Garmin digital gauge interface

Audrey II

Audrey II

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Aug 5, 2008
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I have been thinking about installing an interface to tie my analog gauges into my Garmin unit. I wanted to do this a while back but the price scared me off after reading a recent thread I have learned the price has come down a bit and now I'm reconsidering this once again. The manual isn't very clear as to whether or not I can select which gauges I want to appear or not and if I can set alarms for each gauge. The manual makes reference to such things but it is unclear and until you tie them in nothing will even come up on the display to figure this out.

I have oil pressure and temp for both motors as well as the transmissions. If I understand correctly I should be able to tie them all in but would have to view them in the digital display mode not the analog mode. The way I have my GPS display installed it limits my view of the gauges so this would give me a second set of eyes so to speak.

If anyone has first hand knowledge please give me some input.
 
If you have a new Garmin let say the 740s you need to have the nmea 2000 wiring system on your engines. I do not think you have them so you would need to buy the cable to your engine. If your engines accepts the nmea 2000 cable it would be perfect.
 
I have a 1996 boat with 96' Cat diesels I don't have nmea 2000 compatible motors I plan to use a converter to interface the connections. http://www.nolandeng.com/catalog/pr...id=37&osCsid=790206ac4428fb1d99e6c84177f19ea8
I'm more concerned with how the Garmin unit would display the info and how flexible is to allow me to display my transmissions as 3rd and 4th motors. Also can I set alarms for each of the gauges or is the a limited feature to only a couple of gauges. The manual really doesn't go into detail as to the functionality and setup of these features.
 
What interface do you plan to use? The NoLand RS11 seems pretty simple. I am considering getting that and a GMI 10 and hooking up to my genet as it currently has no gauges. If it works,as,easy as it sounds I might do the motors next.
 
I just had a long talk with Garmin tech and now I'm having second thoughts about this! The main reason for me to do this is for the alarm function and it appears I can't set alarms for oil pressure of temperature I can set limits and it would display in red or some indicator but I would have to have the screen set to display the gauges to notice this I might as well look at my current gauges to accomplish this. I was hoping that I could trip an early warning alarm without this function I'm not sure this project makes any sense. I was hoping to set separate limits for each gauge but the limits are by type not by motor the readings would be different between the motors and the transmission so once again even the limit feature would be much help the Garmin only monitors motors I would have to display the transmissions as motors and the limits would have to be the same! I would be spending a lot of money for very little function other then the WOW factor.
 
Don't you already have fairly loud alarms for water flow, water temp and oil pressure on each motor? I know I do. The only reason I was considering using these is that it would seem digital is a bit more accurate than the analog gauges. Also, I do not have anything monitoring my transmissions. I might even consider a maretron display front and center although at a couple grand that is an expensive option. But it can put everything for both motors on one display. Or you could use this:

http://www.seasmart.net/marine-wireless-networking-wifi.html

and use an iPad as your display point. Certainly cheaper and maybe more useful.
 
Yes I have alarms as well but the oil pressure alarm activates a bit latter then I would feel comfortable hence my desire to set my own alarm limits. I had a oil line snap last season and sprayed oil everywhere it took two days to clean that mess I really would have like to have had a little more notice. I notice the pressure dropped before the alarm but I easily could have missed it the alarm would be a nice feature. Using the Garmin unit would not be of much help adding the maretron might provide more options. As for the transmissions I already have gauges in plain sight. I'm just not seeing a big enough benefit at this time which is disappointing being I really wanted to do this for a long time.
 
Another possibility if you either have room for another relatively small 4.8"square (2 18" hole0 multi-display might be the CruzPro MaxVu110 that can digitally display all normal engine sensor outputs without need for gateways as well as other data. It also has ability to have hi/low alarm setups for each set of data.

Or you could replace your analog dash gauges with CruzPro's individual digital gauges which also accept input from existing "analog" senders, and not need any new holes. Again, they all have high and low settable alarms.

Both options instuments also provide NMEA 0183 data output as well.

http://www.cruzpro.com/products.html
 
Looks interesting but high priced and still doesn't interface with Nmea2000 so I will pass. But thank you it does look interesting it may help someone here.
 
Those digital rpm gauges would certainly make it easy make sure you have your motors synced.
 
I don't have to the sync themselves:) I can hear if they are out of sync and the auto sync works perfectly!
 
I have the electronic EDC display with fly by wire on my Volvo's which are very helpful. The features it provides are
Oil, RPM, Volt, Temp Display
Real time graphical chart
Fuel consumption
Trip setting
Sync
User specified alarm settings all. I also have analog gauges in the dash, but wish I could add trans and exhaust info.
 
Bob you can add the gauges for the trans. They came from the factory on my boat but I don't see with you couldn't add them.
 
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