NMEA 2k trim tab indicatorss?
 

Anyone have a non Smartcraft K-Plane solution?
Thanks
Steve

What do you run now? Have you looked into this NMEA compatible indicator/converter from Livorsi?

http://www.livorsi.com/images/catalo...tors/aledi.jpg

http://www.livorsi.com/catalog/adjus...ndicators.html
The LED indicator can also transmit (Tx) this information via CAN bus to other compatible displays such as Garmin, Lowrance or Raymarine via NMEA 2000®, SmartCraft® (with Gateway) or J1939 protocols.

Or are you looking for digital display options?

you can also use the Livorsi stuff to get the data on a NEMA network and not use the Livorsi indicator panel, if you wanted to see trim on a chartplotter or something. That Livorsi system is super cool but expensive compared to 4 cables.

What's expensive?? I'm looking at options now on my Fountain. I'm tired of the cable's. Let me know please.

if I remember correctly for a twin engine setup drives/tabs around $2500, that buys a lot of cables.

TTT, any updates on this?? Looking to replace my cables but would rather put the indicators onto NMEA 2000 and show them on the GPS. What is the cost and are there any other options???

I haven't followed those "pretty" units any further once I heard the cost. However if you just want to get trim data into another display by NMEA / CAN, there is cheaper options. Good quality rheostats on drives and tabs feeding a analog / digital converter that speaks CAN would accomplish the same.
Resistance values are converted to a digital equivalence, 0-99% and that's assigned a PID # for each unit, and sent to the display where it listed as Port/Sbd - Drive/Tab.
Here is a unit I found for $270 that will do engine and trim data conversion. Plus several others on that page could work also..

http://www.navstore.com/noland-engin...FbNj7AodzWgAlQ

Know I've promised to work on this, but my boat project hasn't progress to this point yet. If someone has a modern Garmin display to test with, I'd be happy to get ya the part numbers and demonstrate how it works. If you can strip wires and use a computer, you can do build these digital trim setups for well under a grand.

I have the Noland unit and like it but it does not supports tabs this time only drive trim. You can make it work but it never makes a decent screen on a garmn (you need to configure for 4 engines on a twin.
Steve

I was going to get the Noland boxes to convert all of my gauges to NMEA and display them on my Garmin. Update my dash a lot I figured if I get rid of most of the gauges.

Good to know Steve. Do you feel the problem related to assigning the correct pids for tabs in the Noland software, or the Garmin doesn't like what it's receiving? That box shows A1-A4 analog inputs, so was thinking that should be sufficient to assign 4 trim indicators. There is other industrial CAN modules out there that might be better suited and easier programing for a specific task.

Did some searching for a saltwater-proof solution to replace those old lifting ram indicator cables. Check out these magnetic "shaftless" linear position transducers for the DIY crowd. Come in 6,12, 18, or 24 inch, and possibly use your old cable mounting hardware.

http://sensing.honeywell.com/product-page?pr_id=30743
Under common use states: Marine steering systems

When I spoke with noland the current version has trim but not tabs. So you need to spoof it a little to get it all. Other than that it is a really nicely done unit.
Steve

beating a potentially dead horse? .... I do not have smartcraft, but intend on getting a analog converter to integrate my engine vitals on two Garmin screens.... would love to minimize clutter on my dash and integrate my k-planes onto garmin screens NMEA 2000. still not really possible without purchasing the Livorsi setup?

(single engine boat with k-planes)

The Noland unit will work.
Steve

Looks like I should be able to use 1 of these Noland units to convert 2 tabs, 2 drives, and 2 fuel tank levels into names 2000...
Has anyone got 1 of these units up and running ? Should be possible to fab up a trim pot mechanism to hook to short 33 c cables like the livorsi units.

Yeah I think I actually posted to the parts to do that on here somewhere. Basically just need a variable resistor setup to convert the cable or piston movement to an electrical signal. I take it you have cables on everything now?

I have it running using smartcraft sender's from tabs and a 0-5 v tps on drive indicator.
Steve

My Noland box arrives today! Very excited and intrigued to tinker with it.

Hope you fellas won't mind my picking your minds on this exact topic: trim tabs. Especially you steve. Read lots of ur threads.

Another steve here as well

Yes -- cables currently
I looked at the Honeywell units --- they look like the ticket for the conversion. I need to measure travel on the drives and tabs in order to pick out the most suited linear Transducer. I will be ordering one soon in order to mock it up.

Smiklos--- we're you able to get the screen to look right? You mentioned having to spoof it a bit--- I take it that is the setup....

got my RS11 today but i'm about a month+ from any connectivity and running live with it. sharing this from Noland website

Funny you say the Honeywell unit I just put one in the raceboat on stainless marine heads up indicator. The magnet is on cable and the bar is in front of it. seems to work good I am using it for a racepak sensor.
Steve

Thanks for that info Steve. I believe that is exactly what Delsol needed to know for his setup. Standard 0-5V signal correct?

Yes thanks Steve.

I'm also looking into the standard Merc sending units for the drives and trim -- how are they holding up? By using the merc units it takes all the slop out of the cable set ups...and is very clean inside the transom.

Would it be possible to mount the magnet inside of the hydraulic cylinder on the tabs and strap the Honeywell on the outside?

Or easier would be just make a bracket that mount to the end of the cylinder and held the magnet over the unit mounted on the cylinder housing...?

I was think of that for a steering ram for steering position. I really do not think it will work but we may try it.
Steve

You meed about 3.75 inches of travel for anything with cables.
Steve