System Monitor to replace idiot lights ...

Yes absolutely, but after a few trips and a steady cruise speed you know exactly how much fuel you have. So I always plan out a trip for fuel and fuel accordingly.

One thing I have learned from the this is, my old Detroit's don't burn 35 gal hr each, they burn 30 in calm and 35 in rough, combined. So that's only 30 or so GA per hr for both @ 1850. So my old restive fuel senders were way off. And since I hold 480 gal, I never filled up in one shot to Calc correctly. Well worth the money spent for this adventure.
 
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This is a great option to replace the led display that is no longer available. How does the alba combi connect to tablets? And can this system be monitored via Internet connection?
 
The short answer is any Web brower. I have been using my Android tablet with no issues.

The Internet connection can be done with a Maretron n2k to ethernet bridge or there sms module for texts. I plan on using the iNet mod at some point as I already have wifi on the boat.
 
I was able to play around with the Ambi-Combi this weekend and did test the system monitor application. For me there is a terminal block with all of the wires pretty much right in front of my access door. I used some test leads to hook up and test the system monitor and everything worked out just great. I decided to play around with the Alba-Combi some more for engine data, so I won't be hooking it up permanently just yet, but at least I know it will work out just fine as will the Maretron DSM150 for a display.
 
Skybolt. Just realized my LED System Monitor stopped working. How has hooking the rest of the system up to the AlbaCombi worked out?
Were you able to hook up things like the emergency bilge pump, the other bilge pumps, oil pressure, water temp, transmission alarms and such from the Sea Ray LED System Monitor?
Did you just take all the analog wires from Sea Ray System Monitor Module?

Thanks!
 
Sundancer_340 said:
... Did you just take all the analog wires from Sea Ray System Monitor Module?
Click to expand...

Wow, sorry i missed this.

I have been doing some testing as I am going all the way with NMEA 2000. I will post more in a week or so with screen shots etc.

But to answer your question, yes, I have the Albacombi set for voltage and I took the wires directly off of the terminal block to the Albacombi and it worked just fine. The Albacombi is setup with all of the PGN's for a system monitor so I am sticking with it for that purpose.

I would not use the Albacombi for engine data, I had very poor results with that and have ordered a Noland RS11 for engine data.
 
So here is where I am going after playing around with this. I have decided to go all the way and do a full blown NMEA 2000 conversion. There is just way too much that can be done and support if I do. Since I am very happy with my boat and have no plans on upgrading. I am going to update.

I am using the Albacombi for alarms - system monitor replacement. I can get twelve inputs from that one device and I will have more then what was originally there. I am also using a Noland RS11 for engine data. I have also added an IPG100 from Maretron to interface as an NMEA 2000 to Ethernet and will be using there free N2KView android software as well. Between that and the DSM150 along with my Garmin 4212's I will have so much more flexibility as to what and how it is displayed. The DSM150 along with other screens (fuel levels etc), will have a screen with 8 indicators to perform engine monitoring. The main engine screen (N2KView) will have the engine alarms along with the gen-set alarms as well as the Engine dash board which will replace my analog gauges at some point in the future. I will be adding Garmin GMI20's when I remove my Gauges, and possibly remove one of my 4212's and replace that with a touch screen marine PC. Then I have a replacement for my 4212 if that dies on me.

My existing system monitor had a terminal block with all of the wiring on one block, all I did was bring those connections to the Albacombi and RS11 and I am done, pretty dam easy. And in retrospect this could be accomplished in an afternoon or two worth of work. There is a little bit of a learning curve so anyone who is interested in this either do some home work or ask questions here. I will say this, it helps a lot if you enjoy tinkering as I do.

I would post screen shots, but I can not upload any files, apparently there is no way of deleting existing files. The screen states it will delete files not in use after twenty minutes. ... Not so Much.
 
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So I just wanted to update this. Hopefully for the final time.

I had such bad luck this year with the RS11 and Alba-Combi. The Alba-combi worked fine for the engine alarms, including for the Generator as well, but not for the engine senders, as explained earlier in this thread. The RS11 turned out to be a bit of a nightmare as well. I could not get the data to stabilize. I was re-calibrating every other week. After working with the developer, Kevin, it was decided to just send the unit back.

I switched everything over to a Chetco-Digital Sea Gauge G2. This has been working great for the past two weeks. It also supports the system monitor aspect with 12 status inputs. So I will be switching them out as well and only have this one device for everything.

I did get rid of my analog gauges and add in two Garmin GMI 20's. They work great. I already have the Maretron DSM150 setup for system monitor inputs, bu now I also have extra inputs for of the non-engine alarms like bilge pumps and the like. This device seems like a much higher quality over the other two, that and they have been doing this for the past 18 yrs or so. So far it seems rock solid, but only time will tell.

Here is the device I am using: http://www.digitalmarinegauges.com/products/sensor-interface-units/pro-sensor-interface-unit.html

Link on THT with helm shot: http://www.thehulltruth.com/marine-electronics-forum/881525-chetco-digital-sea-gauge-g2.html
 
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Just to update this thread with a final post. The Chetco G2 has been awesome so far, The system monitor aspect works flawlessly. I even have my generator hooked into this. This whole project has been money well spent. The hull Truth link has/will have pics next week.
 
So since I updated the electronics to NMEA 2000 and the like, I went the rest of the way and updated the electric panel as well. The before and after shots below:

Old-Electric-Panel.jpg Electric-Panel.jpg
 
Looking Great!!!
 
A little more info...I found a "cheat sheet" on the Sea Ray systems monitor Panel. This is from a 2001 410.
 

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Thanks guys. It's pretty funny what a blown led led into ...

The funny thing is, even though I have reproduced all of the old style systems monitor into digital, I still went ahead and fixed the original because I couldn't find anything I liked to fill that hole.
 
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