Hi all- I need some help and advice on electronics interfacing. Today I finished installing a Raymarine wheel pilot EV-100 today, so I now have a Seatalk bus that interconnects that system (which might be irrelevant). When I bought the boat, it had not wind instruments so I installed a Tacktick Sensor on the mast and a dual display at the helm, thinking that wireless was a good idea. I still think it is, but the whole concept seems to be lagging. I had a Lowrance HD7 at the helm station and I never liked it. In order to get Sailsteer function for racing, I purchased a Zeus T8 at the recent Defender sale. Now I am trying to figure out how to put it all together. I am not concerned at this point about getting the autopilot to talk to the chart plotter. Perhaps a future project, but I doubt it. I am more concerned about getting the wind data into the Zeus T8 which apparently I need for Sailsteer. I might also want to get the hull speed sensor into the Zeus at some point (old B&G running currently into an old Focus display). I also have a Standard Horizon GX2150 radio that has AIS functionality.
So right now there is a double cable (power and 0183) to a single connector coming through the Edson pedestal that ran into a single connector on the Lowrance. So what to do? The Zeus has separate inputs for Echo transducer?, power, video (NMEA 0183), NMEA 2000 and network. 1. Do I need to cut those cables and run new 0183 and power to the Zeus? Is there any such thing as a converter plug so I can use the existing runs of wire? 2. How do I get the wind data from Tacktick to the Zeus. Presumably, I need a Raymarine T122. But the guy at defender said I also needed a Actisense converter. 3. Can I send multiple 0183 inputs into the Zeus? If I wanted to have the AIS data, but also add a Raymarine T122 how would those be wired to both go to the Zeus? Is there such a thing as a hub or multiplexer for 0183 or is that not needed? 4. If I wanted to get speed through the water to the Zeus (do I need this?), I presume I would have to replace my sensor. The T8 manual shows a "Echo Transducer” going into the first input, but I am having trouble finding something called that for sale? 5. I don’t understand the difference, if any, between the B&G NMEA2K and the Raymarine Seatalk. Are they different or interchangeable? I hope I have provided enough information for the experts to understand the issues. Any advice appreciated. Thanks- Dave Aries 1990 C&C 34+ New London, CT
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