Failure to follow these warnings, cautions, and notices could
result in personal injury, damage to the vessel or device, or poor
product performance.
See the Important Safety and Product Information guide in the
product box for product warnings and other important
information.
When connecting the power cable, do not remove the in-line
fuse holder. To prevent the possibility of injury or product
damage caused by fire or overheating, the appropriate fuse
must be in place as indicated in the product specifications. In
addition, connecting the power cable without the appropriate
fuse in place voids the product warranty.
CAUTION
To avoid possible personal injury, always wear safety goggles,
ear protection, and a dust mask when drilling, cutting, or
sanding.
To avoid possible personal injury or damage to the device and
vessel, disconnect the vessel's power supply before beginning
to install the device.
To avoid possible personal injury or damage to the device or
vessel, before applying power to the device, make sure that it
has been properly grounded, following the instructions in the
guide.
Mounting styleDrill bit sizes
Bail with included wood screws3 mm (1/8 in.)
Flush for the corner of the cutoutGPSMAP 7x3: 6.5 mm (1/4 in.)
GPSMAP 9x3: 7.4 mm
(5/16 in.)
GPSMAP 12x3: 13.5 mm
(9/16 in.)
Flush with included wood screws3.5 mm (9/64 in.)
Flush with included machine
screws and nut plates
Flush with included machine
screws and tapped holes
• #2 Phillips screwdriver
• Jigsaw or rotary tool
• File and sandpaper
• Marine sealant (recommended)
3.5 mm (9/64 in.)
3 mm (1/8 in.)
M3 tap
GPSMAP 7x3 and GPSMAP 9x3 Connector View
POWERPower and NMEA® 0183 network
NETWORKGarmin Marine Network
J1939J1939 engine network
Ground screw
CVBS INComposite video in
SONAR12-pin transducer (Not available on all models)
USBMicro-USB for compatible Garmin card reader
NMEA 2000NMEA 2000® network
2 microSD® memory card slots, 32 GB max.
GPSMAP 12x3 Connector View
NOTICE
For the best possible performance, the device must be installed
according to these instructions.
When drilling or cutting, always check what is on the opposite
side of the surface to avoid damaging the vessel.
Read all installation instructions before proceeding with the
installation. If you experience difficulty during the installation,
contact Garmin® Product Support.
Tools Needed
• Drill
• Drill bits appropriate for the device and mounting style
POWERPower and NMEA 0183 network
SONAR12-pin transducer (Not available on all models)
• Go to support.garmin.com for help and information, such as
product manuals, frequently asked questions, videos, and
customer support.
• In the USA, call 913-397-8200 or 1-800-800-1020.
• In the UK, call 0808 238 0000.
• In Europe, call +44 (0) 870 850 1241.
Software Update
You may need to update the chartplotter software after
installation. For the instructions on how to update the software,
see the owner's manual at garmin.com/manuals/GPSMAP7x3
-9x3-12x3.
Mounting Considerations
NOTICE
This device should be mounted in a location that is not exposed
to extreme temperatures or conditions. The temperature range
for this device is listed in the product specifications. Extended
exposure to temperatures exceeding the specified temperature
range, in storage or operating conditions, may cause device
failure. Extreme-temperature-induced damage and related
consequences are not covered by the warranty.
When selecting a mounting location, you should observe these
considerations.
• The location should provide optimal viewing as you operate
your boat.
• The location should allow for easy access to all device
interfaces, such as the keypad, touchscreen, and card
reader, if applicable.
• The location must be strong enough to support the weight of
the device and protect it from excessive vibration or shock.
• To avoid interference with a magnetic compass, the device
should not be installed closer to a compass than the
compass-safe distance value listed in the product
specifications.
• The location must allow room for the routing and connection
of all cables.
• The location must not be a flat, horizontal surface. The
location should be in a vertical angle.
The location and viewing angle should be tested before you
install the device. High viewing angles from above and below
the display may result in a poor image.
