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#BECU NMEA 2000 CONNECTORS PROFESSIONAL#

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The point of all this being that if we are going to be safe and competent, we need to really think about new technology and what its intrinsic vulnerabilities are and not just get swept up in the hype.

We have an independent and immediately accessible backup option.

There is a separate AIS unit with its own screen and direct connection to its own GPS within sight of the helm.

There is a properly swung mechanical compass in view of the helm.

There are backup hard wired, or mechanically connected, engine instruments.There is a plotter with a separately connected GPS sensor, or GPS with paper charts, available.And because of the issues with trouble shooting these complex systems in remote places, it would be good to have a plan for continuing our cruise without all this interconnection too. In fact I really like the idea of replacing the hundreds of different wires running hither and yon through most modern boats with a single network backbone.īut what I am saying is that we need to think about what a network failure will do to us on a dark night in a tricky situation and have a backup plan. I’m not saying that you should not use NMEA 2000 or that it’s a bad protocol. And think about the number of hours solving a difficult problem could take-ouch! Even if you can find one, think about what his or her charge rate is likely to be. Good luck with that in most of the places we voyage to. And if the problem is intermittent, as it very likely will be, then the trouble shooting is going to be ten times more difficult.īut not to worry, all you need is a “NMEA-certified electronics technician”. No, all you can do is check every single connector and terminator until you find the bad one. I’m an electronics and computer technician by trade and I can tell you that network problems can be some of the most frustrating and time consuming problems to troubleshoot because there is no easy way to logically zero in on the failure point. And all it takes is one of those connectors to fail and it’s lights out. There are yards of cable with dozens of connectors snaking all over your boat and routed through inaccessible and damp places. Follow this link to find the closest CET to your homeport.

#BECU NMEA 2000 CONNECTORS PROFESSIONAL#

If cleaning and reseating connectors or terminators cannot solve a problem, then by all means seek the professional help of an NMEA-certified electronics technician. The problem, however, could be as simple as a missing/damaged terminator or loose/dirty connectors. This is because if there is a short or open in the trunk or drop lines it can affect the entire network, downgrading overall performance or even taking down the network. So how likely is it that this will happen? Let me quote from the ON article (emphasis mine).īecause cabling problems are especially troubling for bus or linear topology networks such as NMEA 2000, the cabling should be checked first if any malfunctions start to manifest. That’s going to be fun! As a famous ocean racing skipper was heard to say after nearly running aground on Cape Sable in the fog, “only your laundry knows for sure”. Murphy will make absolutely certain that all of this happens just as you are making an approach to a tricky harbour crawling with traffic…in the fog. The speedo/log, depth sounder, and wind instruments stop working.The autopilot stops working because it has no input from the compass.The multi function display in the cockpit that displays radar and AIS information goes black.There is no read out from the fluxgate compass.All of the devices that require a GPS position, including the plotter, stop working.What does that mean for a fully NMEA 2000 boat? And therein lies the problem that I have not seen one commentator mention: If there is a significant problem with the NMEA 2000 backbone, every piece of gear on the boat dependant on it stops working. You see, the thing is that many devices use the NMEA backbone not only to communicate with other devices, but to communicate with their own sensors. You knew there was a “but” coming, right? Most every techy type in the marine journalism community has been waxing eloquent about how cool this is.

For those of you who are not aware, NMEA is a standard backbone cabling system that allows you to connect every piece of electronic gear on your boat together, regardless of what company manufactured each piece.

I was just reading an article on the NMEA 2000 marine network standard over at the excellent Ocean Navigator blog.