Wired up a NMEA2000 interface to get engine data to show up on the Garmin chartplotter. It's mostly working; getting engine rpm, coolant temp, etc. However, the main reason I embarked on this whole thing was to get engine trim to show up, which it isn't!
I tried to research online but couldn't get any definite information. Apparently there are some pink wires that you need to connect on the outboard??
My outboard is a 2014 F50LB, connected to it using a Lowrance Yamaha Engine Interface Cable, which allows you to connect to the white connector on the outboard (blue and white wire going into it) to a standard NMEA2000 bus, which I need connected to my Garmin Echomap Ultra 106sv chartplotter.
UPDATE: figured this out. Found the 2 pink wires (wrapped in yellow tape and disconnected) and connected them together. Getting trim data in Garmin, BUT... looks like it's not quite accurate or calibrated. LOL, the journey continues!
I'm getting a trim readout between 0 and 124% on the Garmin gauge. However, I seem to blow through that range with only maybe 1/3 of my trim range on the motor. In other words, with motor all the way down it's reading 0%, then with it a bit of trimmed up I get a reading of 5, 20, 30, but then I hit the max 124% value while there is still tons of trim range left on the outboard. As engine continues to trim up I don't get an updated reading, stays at 124.
Here is my setup details if it helps with diagnostics:
2014 Yamaha F50LB outboard
Getting data from engine to Garmin via NMEA2000. Using a Lawrence Yamaha engine interface cable going from engine to NMEA2000 bus
Garmin seems to get a bunch of other engine data correctly such as temp, RPM, etc
Initially this wiring didn't work until I learned I need to connect the top pink wires together, thanks to this forum!
Diagnostics so far:
I checked the actual trim sensor underneath the engine (spring loaded plastic lever arm). It's not bound up and moves through it's range (putting up against the steps on the plastic sensor body as designed)
When I move the lever manually by hand I noticed that I'm not getting a reading on the Garmin in the first 1/3 of the sensor arm movement range, same for the last 1/3 of the movement range. Interesting...
I pulled the sensor connector and tested the resistance (ohms) between the two wires. With lever fully pushed in I'm at 0.9 but the reading doesn't change for the first 1/3 of lever movement range. Then it starts going up linearly all the way until the fully extended position where I'm getting 1.3k ohms
I'm curious if my sensor is faulty and I should be getting a linear reading right through the entire lever range??