Bail Mounting the Device
NOTICE
If you are mounting the bracket on fiberglass with screws, it is
recommended to use a countersink bit to drill a clearance
counterbore through only the top gel-coat layer. This will help to
avoid cracking in the gel-coat layer when the screws are
tightened.
You can use the bracket to bail mount the device on a flat
surface.
Using the bail-mount bracket as a template, mark the pilot
1
holes .
Using a 3 mm (1/8 in.) drill bit, drill the pilot holes.
2
Secure the bail-mount bracket to the surface using the
3
included washers and wood screws .
Install the bail-mount knobs on the sides of the device.
4
Place the device in the bail-mount bracket, and tighten the
5
bail-mount knobs.
Install the trim caps by snapping them in place around the
6
edges of the device.
Flush Mounting the Device
NOTICE
Be careful when cutting the hole to flush mount the device.
There is only a small amount of clearance between the case and
the mounting holes, and cutting the hole too large could
compromise the stability of the device after it is mounted.
Use only the included hardware when mounting this device.
Using mounting hardware not provided with the device may
damage the device.
To avoid potential damage to the powder coating, use only the
included screws to mount the device. Using screws other than
the ones included will void your warranty.
Do not use the device as a template when drilling the mounting
holes because this may damage the glass display and void the
warranty. You must only use the included template to correctly
drill the mounting holes.
If you will not have access to the back of the device and the
microSD memory card slots after installations, you should install
the microSD memory card prior to installation.
The included template and hardware can be used to flush mount
the device in your dashboard. There are three options for
hardware based on the mounting surface material.
• You can drill pilot holes and use the included wood screws.
• You can drill holes and use the included nut plates and
machine screws. The nut plates can add stability to a thinner
surface.
• You can punch and tap holes, and use the included machine
screws.
Trim the template, and make sure it fits in the location where
1
you want to mount the device.
Secure the template to the mounting location.
2
Using a drill bit according to the list below, drill one or more of
3
the holes inside the corners of the solid line on the template
to prepare the mounting surface for cutting.
DeviceDrill bit size
GPSMAP 7x36.5 mm (1/4 in.)
GPSMAP 9x37.4 mm (5/16 in.)
GPSMAP 12x313.5 mm (9/16 in.)
2
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Using a jigsaw or a rotary tool, cut the mounting surface
4
along the inside line on the template.
Place the device in the cutout to test the fit.
5
If necessary, use a file and sandpaper to refine the size of
6
the cutout.
If necessary, remove the trim caps.
7
NOTICE
Use a plastic pry tool when possible. Using a metal pry tool,
such as a screwdriver, can damage the trim caps and the
device.
After the device fits correctly in the cutout, ensure the
8
mounting holes on the device line up with the hole locations
on the template.
NOTE: GPSMAP 12x3 models have six mounting holes.
GPSMAP 9x3 and GPSMAP 7x3 models have four mounting
holes.
If the mounting holes on the device do not line up, mark the
9
new hole locations.
Based on your mounting method, drill or punch and tap the
10
outer holes on the template:
• For the included wood screws, drill 3.5 mm (9/64 in.) holes,
and skip to step 18.
• For the included nut plate and machine screws, drill
3.5 mm (9/64 in.) holes in the outer hole locations.
• For the included machine screws without the nut plate,
punch and tap M3 holes, and skip to step 18.
If you are using a nut plate, starting in one corner of the
11
template, place a nut plate over the hole drilled in the
previous step.
The other hole on the nut plate should line up with the
inner hole on the template.
If the inner hole on the nut plate does not line up with the
12
inner hole on the template, mark the new hole location.
If you are using a nut plate, using a 3 mm (1/8 in.) drill bit, drill
13
a hole in the inner hole location.
Repeat to verify placement of the remaining nut plates and
14
holes on the template.
Remove the template from the mounting surface.
15
Starting in one corner of the mounting location, place a nut
16
plate on the back of the mounting surface, lining up the
holes.
