Anyone Tried the cheap N2k engine monitor on ebay?

[ajmevans]

Just reawakening this thread-

I originally planned to go with Noland as having contacted their Customer service they were quick to respond and answered my query but I have since come across another such
device - AlbaCombi Translate analogue to nmea2000 converter

This has the ability to transfer more analogue to N2K information, the ability to customise it to include EGT etc, set over/under parameter alarms such as voltage & temperatures so overall APPEARS to be at the forefront of the other producers, Actisence, Noland, Ebay specials etc.

I've read quite a few informative reviews but wondered if anyone here has any constructive comments either way.

Just installed an Alba Combi for twin Volvo TAMD72's just able to T into existing gauges and set the configuration using a laptop or iPad Pro (I used a MAC and an iPad pro with ethernet adapter, worked fine). Took a while to get calibration spot on, but worked initially just using VDO profiles. On this note tried the CX5003 but will NOT work with existing gauges and could never fathom how to calibrate the inputs. The Alba Combi is around $420, but to my mind worth every bit.

 

[StevenJ]

Tested the device and for starboard, it is outputting PGN as

propulsion.starboard.revolutions

12.116666666666667

Hz

 

[vas]

so 727rpm, is that wrong then?
don't forget Hz is circle/rev/whatever per second. Multiply by 60 to get rpm.

V.

 

[jwfrary]

Tested the device and for starboard, it is outputting PGN as

propulsion.starboard.revolutions

12.116666666666667

Hz

That's the signal k key surely? Signal k uses SI units so you have to do a bit of conversion prior to using it!

 

[StevenJ]

That's the signal k key surely? Signal k uses SI units so you have to do a bit of conversion prior to using it!

Yep, that's the PGN in signal K. Converted on my dashboard and working well. The impedance on the pressures needs a circuit to change from my engine impedance to the device requirements, but seems okay. The device has hung a couple of times, but think that was during my playing with resistors. Will report if it hangs at other times. Must admit that I am kicking myself for not doing this with an ESP32 now, especially as I suspect this device is built on an ESP.

 

[StevenJ]

so 727rpm, is that wrong then?
don't forget Hz is circle/rev/whatever per second. Multiply by 60 to get rpm.

V.

That was when I turned the engine off. One thing that is a little annoying is that the device does not push a zero when engine switches off. I will do this from Node Red into signal K when the coil power stops.

 

[vas]

Yep, that's the PGN in signal K. Converted on my dashboard and working well. The impedance on the pressures needs a circuit to change from my engine impedance to the device requirements, but seems okay. The device has hung a couple of times, but think that was during my playing with resistors. Will report if it hangs at other times. Must admit that I am kicking myself for not doing this with an ESP32 now, especially as I suspect this device is built on an ESP.

a bit confused tbh.

device you bought outputs N2K PGNs
then you have another device that takes said PGNs and based on configured translation script makes signalk sentences out of them.
now you seem to "accuse" the original device on what you end up receiving after a conversion in a signalk device???

Mind I'm not supporting either devices, just trying to figure out what's going on. Pretty sure the el cheapo N2K converter outputs something when engine is off that the signalk converter ignores and keeps the last "good" value it has received. Check a bit more the whole setup and you'll probably find the solution.

cheers

V.

 

[StevenJ]

a bit confused tbh.

device you bought outputs N2K PGNs
then you have another device that takes said PGNs and based on configured translation script makes signalk sentences out of them.
now you seem to "accuse" the original device on what you end up receiving after a conversion in a signalk device???

Mind I'm not supporting either devices, just trying to figure out what's going on. Pretty sure the el cheapo N2K converter outputs something when engine is off that the signalk converter ignores and keeps the last "good" value it has received. Check a bit more the whole setup and you'll probably find the solution.

cheers

V.

Apologies if I confused. The CX5003 does indeed output N2K PGNS. I have a full network onboard with many ESP32 sensors covering a whole range of other data, including explosive gases, outside humidity / temp and loads on the engines so. I can calculate cooling efficiency and potential partial blockages of raw water system etc.

The SignalK server uses can bus to collect everything and then using NodeRed, I fire off all manner of automated switching, engine bay evacuation if gases are detected etc. The CX5003 data is also collected within SignalK directly from the N2K network via the can bus. That's where I code a lot of plugins to analyse the data and push to influx DB for Grafana to do it's work. I'm not mirroring or creating other data which may conflict.

With the RPM, the CX5003 stops outputting RPM the moment to engine is turned off. This can be seen when interrogating the Canbus. Not sure if it is just my 5003 doing this, or it is a feature. I have added a Node Red condition which now zero's the RPM when the engine voltage is zero (or very close to).

