Engine instrumentation - analogue to digital

[Sea-Fever]

I don't have any clever electronics in the cockpit...just the original engine instrument panel. I was pondering how I could mount a plotter so I could have access to the usual array of info a plotter might provide...but there is little room ....the coach roof is too far forward, a pedestal is off the cards as I have a mizzen mast.

Then it occurred to me that the instrument panel itself could be replaced by a suitably sized plotter....recessed as necessary.

Would anyone be brave enough to get rid of their orig. instrument panel altogether? Or is that folly?

 

[Sea-Fever]

Should add...I would intend to replicate engine parameters on the plotter/MFD. Not suggesting doing without this info altogether!

 

[matthewriches]

You'll want one of the few NMEA 2k offerings such as an Actisense EMU that will display info to your plotter.

Completed a project for a customer a while ago. Although he maintained a few critical "real" gauges as assurance incase he had a technical issue.

 

[Sea-Fever]

I would have thought the critical items to be oil pressure, water temp, charge output, possibly fuel level.

 

[matthewriches]

If I remember correctly he just had oil pressure, coolant temperature and oil & temp warning lights with alarms (for each engine). Generator currently has it's original panel and I'd advised him to keep it that way.

I would have thought the critical items to be oil pressure, water temp, charge output, possibly fuel level.

 

[prv]

Plenty of yachts with older engines have no instruments as such, just a buzzer and lights to indicate whether it's buzzing for low oil pressure or high water temperature. I’d want a fuel gauge, but some manage with just a dipstick or sight tube. RPM was always optional on the Yanmar GM series and a dealer I mentioned it to said few chose it due to cost.

Personally I’d be happy to have only the alarms working on the original wiring - that’s all that’s really essential. Though if I happened to have somewhere convenient near the engine down below then I might mount the existing gauges there for convenience rather than ebaying them.

(This is assuming a typical small oldish mechanical yacht diesel, not a common-rail electronic engine.)

Pete

 

[superheat6k]

Another device to consider in the Noland RS11. The piggy backs onto conventional analog meters and provides NMEA2K outputs that can be read on a plotter.

http://nolandeng.com/rs11.php

 

[mersey]

Along with the actisense and noland mentioned there is the

http://www.albacombi.com/

and

http://www.chetcodigital.com/index_NMEA2000.htm

and

https://www.v3instruments.com/engine-gateway-monitor

Some people have had issues with the 'NoLand' device mentioned, where voltage based output was being read, as the noland was being affected by differing alternator outputs.

The actisense emu-1, also needs you to buy their usb convertor to program it, so add the into your budget as well if going for that.

 

[Sea-Fever]

I don't recall any 0183 sentences that would deal with engine parameters....unless someone wants to correct me....which is a shame as the rest of my stuff is all 0183.

Thanks for the links to the various bits and bobbins.

 

[prv]

I don't recall any 0183 sentences that would deal with engine parameters....unless someone wants to correct me....

There's a handful of them defined, eg:

ETL – Engine Telegraph Operation Status
PRC – Propulsion Remote Control Status
RPM - Shaft or engine revolution rate and propeller pitch.
TRC – Thruster Control Data
TRD – Thruster Response Data
ALA – Set Detail Alarm Condition (includes lots and lots of engine-related alarms)

Good luck finding any of them on yottie equipment, though

Pete

 

[ianj99]

I looked at the Alba Combi & it seems to be the best value and can accommodate any type of sensors. The Actisense seems only to work with VDO sensors.
My excellent Lowrance HDS GEN3 mfd has an engine instrument display screen with alarms, provided the data is supplied over N2K.