Raymarine sport pilot / Garmin 741xs EC21 install

[RSC]

I am sorry to ask these questions as they may have been answered before. I can't seem to find the definitive answers searching the site. I have an EC21 and I know that the factory regularly installed these autopilots in the past before they were discontinued by Raymarine... my loving wife just found and bought a BRAND NEW Raymatrine EV-200 Sport pilot system with a p70R autopilot control head or me. What a great surprise!!!! I was all set to buy the Simrad AP24 system to install after the great install information on another thread when she surprised me.

Now that I have the EV-200 with the p70R control head, EV-1 sensor core and the sport drive R12221...
what cabling do I need to attach / integrate my Garmin 741xs and Garmin 18HD radar to the system so that all is NMEA 2000 working together?
Do I need to install the EV-1 sensor core or does the 741xs fill that need?
Should I install the M81105 Rotary Rudder sensor or does the 741xs fill that need?
If I install the rotary rudder sensor for the display capability, what rudder modifications are necessary to install the sensor?
Thank you for any responses as I am not an electronics wizard and need concrete information so as not to wreck this great gift.
Bob

 

[SGIDAVE]

I am sorry to ask these questions as they may have been answered before. I can't seem to find the definitive answers searching the site. I have an EC21 and I know that the factory regularly installed these autopilots in the past before they were discontinued by Raymarine... my loving wife just found and bought a BRAND NEW Raymatrine EV-200 Sport pilot system with a p70R autopilot control head or me. What a great surprise!!!! I was all set to buy the Simrad AP24 system to install after the great install information on another thread when she surprised me.

Now that I have the EV-200 with the p70R control head, EV-1 sensor core and the sport drive R12221...
what cabling do I need to attach / integrate my Garmin 741xs and Garmin 18HD radar to the system so that all is NMEA 2000 working together?
Do I need to install the EV-1 sensor core or does the 741xs fill that need?
Should I install the M81105 Rotary Rudder sensor or does the 741xs fill that need?
If I install the rotary rudder sensor for the display capability, what rudder modifications are necessary to install the sensor?
Thank you for any responses as I am not an electronics wizard and need concrete information so as not to wreck this great gift.
Bob

Hello Bob,

How exciting! I love my Raymarine Ev200 Sportpilot. My kit came with most of what was needed to set up an NMEA 2000 network. Ray marine calls this a "SeatalkNG" network. NG stands for "next generation."

RM sells adapter cables that connect SeatalkNG to normal N2K cabling. You will need a RM "Devisenet" cable to connect your Garmin 741xs to the network. I connected my Garmin 740s to my network and it works fine. Since you will have the EV sensor core and the p70r connected via SeatalkNG, you may as well set up a RM (i.e., SeatalkNG) N2K network. That means you will have blue striped 'backbone' cables with the 5-way or 'T' connectors to let you connect the devises to the network. The devices are connected to the backbone by way of 'spur' cables which are the white striped cables.

You will need to do a software update of the RM pieces...the p70r, the EV Sensor core, and the grey control box (brain). The AP tends to do hinky things like loose track of it's components and quit operating when the software is not up to date.

The Devisenet cable comes in TWO configurations - male and female. You will want this one (http://www.defender.com/product3.jsp?pa ... id=1108756) to connect up your Garmin. Back when I was buying my network cabling, Defender.com was the cheapest. This stuff is not cheap though!

IF you are confused by all this 'network' talk, don't worry. It's really very simple once you get down to it. Try drawing out on scrap paper how your network will connect up...that will help you figure out if you need more 5-way connectors or 't's. Note that the 5 way connnectors are a relative bargain compared to using 3 'T's. With SeatalkNG, the Ts don't connect to each other like standard N2K, so you need to buy a backbone cable to interconnect each one...get's expensive. If you use the 5 way and have an open spot or two that's not problem. It will leave room to expand.

Regarding the rudder position sensor. I cut open the area over the rudder and installed a 10" x 20" hatch. Once you do that the sensor installs easily because you now have ready access. Don't try to install the sensor with just the little round access plate. I can give you some tips on easier installation of the larger hatch if you go that route.

Your other questions...YES you need the EV-1 sensor. The rudder position sensor may be optional...the Garmin 741s doesn't 'fill that need.' Either the AP can work without it or not. The advise I got was that it would work "better" WITH the rudder position sensor. Once you put in the larger hatch, it's fairly easy to install the sensor. Epoxy is your friend when it comes to adhering a mounting surface to the hull near the rudder control arm.

dave

 

[SGIDAVE]

Look at the Raymarine booklet (downloadable PDF) called SeaTalkNG Reference manual available on ray marine's website under the "Raymarine Manuals & Documents" section. There are several sections there, find the "Networking Documents" item, then click the drop-down menu and click "SeaTalkng Cables & Accessories" This will lead you to a downloadable PDF which is basically a Primer on SeatalkNG network setup.

See if this link (https://raymarine.app.box.com/s/2ulwt6y ... 88950831/1) will take you directly to the manual.

dave

 

[RSC]

Dave,
Thank you for your very comprehensive description of installing the Raymarine autopilot with the Garmin chart plotter. I was able to link to the Raymarine manual that you referenced and it answered a lot of my questions. I think I may have it sort of figured out now. Between the Raymarine part numbers with corresponding pictures listed for Seatalk NG in the manual and the Defender catalog, the sourcing of wires has become very simple. I will hook up the rotary rudder sensor as you suggest. Your suggestion to install the 5 way connector as opposed to single "T"s is a great idea that leaves system flexibility for the future.

A question that I haven't answered for myself is the power source for the Garmin Chart plotter and the 18HD radar. I already have them installed on my boat with a separate switch and fuse for each. I can power up the 741xs without powering up the 18Hd. With the Raymarine system it appears that you can power up the Sport Pilot system either through the Seatalk backbone or directly on the back of the computer. If this is the case how would that affect separately powering up the 741xs and 18HD when they are hooked into the Seatalk network through the Devicenet cable A06045? Would this create a possible conflict that might fry the system? I guess that I can try and call Raymarine or Garmin if necessary to see if they will answer.

 

[SGIDAVE]

Dave,
A question that I haven't answered for myself is the power source for the Garmin Chart plotter and the 18HD radar. I already have them installed on my boat with a separate switch and fuse for each. I can power up the 741xs without powering up the 18Hd. With the Raymarine system it appears that you can power up the Sport Pilot system either through the Seatalk backbone or directly on the back of the computer. If this is the case how would that affect separately powering up the 741xs and 18HD when they are hooked into the Seatalk network through the Devicenet cable A06045? Would this create a possible conflict that might fry the system? I guess that I can try and call Raymarine or Garmin if necessary to see if they will answer.

Hello Bob,

Things like the GArmin 741 and radar, which have their own power supply, are unaffected by the status (on or off) of the N2K network or AP system. The EV1 compass module and p70r ARE powered by the SeatalkNG network, so having the network powered from a separate switch is nice (although not mandatory). I initially had mine powered via the EV200 course computer but, as my SeatalkNG network expanded, I moved the power to a switched source so I could inject the power nearer the midpoint of the back bone.

So, no worries about frying anything.

dave