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--- ve.can:nmea-2000:start [2020-01-06 22:58] – [1. Introduction] mvader
+++ ve.can:nmea-2000:start [2020-05-20 14:23] – [1. Introduction] marmour
@@ Line 3: / Line 3: @@
 ===== 1. Introduction =====
-This document explains how to integrate a Victron system onto a Marine MFD, such as from Garmin, Raymarine Navico and other brands.
+This technical document explains how to integrate a Victron system onto a Marine MFD, such as those from Garmin, Raymarine Navico and other brands.
-This are multiple ways to do such an integration; here is a small overview:
+There are multiple ways to integrate, so make sure to closely read the complete introductory chapter to find the best method for your type of system.
-For all new installations, we recommend to use one of our [[venus-os:start|GX Products]]. It acts as a hub, collecting information from connected equipment such as Inverters, Battery Monitors and Chargers; and then making that available to the MFD.
+=== Systems with a GX Device ===
-A GX Device can connected to a Marine MFD in two ways. One is by connecting it to the NMEA2000 network, N2K. N2K is is a plug-and-play communications standard used for connecting marine sensors and display units within ships and boats.
+For most installations and integrations, it will be best to use one of our [[venus-os:start|GX Products]]. It acts as a hub, collecting information from connected equipment, such as Inverters, Battery Monitors and Chargers; and then making them available to the MFD. There are two ways to connect a GX Device to an MFD:
-Victron Energy is a member of the NMEA 2000 organisation, and we have several of our products certified by NMEA 2000.
+- the (simpler) plug and play like method uses an Ethernet connection, which enables the MFD App. Available for [[https://www.victronenergy.nl/panel-systems-remote-monitoring/marine%20mfd%20gx%20integration%20-%20raymarine|Raymarine]], [[https://www.victronenergy.nl/panel-systems-remote-monitoring/marine%20mfd%20gx%20integration%20-%20garmin|Garmin]], as well as the [[https://www.victronenergy.nl/panel-systems-remote-monitoring/marine%20mfd%20gx%20integration|Navico brands B&G, Lowrance and Simrad]]. Click those links to go straight to all information, videos and manuals.
+- in an the NMEA2000 network. See the [[https://www.victronenergy.com/live/ccgx:start#marine_mfd_integration_by_nmea_2000|NMEA 2000 chapter in the CCGX manual]] for details.
-For brevity, this document will refer to NMEA 2000 as N2K.
+Both connections can be made and used at the same time, and each has its advantages and disadvantages. The MFD App is by far the simplest and plug and play-like method. It presents an easy to use system overview without requiring any configuration. The NMEA 2000 integration on the other hand, whilst being more complex, allows more customisation on the MFD: the data will show up in the data-tree of the MFD, and most MFDs then allow the user to configure various pages and combinations of information. This is not so with the MFD App, as the only available settings are to show or hide battery parameters (Voltage, SOC, Current) as well as naming the batteries.
-===== 1. How to connect to a NMEA 2000 network =====
+Note that, besides making information available on NMEA 2000, a GX Device can also read tank level data from NMEA 2000. More information in [[https://www.victronenergy.com/live/ccgx:start#connecting_nmea-2000_tank_senders|the NMEA 2000 tank sender section in the CCGX Manual]].
-==== 1.1 Multis, MultiPlusses and Quattros ====
+=== Direct connection - products with a VE.Can port only ===
-Use the [[https://www.victronenergy.com/accessories/ve-bus-to-nmea2000-interface|VE.Bus to NMEA 2000 interface]] to connect these devices to an N2K network.
-=== Combining with a Color Control GX ===
+Some of our products feature a VE.Can port; and can thus be directly connected to the NMEA 2000 network. No electronic converter necessary; only a plug conversion cable, the [[https://nocache.victronenergy.com/accessories/ve-can-to-nmea2000-micro-c-male|VE.Can to NMEA2000 cable]].
-Monitoring and controlling these products from both to a N2K network and a Color Control GX is possible. In that case, do not connect the Color Control GX to the VE.Bus network. Instead, connect it also to the N2K network. Use our [[https://nocache.victronenergy.com/accessories/ve-can-to-nmea2000-micro-c-male|VE.Can to NMEA2000 cable]] for that. The CCGX will read the MultiPlus or Quattro information from the via the N2K network.
