A bit about Smartcraft with the Cummins QSM11's and why not to change:Has anyone else replaced their Vessel View? Seaboard Marine has an article (see below link) about the lack of support with the Smart Craft/Cummins system suggesting it is overly complicated to trouble shoot and not stable in the marine environment. I suspect they are promoting replacement system, SMX System but maybe there is some merit to it. The article also says there are conflicts with the upgrade.
Jeremy have you or anyone else had conflicts with this upgrade?
http://www.sbmar.com/cummins-dieselview-display-upgrades/
Side note - I do have a intermittent issue with the starboard engine dropping the gauges while running but more often the starboard engine cuts off a minute or two after start up.
The Mercury Smartcraft network is a composite of three data networks and other power and discrete conductors all collected in a standard Smartcraft connector. The three Control Area Networks (CAN) are CAN H, CAN P, and CAN 3. CAN H (H is for HULL) is denoted as CAN 1 and CAN P (P is for Propulsion) is denoted as CAN 2; so, keep this in mind when reading documentation as they interchange the terms. Each CAN is simply a twisted pair of wires.
A bit about the network infrastructure:
- CAN 2 - The Engine ECM data streams are SAE J1939 which is the standard for trucks, busses and diesel heavy machinery. The Mercury Smartcraft CAN 2 is SAE J1939. The engine ECM's are uniquely programmed to be a specific "instance" on the network so common data (like oil pressure) is not confused between the two engines on the same network. Typically the Port engine is instance '0' and starboard engine is instance '1'. CAN 2 is pins G and H on all of the Smartcraft standard connectors. CAN 2 is specific to engine data and does not include sensors on the gears, fuel levels, paddle wheels, etc.
- CAN 1 - There are other data the Mercury Smartcraft system integrates into the boat's instrumentation. CAN 1 is on pins 'J' and 'K' on the Smartcraft connectors. CAN 1 provides this data through two modules known as System Integration Modules or SIM's. There is a SIM on each engine. The engine SIM's provide monitor and control of the gear solenoids, Gear Oil Pressure, Gear Oil Temperature, Exhaust overtemp switch, Fuel Tank Level, Steering Angle, Paddlewheel data, and depth transducer. The SIM's convert voltage and resistance from the sensors to a data stream. Several of these capabilities (paddlewheel, depth xdcr, and steering angle) are not used for our boats. These SIM's are uniquely programmed for the instance (port or starboard) they are installed so common data is not confused. As an FYI a new replacement engine SIM is programmed simply by cycling the engine ignition on and off slowly two times.
- CAN 3 - This is an outlier on the network and is not used unless you have a Onan generator with a Network Interface Module (NIM) installed. CAN 3 is on pins 'C' and 'D' on the Smartcraft connector. CAN 3 is only used for generator data and only integrated with Diesel View; the transition to Vessel View no longer supports CAN 3 and if you had generator data on your Diesel View then changed to a Vessel View you will no longer be able to view the generator.
- C-Cruise, Engine Sync, and Slow Idle - The helm controls for C-Cruise, Engine Sync, and Slow Idle are integrated into the CAN 1 and CAN 2 via a little box under the helm called the Smart Multiplex Module or SMM. The SMM connects to the Smartcraft network through a standard Smartcraft plug. This installation provides instructions to the engine ECM's for these functions as well as providing confirmation of the commands from the ECM's via the lamps on the switches.
- Diesel View, Vessel View, and Smartcraft Gauges - To start with the Smartcraft gauges above the helm will not operate without a connected Diesel View or Vessel View display; the display provides the Smartcraft digital gauges their unique data stream and power to operate. Be aware that the latest Vessel View (which I believe VV9) is not compatible with Smartcraft gauges so stick with VV7 if you want the gauges above the helm to work. The Diesel View or Vessel View provide the user a capability to monitor most of the data on the CAN networks as well as many other navigational features should it be appropriately integrated to either NMEA 0183 or NMEA 2000. I only use my Vessel View to monitor engine, gear, and fuel. Again, Vessel View does not integrate CAN 3 and as such generator data is not available.
- Engine Throttles - The engine throttles are not integrated into the Smartcraft network nor Smartcraft harnesses. There two unique harness's that are routed from the helm to the engine's main harness and the throttle potentiometers and switches are directly integrated into the engine ECM's via those copper paths.
As an Edit - my boat was upgraded from a Diesel View to Vessel View 7. The great thing about the VV7 is there is a NMEA 2000 port on it so all of the data the VV7 collects can be shared on other MFD's and displays. The not-so-great thing is CAN 3 is not supported as explained above. So, my boat has two Garmin 8616's and a Maretron DM410 that are all on the NMEA 2000 network; I have visibility to the Smartcraft CAN 1 and CAN 2 data on these displays through the connection to the NMEA 2000 port on the VV7. If you have Raymarine E series or later then that same data is viewable through the Seatalkng port on the displays. As long as the CAN 1 and CAN 2 data can be converted to an available PGN (NMEA 2000 data protocol) then the data is available on the NMEA 2000 network. Conversely, your VV7 can also display and integrate the NMEA 2000 data like GPS and Navigation should you desire. With regards to the Generator data - As my Onan MDBKN generator has a NIM installed and integrated originally with Diesel View, I can no longer see the generator's data. To get around this I installed a Maretron J2K100 J1939 to NMEA 2000 converter then modified the generator's NIM to talk J1939 rather than Smartcraft CAN3. This modification is simply cutting the W2 jumper on the NIM board then pull the CAN3 wires from the Smartcraft harness and connect them to the Maretron J2K100 J1939 port. A caution here is the data can be rather unstable on the J2K100 if you should program yourself, which I did. Maretron has a J2K100 that they specifically program for the Onan Generators that resolves the stability issue. Now that I have changed from Raymarine MFD's to Garmin MFD there is a J1939 port on the displays so I'm considering directly connecting CAN 3 from the modified generator NIM to the Garmin J1939 port which should work just fine....
Last edited: