engines can run it as well.

You can pick up that sensor for about $60 US but those Lowrance NMEA connection are dear.

Cheers

Greg

[leezor]

Hi Greg,
Yeah the bits and pieces all add up, but once you have the backbone of the network setup it is quite economical to add to it. Things will be a lot easier when we can purchase locally.

Whichway, mate got the same response from Haines when I was having a whinge about the crappy Faria Commander gauges that came with my engine, he knew about the SMIS (Suzuki Modular Instrument System, made by Lowrance) setup but as you said they were only available with the new DF300. He was hopeful that the SMIS should be available for other model engines in Australia sometime in 2008.

Lee

[honda900]

To all,

NMEA 2000 is a interface standard that is used by many vendors, so the theory is if you have an NMEA capable device you can add devices onto the network which you will be able to recieve information from.

I have a Lowrance sounder x107cdf and I purchased the nmea network and fitted it to my boat, on this network I can add devices which just plug into the network, the sounder then searches for the devices and asks them what type of information they can provide, ie I have a fuel flow meter, I am then able to select what information I want to see from the device on the sounder screen.

You can buy all the NMEA components here in aus, however the zuk engine module is still not here yet.

Hope it makes it a little clearer as to what the NMEA can do not just the zuke component.


Regards
Honda.

[SnapHead101]

Do you have contact details for the US dealer. I have recently purchased a new cat with twin 175 suzukis and commander gauges which are pieces of cr*p. In the past four months they have had problems three times.
At the time of purchase I couldn't understand why suzuki didn't have gauges they plugged straight into the ECU as do Mercury.
I've already got a Lowrance 7500 GPS so hooking up should be a breeze.

[leezor]

PM sent Snaphead

[diverjohn]

leezor,

Thanks for the pictures and info on the EP20. I'm writing from the US and have been waiting for the EP20 to be released. I've just ordered two (twin engines). I am hoping that my DF200's which I purchased new in 2005 will be compatible. I can't tell from the pictures you posted if the sensor will fit. How difficult was the process of pluging the sensor into the engine? Any thoughts or suggestions?
John

[Pegaso]

Hello
I have ordered a Lowrance LMS-527 with an internal GPS.
I want to connect a Suzuki interface to the Lowrance, can I connect it directly or do I have to make a NMEA 2000 network?

In then instructions manual for the LMS-527 with an EXTERNAL GPS it looks like you can connect the GPS directly to the unit.
Is it possible to connect the Suzuki interface directly instead of the GPS .


quote from the manual:
The LGC-3000 can communicate with your GPS unit either directly
(using the supplied extension cable) or through a NMEA 2000 network.
---


Roar G. from Norway

[leezor]

John, Routing the EP-20 cable on the outboard was quite simple, the hardest part was routing the cable through the transom in my case. Just remember to remove the side panel from your outboard, this gives easy access to the grommets where the cables run through.

Pegaso, You will have to setup the NMEA network using the backbone, tee pieces and terminators etc in order for the gauges to operate. Once you have all these bits it is a breeze to setup. Once the netork is setup, simply plug the GPS antenna into the tee piece and away you go.

Lee