Mercmonitor install on 2006 Sea Ray 260 Sundancer w/5.7MPI

[mjfink]

I'm in the process of installing my new MercMonitor into an existing SC setup on my SeaRay, I'm taking some pics that I'll post up this evening when I finish up. The MM is working great, my problem is, my SC1000 tach doesn't seem to like going through the Jbox (it used to be hooked up directly to the engine). If anyone has a moment, can you please verify that:

PN 84879979T11 is the right cable to go from a Jbox to a SC1000 tach? I'm thinking I might have the wrong cable..

The JBox is working fine, the MM works perfectly coming through it, it's definitely something with the cable or something I'm doing wrong in my setup. I'm going to work on it again right now, so, if I figure it out, I'll pass along anything I learn. But if anyone has some ideas, or, in particular, knows if that's the right cable, please let me know.

Thanks!

 

[mjfink]

Re: Mercmonitor install on 2006 Sea Ray 260 Sundancer w/5.7MPI

I figured it out, the SC1000 cable REQUIRES that you connect the ground (the MercMonitor cable does not) to power up the gauge.

Anyway, I figured, since I hadn't seen many people doing this before (replacing a gauge on a boat that already has Smarcraft gauges) that I'd detail exactly what I did and what I needed (PNs).

First off, here's a list of the PNs that I used:

878492T14 (Four port junction box)
859318T2 (Weather cap for the JBox, I only used 3 ports, one from the engine, one to the Mercmonitor and one to the SC1000)
79-8M0062374 (Level 1 MercMonitor - at least it is as of right now, this PN changes all the time)
84879979T11 (Harness to go from the JBox to the SC1000 gauge, REMEMBER TO CONNECT THE GROUND!).

Everything was pretty straighforward, I did connect my GPS to the MercMonitor to get speed information, but, other than that, this was a standalone install (no NMEA 2K connections).

Please feel free to ask any questions, I'm by no means an expert, but would be happy to relate my experience doing this install. I haven't had much time to play with the gauge, but all the screens showed as expected (including input from the GPS with speed/distance information).



And now, for the pictures..

 

[mjfink]

Re: Mercmonitor install on 2006 Sea Ray 260 Sundancer w/5.7MPI

First set of pics

 

[mjfink]

Re: Mercmonitor install on 2006 Sea Ray 260 Sundancer w/5.7MPI

2nd set.

 

[Fun Times]

Re: Mercmonitor install on 2006 Sea Ray 260 Sundancer w/5.7MPI

84-879979T11 is for a 10 ft SC1000 System Tachometer Harness.

The Mercury SmartCraft System products are C.A.N. compatible. C.A.N. (Controller Area
Network) is a communication protocol which uses a pair of wires to transfer data between
components throughout the vessel.
This communication circuit is called a C.A.N. Bus. The C.A.N. Bus circuit must include 2
termination resistors and be installed as follows:
Wiring Installation Guidelines
TERMINATION RESISTOR PLACEMENT
WARNING
Correct installation and location of the Termination Resistors are critical for proper
system function. Improper installation may result in communication errors.
NOTE: Termination resistors are designed to reduce noise and provide proper DC voltage
levels on the C.A.N. Bus circuit.
1. Each system must include exactly two (2) termination resistors.
2. Termination resistors must be located at the furthest ends of the main C.A.N. Bus trunk.
3. The main C.A.N. Bus trunk may not exceed 36.6 m (120 ft.) in length (measured along
the cable). Main C.A.N. Bus Trunk is defined as the length of cable located between
termination resistors.
There are three (3) acceptable methods of adding termination resistors to the system.
1. Junction box termination resistors.
2. Termination resistor inside the harness with a termination resistor at the junction box.
3. Termination resistor inside the harness at both ends.
NOTE: Junction box termination resistors are designed to plug directly into junction box
ports.

Harness Termination Resistor (One End)
Some of the SmartCraft wiring harnesses (84-879981T_) are designed with the termination
resistor at one end. Harness termination resistors are used primarily for installations which
do not require a junction box in the rear of the boat.

Harness Termination Resistor (Both Ends)
Harness (84-879982A20, 30) include termination resistors at both ends and may be used
to connect System Monitor or System tachometer directly to the engine without junction
boxes.

mjfink, Your harness part number 84-879979T11 appears to have no termination resistors at either end so you should technically speaking have had some type of junction boxes with two termination resistors or a harness with up to two termination resistors somewhere else inline as the manual i'm looking at shows tachometer harness (84-879979T11) going into two junction boxes with somekind of termination resistors inline between the engine and gauge.

You can only use two junction boxes with two termination resistors or two termination resistors already in the wire harness, or one already in the harness and one pluged into the junction box.

I see you got it going, Good job.

 

[mjfink]

Re: Mercmonitor install on 2006 Sea Ray 260 Sundancer w/5.7MPI

The cable that was in my boat (from the factory) had 2 terminators already, I did not add additional termination to the line.

Yeah, turns out, my problem was.. I didn't hook up the ground to the SC1000. The MercMonitor just needed a single connector (to the JBox), the SC1000 needed it's ground hooked up.

You can only use two junction boxes with two termination resistors or two termination resistors already in the wire harness.

I see you got it going, Good job.

 

[mjfink]

Re: Mercmonitor install on 2006 Sea Ray 260 Sundancer w/5.7MPI

Oh, also, FunTimes, the cable that I used to connect the Jbox to the SC1000 wasn't 10' long, I think it was a 3' cable. Longer are available, but, the PN I gave above it a short one.

 

[Fun Times]

Re: Mercmonitor install on 2006 Sea Ray 260 Sundancer w/5.7MPI

Thanks for the update, All the info above was from a technician's handbook 90-891965R01 - smartcraft technical guide.:facepalm:

 

[mjfink]

Re: Mercmonitor install on 2006 Sea Ray 260 Sundancer w/5.7MPI

Why am I less than surprised to learn there's a mistake in that manual? Seems like there are about 3 people on earth who can actually explain, in detail, all the technical parts of Smartcraft. None of them work for Merc.

Thanks for the update, All the info above was from a technician's handbook 90-891965R01 - smartcraft technical guide.:facepalm:

 

[marc421]

Re: Mercmonitor install on 2006 Sea Ray 260 Sundancer w/5.7MPI

mjfink first of all thank you for posting this. You're right there isn't a lot of information out there for adding a mercmonitor to a smart craft setup. I'm interested in doing this on my 260 Sea Ray.

One big question (potentially a dumb one) - I noticed you replaced your speedo for the mercmonitor and left your RPM/smartcraft in place. What was the rationale for that? I would of assumed just swapping out the smartcraft would of been easier.

Again, thanks for posting this.