Suzuki Lowrance Interface - Page 2

Wolfi · 30 March 2010, 14:33

Hi Shark, Simon,

I can see all devices (GPS antenna, EP85, Suzuki engine interface).

And I also get informations about rpm, hours, temperature, voltage. Only fuel informations are missing.

So, I will try to install newest updates at LCX37 and EP20 (will take a few days, boat is in a hall without water, can´t start engine there), perhaps it does work then.

I also will try the input of the engine type with running engine more than 20 seconds, it´s possible I didn´t wait so long and put out the engine before.

And I also will turn the language to english to look what description of the field is written above the number 255 I told here before. In german it´s ´Beispiel´ and ´my´ translation is ´Example´. But I will have a look what it is in english at the Lowrance.

Thanks for your help.

Wolfgang

Wolfi · 30 March 2010, 16:13

Quote:

Originally Posted by Wolfi

There is a input box named ´Example´, it´s below the button ´more options´ in the engine setup. There is standing 255, if I change that, there are no more informations available from the engine. If I name it back to 255 and save, there suddenly comes one fuel information (4l/h for example), but there comes no more new information.

Hi all,

back from the boat, I switched language to english and pushed to ´more options´ (in NMEA2000 source Suzuki engine interface) . The field is named ´Instance´, don´t know what this means.

Also checked software from the Lowrance, it´s the actual 2.5.0

I sent a question to Lowrance, came back few minutes ago. They told me to talk to my Suzuki dealer.

Regards

Wolfgang

Wolfi · 02 April 2010, 11:08

Hi all,

at first many thanks to Shark for sending me another software for the EP-20 engine interface.

But it doesn´t still work the fuel flow, additionally I lost engine temperature in my display. So it seems it was not the right decision for me to update an ´older´ software.

Does anyone have an actually software for the EP-20 engine interface ? Because I couldn´t save the installed software before updating.

I also tried to save the engine type with running engine and in this way enough voltage, but also it doesn´t keep saved, although I waited minimum one minute before taking off engine.

So, anyone one more idea ?

Wolfi

Wolfi · 03 April 2010, 08:06

Hi all,

I sent an e-mail to a US Suzuki dealer about this problem, see his reply:

Wolfgang,

Similar situations were happening here but I believe the software in the 4” gauge solved the problem. With you not having any Suzuki NEMA gauges the soft ware corrections would need to come directly from Lowerance.

The only other fix was the update file for the EP20 which I think you already tried.

George

I sent this message to lowrance now, because they told me to contact a Suzuki Dealer.

Regards

Wolfi

Shark · 08 April 2010, 12:30

Quote:

Originally Posted by Wolfi

But it doesn´t still work the fuel flow, additionally I lost engine temperature in my display. So it seems it was not the right decision for me to update an ´older´ software.

Does anyone have an actually software for the EP-20 engine interface ? Because I couldn´t save the installed software before updating.

Any suzuki ep-20 send on nmea2000 network the engine teperature information. In any version.

The Suzuki Engine Interface provides only the following information over the NMEA 2000 network.

* Engine RPM
* Alternator Voltage
* Engine Hours
* Fuel Flow
* Engine Trim
* Fuel Used
* Trip Fuel Used
* Seasonal Fuel Used
* Speed over water (DF300 Only)
* Water Pressure (DF300 Only)
* Current Gear (DF300 Only)
* Standard Diagnostics (ONLY ALARM)
o Overheat
o Low Oil Pressure
o Over Rev
o Low Battery Voltage

I think that you have to do something on the lowrance plotter, an update or setup something.
I use a ep-20 + lmf400(suzuki-lowrance) + suzuki df175.

Wolfi · 08 April 2010, 18:14

Hi Shark,

there is still no answer from Lowrance, I don´t know if i ever get one.

I had the engine temperature, but after installing your file for the EP20 it was not more shown on my display. Only 0 °C and blinking.

Wolfgang

Shark · 12 April 2010, 10:35

See above, In the ep20 specifications from lowrance/suzuki there is no temperature data trasmitted on nmea2000 bus from suzuki engines.
It is very strange...

Wolfi · 21 April 2010, 16:08

Hi all,

some news from mine.

Got a Mail from Lowrance today. They want to know all my software versions from all sensors and the plotter. So perhaps they have an idea for my problem.

Due to this I got boating last Sunday and there is a problem with the GPS. If I switch it on, position is found quickly, but few seconds later position get´s lost and doesn´t come back again. Antenna ist a Lowrance LGC-3000 connetced in the network. I have to check using the antenna without the network, directly connected to the LCX plotter, but there was no time for doing this yet.

Wolfgang

Simon B · 22 April 2010, 08:39

Wolfi,

We had a similar fault some time ago with our LGC 2000 and a 3500C

Old LGC 2000 thread

Lowrance never said there was a problem but the unit cost was less than a new one in a shop. I think the LGC2000 is now discontinued our HDS has an internal antenna so we do not have a separate GPS module/antenna

Wolfi · 26 April 2010, 18:42

Hi all !

