NMEA interface cable

[chris69]

Hi all does anyone know weither the engine interface cable to run nmea needs to be programed?,i sent a email to browns point and ask what i needed to hook up my DF50 to my raymarine and they emailed me a list and said for $40 more they will program the engine interface cable before shipping,ive never heard of this been done.has anyone had this done?,cheers chris.

[honda900]

Chris69,

Interesting: they offer a custom programming of the interface for $40, require your engine model and serial number. its likely that is just a basic configuration, tank size, location and engine. Curious though..

Regards
HOnda.

[Moonlighter]

Hi Chris

The answer is yes, the Suzuki interfaces do need to be configured to suit your hp and model year engine.

But, if you are putting a Lowrance unit such as a HDS on your NMEA2000 network, you can easily configure it yourself by using the network menu in the Lowrance. Piece of cake to do.

It can only be configured by a Lowrance, simrad, or Suzuki device that is connected to our network, once done, the interface retains the config info and tou cantake the Lowrance off the network.

Where do you live? If in Brisbane I can do it for you.

[astro66]

nice work moonlighter...

[chris69]

thanks honda and moonlighter,i never expected it needed to be programed,

Moonlight i gather ive read some of your chats on ...thehulltruth... on the subject,ive got 2 raymarine combos and just need to hook up nmea to get rpm to tune my prop to a new boat ive nearly finished,i gave brownspoint the details on what i was hooking it up too but they seem to think i wanted to hook up to smis gauges, im realy just looking for the cheapest option to see my rpm on a 2008 DF50 tiller,would it be a better option to use the engine interface cable and hook it up to a tach?.cheers chris.

[honda900]

Hi Chris

The answer is yes, the Suzuki interfaces do need to be configured to suit your hp and model year engine.

But, if you are putting a Lowrance unit such as a HDS on your NMEA2000 network, you can easily configure it yourself by using the network menu in the Lowrance. Piece of cake to do.

It can only be configured by a Lowrance, simrad, or Suzuki device that is connected to our network, once done, the interface retains the config info and tou cantake the Lowrance off the network.

Where do you live? If in Brisbane I can do it for you.

Grant,

while there is some truth in what you say, it is not entirely correct. You do not need to pre program an suzuki interface using a Lowrance device. The Garmin units have an auto configure option that scans the NMEA bus for devices, this returns the device and presents the configuration for that device, tank size location etc. (I have done this in my boat)

The Garmin unit then allows you to configure the upper and lower limits of the alerts and alarms, such as oil, temp, etc. By selecting and Engine type in the Lowrance you are telling the unit to use a set of predefined options that are configured for the engine, (you don't get to change these in the Lowrance).

In Chris's case it is likely that browns point were going to do a config for SMIS gauges.

Regards
HOnda.

[Moonlighter]

Thanks Honda for that update re the Garmins. Interesting developments there.

Are you saying that the current version of the Suzuki interface cables auto-detect which engine model they are connected to? That would be a helpful new development?!

If that is the case, i dont know why Brownspoint would need to pre-configure anything?

The config process that i am familiar with requires you to tell the interface which hp and model year engine that it is attached to. I understood that this will affect its calculations for fuel flow etc?

Chris69

First, are your Raymarine displays NMEA2000 capable? If they aren't, then you wont be able to connect them to a NMEA2000 network and get them to display engine data.

Secondly, If all you want to know is rpm, it may be cheaper and easier just to get a normal tacho and connect it to your engine. I have seen posts elsewhere of cheap digital tachos that would probably do the job you want and dont even have any wiring to connect. Setting up a NMEA 2000 network to your engine is not a cheap option by any means, in comparison to that.

[honda900]

Grant,

Are you saying that the current version of the Suzuki interface cables
auto-detect which engine model they are connected to? That would be a helpful
new development?!

It is supposed to query the device for available parameters and configure them, however you can adjust some of the parameters. Yes auto-detect to some degree. Selecting the engine in the lowrance provides a base set of parameters.

Regards
HOnda.

[chris69]

Hi moonlighter yes the raymarines are nmea 2000 capable,as for just a tacho you still need the engine interface to connect it to the engine and another cable to connect to that to the tacho, so going to the A65 or A70 seems more locigal cutting out the cost of the tacho.

As for those cheap digital tachos one guy is useing a pic of my motor to show everyone what they wont work on because on the moden motors the ignition pack is on the top of the plug hole so no lead to wrap the wire around to read rpm,i would have loved to ues one of those as once ive tuned a prop for the boat i will run on speed after that and realy have no need to look at my rpm,with all the technology on the new motors you would think that on tiller models a small led tacho on the tiller would be a standered thing,and i no that the new one have but only for trolling and dont show full rpm only to around 3000rpm.

[Moonlighter]

Hi Again Chris 69

In that case, it sounds like it would still be prudent to have Brownspoint config the interface for you.

You will most probably be able to to the boat setup including fuel tank size on the Raymarines. Or, as per my previous offer, if your located in Brisbane area if you drop past I can connect it to my boats metwork temporarily and do it for you.

Cheers

[chris69]

Thats for the offer Moonlighter but im well north of bris,yes it makes sence to get them to program the cable,im not ready to wire up right now i was just going to get the cables before the aus dollor falls to much,cheers chris.