The raised portion of the nut plate should fit into the inner
hole.
Secure the nut plates to the mounting surface by fastening
17
the pan head machine screws through the inner holes.
Install the foam gasket on the back of the device.
18
The pieces of the foam gasket have adhesive on the back.
Make sure you remove the protective liner before installing
them on the device.
If you will not have access to the back of the device after you
19
mount it, connect all necessary cables and install microSD
cards in the back of the device before placing it into the
cutout.
NOTICE
To prevent corrosion of the metal contacts, cover unused
connectors with the attached weather caps.
Apply marine sealant between the mounting surface and the
20
device to properly seal and prevent leakage behind the
dashboard.
If you will have access to the back of the device, apply
21
marine sealant around the cutout.
Place the device into the cutout.
22
Secure the device to the mounting surface using the flat head
23
machine screws or the included wood screws.
Wipe away all excess marine sealant.
24
Install the trim caps by snapping them in place around the
25
edges of the device.
Connection Considerations
After connecting the cables to the device, tighten the locking
rings to secure each cable.
Power/NMEA 0183 Cable
• The wiring harness connects the device to power, NMEA
0183 devices, and a lamp or a horn for visible or audible
alerts.
• If it is necessary to extend the NMEA 0183 or alarm wires,
you must use 22 AWG (.33 mm²) wire.
• This cable provides one differential NMEA 0183 input and
output port.
ItemWire ColorWire Function
RedPower
BlackGround (power and NMEA 0183)
BlueNMEA 0183 TxA (Out +)
GrayNMEA 0183 TxB (Out -)
BrownNMEA 0183 RxA (In +)
VioletNMEA 0183 RxB (In -)
OrangeAccessory on
YellowAlarm low
Connecting the Wiring Harness to Power
WARNING
When connecting the power cable, do not remove the in-line
fuse holder. To prevent the possibility of injury or product
damage caused by fire or overheating, the appropriate fuse
must be in place as indicated in the product specifications. In
3
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addition, connecting the power cable without the appropriate
fuse in place voids the product warranty.
Route the wiring harness to the power source and to the
1
device.
Connect the red wire to the positive (+) battery terminal, and
2
connect the black wire to the negative (-) battery terminal.
If necessary, install the locking ring and O-ring on the end of
3
the wiring harness.
Insert the cable into the POWER connector on the back of
4
the device, pushing firmly.
Turn the locking ring clockwise to attach the cable to the
5
device.
Additional Grounding Consideration
This device should not need additional chassis grounding in
most installation situations. If you experience interference, the
grounding screw on the housing can be used to connect the
device to the water ground of the boat to help avoid the
interference.
Garmin Marine Network Considerations
NOTICE
A Garmin Marine Network PoE Isolation Coupler
(010-10580-10) must be used when connecting any third-party
device, such as a FLIR® camera, to a Garmin Marine Network.
Connecting a Power over Ethernet (PoE) device directly to a
Garmin Marine Network chartplotter damages the Garmin
chartplotter and may damage the PoE device. Connecting any
third-party device directly to a Garmin Marine Network
chartplotter will cause abnormal behavior on the Garmin
devices, including the devices not properly turning off or the
software becoming inoperable.
This device can connect to additional Garmin Marine Network
devices to share data such as radar, sonar, and detailed
mapping. When connecting Garmin Marine Network devices to
this device, observe these considerations.
• All devices connected to the Garmin Marine Network must be
connected to the same ground. If multiple power sources are
used for Garmin Marine Network devices, you must tie all
ground connections from all power supplies together using a
low resistance connection or tie them to a common ground
bus bar, if available.
• A Garmin Marine Network cable must be used for all Garmin
Marine Network connections.
◦ Third-party CAT5 cable and RJ45 connectors must not be
used for Garmin Marine Network connections.
◦ Additional Garmin Marine Network cables and connectors
are available from your Garmin dealer.
• The NETWORK ports on the device each act as a network
switch. Any compatible device can be connected to any
NETWORK port to share data with all devices on the boat
connected by a Garmin Marine Network cable.
