Micro C ripoff?

[Crazyhorse 47]

I might be wrong..(its been known to happen!!) but have recently taken a trip down the "connect this to that" path getting a Simrad NSS7 EVO2 to talk to a Simrad TP32. Now the fun begins! The MFD is N2K which is micro-c developed for devicenet. Its a cross industry standard adopted by NMEA when they developed 2000 to replace 0183. All good so far until you discover that the TP32 is 'SIMNET', a small yellow female 5 pin proprietary plug. Why? They can't tell me. So, one needs a expensive adaptor kit which comes with a backbone T connector a barrel gender connector and a way too short to be of much use simnet to n2k cable. The fun continues..unless your tiller pilot is only 8 inches from your MFD, you now need an extension cable too. So why not get a simnet edtension cable? They already thought of that by making them with female plugs at BOTH ends! No cheap way around this mate! Spoke with Matt from Neptune who suggested simply daisy chaining through a simnet device but you can see the problem here as the TP32 had a female connector and all simnet cables are female. So much for the "simple plug and play". Give Simrad their credit, their tech guys are very helpful and supplied a spare drop cable for me but I am still going to have to spend $160 for a 'adaptor kit'...anyone want a simnet to n2k cable!!?

[rjp 4]

CH,  Its prob 8y since I encountered and solved this problem on a friends boat (Simrad IS20 wind & compass, Airmar DST800 depth/speed, Garmin MFD).  My memory is that the simnet cable has the exact same 5 [EDIT it is four wires and shield is the foil] wires in it as N2k.  We simply cut off the end of the extension signet cable and attached a field installable maretron n2k adaptor.  

 

Confirmed by a quick search;  https://www.panbo.com/n2k-cable-mixing-not-a-big-woop/ 

[Crazyhorse 47]

$31 plus gst for male or female n2k, already thought of that RJP and no doubt Simrad too by putting a female simnet socket on their TP32 otherwise it would be easy to buy a simnet extension cable and cutting one end off but all their simnet cables are female....very cunning!! Cut the famale end off the TP32? Nope, bye bye warranty.

[rjp 4]

Aren't we talking about the simnet lead on the back/inside of the deck plug fitting (what would be inside the boat) -also has power connection wires?    Or, has it changed and is it now directly on the TP32 and exposed in the cockpit?

 

Yes I assume it would void the warranty on the deck gland fitting but thats just a fitting not the TP itself.  Isn't it pretty normal for any brand to tie into a backbone close to where the cable enters the hull?  I certainly dont recall any brand of tiller pilot I've worked on having a multi-metre length on their deck fittings.

[Island Time 1,235]

OK Steve, I've just got home. I have here a Simrad TP 32 socket with the simnet plug cut off, and a NMEA micro C cable missing one end. So you can have the micro C cable for free, and remove the simnet plug from your socket, then simply splice the new cable on - colors are the same.  

OR, I can do that for you and send you the assembly. $25 + Freight.

 

Then provided you have a spare connection on your n2K bus you can just plug in.

 

If not, you need to add a T. $38

 

If you have no N2K bus, then you need a n2K starter kit, which will give you everything you need, incl a cable to splice on where the simnet plug is. $69.00 + Freight.

 

Let me know what you wish to do

[Crazyhorse 47]

Aren't we talking about the simnet lead on the back/inside of the deck plug fitting (what would be inside the boat) -also has power connection wires?    Or, has it changed and is it now directly on the TP32 and exposed in the cockpit?

 

Yep dead right, the connector is a plug/ socket setup so would only void the warranty of the socket and wiring...look them up and see what they charge to replace them!!!

 

Yes I assume it would void the warranty on the deck gland fitting but thats just a fitting not the TP itself.  Isn't it pretty normal for any brand to tie into a backbone close to where the cable enters the hull?  I certainly dont recall any brand of tiller pilot I've worked on having a multi-metre length on their deck fittings.

The TP32 socket has (at a guess) a metre of cable for the simnet plug. Its obviously only enough to allow connection to a MFD via their $170 adaptor kit!

[Crazyhorse 47]

OK Steve, I've just got home. I have here a Simrad TP 32 socket with the simnet plug cut off, and a NMEA micro C cable missing one end. So you can have the micro C cable for free, and remove the simnet plug from your socket, then simply splice the new cable on - colors are the same.  

OR, I can do that for you and send you the assembly. $25 + Freight.

 

Then provided you have a spare connection on your n2K bus you can just plug in.

 

If not, you need to add a T. $38

 

If you have no N2K bus, then you need a n2K starter kit, which will give you everything you need, incl a cable to splice on where the simnet plug is. $69.00 + Freight.

 

Let me know what you wish to do

Sheeeeeeit. Wish you were about earlier IT!!! Ordered a bloody 'adaptor kit' from the US, $63 and got GIVEN a new N2K drop cable by the guys at Simrad, no cost! Oh well, such is life, its only money! Will let you know how it goes and thanks again for the offer. Very much appreciated.