-Schematic diagram of combining a CCGX with NMEA 2000:
+=== Using our converter interfaces (DEPRECATED!) ===
-{{ :ve.can:nmea-2000:schema_nmea2000-vebus-vecan_nov_2016.png?nolink&700 |}}
-In above example, there needs to be a fuse in the [[https://nocache.victronenergy.com/accessories/ve-can-to-nmea2000-micro-c-male|VE.Can to NMEA2000 cable]]. Without it, the VE.Can port in the CCGX will be left without power and therefore does not work.
+  * [[https://www.victronenergy.com/accessories/ve-bus-to-nmea2000-interface|VE.Bus to NMEA 2000 interface]]
+  * [[https://www.victronenergy.com/accessories/ve-direct-to-nmea2000-interface|VE.Direct to NMEA 2000 interface]], for BMV Battery Monitors (only).
-=== Limitations ===
+Note that the use of both those interfaces is deprecated. Use a GX Device instead.
-When the Multis/Quattros are connected to the CCGX via a [[https://www.victronenergy.com/accessories/ve-bus-to-nmea2000-interface|VE.Bus to NMEA 2000 interface]], there are some limitations compared to the normal direct connection. These limitations are:
+=== What is NMEA 2000? ===
-  * Incompatible with Hub-4 and ESS Assistant, for Energy Storage Systems
+NMEA 2000 is a plug-and-play communications standard used for connecting marine sensors and display units within ships and boats.
-  * Listing the VE.Bus installed Assistants on the CCGX / VRM Portal does not work
-  * Alarm information per phase does not work (generic alarm information still works)
-  * Forwarding charge-current information of MPPTs to the VE.Bus system does not work. Solution: always install a BMV, which is needed anyway in a Marine installation.
-Setting On/Off/Charger-only and a current limit from the CCGX does work. As does [[ccgx:ccgx_ve_power_setup|Remote VEConfigure]].
+Victron Energy is a member of the NMEA 2000 organisation, and we have several of our products certified by NMEA 2000.
-==== 1.2 BMV Battery Monitors ====
-Use the [[https://www.victronenergy.com/accessories/ve-direct-to-nmea2000-interface|VE.Direct to NMEA 2000 interface]] to connect a [[https://www.victronenergy.com/battery-monitors/bmv-700|BMV battery monitor]] to a N2K network.
+For brevity, this document will refer to NMEA 2000 as N2K.
+=== Modbus-TCP Integration ===
+For larger vessels, using custom designed SCADA systems, the recommended protocol to use is ModbusTCP. See our [[ccgx:modbustcp_faq|]].
-Combining this with a CCGX on the same network is possible. Connect the CCGX to the N2K network as well, use our [[https://nocache.victronenergy.com/accessories/ve-can-to-nmea2000-micro-c-male|VE.Can to NMEA2000 cable]] for that. The CCGX will then read the BMV information via the N2K network.
+===== 2. Varia =====
-{{ :ve.can:nmea-2000:schema_nmea2000-vedirect_nov_2016.png?nolink&700 |}}
-==== 1.3 VE.Can products (Skylla-i, Skylla-IP44, Lynx Shunt, Lynx Ion+Shunt and more) ====
+==== 2.1 VE.Can products (Skylla-i, Skylla-IP44, Lynx Shunt, Lynx Ion+Shunt and more) ====
 Since the Victron VE.Can communication protocol is based on N2K, the following products can all be connected directly to a N2K network. The only thing necessary is a plug converter: the [[https://www.victronenergy.com/cables/ve-can-to-nmea2000-cable|VE.Can to NMEA 2000 cable]].
@@ Line 56: / Line 55: @@
 {{ :ve.can:nmea-2000:schema_nmea2000-vecan_mppt-skylla_nov_2016.png?nolink&700 |}}
-===== 2. MFD integration =====
-Using the NMEA 2000 protocol, Victron equipment can be integrated in many multi function displays. Such as the ones from Maretron, Raymarine, Garmin and many other brands
-Note: working on a very large yacht featuring custom Scada and PLC networks? Consider integrating the Victron system with [[ccgx:modbustcp_faq|ModbusTCP]] instead of NMEA 2000.
 ==== 2.1 Raymarine & EmpirBus ====
-Integration onto Raymarine MFDs is always done with an [[http://www.trigentic.com/#nxt-mcu|Empirbus NXT MCU ]]. Though both connected to the same N2K network, the NXT MCU translates the N2K PGNs originating from the Victron equipment into Raymarine proprietary messages.
+Besides using NMEA 2000 and/or the Lighthouse App, integration onto Raymarine MFDs can also be done with an [[http://www.trigentic.com/#nxt-mcu|Empirbus NXT MCU ]]. Though both are connected to the same N2K network, the NXT MCU translates the N2K PGNs originating from the Victron equipment into Raymarine proprietary messages.
