Get Fuel and Engine guages on your chartplotter

[mastreb]

There are a few topics concerning engine MPG going on so I thought I'd post on the simplest way to monitor and measure your fuel usage.

Nearly all modern outboards will send their fuel consumption, alarms, and even electrical voltage levels on the battery to any NMEA-2000 compatible chartplotter, and all the current chartplotters have guages and instrument panels to display this data. It's a simple installation that will typically cost well under $150 to get done. My installation took all of 30 minutes, and 20 of that was just cable dressing to keep them off the bilge floor.

Firstly, you need to verify that your engine and your chartplotter are NMEA 2000 compatible. Google your outboard model number and year, along with NMEA 2000 and you should be able to figure this out. The cut-over to NMEA-2000 occurred between 2007 through 2009 for most manufacturers. Engines prior to 2007 are likely not NMEA 2000 compatible, but google it.

Once you know, you'll need to buy the appropriate cable:

Evinrude E-TEC 50hp and up, 2008 and later: http://www.westmarine.com/webapp/wcs/st ... tId=617230

Yamaha F50, F60, F75, F90, F115 : http://www.westmarine.com/webapp/wcs/st ... tId=617230

Suzuki DF40, DF50, DF60, DF70, DF90, DF115, DF140: http://www.blueheronmarine.com/NMEA-200 ... es/Suzuki/

Honda BF40, BF50, BF60, BFP60: Order part #06328-ZZ3-760HE through a Honda dealer. More compatibility info here: http://marine.honda.com/products/access ... components

Older outboards may be able to be converted to NMEA-2000 using this: http://www.maretron.com/products/j2k100.php but at that price you're better off with this: http://www.westmarine.com/webapp/wcs/st ... tId=617216

Once you have the cable, you need to connect it to your ECC/EMM and to your existing NMEA 2000 network. You'll remote a plug on the EMM and replace it with the cable, dress the cable along side the rest of your engine cables and through the boot on the stern. Most of these cables ship with the required T-Connector to insert into your NMEA 2000 network. My setup is in the battery box below the ladder.

If you don't have an NMEA 2000 network yet, you create one with this kit that has all the necessaries: http://www.westmarine.com/webapp/wcs/st ... ctId=24172

The network is setup like this: -TTT-

Where - is a terminator, and the T is the NMEA-2000 T connector. Once you've assembled three T connectors and the terminators, connect the engine interface cable to one T, the chartplotter's drop cable to another one, and the 12VDC battery cable to the third.

[Hamin' X]

Good info, Matt. The flow sensor from WM is just what I need for my 2000 model DF50 Suzuki.

~Rich

[mastreb]

Good info, Matt. The flow sensor from WM is just what I need for my 2000 model DF50 Suzuki.

~Rich

Rich, be aware that that particular fuel flow sensor has to be mounted vertically. My guess is that the best place is probably just above the through-hole cable boot on the transom well, spliced into the fuel line.

[Hamin' X]

Hmm, my fuel line runs from the rear of the fuel lockers into the transom well, then corkscrews up to the engine fuel fitting, to allow for movement. Possible I could solid mount it to the engine in a vertical position. I will be in Seattle over the Labor Day holiday and see if they have one I can look at. It's nice to live in a rural area like mine, but sometimes not having the proper store within 250 miles is a pain.

Thanks for the heads-up.

~Rich

[mastreb]

Hmm, my fuel line runs from the rear of the fuel lockers into the transom well, then corkscrews up to the engine fuel fitting, to allow for movement. Possible I could solid mount it to the engine in a vertical position. I will be in Seattle over the Labor Day holiday and see if they have one I can look at. It's nice to live in a rural area like mine, but sometimes not having the proper store within 250 miles is a pain.

Thanks for the heads-up.

~Rich

Well, it also requires that the location be relatively vibration free and they warn not to mount it on the engine. Alas. Perhaps the best bet would be to put in a second fuel line from the engine to the fuel flow sender that is long enough to ensure free motion, and then put your current line on the fuel flow adapter and cut to length? Also, the West Marines here in San Diego don't have much NMEA 2000 stuff in stock--this thing might be web only.

[Hamin' X]

Again, good stuff. Perhaps I will have to mount the sensor in the engine well, behind the helmseat. Single line from there to engine and line with primer bulb from there forward. Main concern is keeping the fuel line out of the path of feet, when behind the wheel. I'll check it out carefully. Thanks.

~Rich

[Boblee]

Thanks for that info Mastreb and sorry didn't see it prior to commenting on the other two threads, been away for 7 weeks and having trouble catching up.
Looks like our dealer was correct the etec never had capability in 2006 but seeing as how the new powerhead is dated 2011 it should be right to go now all I have to do is put a Raymarine back on the Mac and check out the etec for the upcoming trip.

[mastreb]

A few people have asked about adding an EMM cable to your chartplotter so this is just a post to freshen up this topic.

[Brian]

I was able to add a Lowrance EP-60R Fuel Flow sensoer to my 2005 model LMS-337C DF Chartplotter.

http://www.lei-extras.com/store/search. ... nceNET+Red

It really makes you aware of how much more fuel you use at higher RPMs...

I did have to upgrade my chartplotter to a later version of software from the Lowrance website in order to support the NMEA 2000 network.

This also made it possible to get the lat/long coordinates to my DSC-VHF radio. Once you have the NMEA network it's very easy to add additional devices.

Unfortunately, my 2005 model TLDI 90 does not support the engine interface cable.

[Baerkanu]

Sorry if resurrecting old posts offends anyone, but...

We've got a Garmin 546S chartplotter and a 2012 Suzuki DF70A on our '13 26M. I'd like to get the engine data as well as fuel flow data (to allow GPS range etc) on the 546. I assume I'll need the cable and fuel flow sensor, not just the cable?

- Clay

[RobertB]

Depends on the output of the motor. Recommend checking with Suzuki.

[Hamin' X]

According to the first post, you will only need the cable on newer engines.

~Rich

[Baerkanu]

Thanks folks -

I missed that part of the first post, and contacting Suzuki has been an exercise in futility - so I guess I'll try the cable and see what happens. My ideal would be what's in my plane - an interface with the chartplotter that tells me mpg, fuel used & remaining, range, and reserve at destination. Obviously more's required in terms of add-ons to a Lycoming O-540 than a new engine - we'll see how it goes!

- Clay

[u12fly]

Again, good stuff. Perhaps I will have to mount the sensor in the engine well, behind the helmseat. Single line from there to engine and line with primer bulb from there forward. Main concern is keeping the fuel line out of the path of feet, when behind the wheel. I'll check it out carefully. Thanks.

~Rich

Hey Rich did you ever get a fuel sensor put on your engine? I never liked the fuel line running from the lockers thru the coockpit and down to the engine. Especially in the where there is little room in the cockpit, more then once I've had people step on the fuel line and knock it out (even though it has a locking fitting). So I re-routed my fuel lines through the hull. I also took the time to put in a fuel sensor that would work with our relatively low HP - Fuel Flow engines. I have a seperate FF instrument, that turns on when ever I start the engine, it is a fuel totalizer so I know exactely how much fuel is in my tanks and how much longer the engine will make noise

Here is details on the fuel line / transducer mod: http://www.macgregorsailors.com/modt/in ... ?view=1584

Chris.

[Hamin' X]

No, I never did put the sensor in. As my life has taken several turns (some better, some worse), priorities have shifted more to flying than sailing. I have never used much fuel for my X over the years. Max has been ~12 gal over the course of a year. Distance from my slip to sailing waters is less than 150 feet and I primarily sail and not motor. Motor is used primarily for hull speed, or less.

~Rich