Powering two units and the NMEA 2000 network from one switch?
I just bought two sonar/gps units and am preparing to install them as a network, sharing an antenna.
I have a power switch on the dash that currently controls power to the existing fishfinders and CD player.
The installation instructions show two separate switches (one mandatory for the network cable because the GPS antenna is always on) and another listed as "recommeded" for the display unit.
I'd like to terminate all three power leads (two displays and one NMEA 2000) at the same switch, being sure to install the three separate 3 amp fuses included w/ the units on each power line.
Any problems with this arrangement?
Thanks,
John
Re: Powering two units and the NMEA 2000 network from one switch?
I only have two power lead wires hooked up and both units going into my antenna. You don't hook up but the one power lead on the 2nd unit, only the main power unit for the unit...Don't hook up the antenna power wire on the 2nd unit...since both will share the antenna only one antenna power wire needs to be hooked up.
For complete help on doing all of this work correctly...The fellas at the Bass Boat Central Board can help big time. They have a specific forum dealing with nothing but GPS/Sonar units.
Re: Powering two units and the NMEA 2000 network from one switch?
My antenna and stern unit are fed directly to the battery and always have power to them while the bow unit is fed off the same power supply to the front of the boat that operates the bow nav light, just spliced into the power supple already run to the front of the boat for juice. This way if in the drivers seat turn the main power switch off to the boat and it kills the front unit then manually turn off the back unit and all is good. My last 3 boats have been set up this way.
Re: Powering two units and the NMEA 2000 network from one switch?
The 2000 module will stay powered up if not on a switched circuit, even when the head unit is off or unplugged.