 In the [[http://www.empirbus.com/clickOnce/EmpirBusStudio-Demo/|EmpirBus Studio software]] you will find dedicated Victron building blocks than can be drawn onto the diagram.
@@ Line 71: / Line 66: @@
 The EmpirBus system requires the data instance of battery status and dc detailed status to be unique when using multiple sources. ([[ve.can:changing_nmea2000_instances#changing_a_data_instance|how to change data instances]])
-{{ :ve.can:nmea-2000:schema_nmea2000-raymarine_ccgx_nov_2016.png?nolink&900 |}}
 ==== 2.2 Maretron ====
@@ Line 84: / Line 80: @@
 Note that there are many more generic frequently asked questions answered in the [[https://www.victronenergy.com/upload/documents/Whitepaper-Data-communication-with-Victron-Energy-products_EN.pdf|Data communication white paper]].
-=== Q1: What about instances? Device instances, data instances? ===
+==== Q1: What about instances? Device instances, data instances? ====
 See [[ve.can:changing_nmea2000_instances|]] for details on that.
-=== Q2: Can MPPT Solar Chargers with a VE.Direct port also be connected? ===
+==== Q2: Can MPPT Solar Chargers with a VE.Direct port also be connected? ====
 No, they cannot be connected. Even though the [[https://www.victronenergy.com/accessories/ve-direct-to-nmea2000-interface|VE.Direct to NMEA 2000 interface]] can be physically connected to these solar chargers, it will not work. Use our [[https://www.victronenergy.com/solar-charge-controllers/smartsolar%20mppt%20ve.can|Solar Chargers with a VE.Can port]] instead.
@@ Line 94: / Line 90: @@
 Similarly, also a GX Device does not (yet) transmit data from connected Solar Chargers on its NMEA2000-out port.
+==== Q3: What about terminators and network layout? ====
+A N2K CAN bus network needs to be laid out as in a backbone configuration, using drop cables to connect to each device. Also, there should be only two terminators in the network. Therefore:
-=== Q3: What about terminators and network layout? ===
+  * Use the NMEA 2000 cable as the backbone.
-A N2K CAN bus network needs to be laid out as in backbone configuration, using drop cables to connect to each device. Also, there should be only two terminators in the network. Therefore:
-  * Use the NMEA2000 cable as the backbone.
   * Run a separate drop cable separately to each Victron device. The drop cable will be one of these three products:
     * [[https://www.victronenergy.com/accessories/ve-bus-to-nmea2000-interface|VE.Bus to NMEA 2000 interface]]
     * [[https://www.victronenergy.com/accessories/ve-direct-to-nmea2000-interface|VE.Direct to NMEA 2000 interface]]
-    * [[https://nocache.victronenergy.com/accessories/ve-can-to-nmea2000-micro-c-male|VE.Can to NMEA2000 cable]]
+    * [[https://nocache.victronenergy.com/accessories/ve-can-to-nmea2000-micro-c-male|VE.Can to NMEA 2000 cable]]
   * Only terminate the NMEA 2000 backbone, do not terminate on the VE.Can side.
-=== Q4: What PGNs does the Color Control GX transmit on N2K? ===
+==== Q4: What PGNs does a GX Device transmit on N2K? ====
-Nothing. At the moment the CCGX only reads data from the NMEA 2000 network. The data it can read is:
+See the [[https://www.victronenergy.com/live/ccgx:start#marine_mfd_integration_by_nmea2000|NMEA 2000 chapter in the CCGX manual]] for details.
-  * Victron Inverter/charger data
+==== Q5: Can integration onto Raymarine displays also be done without Empirbus NXT? ====
-  * Victron Battery monitor data
-  * Victron BMS data
-  * Victron Tank sender data as well as tank sender data from other manufacturers. See chapter 1.4.7 in the [[ccgx:start|]].
-=== Q5: Can integration onto Raymarine displays also be done without Empirbus NXT? ===
 Yes, see [[https://www.victronenergy.com/panel-systems-remote-monitoring/marine%20mfd%20gx%20integration%20-%20raymarine|the Raymarine integration page on our website]].
-=== Q6: What about Maretron and other brand tank sensors on the Ccgx? ===
+==== Q6: What about Maretron and other brand tank sensors on the Ccgx? ====
 See chapter 1.4.7 in the [[ccgx:start|]].
-===== DISQUS =====
-~~DISQUS~~