[CA] [CA11] New Raymarine system & questions . . .

[Chuck - Raymarine - Moderator]

Welcome to the Raymarine Forum Martin35,

Q1. The Axiom 7 has a NEMA 2000 male connection feeding out, so to interface it to the STng backbone I think I need the A06045 Micro-C Device Net cable, correct? If not correct, what cable or adapter do I need?
A1. Correct. Additional options may be found within first paragraph of the FAQ found here.

Q2. Same question for the Simrad RS35, it has a NEMA 2000 male connection, so I think I need the A06045 cable, correct? Again, if not correct, what do I need?
A2. I would recommend double checking with Simrad's support team to verify that the RS35 feature a DeviceNet (M) socket. If so, then my response to Q1 would apply to the RS35 as well.

Q3a. I want to power the STng backbone via a separate 12V-DC connection which will connect to the STng backbone via the ITC-5. The STng backbone will be on a separate breaker at the DC panel marked “Instruments”. Is this an acceptable location to connect 12V-DC power to the STng backbone?
A3a. The chosen spur socket will not support a balanced LEN Load. A spur socket should be located closer to the center of the backbone's LEN Load.

Q3b. Would it better to connect power by a separate T connector with balanced LEN on either side?
A3b. Yes.

Q3c. Finally, should I also install an in-line fuse in addition to the breaker panel? If so, what value?
A3c. The answer is dependent upon whether you can locate a breaker rated for 5A. If not, then an inline fuse should be installed.

Q4. Re LEN values, this is a small, short system, so I think I can probably ignore the advice to balance the LEN values on either side of the power connection to the backbone. Is this correct? Or is it good practice to balance the LEN values even in a small system? My longest backbone run will be 5 meters (about 16’ 4”), the other two runs will be 1 meter (about 3’ 3”) each, so total backbone length about 23’.
A4. While it is less important to balance the LEN load in small backbones, doing so would still be recommended. Should a problem arise with an unbalanced backbone, one of the first recommendations which would likely be suggested is to balance the backbone's LEN load and then to re-test the system.

Q5. At the DC panel, I will have separate, fused, switchable on/off power connections for the ACU-100 (marked “Autopilot”), the Axion 7 (marked “Chartplotter”), and the Simrad RS35 (marked “VHF”) so I can turn each of them off when anchored to conserve battery life. I understand that the ACU-100 can also power the STng backbone but that the function for that can be turned off in setup, correct?
A5. This is an incorrect statement. Only an ACU200 and ACU400 support supplying power to a SeaTalkng / NMEA 2000 backbone.

Q6. Can the i50 Depth, the i50 Speed, and the i60 Wind be daisy-chained as I have shown on the diagram?
A5. Yes. However, it would be considered to be a best installation practice to install them as individual spurs to the backbone. As this is a sailing vessel, should it feature an instruments pod, then please click here to view the FAQ providing recommendations for routing the backbone.

Q7. I understand that the i50 Depth, i50 Speed, i60 Wind, I70s MFD and P70s APCH are all powered by the STng backbone and that no separate power connections are required for these instruments, correct?
A7. Correct.

Q8. The Simrad RS35 manual says it is capable of displaying AIS and DSC data on NEMA 2000 compatible chartplotters. Is there any reason why the Axion 7 would not be compatible? Both will be NEMA 2000 connected to the backbone.
A8. Negative. As long as a third party AIS receiver/transceiver supports NMEA 2000 or NMEA 0183 communications (the latter must be bridged to NMEA 2000) and is transmitting properly constructed NMEA 2000 PGNs, then the Axiom MFD should support plotting AIS targets and displaying data associated with these NMEA 2000 PGNs.

Q9. Will the Axion 7 properly display STng network Depth, Speed, and Wind data via it’s NEMA 2000 connection as long as the correct adapter is used? Does the data it displays come from the i70s or via the ITC-5 converter? Do I need to do anything to select the data source?
A9. The iTC-5 will actually be the data source for depth, speed, and wind data. As this system features only one source of data for each type of data, the Data Sources feature need not be exercised.