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Author Topic:   Smartcraft Gauges Unreadable

lapnews posted 07-09-2007 05:10 PM ET (US)
My 2003 Dauntless, 135 Merc, has two Smartcraft gauges which have become unreadable because the digital readout and the gauge background lack sufficient contrast. I would like to replace the gauges with standard analog gauges, but my shop tells me this can't be done. Any ideas to either (a) improve the legibility of the existing gauges, or (b) use existing wiring and sensors to drive analog gauges?
jimh posted 07-09-2007 08:17 PM ET (US)
The display is probably using liquid crystal technology. It is common for these displays to lose contrast with age, and particularly when the display is exposed to direct sunlight where the display can become overheated. For this reason it is a good idea to cap the displays when not in use and to provide a sun shield over them which will also make them easier to read.
The easiest remedy to your problem is to purchase a replacement display. They are not particularly expensive and in any case less so than completely redoing the engine's instrumentation with individual gauges. You might also look into the upgraded VesselView display which is supposed to offer color and much improved graphics, if this long advertised and promoted device is now actually available from Mercury.
lapnews posted 07-10-2007 07:12 AM ET (US)
Thanks for the advice, jimh. Looks like I'm headed for a new set of dual displays. I'm guessing the VesselView solution will be more pricey than I want to get involved in.
But I will exercise due diligence and investigate both options.

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Author	Topic: Smartcraft Gauges Unreadable
lapnews	posted 07-09-2007 05:10 PM ET (US) My 2003 Dauntless, 135 Merc, has two Smartcraft gauges which have become unreadable because the digital readout and the gauge background lack sufficient contrast. I would like to replace the gauges with standard analog gauges, but my shop tells me this can't be done. Any ideas to either (a) improve the legibility of the existing gauges, or (b) use existing wiring and sensors to drive analog gauges?
jimh	posted 07-09-2007 08:17 PM ET (US) The display is probably using liquid crystal technology. It is common for these displays to lose contrast with age, and particularly when the display is exposed to direct sunlight where the display can become overheated. For this reason it is a good idea to cap the displays when not in use and to provide a sun shield over them which will also make them easier to read. The easiest remedy to your problem is to purchase a replacement display. They are not particularly expensive and in any case less so than completely redoing the engine's instrumentation with individual gauges. You might also look into the upgraded VesselView display which is supposed to offer color and much improved graphics, if this long advertised and promoted device is now actually available from Mercury.
lapnews	posted 07-10-2007 07:12 AM ET (US) Thanks for the advice, jimh. Looks like I'm headed for a new set of dual displays. I'm guessing the VesselView solution will be more pricey than I want to get involved in. But I will exercise due diligence and investigate both options.