Retro-fit of GPH/MPG instrument

[amf]

With next November looming and all this talk of fuel consumption, I am wondering what the best route to add fuel consumption data to my current Nav gear would be.

I've got the usual Raymarine Tridata/C Series setup on EDC engines (KAD 300's). I know its easier with newer EVC engines but what is best route with EDC's?

Quite like the look of the new ST70 display which is a direct ('ish) replacement for my Tridata ST60 but uses NMEA2000 bus. The C series can also display NMEA2000 derived fuel data. You can buy NMEA2000 fuel tank senders to replace my current one. Is that enough or do you need a fuel flow sender as well?

Boat is Targa 34 so no space on dash for further displays. Anyone done this already?

Cheers
Andrew

 

[jfm]

I know EVC better than I know EDC but I think the postion is as follows, and others might chip in or correct me:

1. you can buy a Volvo EDC display that plugs into your engine contol wiring looms and displays the fuel flow data (as well as other engine data) that already exists on the volvo data bus. About £1000, and display is same size as ST60 raymarine jobs

2. In addition to the above you can buy another little black box from Volvo that will convert NMEA083 or 2000 data from your GPS into volvo speak and feed it into the volvo databus, then your display will show MPG. About £300

3. Volspec can help you on all the above, just call em

4. you cannot dsisplay engine stuff directly on your Raymarine gear becuase the volvo EDC does not give an output in NMEA2000 format. Even EVC doesn't, unless you buy a converter/translator box

5. You could ignore volvo and just fit aftermarket fuel flow sensors that give an output in NMEA2000, and dispaly on your raymarine. You need sensors on flow and return, so 4 with 2 engines. Quite a mission to fit, compared with plug and play volvo gear. And they only display fuel, whereas the volvo gizmo displayslots of "extras" like fuel level in tank, turbo pressure, various other engine data, trip meter for total fuel ever burned, graphs, etc (at least, it does in EVC, the of data might be less with EDC)

6. you could ignore volvo, raymarine and NMEA2000 and just buy aftermarket fuel flow sensors with teitr own dedicated dashboard read out unit. Again, no "extras" like above, and more of a job to fit than Volvo's plug and play gear. There have been forum posts on this before. Navman and flotech are companies that do this stuff

Others who know EDC better might chip in and correct me on the above . I diy fitted the volvo gear (EVC) and it was dead easy and works perfectly. A 1 hour job. I think it's great kit, though at £1300 it aint cheap. You only need one display even for 2 engines by the way. In fact i think it's better with just the one display becuae it adds together the fuel burn from both engines

 

[amf]

Thanks jfm.

Far as I know EDC engines do not have any external interface to engine management - think this was introduced with EVC.

This leaves me with the aftermarket products. I've seen the Navman stuff but I think this only applies to their plotters? I'll check out Flotech but their web site seems to be all industrial related.

I'm hoping that if there is such a thing as an NMEA2000 fuel flow sensor then the C Series or ST70 can work out GPH/MPG (given it has time, speed, distance already) - but still not sure?? /forums/images/graemlins/confused.gif