Data items only populating with data from one engine, tank level sensor, fuel flow se

[Chuck - Raymarine - Moderator]

Data items only populating with data from one engine, tank level sensor, fuel flow sensor

NMEA 2000 Instancing – Historically, Raymarine NMEA 2000 / SeaTalkng communications hardware and software have proven to be exceptionally reliable and free of defects. Generally speaking, the problem is almost always determined to have resulted from a fault with the installation and/or programming / configuration of the third party NMEA 2000 device(s). In virtually all such cases, the issue has resulted from one or more of the following:

- The NMEA 2000 devices have each been programmed / configured to transmit the same Instance number within the NMEA 2000 PGNs transmitted by the device. This condition results when the installer, OEM, or customer has simply taken the NMEA 2000 device from the box and physically installed it within the system. From the factory, most of the NMEA 2000 devices identified above will be programmed to transmit NMEA 2000 PGNs featuring “0” for the Instance number within the NMEA 2000 PGNs transmitted by the device. When two or more of any type of NMEA 2000 device (engine, tank level sensor, fuel flow sensor, etc.) will be installed within a system, each device must not only be programmed to transmit a unique Instance number, but that Instance number may need to be consistent with the NMEA 2000 Instance numbering schema expected by Raymarine products and detailed within the bullet below. With the exception of compatible engine systems which have been interfaced to an ECI-100 and would subsequently be identified via the MFD’s Identify Engines feature, Raymarine products cannot program / configure new Instance numbers into third party NMEA 2000 devices. Such programming / configuring must be done in accordance with procedures obtained from the manufacturers of the third party NMEA 2000 devices. Accordingly, such programming / configuring may require additional hardware and / or computer software from the manufacturer of the NMEA 2000 devices.

- NMEA 2000 devices have been programmed / configured to transmit Instance numbers which are inconsistent with the NMEA 2000 convention for multiple instances of a NMEA 2000 device. When more than one instance of such devices are installed across the width of the vessel, the NMEA 2000 convention expects that the port-most instance of such devices will be programmed / configured to include Instance number “0” within transmitted NMEA 2000 PGNs. The next instance of such devices immediately to starboard of the port-most device will be programmed / configured to include Instance number “1” within transmitted NMEA 2000 PGNs. The next instance of such devices immediately to starboard of that which had been programmed to include Instance number “1” will in turn be programmed / configured to include Instance number “2” within transmitted NMEA 2000 PGNs … and so on, and so on. Accordingly, should a vessel be fitted with three engines, then the port, center, and starboard engines / engine gateways will be programmed / configured to include Instance number “0”, “1”, and “2” respectively within transmitted NMEA 2000 PGNs. Similarly, should a vessel be fitted with three fuel tanks, then the port, center, and NMEA 2000 fuel tank level sensors will be programmed / configured to include Instance number “0”, “1”, and “2” respectively within transmitted NMEA 2000 PGNs. Raymarine products are designed to expect that NMEA 2000 engines / engine gateways, tank level sensors, fuel flow sensors, etc. will adhere to this same convention.

Note: As the diagnostics of Raymarine MFDs may neither be used to verify that the above Instance numbering schema has been followed nor to verify specific details of each of the data items which the NMEA 2000 device is including within transmitted PGNs, a properly equipped installer / OEM / or customer troubleshooting such problems should be equipped with or have access to a NMEA 2000 analyzer tool (ex. Actisense NGT-1 w/Actisense NMEA Reader computer software, etc.) to perform any necessary troubleshooting. Such tools are relatively inexpensive and widely available.


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