Carver Owners Forum

This is a project I have been looking forward to since I purchased this Carver 406. I have made a video and put it on my new YouTube channel. Here is the link https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=WUqpJkHFHOY&t=40s.

In the video, I created a simple graphical diagram to visualize the outcome before getting started. This process helped me out greatly. The connections on my NMEA2000 network are my compatible devices like a GPS antenna, Fusion radio, Garmin Chartplotter, Victron charger, Victron Cerbo GX and FOX marine MEFI-3 (in my case) gateways with the optional oil pressure switch.

This project was far simpler than I originally thought. I also learned the FOX Marine Application on Android or Apple OS gives you a lot of information when the engines are running. The information it displays rivals the DIACOM software I purchased last year, and you can view, and clear error codes form your phone or tablet. The App does cost $4.99 USD. This is not a replacement for Diacom but for a novice like me, it does a great job.

If you take time to watch the video and have any suggestions, please let me know. And if you like it please hit the thumbs up I hope this post is helpful.

Links to all the technology I used

FOX Marine Gateways ALL
https://fox-marine.com/index.php?route=product/category&path=81

FOX Marine MEFI -3
https://fox-marine.com/index.php?route=product/product&path=81&product_id=55

Garmin NMEA 2000 Multi-Port T-Connector PART NUMBER010-11078-01
https://www.garmin.com/en-US/p/588702/pn/010-11078-01

Garmin NMEA 2000 Backbone cable 32’ PART NUMBER010-11076-02
https://www.garmin.com/en-US/p/13491/pn/010-11076-02

Other technology on my NMEA Network are:

Garmin 8612XSV PART NUMBER010-02092-51
https://www.garmin.com/en-US/p/799264/pn/010-02092-51

Fusion Radio MS-WB675 PART NUMBER010-02346-50
https://www.garmin.com/en-US/p/832012/pn/010-02346-50

GA0231610 Garmin GPS 24xd NMEA2000 Multi-Band Antenna PART NUMBER010-02316-10
https://www.garmin.com/en-US/p/684270/pn/010-02316-10

NMEA 2000® Power Cable PART NUMBER010-11079-00
https://www.garmin.com/en-US/p/13373/pn/010-11079-00

Victron Skylla IP65 12V 70A Battery Charger
https://www.victronenergy.com/chargers/skylla-ip65

Victron Cerbo GX remote monitoring hardware.
https://www.victronenergy.com/communication-centres/cerbo-gx

I also have the fox gateways I'm very happy with them . Thanks for posting info should help others if they go this route. I already had a nmea network dso it was a very easy install for me

I have a similar setup. Engine information, including GPH, on my chart plotter is fantastic.

1996 Carver 355

Nice job, thanks for posting this detailed account. Great attention to detail.....

bud37 wrote:Source of the post Nice job, thanks for posting this detailed account. Great attention to detail..... :down:

Thanks to a DM from Bud37 I updated the video in two areas for clarity. Here is the new link.

https://youtu.be/_zRhJDaiQ9Q

Or, you can simply visit my new YouTube channel (very new, so please be nice.)
Search for @lakelifeatl on YouTube
https://www.youtube.com/channel/UCwdezEBnydAGdSlWum9IWWw

I have a very similar setup on my plan so being able to see what I'm getting myself into is very helpful. The diagram was very nice. I couldn't find any decent program to create an image so I ended up with a spreadsheet. Thank you for posting!

Alanna Mo Cree wrote:Source of the post I have a very similar setup on my plan so being able to see what I'm getting myself into is very helpful. The diagram was very nice. I couldn't find any decent program to create an image so I ended up with a spreadsheet. Thank you for posting!

As an additional step, I am looking at splitting my backbone to have 2 separate power sources as FOX Marine recommends turning off the Engine gateways when not in use. However, I use my fusion radio all the time so I leave it on for days at a time. I just purchased a Garmin Isolation Tee and an additional power supply so I can isolate the Fox Marine gear on a separate breaker.

Always something to complicate things on boats, eh? My backbone is powered from the helm circuit breaker panel and the engine room will have a few devices on it besides the engine gateways. Of course, some of those should be always (or at least mostly always) on such as the freshwater and holding tank level sensors. I suppose ideally the engine gateways would be switched on the ignition keys since there is no reason to have those on if the engines they are sensing aren't on.

Alright, back to the network design thanks to this great new info.

Finny thing you should say this as today, I installed an isolator and an additional power drop to make two sections in my nmea 2000 network to keep some powered up and things like the gateways turned off when not running the engines. I will try to update my drawing and share early next week.

Updated diagram and video on my YouTube channel https://youtu.be/Gz7Ec8_goQY. The video goes into detail of the changes. I hope this and the video are helpful. First Newtork diagram was a single power source, and the new version is 2 power supplies. This allows me to use only the portion of the network that I require at any given time.

On PS1 - Garmin 8612, Fusion Radio, & GPS Antenna (The left side of the network)
On PS2 - Victron Charger, Cerbo GX, FOX Marine Gateways x2 Changes are in RED (The right side of the network)