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information concerning the use and operation of this and other Garmin products.
®
Garmin
, the Garmin logo, and GPSMAP® are trademarks of Garmin Ltd. or its subsidiaries, registered in the USA and other countries. GFS™, GWS™, GHP™, GXM™,
GFL™, GBT™, GST™, GMI™, GRA™, GET™, GHC™, Intelliducer™, are trademarks of Garmin Ltd. or its subsidiaries. These trademarks may not be used without the
express permission of Garmin.
NMEA 2000
®
and the NMEA 2000 logo are registered trademarks of the National Maritime Electronics Association.
Introduction
Introduction
A NMEA 2000 network consists of connected NMEA 2000 devices that communicate using basic plug-and-play functionality. This technical
reference provides basic NMEA 2000 component identication, basic NMEA 2000 network-building instructions, and a list of NMEA 2000specic data used with Garmin NMEA 2000-certied displays and sensors.
• The rst section, NMEA 2000 Fundamentals, provides descriptions of the NMEA 2000 connectors and cables sold by Garmin, and the
fundamental concepts of installing a NMEA 2000 network on your boat.
• The second section, General NMEA 2000 Data Type Requirements, provides a table to help you determine which NMEA 2000 sensors
provide the particular data type you want.
• The last two sections provide Parameter Group Number (PGN) information for Garmin chartplotters and marine instruments as well as
conguration and PGN information for Garmin NMEA 2000 sensors. These sections contain PGN and conguration information for the
following products:
®
◦GPSMAP
◦GPSMAP 700 Series chartplotters
◦GPSMAP 4x1/5x1/5x6 Series chartplotters
◦GMI
◦GPS 17x
◦GFS
◦GRA
◦GET
◦GFL
◦GBT
◦GST
◦Intelliducers
◦GWS™ 10
◦GHP
◦GXM
◦VHF 200/300
◦AIS 300
◦AIS 600
4000/5000/6000/7000 Series chartplotters
™
10
™
10
™
10
™
10
™
10
™
10
™
10
™
™
10 (CCU and GHC™ 10)
™
51
PGN information is also included in the installation instructions provided with the Garmin NMEA 2000-certied device. Sensor conguration
information is also included in a Sensor Conguration Guide provided with each Garmin NMEA 2000-certied sensor.
• At the end is a checklist. Use this checklist when installing a NMEA 2000 network to be sure you have correctly followed installation-
critical procedures.
Contact Garmin
If you experience difculty installing a NMEA 2000 network, or have other questions about NMEA 2000-certied Garmin devices, contact
Garmin Product Support or a certied NMEA 2000 technician. In the USA, go to www.garmin.com/support, or contact Garmin USA by phone
at (913) 397-8200 or (800) 800-1020.
In the UK, contact Garmin (Europe) Ltd. by phone at 0808 2380000.
In Europe, go to www.garmin.com/support and click for in-country support information, or contact Garmin (Europe) Ltd. by
phone at +44 (0) 870.8501241.
Technical Reference for Garmin NMEA 2000 Products iii
Table of Contents
Table of Contents
Introduction ....................................................................................................................................................................................... iii
Building a NMEA 2000 Network ............................................................................................................................................................................. 3
General NMEA 2000 Data Type Requirements ................................................................................................................................ 9
NMEA 2000-Certied Display Device PGN Information ............................................................................................................... 13
NMEA 2000-Certied Sensor PGN Information ............................................................................................................................ 18
GBT 10 (Garmin Bennett Trim Tab Adapter) ........................................................................................................................................................ 19
GST 10 (Garmin Water Speed and Temperature Adapter) .................................................................................................................................. 19
Intelliducer (Intelligent Depth Transducer–Transom Mount and Thru-Hull) ......................................................................................................... 19
GBT 10 (Garmin Bennett Trim Tab Adapter) ........................................................................................................................................................ 32
GST 10 (Garmin Water Speed and Temperature Adapter) .................................................................................................................................. 33
Intelliducer (Intelligent Depth Transducer–Transom Mount and Thru-Hull) ......................................................................................................... 36
iv Technical Reference for Garmin NMEA 2000 Products
NMEA 2000 Fundamentals
NMEA 2000 Fundamentals
A NMEA 2000 network is made of connected NMEA 2000 devices that communicate using basic plug-and-play functionality.
If your boat already contains a NMEA 2000 network and you would like to add Garmin NMEA 2000 components, see page 8.
For a glossary of commonly used NMEA 2000 terms, see page 8.
After you have installed your NMEA 2000 network, use the checklist on page 37 to verify the installation.
Garmin NMEA 2000 Device Overview
Garmin uses NMEA 2000 micro connectors on units, sensors, and T-connectors that are compatible with other NMEA 2000 micro connectors,
cables, and NMEA 2000-compatible devices. Garmin sensors may be packaged with a drop cable and a T-connector. Garmin displays may also
include additional NMEA 2000 components (such as a power cable). The NMEA 2000 components included with a Garmin sensor or display
are listed in the product documentation. A diagram on the product box shows which NMEA 2000 components are included.
+
Sample Box Diagram (GFS 10)
In the sample box diagram, a complete NMEA 2000 network is shown, and the parts included with the sensor are shaded. In this example, a
T-connector is included with a Garmin GFS 10 fuel sensor. A NMEA 2000 power cable, terminators, an additional drop/backbone cable, and
additional T-connectors are not included with a GFS 10 fuel sensor. The GFS 10 fuel sensor, as shown by the shaded components in the box
diagram, is intended to be connected to an existing NMEA 2000 network on your boat. If you do not have a NMEA 2000 network on your boat,
this guide will help you assemble one.
-
Technical Reference for Garmin NMEA 2000 Products 1
NMEA 2000 Fundamentals
NMEA 2000 Components
The main components of a NMEA 2000 network are T-connectors, terminators, backbone/drop cables, and a power cable. The following cables,
connectors, and terminators are sold by Garmin, and as of January 2009, they are NMEA 2000 approved. NMEA 2000-approved cables sold by
Garmin feature the NMEA 2000 logo on the tag with the part number.
* The eld-installable connectors are used to create custom-length drop cables and custom-length backbone extension cables. The eld-installable connectors can be used to
shorten any Garmin NMEA 2000 drop/backbone cable.
** The gray in-line lightning arrestor is designed to help prevent damage due to nearby lightning strikes, but it is not able to protect against direct lightning strikes. Garmin is
not responsible for lightning-strike related damage.
All male/female connections are interchangeable. Ensure that the T-connectors are used properly when constructing your NMEA 2000 network.
See page 4.
2 Technical Reference for Garmin NMEA 2000 Products
NMEA 2000 Fundamentals
Building a NMEA 2000 Network
The main communication channel of a NMEA 2000 network is a backbone to which your NMEA 2000 devices connect. Each NMEA 2000
device connects to the backbone with a T-connector. The NMEA 2000 backbone must be connected to power, and terminators must be installed
at both ends for the network to function correctly.
When you design a NMEA 2000 network, start by creating a diagram of the network. When creating the diagram, be as detailed as possible:
• Include all of the devices you intend to connect to your network
• Note the approximate location of the backbone and devices on your boat
• Measure the distances between devices and the backbone, as well as the overall length of the backbone
• Note the power consumption of each device (Load Equivalency Number)
Intelligent transducer
Female
terminator
Fuel sensor
Marine instrument
Ignition or
in-line switch
Fuse
+
Battery - 12 Vdc
Power cable
Backbone extension cable
NMEA 2000 backbone
Sample NMEA 2000 Network
-
Chartplotter
Drop cable
T-connector
Male
terminator
This diagram illustrates the NMEA 2000 data connections to each device or sensor. Some devices or sensors can be powered by the NMEA
2000 network; others may require a separate power connection. Consult the installation instructions for each device you connect to your NMEA 2000
network to be sure you supply power to the device appropriately.
When building a NMEA 2000 network, you must follow certain rules to make sure your NMEA 2000 network functions correctly. Be sure to
understand the following concepts:
• Linear backbone construction (page 4)
• Power connection and distribution (page 5)
• Proper termination (page 7)
• Cable length and device limits (page 8)
Technical Reference for Garmin NMEA 2000 Products 3
NMEA 2000 Fundamentals
CORRECT
INCORRECT
Linear Backbone Construction
Use the NMEA 2000 T-connectors to construct your NMEA 2000 backbone, and extend the backbone with appropriate lengths of backbone
cable if necessary. Use one T-connector per device. Use the sides of the T-connector to construct the backbone of the NMEA 2000 network, and
use the top of the T-connector to attach a NMEA 2000 device. By using only the sides of the T-connectors to construct the backbone, you create
a linear construction to your NMEA 2000 network. T-connectors can be separated by backbone cables or connected directly together.
Although the male and female connectors on the T-connectors and backbone cables will t on all sides of a T-connector, it is very important to
use the top of the T-connector only to attach NMEA 2000 devices, not to attach other T-connectors or backbone cables.
To NMEA 2000 devices
and power
Female
terminator
Backbone extension cable
Male
terminator
T-connector
installed incorrectly
Male
terminator
(also installed
incorrectly)
Correct Linear Backbone Construction
To NMEA 2000 devices
and power
Backbone extension cable
Incorrect Linear Backbone Construction
Male
terminator
4 Technical Reference for Garmin NMEA 2000 Products
NMEA 2000 Fundamentals
CORRECT
Power Connection and Distribution
Your NMEA 2000 network must be connected to a 12 Vdc power supply. Do not connect your NMEA 2000 network to any other voltage
source, such as a 24 Vdc power supply. Use a NMEA 2000 power cable to connect your NMEA 2000 backbone to the auxiliary power switch
on your boat. If you do not have an auxiliary power switch, or if connecting to the auxiliary power switch causes electrical interference, connect
the NMEA 2000 power cable directly to the battery and install an in-line switch.
If you connect the NMEA 2000 network to your battery without an in-line switch, it may drain your battery.
Be sure to ground the NMEA 2000 power cable. Connect the bare shield-drain wire to the same location as the ground (black) wire.
The Garmin NMEA 2000 power cable connects to a T-connector like other drop cables. Be sure to connect the NMEA 2000 power cable to the
top of a T-connector; never connect the NMEA 2000 power cable to the side of a T-connector. You can connect power either at the end of your
NMEA 2000 network or in the middle. When planning where to place the power cable and the T-connector on your NMEA 2000 network, you
will need to evaluate how the NMEA 2000 devices connected to your network use power. The NMEA 2000 network will work properly when
there is no more than a 3 Vdc drop in the supply voltage between the power source and the NMEA 2000 device located farthest from the power
source on the NMEA 2000 network. To determine the voltage drop in your NMEA 2000 network, use this equation:
Voltage Drop = Cable resistance (ohms/m)* × Distance (from the battery to the farthest device, in meters) × Network Load** × 0.1
* Garmin cable resistance value = 0.053
** Network Load = the sum of Load Equivalent Numbers (LEN) between the battery and the end of the network. The LEN for each device should be visible on
the device, or provided in the documentation for the device.
• If you calculate a voltage drop of 3.0 Vdc or less, then you can connect power to either the end or the middle of your NMEA 2000 network,
and it will function correctly.
• If you calculate a voltage drop of more than 3.0 Vdc, you must connect power to the middle of your NMEA 2000 network. The location will
depend on the network load and distance from the battery. Try to balance the voltage drop equally on both sides of the power connection.
• If a voltage drop of under 3.0 Vdc is not possible on your NMEA 2000 network, contact a professional installer.
Examples
The following examples show a correctly designed, end-powered NMEA 2000 network; an incorrectly designed NMEA 2000 network; and a
redesign of the incorrectly designed NMEA 2000 network to correctly balance power on the network.
When the voltage-drop formula is applied to this example, we
see that the voltage drop is less than 3.0 Vdc. This NMEA 2000
network will function correctly when powered at the end.
Technical Reference for Garmin NMEA 2000 Products 5
When the NMEA 2000 network is redesigned with the power source in the center, you calculate the voltage drop in both directions. If the
T-connector to which you connect the power source is connected directly to another T-connector (as shown in this example), use the LEN from
that device as part of the calculation for both directions.
When the voltage drop formula is applied to both the left and right
sides of the power source in this example, we see that the voltage drop
is less than 3.0 Vdc on each side, so the NMEA 2000 network will
function correctly.
The equation and examples provide conservative estimates for calculating voltage drop.
Voltage Drop Left = 0.053 × (2 + 20 + 2) × (4 + 5) × 0.1 = 1.145 Vdc
Cable
resistance
Distance
Network load
Voltage Drop Right = 0.053 × (2 + 10 + 6) × (5 + 7) × 0.1 = 1.145 Vdc
6 Technical Reference for Garmin NMEA 2000 Products
NMEA 2000 Fundamentals
Proper Termination
You must install terminators at the ends of your NMEA 2000 backbone for it to function correctly. You have two options when installing
terminators on your NMEA 2000 network.
1. Typical Terminators
If your NMEA 2000 network is built with correct linear backbone construction, use one female terminator and one male terminator. Install
the terminators at opposite ends of your NMEA 2000 network.
To NMEA 2000 devices
and power
Female
terminator
Backbone extension cable
Male
terminator
Using Standard Terminators
2. In-line Terminators
If one or both of the NMEA 2000 devices at opposite ends of your NMEA 2000 network are separated from the rest of the NMEA 2000
network by a length of backbone cable, and the typical T-connector/drop cable/terminator combination is not feasible or is too bulky for the
area, use an in-line terminator instead of the nal T-connector on the backbone. Connect the nal device to the in-line terminator with the
appropriate length of drop cable, or connect the nal device directly to the in-line terminator, without a drop cable.
Standard Termination
To a NMEA
2000 device
Female
terminator
To power
Backbone
extension
cable
Using an Inline Terminator
Inline Termination
To the nal NMEA 2000 device in the
backbone on this end. Connect the in-line
terminator directly to a NMEA 2000 device,
or use a drop cable up to 6 m (20 ft.) long.
