Lowrance LMF-200

I'm finding out that most Navman stuff is being discontinued and for the most part all I want to do is read GPH, RPM and if possible (but not necessary) depth.
I may go as far to put both fuel tanks on it also.
 
Thanks Reel, that gives me a lot more than I had on the accessories that I know about. I seemed at a dead end before this. Thanks :)
 
To further complicate the unknown. I looked in THT's forum and come to find out Lowrance has just released the EP-20 this week which may do the tach portion I want.
However it's desighed for Suziki engines. One guy is attempting spliceing to his BRP.
It appears it's not able to hook up like a normal tach but has to go thru the engines data harness.
I'll search for more dealers that might advertise for it.
Currently it's not on any website for sale.
 
Finding trickles of info about the EP-20 sensor from anyone except Lowrance. I have found one supplier who shows it in stock and the info states "for use on Yamaha, Suzuki, Evinrude and other engines that are NMEA 2000 compliant".
WELL so far that leaves my "84 Evinrude out of the picture!  :(
 
Navman stuff is being rebadged Northstar for the USA. Your not going to get an old 2 stroke to work on a NMEA2000 system because the tach signal is just a pulse of the stator (I think the stator). The new systems are getting there data feed from the Central Processor on the motors.
 
I tend to believe you on that. You know I have never had a problem with Lowrance products, however I am being refreshed on why I have purchased other manufacturers stuff of the same caliber. LACK OF IMFORMATION ON LOWRANCE PRODUCTS!
The tach portion I wanted is apparently not going to happen now I wonder about the depth portion. :(
THANKS Air
 
The depth portion? Without re-reading the thread, I know that the transducer signal will transmit through the network, but you will need a device capable of "decoding" what the transducer is saying, then the depth info can be displayed on just about any display on the system.
 
Well if that's the case then I got one more gauge to stick in the dash. I don't like the idea of depending on an entire network in case of an electronics failure. The intended idea was to have a fuel monitor, tach and depth gauge as one unit. The depth gauge would be thru the hull in the bow and a seperate GPS-Sonar unit with the other transducer in clean water. The possibility of having the fuel level probes in the LMF-200 does exist. Based on the literature provided by Lowrance the unit will read all what I'm trying to do, however deep down I know you're correct and will need the sonar unit to attach to the network for the gauge to do what I want.
 
Air if you don't mind read the first page and see if you think I'm trying to streach this unit to do more than intended. I think the word "capable" might be the escape clause.
 
I just went back and re-read everything and got hung up on these words, "capable of showing data." It doesn't process data, maybe fuel flow, but...I don't think its gonna do what you want.

Even interfacing it to current GPS, most aren't NMEA2000 yet. Most operate under NMEA0183 protocol, so even hooking it up to most exsisting systems won't work. To get the engine data (Tach) your engine has to transmit NMEA 2000 as well.

I think Lowrance has a great idea here, but they don't really have any partners yet. BRP & Suzy are the only two manufacturers that are pushing NMEA2000 at this point. Merc is proprietary SmartCraft and I have no idea what Yami is using.

I think that the LMF 200 you got is gonna give you fuel flow, but nothing else. I could be wrong, but I don't see have that gauge is intended to process the raw sonar returns from the 'ducer. I mean if thats the case, I assume you could it up to their radome as well ;D Now ya got something...

My .02
 
Yep, yep,yep. That is one of my weaknesses, impulse buying. However I did research the unit to the end with information available and on impulse bought it at the store with the hope of further info being available.
Right now this gauge appears to be able to stand alone and read fuel flow,fluid level,speed,and temp.
THANKS Air for taking the time to confirm all this. :-/
 
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