Easiest way to add device to NMEA 2K on C28

[jlhowland]

It's winter update season and I'm looking to tap into my NMEA 2K backbone on my 2019 C28 to add a couple of sensors. Where is the easiest place to put a new T on a C28? I've looked behind the help and don't see any connectors.

 

[CaptainMatt]

You should be able to remove an endcap off the backbone, add your new "T" and reinstall the old endcap onto the backbone. Try an internet search - you should be able to find a you tube video. If not there should be plenty of written info about it.

 

[jlhowland]

It's not the how so much as the where. I couldn't find the NMEA 2K backbone on the C28. I looked in the electronics bay behind the helm and behind the stereo.

 

[BB marine]

It is located in the midship berth (cave area) starboard side directly above the area where the fresh water pump is located.




photo with panel's removed for access to the back bone.

gallery2.php?g2_itemId=52028

 

[Cutwater28GG]

i literally just did this. unscrew the end cap add a tee and readd the end cap terminator. on the tee add your device.

you will want to watch your total power units if you add a lot of high power devices. but you should be fine with a few small ones.

I added the yacht devices wifi NMEA gateway so I can get NMEA depth and speed data on my ipad navionics app

 

[jlhowland]

Brian- Thanks! Your pic is exactly what I needed. I'll publish results later, but the project is adding a rudder position indicator. I am going to use a Garmin GRA-10 cable to attach an analog KUS rudder position sensor. If successful, I'll have rudder position on my chart plotter and GHC-20. I have a solid "It's never been tested but that should work" from the Garmin help desk. Part will be about $220 for the GRA-10 and $50 for the sensor.

 

[jlhowland]

Update on my rudder position indicator: I got what I wanted, but not the full advertised functionality of GRA-10. I bought a KUS rudder position sensor on Ebay. It came packaged with a gauge. The GRA-10 says that it can connect directly to a sensor or to an analog gauge. My plan was to install the gauge at my aft helm station and connect to the GRA-10 to the gauge to get rudder position on my autopilot display at the main helm station. Unfortunately, during test fitting I found that the sensor can connect to either the gauge OR the GRA-10, not both. Garmin support told me that it does not work with all gauges and they do not keep a list of ones they recommend. So looks like I will just have rudder position on my auto pilot display. Pictures to follow. Installation was time consuming but not hard. Had to take the back seat off to access the rudder and steering arm.

 

[jlhowland]

Pics of the rudder sensor mounted to the steering arm are in my photo album. I didn't include pics of the GRA 10 as it was a pretty straight forward install. Just connected it to the NMEA 2K backbone and ran the wire down the stbd side along the steering hyd cables all the way to the stbd lazarette by the auto pilot pump. Need to splice in about 3 ft section of 2 strand wire to connect the GRA 10 to the sensor. 4 butt connectors and some heat shrink tubing and it's good to go. The mounting bracket shipped with the sensor is not great. When I break the boat out next season I'll probably fabricate something more robust. You need to be able to visually confirm rudder position when you calibrate the GRA 10. If your boat is in the water, best to calibrate before you put the seat back together.