Do not connect additional T-connectors or
terminators.
Inline
terminator
Do not use more than two terminators in a NMEA 2000 network.
The in-line terminator connects to the NMEA 2000 backbone with a male connector, and to the nal NMEA 2000 device with a female
connector. Because of this, you can only use one in-line terminator on a NMEA 2000 network.
Technical Reference for Garmin NMEA 2000 Products 7
NMEA 2000 Fundamentals
Cable Length and Device Limits
When building your NMEA 2000 network, keep in mind these limitations:
• The distance between any two points on the NMEA 2000 network must not exceed 100 m (328 ft). To estimate this distance, measure
between the terminators on your backbone and add the length of the drop cable for the devices connected to the T-connectors at the ends of
the network.
• The total length of all drop cables cannot exceed 78 m (256 ft).
• The maximum length of a single drop cable to a NMEA 2000 device is 6 m (20 ft).
• No more than 50 NMEA 2000 devices can be connected to your NMEA 2000 network.
Existing NMEA 2000 Installation Considerations
If your boat has an existing NMEA 2000 installation, and you would like to add Garmin NMEA 2000 equipment, there are a few things to
consider:
: Garmin uses NMEA 2000 micro connectors for all cables and connectors. Your existing NMEA 2000 network may use NMEA
2000 mini connectors and cables in the backbone. Mini connectors are larger than micro connectors, and you will need to use a converter or
adapter to connect with Garmin NMEA 2000 devices.
: Is the existing NMEA 2000 network connected to power? A NMEA 2000 network must be connected to power to function correctly
(page 5). Do not connect the NMEA 2000 network to power at more than one location.
: Are terminators installed on the ends of the existing NMEA 2000 backbone? A NMEA 2000 network must be terminated to
function correctly. Do not add more terminators to a NMEA 2000 network if it is already properly terminated.
If you are unsure of any of these considerations, contact your boat manufacturer or a certied NMEA 2000 technician for assistance.
NMEA 2000 Glossary
—Three-way connector with one male and two female micro connectors. A T-connector is used to connect a NMEA 2000 device to
the NMEA 2000 backbone.
—120 ohm resistor located at each end of the NMEA 2000 backbone. Proper termination helps ensure signal integrity across the
entire length of the backbone.
—Special terminator with male and female connectors, which allows direct connection to the a device at the end of the
NMEA 2000 backbone. The inline terminator simplies installation by not requiring a T-connector, terminator, and drop cable for the device at
the end of the backbone.
—Cable connecting a NMEA 2000 device to the NMEA 2000 backbone. Drop cables are limited to 6 m (20 ft.) maximum length.
—In conjunction with T-connectors, the backbone cables create the main communication path of the NMEA 2000 network.
A backbone cable extends the NMEA 2000 backbone to connect NMEA 2000 devices located in different places on the boat. The maximum
backbone cable length is 100 m (328 ft.).
—Electronic hardware that connects to the NMEA 2000 network. A device may only receive data transmitted by other devices on the
network, or may both transmit and receive data on the network.
—12 Vdc power supplied to the NMEA 2000 network. Power should be connected through a switch (instead of directly
connected to the battery) because some devices are always on when NMEA 2000 power is present. NMEA 2000 devices must operate from 9 to
16 Vdc, with a nominal voltage of 12 Vdc.
—A number that indicates the amount of current a device draws from the NMEA 2000 network.
1 LEN = 50 mA. Each device should have an LEN specied on the product or in the product documentation.
8 Technical Reference for Garmin NMEA 2000 Products
General NMEA 2000 Data Type Requirements
General NMEA 2000 Data Type Requirements
Each NMEA 2000-certied sensor provides unique information to the NMEA 2000-certied display devices (such as a GPSMAP 4000/5000
series chartplotter or a GMI 10) on the NMEA 2000 network. The data you can view on your display device depends on the sensors you have
installed and congured. Refer to the following table for a list of data types that you can view on a display device; specic NMEA 2000 PGN
information required to view or calculate that data type; and the NMEA 2000 sensor that typically provides required PGN information. In some
cases, more than one sensor is necessary or a specic combination of sensors may provide more-precise information. For more about PGN
information, see page 18.
CategoryData TypePGN Data RequiredTypical Sender
Engine InformationBattery Voltage 127489 - Eng DynamicNMEA 2000-compatible engine
Fuel Flow Rate 127489 - Eng DynamicFuel Flow Sensor
Hours 127489 - Eng DynamicNMEA 2000-compatible engine
Oil Pressure 127489 - Eng DynamicNMEA 2000-compatible engine