SmartCraft Mercury Monitor Installation --- What's the big deal

[sschefer]

I read through all the posts about SmartCraft installation and then went and bought the new MercMonitor with ECO and Troll Control. This one I bought is the Level 1 gauge since my 60hp 4 Stroke only has the basics. I also bought the 4 port hub so I could hub in right behind my Merc Control instead of going all the way back to the motor. Installation time was probably 30 minutes including removing the analog Merc Tach. I also tee'd the NMEA 2000 connector into my Lowrance HDS-8 backbone to pickup the GPS and get Smartcraft input for my Lowrance HDS 8.

The title say's it all, the instructions in the box were concise and easy to follow. They even told me how to set the gauge up for engines without SmartCraft. You can use the guage with just about anything that can be equipped with either NMEA 2000 or NMEA 0183 monitors, sensors, gps, fuel senders, tab position sensors, trim senders, etc.

The only glitch was that when I fired it up on the lake this morning I noticed that my in gear idle RPM was still set at 700 RPM. That's the break in RPM and the motor is still running in break in mode. I'll take it in next week and have that taken care of. It only meant that I couldn't use the Troll Control to idle it down to 500 RPM. Everything else worked great and the interface to the Lowance gives you a full set of highly visible gauges and you know we can't ever get enough gauges.

There is an alternative if you only want the NMEA 2000 output for either Lowrance or Garmin head units. Livorsi sells a gateway that will do that for you. I got the gauge for cost so I went with it instead.

This photo was taken this morning. --

 

[rsalvarez]

Re: SmartCraft Mercury Monitor Installation --- What's the big deal

Hi. i order this mercmonitor ,just because it was cheaper than buy the separated gauges, but my engine is a 2001 optimax 150 hp , i cant find any reference for the instalation on the 2001 for the monitor, just for the sc1000 instruments, i buy the junction box and i dont know if the blue cable with resistor is the one that i need, in your installation guide did you read something about the installation on the optimax v6? thanks

 

[sschefer]

Re: SmartCraft Mercury Monitor Installation --- What's the big deal

Hi. i order this mercmonitor ,just because it was cheaper than buy the separated gauges, but my engine is a 2001 optimax 150 hp , i cant find any reference for the instalation on the 2001 for the monitor, just for the sc1000 instruments, i buy the junction box and i dont know if the blue cable with resistor is the one that i need, in your installation guide did you read something about the installation on the optimax v6? thanks

When I ordered mine I ordered the MercMonitor and that's what I was charged for but when it came in it was the ECO gauge. Seems the MercMonitor is no longer sold and has been replaced with the ECO gauge. The dealer is a good guy and sold it to me for the same price as the Monitor that I'd ordered but stated he didn't make a dime on it. I offered to pay the difference but he wouldn't accept it. The ECO gauge instructions are straight forward if your engine is SmartCraft ready. However, there were also instructions for using it on just about any engine. The difference being that you need to buy the sensors also. I don't have the instructions handy right now but I'll dig around tomorrow and see if I can find anything specific to the early Opti's. You may be dissapointed in the gauge since it is a all in one and although you have most of the critical items on one screen it's a little hard to read. I run the Tach mainly and use my HDS-8 for the rest of the gauges because they are always at eye level and easy to read. When I'm trolling I have it on the temp gauge so I can watch that. I put it into troll control mode set the speed I want and it keeps it there for me without having to constantly adjust the throttle. That really works great in a head wind and almost worth the price of the gauge.

 

[rsalvarez]

Re: SmartCraft Mercury Monitor Installation --- What's the big deal

Thanks steve i think the same about the monitor as i was looking for a compact all in one unit mostly the tach, as my engine switch harnes have the analog output for some indications via bulbs ( temp,oil, 7 in total) i will left the yamaha gauge for this ( digital gauge for fuel level,baterry,oil) thanks for the help now i just need the blue harmess from the engine to the console.

 

[sschefer]

Re: SmartCraft Mercury Monitor Installation --- What's the big deal

Thanks steve i think the same about the monitor as i was looking for a compact all in one unit mostly the tach, as my engine switch harnes have the analog output for some indications via bulbs ( temp,oil, 7 in total) i will left the yamaha gauge for this ( digital gauge for fuel level,baterry,oil) thanks for the help now i just need the blue harmess from the engine to the console.

I'm so sorry, I completely forgot to go look for that manual. I've made myself a note and will look for it first thing in the morning.