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Author Topic:   NMEA-2000 Fuel Flow Sensor

Nauti Tauk posted 08-09-2008 07:28 PM ET (US)
Hello everyone. I'd like to add a fuel flow sensor to my Lowrance LMS-337c-DF. Since the Lowrance supports NMEA 2000 networking, I'm thinking the addition of the sensor to the network should be faily straightforward. My network uses the blue connectors. Everywhere I've tried to purchase the sensor it is either "out of stock" or back ordered. Has anyone here made this upgrade and if so where did you locate the flow sensor and what was involved with installing it. Thanks
Jerry

jmorgan40 posted 08-09-2008 09:32 PM ET (US)
Jerry,
I am getting ready to do the same with the LMF-400 gauge. I found the EP-10 on Google. Check these guys out they have it for a great price. I purchased my Navionics chip from them. You can also consider buying the EP-65 red unit and install a red-connector network. Lowrance then makes an adapter to convert the red network to your blue unit.
http://www.limitedgoods.com/itemView.php?ProdID=91201&source=FroogleUS& medium=free&campaign=FroogleUS
Here is the adapter. It cost about $16.00
http://www.limitedgoods.com/itemView.php?ProdID=265478
jimh posted 08-10-2008 09:01 AM ET (US)
Nota Bene: Throughout this discussion the acronym NEMA (National Electrical Manufacturers Association) has been changed to NMEA (National Marine Electronics Association). The two organizations are not related and are completely separate entities.
jimh posted 08-10-2008 09:12 AM ET (US)
It is unfortunate that in the initial development of the NMEA-2000 protocol and in its very early adoption and roll out from LOWRANCE that there were some variations in the connector used for the network wiring. This has given rise to the situation we have here wherein a legacy network using the Lowrance BLUE connectors has been installed and there are new devices with the Lowrance RED connectors to be integrated and connected to the network.
Since the Lowrance RED connector appears to now be a standard connector in conformance with the NMEA-2000 specifications, it would seem prudent to plan on using the RED connector for future additions to the network. This can be done by simply providing for an adaptor in the network backbone cable, and transitioning from a network segment using BLUE connectors to a network segment using RED connectors. Or, if only one device exists with BLUE connectors, to change the backbone wiring to all RED connectors and get an adaptor for the network drop cable from the backbone to the device with the BLUE connector. I would prefer that option, myself.
There is good advice on this topic at
http://www.lowrance.com/upload/Lowrance/Documents/Manuals/ NMEA2000NetworksGeneralInfo_0154-173_112006.pdf
Read the material under the subheading Compatibility
Lowrance has four adaptors available to integrate their RED and BLUE devices. The adapter cables are two feet long and include:
--NAC-FRD2FBL — adapter cable that allows you to connect red
connector devices to a blue connector network.
--NAC-MRD2MBL — adapter cable that allows you to connect
blue connector devices to a red connector (DeviceNet) network.
--NAC-FRD2MBL — adapter cable that will connect a red connector
NMEA 2000 network backbone ending in a male connector
(DeviceNet) with a blue connector backbone ending with a female
connector.
--NAC-MRD2FBL — adapter cable for connecting a red connector
(DeviceNet) NMEA 2000 backbone ending with female connector
to a blue connector backbone ending with a male connector.
jmorgan40 posted 08-10-2008 01:29 PM ET (US)
I have been looking at the various option and will probably go with the newer red backbone and use the adapter to my LCX-26C hD. I am choosing this option because if I decide to upgrade te unit or add a second display I will have the newer backbone compatible with the newer units. In addition I can get the newer ep-65 fuel flow system about $10 cheaper than the older ep-10 for the blue backbone.
I am in no hurry since I would like to rewire the entire console at the same time I add the network. I need to save enough to do it all at once or buy it piece by piece until I get everything I need. I plan on calling Sue at Twin cities to get all new dash panels so the entire dash looks new and original.
Joe
Jefecinco posted 08-10-2008 06:47 PM ET (US)
Joe,
Maretron sells micro connectors that can be retrofitted to an early Lowrance backbone or to any device with early NMEA2000 connectors. These may be useful if you have gone to a great deal of trouble to install your electronics suite.
From the description the connectors were designed for use with the bulk NMEA2000 wiring also sold by Maretron. The connectors disassemble and have a screw to attach each wire and shield. I believe they use the term "field installable".
Maretron.com
Butch
seabob4 posted 08-10-2008 08:59 PM ET (US)
If anyone needs "red-to-blue", or visa versa, backbone harnesses, termination resistors, sensors, whatever NMEA 2000, let me know. A whole lot cheaper than you'll find elsewhere.
jmorgan40 posted 08-11-2008 05:30 AM ET (US)
Seabob,
I will drop you an email later today with what I think I need.
Thanks
Joe
jmorgan40 posted 08-11-2008 03:55 PM ET (US)
Seabob,
You have mail!

