Smartcraft Vesselview display

steved

steved

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Hi all

I have a Smartcraft Vesselview display fitted to my 2007 Cummins QSB powered motor boat , and it's stopped working...

The display powers up OK but does not show any data, the data fields are simply showing --- instead of numbers for rpm, oil pressure etc etc.

This has been a recurring problem over the past couple of years, and the simple solution was to turn the engine and ignition off and restart and it always seem to 'clear' the problem and the gauges would all work. That simple approach has now stopped working..

Any advice as to what the problem is will be greatly appreciated.

Tks
Steve
 
So don’t know the system. However ....

Most of these things work on a data bus that gives it the info it needs. Assuming the unit itself is working ( no idea how to test it other than find the boat next door with one and swap it ) I suspect the bus carrying the data ( a cat 5 cable or given its a boat a custom version of it like nmea) is no longer talking to the unit.

Some of these things talk to a router like device with one wire heading to the display. I would be going back down the wires looking for a poor connection / corrosion or a router like devise that has no power.

As I said at the start I don’t know this unit but the basics are all similar. If it is the unit itself I suspect finding someone to repair it could be interesting !
 
I know as much as J about these displays, just cheated and googled them, they are NMEA2000 devices by the looks of it.
Do as J suggests and have a look for dodgy breakers as I'd expect to be powered separately from the NMEA2000 bus (usually all displays due to power consumption have a separate V+ GND)
Looks like the NMEA2000 bus power is off and only the display powers up and stays there waiting for data. Could well be something is shorting the 12V on the bus and making a mess of things.
Wiggle connectors, follow cables and pray!

or a dodgy earth on the motor side of things were the sensors are. Unless it's an ECU engine in which case there may be a "translator" of ECU to NMEA2000 and maybe that's dead/off

cheers

V.
 
Hi

I have a wee bit of knowledge with this. I have the vessel view mobile system on one boat and the smart craft gauges and readouts on the other.
before going into it further, is it either of these you have or is is the system with like the 7” display screen ? It sounds like your network connections are needing loosened and inspected. Some systems even need a yellow “terminator” plug end cap to make it work fully.
 
Thanks for the replies so far.

Will pop to the boat today to check a few things out. I have another display on the flybridge and will see what that is doing as well as checking / cleaning all the connections etc. Wil report back later.
 
All sorted (for now) disconnected and cleaned each terminal connection from the engine end, the main 12 pin connector had signs of corrosion. This connection was located directly under the heat exchanger which looked like having a slight weep from the hose fitting. Before and after pics..
IMG_3152.JPGIMG_3153.JPG

Thanks for the replies
 
steved said:
All sorted (for now) disconnected and cleaned each terminal connection from the engine end, the main 12 pin connector had signs of corrosion. This connection was located directly under the heat exchanger which looked like having a slight weep from the hose fitting. Before and after pics..
View attachment 83481View attachment 83482

Thanks for the replies
Click to expand...

Well done. Thought it might be something around the terminal caps.
 
This is one of those threads I watch with interest even though I’ve nothing to contribute. Because, like the OP I also have a QSB with VesselView, good information to store away ??
 
Bouba said:
This is one of those threads I watch with interest even though I’ve nothing to contribute. Because, like the OP I also have a QSB with VesselView, good information to store away ??
Click to expand...
If you have a spare £200 to burn...you should try the vessel view mobile. It’s incredible. All the data this has and more, straight to your phone Or tablet, through blue tooth. So much data it’s incredible.
 
QBhoy said:
If you have a spare £200 to burn...you should try the vessel view mobile. It’s incredible. All the data this has and more, straight to your phone Or tablet, through blue tooth. So much data it’s incredible.
Click to expand...
I have heard of it. I’ll do some research
 
Old thread I know but my Vesselview is showing 'Gear Temp' variations - on start up port = 18 (seems normal) and s/b 55 (abnormal)
I posted on Sbmar and opinion seems to be fault with Smartcraft - I am not even sure what Gear Temp is as on my QSB 5.9s Cummins I dont think there are sensors on the transmission oil coolers yet the temps increase and maintain variance as the boat warms up - any help gratefully received as any discrepancy between readings gives me the heebeegeebees - what even is Gear Temp?
 
Gearbox oil temp at a guess. I’d be cleaning all the connectors/ plugs etc….

Most sensors are resistance based so if the terminals in the plugs are corroded….resistance goes up. must be something like that as temp can’t possibly be 55 c from cold start plus, it increases correctly (as per the other engine) so unlikely the sensor.
 
Sounds pretty normal to me if it’s just been started from cold. Be more relevant what they are showing when up to temp.
 
Apologies for confusion - im not sure how you see one cooler at 13 degrees C on startup and one at 53 degrees C as 'pretty normal' - surely the oil cant be 53 degrees C on startup - they will then increase to 55-60 port and 75-80 s/b under load - my guess is Mr Googler is right and most likely some dirty connections - however I am at a loss as to how to find the sensors for gear temp - there are various plugs in and around the cooler - reverse gear, troll, pressure - just unplug all and squirt with some cleaner?
 
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