Has Anyone Installed a NMEA 2000 Network?

[Adrian]

I'm needing a little info on hooking up an NMEA 2000 network. Any help is appreciated...

[Reel Tune]

By the way the diagram reads on the instructions it looks as if each unit is piggy backed off each other. I've never installed one, but that's how it looks.

[SalmonDaze]

I've worked with a friend who installed his own NMEA networking his autopilot, GPS, depthfinder, and radar on his 25 Carolina Classic. He's an engineer and very sophisticated code writer. In fact he found 2 bugs in the code that Furuno thanked him for finding during his setup.

What are you questions? I'll see what we can do to help.

[Adrian]

My Biggest Confusion is with the Power. I'm hooking up a Motorguide Xi5 to a Lowrance HDS Touch. It hooks into your existing NMEA 200 Network. From what I understand the NMEA Network needs it's own power. I'm just not sure what the power distribution is. Do things plugged into the Network draw power from this power supplied to the Network? For instance if I plug a GPS Puck into the Network, would it get it's power from the Network or would it need it's own power supply? Same question for Lowrance, Electric Fuel Gauge etc... It just seems strange to have something with it's own power plugged into something that has power. hmmmm

Not a whole lot of info out there about setting up the Motorguide & Lowrance.

[SalmonDaze]

You're on the right path. The NMEA connection does not power the devices you're describing. They need their own, dedicated (fused), connection to the BUS bar. Your NMEA connection does not power up anything with the amperage draw needed for your Lowrance or Motorguide hardware.

[Adrian]

Thank You for the Info. This should be Fun )