C-80 V4.25 engine management

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chewyjackson

New member
I just did the update to my c-80.

I have installed a lowrance lmf200 but I haven't hooked it up yet.

I'm waiting for a seatalk 2 cable to make it work.

With the new software, does it mean I set it up any differently, or is it just that its more easily found on a specific page?
 
The LMF 200 will work as a stand along for GPH etc--but has to have NMEA 2000 GPS speed (or paddle wheel) input for MPG. Some folks have networked it with the C 80. I belive that there was a bus incompatablity between Lowarnce and Raymarine last year is this resolved? I will be interested to see how this works for you.

According to RayMarine specs for the C 80 : "1 NMEA 0183 input, 1 NMEA 0183 output, Raymarine SeaTalk, Raymarine SeaTalk2/ NMEA 2000 Port*, " Does it now have NMEA 2000 output?
 
I'm trying to decide if I should spring for fuel flow meters....I can calculate average mpg based on miles traveled and fuel added. I appreciate the KISS concept in boating when possible.

I also recognize the value in being able to trim, even if just GPH is available from say an LMF 200, to maximize fuel efficiency. I don't have a sense of "how" much value I will gain from the cost and installation effort though.

Thoughts?

Thanks
 
I think it depends on your personality type. Me, I go on the principle that there is no such thing as too much information. It gives me pleasure to know that I have this much knowledge available about my boat. YMMV (pun intended :mrgreen: ).

Warren
 
First, I do believe that the in-expensive Lowrance meters are worth while. They do show where the best effeciency is for trim--and there is a real difference, which you have an "idea" about by throttle and attitude settings, but that can fool you, where as the meters show very accurately the gal/hour or miles per gallon (if you have a Lowrance GPS).

I have Navman on the Tom Cat (which has Lowrance GPS--I didn't know about the Lowrance guages, and already had purchased the Navman units)--and the Lowarance LMF 200 on the C Dory. I would set up twin engines on two different instruments (two LMF 200's)--Although the Honda is using some NMEA 2000, it is not compatable with the full CANbus and protocol. Even Suzuki has had some problems with the fuel right off the engine computer--and many are using the flow meters--or having to do a fairly radical recalibration of the computer generated fuel flow.

If Tom Little wanted to do this, he is getting E tecs' which are fully compatable, and just plugs into the computer of the engine with the LMF 200 or 400. Matt, could either plug into the engine, and most likely the soft ware patch will be available--or he can use flow transducers.
 
thataway":37wtgigr said:
The LMF 200 will work as a stand along for GPH etc--but has to have NMEA 2000 GPS speed (or paddle wheel) input for MPG. Some folks have networked it with the C 80. I belive that there was a bus incompatablity between Lowarnce and Raymarine last year is this resolved? I will be interested to see how this works for you.

According to RayMarine specs for the C 80 : "1 NMEA 0183 input, 1 NMEA 0183 output, Raymarine SeaTalk, Raymarine SeaTalk2/ NMEA 2000 Port*, " Does it now have NMEA 2000 output?
Click to expand...

A few comments: The C80 does have NMEA2000 outputs as well as inputs on the SeaTalk2 bus. Has for quite some time.

I successfully used the LMF 200 in all modes, including position, MPG, GPH, speed etc., with the C80 and the Raymarine GPS pod simply by connecting to the SeaTalk connector via a homebrew adapter cable. The only "error" I came across was that the position info on the Lowrance gauge blinked, indicating the position wasn't accurate. It did, however, mirror the position given by the C-80 so that might be the "incompatibility" mentioned in your post.

I have since added the Lowrance GPS puck and found absolutely no difference in the gauge operation with the exception of position now not showing an error.

I have yet to disconnect the Raymarine GPS puck from the C80 and connect the Lowrance puck to the C80 via the NMEA2000 bus but it's on my list of little projects. I truly expect the C80 to operate as if the native puck was connected. It's certainly not possible to damage anything by trying though.

I did "create" a page on the C80 with fuel flow showing but the C80 is pretty clunky in the custom page department so I gave up. My goal was to have mpg showing on the data line but that proved impossible.

Don
 
So, Don, the only utility of the C80 was the GPS? No data would show up on any of the pages? Now that you have the Lowrance GPS, are you using it as a back up for the Raymarine?

Thanks,

Bob
 
Oh I could get fuel flow on a C80 custom page but that was about it, Doc. Have not tried anything esoteric since the latest Raymarine software update though. Do like the new compass on-screen feature on the C80.

As for using the Lowrance puck as a backup, yes I definitely use the guage position data as a backup for the C80 position data (lat/lon) but until I actually connect the Raymarine to Lowrance NMEA2000 jumper cable and unplug the Raymarine GPS puck will I be able to absolutely state it is possible to swap GPS pucks. Technically, however, I really believe it's possible, and I just have to make the time to try it out.

In any case, if I were doing any serious cruising offshore it's comforting to know I have two separate GPS devices on board. With my old Magellan handheld, that makes three.
 
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