My statement for the ESP32 is just that I could and probably should have done this myself costing less than £50GBP and adding far more features. I may still do this as I am finding the 5003 jumps around with data quite a bit, so expect poor debouncing / averaging algorithms within the codebase.

I will at some point document the full system on my boat, including voice activated services.

 

[vas]

threading similar ways...

bought a NoLandEngineering RS11, set it up for less than a year, and ended up designing my own PCBs and setting things up. Need to sell the RS11 at some point...
Have to check that on board on my generator which is running the full set of logging atm (haven't fully wired the engines yet), but I think that indeed N2K STOPS sending anything when engine is off. Have to check my code, but it should really be sending either 0 or N/A, will ask Timo.
rpm is not exceptionally easy mind ;-) had to go through 2-3 iterations of code to get something running nice and smooth.

also have promised during the previous lockdown to do a proper writeup of my setup as well. Never got time, hopefully during the winter!

cheers

V.

 

[StevenJ]

threading similar ways...

bought a NoLandEngineering RS11, set it up for less than a year, and ended up designing my own PCBs and setting things up. Need to sell the RS11 at some point...
Have to check that on board on my generator which is running the full set of logging atm (haven't fully wired the engines yet), but I think that indeed N2K STOPS sending anything when engine is off. Have to check my code, but it should really be sending either 0 or N/A, will ask Timo.
rpm is not exceptionally easy mind ;-) had to go through 2-3 iterations of code to get something running nice and smooth.

also have promised during the previous lockdown to do a proper writeup of my setup as well. Never got time, hopefully during the winter!

cheers

V.

Yes, I am thinking that when I have a spare day or so, will design the PCB and open source the code, or even provide ESP32's in a box at cost for people to connect to their engines, saving the huge expense spent on Actisense etc. If interested, please let me know.

 

[jwfrary]

Yes, I am thinking that when I have a spare day or so, will design the PCB and open source the code, or even provide ESP32's in a box at cost for people to connect to their engines, saving the huge expense spent on Actisense etc. If interested, please let me know.

I'm interested for sure

 

[harvey38]

Yes, I am thinking that when I have a spare day or so, will design the PCB and open source the code, or even provide ESP32's in a box at cost for people to connect to their engines, saving the huge expense spent on Actisense etc. If interested, please let me know.

Yes please

 

[wizard]

Yes, I am thinking that when I have a spare day or so, will design the PCB and open source the code, or even provide ESP32's in a box at cost for people to connect to their engines, saving the huge expense spent on Actisense etc. If interested, please let me know.

Me too please, thank you.

 

[StevenJ]

Okay, I will put aside some time real soon to design etc. I must admit that already my sensors and code provided a very early warning of fresh water muscles making a home before my impeller through a change in cooling efficiency. The device will need to be connected to SignalK though as it will not be directly pushing to the N2K network. SignalK does the work of pushing to the N2K network, so all okay for MFD's etc.

 

[vas]

Okay, I will put aside some time real soon to design etc. I must admit that already my sensors and code provided a very early warning of fresh water muscles making a home before my impeller through a change in cooling efficiency. The device will need to be connected to SignalK though as it will not be directly pushing to the N2K network. SignalK does the work of pushing to the N2K network, so all okay for MFD's etc.

slightly convoluted approach there Steven if I may say so. easier to go from data collection to N2K injection if you wish so. Not quite sure what the others really need tbh, if someone just has a N0183 network things will be tough.

cheers

V.

 

[Adrian_B]

i'm watching this thread with interest. I've been 'fiddling' around with Raspberry Pi, SignalK, Node Red and SensESP for a few months now. My Sealine F33 has no Oil Pressure or Engine Temp gauges on the flying bridge only warning lights and a buzzer and I've heard of cases where, by the time the lights come, on the engine is cooked. I did look at the Noland RS11 but was a bit put off by the price so have gone with using an esp8266 and an Adafruit ADS1115 ADC which gives me 4 channels ( port & starboard x oil pressure & cooling temp) . I have a local network on the boat and use the node-red dashboard to display the guages on an iPad webpage.

initial testing is promising but final accurate calibration is proving a bit tricky hence my interest in the eBay gizmo although the Albi Combi looks a good system with good setup software but price is again pretty hi.

Also the Pi is connected to a BME280 Temperature/Pressure/Humidity sensor & SignalK running node-red with Shelly IoT relays with temperature sensing modules controlling the 3 tubular heaters and dehumidifier keeping the engine room, saloon and main berth on the boat dry and frost free. With an Ngrok vpn the settings can be controlled externally from a web page via the 4g wifi router which runs the local boat network. Also run Influxdb and Grafana on the pi to monitor the trends and history.

