NMEA 2000 T connectors

[PaulRainbow]

Once upon a time, Garmin N2K T's had the notch to locate the male and female parts, at 12-o-clock when looking at the pins with the drop cable vertical;

Garmin have recently changed their T's to the same offset as Navico (Simrad, B&G, Lowrance), 45 degree offset);

They will fit together, but as the offset is 45 degrees different the sockets for the drop cables do not line up and you can't screw them to a bulkhead. So, if you've got a Garmin NMEA 2000 network, with a row of T's screwed to a bulkhead and you need to add a device, make sure you find an old style connector or buy something other than Garmin/Navico.

Actisense use yet another offset, and Maretron use their own too.

Why do companies have to make something so simple as a T connector so complicated ?

 

[rogerthebodger]

Why do companies have to make something so simple as a T connector so complicated ?

To try to lock you into buying only from them.

Just look at what the car manufactures do with their computer control systems.

 

[tjbrace]

Thanks for the heads up Paul.
Garmin have also obsoleted their wind sensor GWS10 as I have found to my cost. They now only offer their Airfix model aeroplane up the mast?

 

[Baggywrinkle]

The answer I guess is to group matching T-pieces together when you expand the network - this means hunting round the boat and sorting T-Pieces into matching groups - what a pain in the arse

 

[PaulRainbow]

Thanks for the heads up Paul.
Garmin have also obsoleted their wind sensor GWS10 as I have found to my cost. They now only offer their Airfix model aeroplane up the mast?

Garmin seem to have lost the plot with their wind systems, why not just make a simple N2K sensor ?

I recently fitted one of these in 0183 format, seems a decent quality and the owner is very happy with it, he was certainly pleased with not having to spend over £500 for a Simrad one.

Local company as well (no connection); Wind Sensor NMEA2000 | Autonnic

 

[dolabriform]

Garmin seem to have lost the plot with their wind systems, why not just make a simple N2K sensor ?

I recently fitted one of these in 0183 format, seems a decent quality and the owner is very happy with it, he was certainly pleased with not having to spend over £500 for a Simrad one.

Local company as well (no connection); Wind Sensor NMEA2000 | Autonnic

Thanks for that info Paul, it would be great to get a real world review of one of those

 

[PaulRainbow]

Thanks for that info Paul, it would be great to get a real world review of one of those

Not had occasion to fit the N2K version yet Dave, but the 0183 one works exactly as expected.

 

[lustyd]

Once upon a time, Garmin N2K T's had the notch to locate the male and female parts, at 12-o-clock when looking at the pins with the drop cable vertical;
...
Garmin have recently changed their T's to the same offset as Navico (Simrad, B&G, Lowrance), 45 degree offset);
...
Why do companies have to make something so simple as a T connector so complicated ?

Seems to me they've done exactly what you'd have wanted them to do? Standardising is a good thing even if it's a little inconvenient. Raymarine seem to be adopting standard plugs too so eventually we may reach nirvana Even if their plugs are nicer...

 

[dolabriform]

Why do companies have to make something so simple as a T connector so complicated ?

So that you can have the pleasure of buying overpriced ridiculously short interconnects of course

 

[PaulRainbow]

Seems to me they've done exactly what you'd have wanted them to do? Standardising is a good thing even if it's a little inconvenient. Raymarine seem to be adopting standard plugs too so eventually we may reach nirvana Even if their plugs are nicer...

Not sure how you work out they've standardised things. There are at least three different offsets that i know of and now, anyone with a Garmin network, will have two different and not entirely compatible connections.

When the NMEA 2000 standards were set, they should have included cables and connectors.

 

[PaulRainbow]

So that you can have the pleasure of buying overpriced ridiculously short interconnects of course

That's certainly true with Raymarine, £34 for a STNG to N2K cable

Or, you're wiring a system up and you need a 1m spur cable, you have a 1m backbone cable, but you still have to go buy a new spur cable

 

[dolabriform]

That's certainly true with Raymarine, £34 for a STNG to N2K cable

Or, you're wiring a system up and you need a 1m spur cable, you have a 1m backbone cable, but you still have to go buy a new spur cable

£34 ? bargain

 

[PaulRainbow]

Oh, whilst i'm at it.......... You need 5 T's, so you buy a Garmin 4 way T and a single, right ? Which T though ?

 

[lustyd]

Not sure how you work out they've standardised things. There are at least three different offsets that i know of and now, anyone with a Garmin network, will have two different and not entirely compatible connections.

When the NMEA 2000 standards were set, they should have included cables and connectors.

I was basing it on your comment that they've changed to match Navico, which seemed a sensible move. Of course it could be that Garmin don't make them and Navico is their supplier, either way they're now the same

 

[dolabriform]

I must admit I seem to have been lucky as all the T-Connectors I've bought from different sources have been oriented the same way.

Shame that there is no wiring kit for them... or maybe just make up a simple box with all the required connectors on it? When it comes down to it, it's only a simple bus anyway,

 

[superheat6k]

That's interesting Paul, but I thought the while idea of NMEA2K was to meet a standard everyone had to follow to get type approval. I would have thought the plug and socket was core to this - a bit like changing the design of a 3 pin plug. (won't mention Apple connectors - a million Hotel rooms won't ever fit Apple compliant connectors again !).

 

[PaulRainbow]

That's interesting Paul, but I thought the while idea of NMEA2K was to meet a standard everyone had to follow to get type approval. I would have thought the plug and socket was core to this - a bit like changing the design of a 3 pin plug. (won't mention Apple connectors - a million Hotel rooms won't ever fit Apple compliant connectors again !).

From a recent thread on here, i understand there is something in the specs regarding connectors. but i'm not sure of the exact details. I do agree though, it seems to me that the connectors and cables should certainly been key. We have devicenet, STNG and Simnet (that's not even mentioning the early Navico red or blue connectors) and to further complicate matters everyone wants to make the connectors have different offsets.

I have to wonder what the reasoning is behind the Garmin change, might it have something to do with compliance ?

 

[PaulRainbow]

I have to wonder what the reasoning is behind the Garmin change, might it have something to do with compliance ?

Rather than wondering, i emailed Garmin and asked the question.

"I have just fitted a new Garmin GPSmap 1222 MFD to a customers boat and am puzzled by the change in the t-connector offset. The vessel already has a N2K network and the new t-connectors cannot be added to the existing row of T-connectors, as they will not allow for bulkhead fitting. Can you shed any light on why this change has been made please ?"

They said:

"The old black NMEA 2000 T-connectors we provided, did not align with 3th party NMEA 2000 T-pieces. With the new, grey T-connecters we provide, we adjusted the angle of the pins to align with 3th party NMEA 2000 T-connecters. This unfortunately will cause issues when combining both the old black and new grey T-connecters. "

Well, if they made the change to be more compatible with other brands, i guess that's a good thing in the long run. Still going to be a bit of a pain transitioning between the two styles in some cases, such as the GPSMap 1222 MFD i fitted.

They even offered to send me the T i used to keep the customers installation neat, hard to beat that for service.

 

[dolabriform]

Thanks for asking them Paul.
I can make up and sell you some really short link cables with any offset you require, at a special marine price if you want

 

[PaulRainbow]

Oh, whilst i'm at it.......... You need 5 T's, so you buy a Garmin 4 way T and a single, right ? Which T though ?

Heavens, talking to myself again ?

Also asked about this. The multi port T matches the offset of the old black T's.