Good news from my NMEA-2000. It is working !!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

A friend of mine visited me today with a LMF-200 gauge. We plugged it into the network and configured all settings. On the LMF-200 gauge all features are working well including the fuel flow.

After re-connecting the LMF-200 gauge, I wondered about my LCX-37, because it was the first time engine data was saved there. After starting engine all features are shown in my Plotter, including fuel flow.

I´m very happy about this !!!!!

Kind regards

Wolfgang

Simon B · 27 April 2010, 14:28

It's nice when it works like that!

Is that all you did? plug in a different device and configure your head unit LCX-37? Might try un plugging our engine interface.

Wolfi · 27 April 2010, 14:56

Hi Simon,

yes, that was all we have done. Connected the LMF-200 gauge, configured the settings and unplugged the LMF-200. Then it was working on my plotter, don´t know why.

Engine interface got plugged out of the engine, because my friend has the Suzuki diagnostic software on his netbook and we read out the engine data.

NMEA-2000 things are still working. Put voltage completely out, then turn on again, still working.

So, I hope this will keep this way. I just have to check if the fuel flow is correct. Shark told above of some types of engines who show a false fuel flow.

@Shark, can you report me the fuel flow per hour with engine in idling speed ?

Thanks in advance !

Wolfgang

Shark · 29 April 2010, 16:01

Using lm200 you have configured in the right way the ep20 interface

Quote:

Originally Posted by Wolfi

Shark told above of some types of engines who show a false fuel flow.
@Shark, can you report me the fuel flow per hour with engine in idling speed ?

If i rember ....at idle 3.7 litres/hours at 4000 about 22-21 litres/hour at wot 37-38 litres/hours.
When was wrong the fuel flow was twice.

If you have upgraded your ep20 software you'll be ok.

Wolfi · 02 May 2010, 13:51

Hi Shark,

we went boating in Austria on the Danube river last weekend.

Idle fuel flow 10l/h, if I´m running 6000U/min fuel flow is reported at 94l/h.

I think it´s a liitle bit to much für the Suzuki, haha.

So I will write to Lowrance or calibrate it with 30L tank...

I read about calibrating it in the www, but I don´t know where it was, I will have a look...

regards

Wolfi

Ferdi · 02 May 2010, 19:41

Quote:

Originally Posted by Shark

Using lm200 you have configured in the right way the ep20 interface

If i rember ....at idle 3.7 litres/hours at 4000 about 22-21 litres/hour at wot 37-38 litres/hours.
When was wrong the fuel flow was twice.

If you have upgraded your ep20 software you'll be ok.

37-38 l/hour at wot seems a little to few fuel for 175 HP. should be between 50-65 l/hour

BruceB · 02 May 2010, 19:54

I am glad someone got their network problems sorted, mine are driving me nuts!
My gauges started dropping off the network when out one day and when I got home I found one network cable that had obviously worked loose from vibration over a year or so.
Plugged it back in and everything worked again.
Unfortunately I found the whole network drops out occasionally on the water and then comes back up at random and despite checking every connection I can find nothing wrong and can't duplicate at home.
I am assuming it is a loose connection somewhere but I'm d**mned if I can find it. Any other problems that would make a network drop now and again for no apparent reason that are software related?

Simon B · 01 June 2010, 09:16

Well 2 results one good one bad, this weekend we saw ocasions where all analogue gauges dropped to zero on the boat. The better resuylt however is that the engine interface is now giving data.

I believe though have not tested it that simply giving the device a name made it work, previously this field was blank and I had ignored it as the HDS MFD had already identified it as a suzuki one.

Wolfi · 17 July 2010, 15:50

Hi all,

some news from mine. There was no chance to get the right fuel flow. I asked Lowrance about another software for the EP20. They sent a file and I installed it. After that the EP20 was not more in my NMEA-2000 network.

I bought a new engine interface and put it into my network. ALL THINGS ARE WORKING NOW WITHOUT ANY PROBLEMS, INCLUDED TE RIGHT FUEL FLOW. So my old EP20 was damaged !!!!!!!

Kind regards

Wolfgang

Tim M · 18 July 2010, 10:25

I'm now having similar problems. Over the course of several weeks I started loosing various info on the plotter. I'm now at the stage where only the sonar is working. Lost some engine data first (I think fuel was the first to go) followed by all engine data. Now I get a error message saying the GPS antenna isn't responding. I had a dealer look at it and reset it but that didn't cue it. He suggested we check all the cabling etc which we did, still nothing. Next step is to take the plotter off the boat and send it to them for inspection, although this isn't ideal at peak season.

Simon B · 18 July 2010, 16:13

Tim you may unfortunatelt by looking at two different failures, the fuel flow/engine interface and secondly your LGC antenna module. The symptoms you describe of the antenna loss were exactly the same as ours intermitant then permanent. A number of Ribnet members have had this.

We sent our whole unit off to Navico for checking and the sent us a new module at a good price with a new gurantee.