NMEA 2000 Considerations
NOTICE
If you are connecting to an existing NMEA 2000 network,
identify the NMEA 2000 power cable. Only one NMEA 2000
power cable is required for the NMEA 2000 network to operate
properly.
A NMEA 2000 Power Isolator (010-11580-00) should be used in
installations where the existing NMEA 2000 network
manufacturer is unknown.
If you are installing a NMEA 2000 power cable, you must
connect it to the boat ignition switch or through another in-line
switch. NMEA 2000 devices will drain your battery if the NMEA
2000 power cable is connected to the battery directly.
This device can connect to a NMEA 2000 network on your boat
to share data from NMEA 2000 compatible devices such as a
GPS antenna or a VHF radio. The included NMEA 2000 cables
and connectors allow you to connect the device to your existing
NMEA 2000 network. If you do not have an existing NMEA 2000
network you can create a basic one using cables from Garmin.
If you are unfamiliar with NMEA 2000, you should read the
Technical Reference for NMEA 2000 Products at garmin.com
/manuals/nmea_2000.
The port labeled NMEA 2000 is used to connect the device to a
standard NMEA 2000 network.
ItemDescription
NMEA 2000 compatible Garmin device
GPS antenna
Ignition or in-line switch
NMEA 2000 power cable
NMEA 2000 drop cable
12 Vdc power source
NMEA 2000 terminator or backbone cable
NMEA 2000 T-connector
NMEA 2000 terminator or backbone cable
NMEA 0183 Connection Considerations
• The chartplotter provides one Tx (transmit) port and one Rx
(receive) port.
• Each port has 2 wires, labeled A and B according to the
NMEA 0183 convention. The corresponding A and B wires of
each internal port should be connected to the A (+) and B (-)
wires of the NMEA 0183 device.
• You can connect one NMEA 0183 device to the Rx port to
input data to this chartplotter, and you can connect up to
three NMEA 0183 devices in parallel to the Tx port to receive
data output by this chartplotter.
• See the NMEA 0183 device installation instructions to identify
the transmit (Tx) and receive (Rx) wires.
• You must use 28 AWG, shielded, twisted-pair wiring for
extended runs of wire. Solder all connections and seal them
with heat-shrink tubing.
• Do not connect the NMEA 0183 data wires from this device
to power ground.
• The power cable from the chartplotter and the NMEA 0183
devices must be connected to a common power ground.
• The internal NMEA 0183 ports and communication protocols
are configured on the chartplotter. See the NMEA 0183
section of the chartplotter owner's manual for more
information.
4
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• See the chartplotter owner's manual for a list of the approved
NMEA 0183 sentences that the chartplotter supports.
NMEA 0183 Device Connections
This diagram illustrates two-way connections for both sending
and receiving data. You can also use this diagram for one-way
communication. To receive information from a NMEA 0183
device, refer to items , , , and when connecting the
Garmin device. To transmit information to a NMEA 0183 device,
refer to items , , , and when connecting the Garmin
device.
Lamp and Horn Connections
The device can be used with a lamp, a horn, or both, to sound or
flash an alert when the chartplotter displays a message. This is
optional, and the alarm wire is not necessary for the device to
function normally. When connecting the device to a lamp or
horn, observe these considerations.
• The alarm circuit switches to a low-voltage state when the
alarm sounds.
• The maximum current is 100 mA, and a relay is needed to
limit the current from the chartplotter to 100 mA.
• To manually toggle visual and audible alerts, you can install
single-pole, single-throw switches.
ItemDescription
Power source
Power/NMEA 0183 cable
NMEA 0183 device
Item Garmin Wire Function Garmin Wire
Color
PowerRedPower
Power groundBlackPower ground
Data groundBlackData ground
Rx/A (In +)BrownTx/A (Out +)
Rx/B (In -)VioletTx/B (Out -)
Tx/A (Out +)BlueRx/A (In +)
Tx/B (Out -)GrayRx/B (In -)
NMEA 0183 Device
Wire Function
If the NMEA 0183 device has only one input (receive, Rx) wire
(no A, B, +, or -), you must leave the gray wire unconnected.