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Author	Topic: NMEA-2000 Fuel Flow Sensor
Nauti Tauk	posted 08-09-2008 07:28 PM ET (US) Hello everyone. I'd like to add a fuel flow sensor to my Lowrance LMS-337c-DF. Since the Lowrance supports NMEA 2000 networking, I'm thinking the addition of the sensor to the network should be faily straightforward. My network uses the blue connectors. Everywhere I've tried to purchase the sensor it is either "out of stock" or back ordered. Has anyone here made this upgrade and if so where did you locate the flow sensor and what was involved with installing it. Thanks Jerry
jmorgan40	posted 08-09-2008 09:32 PM ET (US) Jerry, I am getting ready to do the same with the LMF-400 gauge. I found the EP-10 on Google. Check these guys out they have it for a great price. I purchased my Navionics chip from them. You can also consider buying the EP-65 red unit and install a red-connector network. Lowrance then makes an adapter to convert the red network to your blue unit. http://www.limitedgoods.com/itemView.php?ProdID=91201&source=FroogleUS& medium=free&campaign=FroogleUS Here is the adapter. It cost about $16.00 http://www.limitedgoods.com/itemView.php?ProdID=265478
jimh	posted 08-10-2008 09:01 AM ET (US) Nota Bene: Throughout this discussion the acronym NEMA (National Electrical Manufacturers Association) has been changed to NMEA (National Marine Electronics Association). The two organizations are not related and are completely separate entities.
jimh	posted 08-10-2008 09:12 AM ET (US) It is unfortunate that in the initial development of the NMEA-2000 protocol and in its very early adoption and roll out from LOWRANCE that there were some variations in the connector used for the network wiring. This has given rise to the situation we have here wherein a legacy network using the Lowrance BLUE connectors has been installed and there are new devices with the Lowrance RED connectors to be integrated and connected to the network. Since the Lowrance RED connector appears to now be a standard connector in conformance with the NMEA-2000 specifications, it would seem prudent to plan on using the RED connector for future additions to the network. This can be done by simply providing for an adaptor in the network backbone cable, and transitioning from a network segment using BLUE connectors to a network segment using RED connectors. Or, if only one device exists with BLUE connectors, to change the backbone wiring to all RED connectors and get an adaptor for the network drop cable from the backbone to the device with the BLUE connector. I would prefer that option, myself. There is good advice on this topic at http://www.lowrance.com/upload/Lowrance/Documents/Manuals/ NMEA2000NetworksGeneralInfo_0154-173_112006.pdf Read the material under the subheading Compatibility Lowrance has four adaptors available to integrate their RED and BLUE devices. The adapter cables are two feet long and include: --NAC-FRD2FBL — adapter cable that allows you to connect red connector devices to a blue connector network. --NAC-MRD2MBL — adapter cable that allows you to connect blue connector devices to a red connector (DeviceNet) network. --NAC-FRD2MBL — adapter cable that will connect a red connector NMEA 2000 network backbone ending in a male connector (DeviceNet) with a blue connector backbone ending with a female connector. --NAC-MRD2FBL — adapter cable for connecting a red connector (DeviceNet) NMEA 2000 backbone ending with female connector to a blue connector backbone ending with a male connector.
jmorgan40	posted 08-10-2008 01:29 PM ET (US) I have been looking at the various option and will probably go with the newer red backbone and use the adapter to my LCX-26C hD. I am choosing this option because if I decide to upgrade te unit or add a second display I will have the newer backbone compatible with the newer units. In addition I can get the newer ep-65 fuel flow system about $10 cheaper than the older ep-10 for the blue backbone. I am in no hurry since I would like to rewire the entire console at the same time I add the network. I need to save enough to do it all at once or buy it piece by piece until I get everything I need. I plan on calling Sue at Twin cities to get all new dash panels so the entire dash looks new and original. Joe
Jefecinco	posted 08-10-2008 06:47 PM ET (US) Joe, Maretron sells micro connectors that can be retrofitted to an early Lowrance backbone or to any device with early NMEA2000 connectors. These may be useful if you have gone to a great deal of trouble to install your electronics suite. From the description the connectors were designed for use with the bulk NMEA2000 wiring also sold by Maretron. The connectors disassemble and have a screw to attach each wire and shield. I believe they use the term "field installable". Maretron.com Butch
seabob4	posted 08-10-2008 08:59 PM ET (US) If anyone needs "red-to-blue", or visa versa, backbone harnesses, termination resistors, sensors, whatever NMEA 2000, let me know. A whole lot cheaper than you'll find elsewhere.
jmorgan40	posted 08-11-2008 05:30 AM ET (US) Seabob, I will drop you an email later today with what I think I need. Thanks Joe
jmorgan40	posted 08-11-2008 03:55 PM ET (US) Seabob, You have mail!