 

[StevenJ]

slightly convoluted approach there Steven if I may say so. easier to go from data collection to N2K injection if you wish so. Not quite sure what the others really need tbh, if someone just has a N0183 network things will be tough.

cheers

V.

I agree Vas. I suppose I was looking at my setup, where using SensESP has worked extremely well for me thus far. I have found a good can bus hat for ESP32's, with supported N2K libraries. Will look into this once I have finished my current project.

 

[StevenJ]

i'm watching this thread with interest. I've been 'fiddling' around with Raspberry Pi, SignalK, Node Red and SensESP for a few months now. My Sealine F33 has no Oil Pressure or Engine Temp gauges on the flying bridge only warning lights and a buzzer and I've heard of cases where, by the time the lights come, on the engine is cooked. I did look at the Noland RS11 but was a bit put off by the price so have gone with using an esp8266 and an Adafruit ADS1115 ADC which gives me 4 channels ( port & starboard x oil pressure & cooling temp) . I have a local network on the boat and use the node-red dashboard to display the guages on an iPad webpage.

initial testing is promising but final accurate calibration is proving a bit tricky hence my interest in the eBay gizmo although the Albi Combi looks a good system with good setup software but price is again pretty hi.

Also the Pi is connected to a BME280 Temperature/Pressure/Humidity sensor & SignalK running node-red with Shelly IoT relays with temperature sensing modules controlling the 3 tubular heaters and dehumidifier keeping the engine room, saloon and main berth on the boat dry and frost free. With an Ngrok vpn the settings can be controlled externally from a web page via the 4g wifi router which runs the local boat network. Also run Influxdb and Grafana on the pi to monitor the trends and history.

Nice setup Adrian! I am with you on the early warning of engine issues. Have many sensors on each engine now, including raw water ingress temperature, exhaust outlet temp, manifold temp, coolant ingress (into heat exchanger) and egress, along with oil cooler temp etc. With this, I wrote code based on influx db history and mapped to varying parameters. This provides overall engine cooling efficiency and optimum RPM for efficiency, but also caught muscles setting up home before my impeller due to lower cooling efficiency. Great early warning for sure!

With regards to the instruments, have you tried the wilhelm app on iPad and associated plugin for SK?

Get you with the calibration. I hand coded mine in my project, but exposing the variables in SensESP is quite easy, thus will do this when I have some time to develop something for all to use.

 

[Adrian_B]

Nice setup Adrian! I am with you on the early warning of engine issues. Have many sensors on each engine now, including raw water ingress temperature, exhaust outlet temp, manifold temp, coolant ingress (into heat exchanger) and egress, along with oil cooler temp etc. With this, I wrote code based on influx db history and mapped to varying parameters. This provides overall engine cooling efficiency and optimum RPM for efficiency, but also caught muscles setting up home before my impeller due to lower cooling efficiency. Great early warning for sure!

With regards to the instruments, have you tried the wilhelm app on iPad and associated plugin for SK?

Get you with the calibration. I hand coded mine in my project, but exposing the variables in SensESP is quite easy, thus will do this when I have some time to develop something for all to use.

Hi Steven, Yes I do use wilhelmSk but find that the lack of documentation for it makes it easier to use the node-red UI dashboard particulary as I use slider nodes to adjust the temp & humidity set points in my setup. I like the dashboards and graphics you get with wilhelmSK and whilst the basics aren't difficult I find it's so much trial and error to get it to do what you want.

For calibration in my engine temps and pressures SensEsp i've used the CurveInterpolator from the 'Transforms' library in SensEsp (I'm more of a 'Cut 'n' Paste' jockey, C++ is not my favourite language, never had the time to learn it properly. I take the inputs straight of off the back of the guages and I set the interpolations from data I found on the VDO guages website. Just need the time to finely tune the values.

 

[Lukas.m3]

Well it works with my Garmin 923xsv. Just fitted it last week connected rpm, trim and fuel tank sensor so far. Just need to change dip switches for rpm for my outboard so the range is correct, run out of time last week.
Need to get a temp and oil pressure sensor at some point but they should work fine. I will let you know @Bikerwookie when i get a sensor to try.

Do I need to make any configuration on my Garmin Echomap UHD 62CV (it has a dashboard for engine sensors)? I have cx5003 and after connecting it to the NMEA2000 network nothing is shown on the plotter.
Can you help me to make it work?