If the NMEA 0183 device has only one output (transmit, Tx) wire
(no A, B, +, or -), you must connect the violet wire to ground.
NMEA 0183 and Power Cable Pinout
Item Description
Power source
Power cable
Horn
Lamp
Relay (100 mA coil current)
Toggle switches to enable and disable lamp or horn alerts
ItemWire ColorWire Function
RedPower
BlackGround
YellowAlarm
J1939 Engine Network Connection Considerations
NOTICE
You must use a Garmin GPSMAP J1939 accessory cable when
connecting the chartplotter to the J1939 engine network to
prevent corrosion due to moisture. Using a different cable voids
your warranty.
If you have an existing engine network on your boat, it should
already be connected to power. Do not add any additional power
supply.
Pin NumberWire FunctionWire Color
NMEA 0183 Tx/A (Out +)Blue
NMEA 0183 Rx/A (In +)Brown
NMEA 0183 Tx/B (Out -)Gray
NMEA 0183 Rx/B (In -)Violet
AlarmYellow
Accessory onOrange
Ground (shield)Black
VINRed
This chartplotter can connect to an engine network on your boat
to read data from compatible devices such as certain engines.
The engine network follows a standard and uses proprietary
messages.
You should connect only one chartplotter to one engine network.
Connecting more than one chartplotter to one engine network
may result in unexpected behavior.
The port labeled J1939 is used to connect the device to the
existing engine network. You must route the cable within 6 m
(20 ft.) of the engine network backbone.
The Garmin GPSMAP J1939 accessory cable requires
connection to a power source and proper termination. For more
information on connecting to your engine network, see the
manufacturer's engine documentation.
5
Page 6
PinWire ColorDescription
BareShield
RedPower, positive
BlackPower, negative
WhiteCAN High
BlueCAN Low
Composite Video Considerations
This chartplotter allows video input from composite video
sources using the port labeled CVBS IN. When connecting
composite video, you should observe these considerations.
• The CVBS IN port uses a BNC connector. You can use a
BNC to RCA adapter to connect a composite-video source
with RCA connectors to the CVBS IN port.
• Video is shared across the Garmin Marine Network, but it is
not shared across the NMEA 2000 network.
HDMI Out Video Considerations
NOTICE
To prevent corrosion due to moisture, you must use Garmin
GPSMAP accessory cables when connecting the chartplotter to
the video display. Using different cables voids your warranty.
The GPSMAP 12x3 chartplotter has HDMI out capability to
duplicate the chartplotter screen on another device, such as a
television or monitor.
The Garmin GPSMAP HDMI accessory cable is 4.5 m (15 ft.)
long. If you need a longer cable, you should use an active HDMI
cable only. You need an HDMI coupler to connect the two HDMI
cables.
You must make all cable connections in a dry environment.
Item Description
GPSMAP 12x3 chartplotter
GPSMAP HDMI cable (HDMI)
Display with an HDMI In port, such as a computer or television
Dry environment, protected from moisture
Installing the Ferrite Beads on the Cables
To comply with regulations and to reduce noise, you can install
the included ferrite beads on the specified cables.
GPSMAP 12x3Power cable and transducer cable
GPSMAP 7x3/9x3Power cable, transducer cable,
and USB cable
Securely snap one ferrite bead around each of the specified
cables, as close to the connectors as possible.
Specifications
All Models
Temperature rangeFrom -15° to 55°C (from 5° to 131°F)
NMEA®, NMEA 2000®, and the NMEA 2000 logo are registered trademarks of the
National Marine Electronics Association.
Licensing, LLC. The SDHC logo is a trademark of SD-3C, LLC. Wi‑Fi® is a registered
trademark of Wi-Fi Alliance Corporation.