Maretron NMEA 2000 ®

Network Installation Guide

Installing an NMEA 2000® Network • NMEA 2000® Standard for Serial-Data Networking of
Installing an NMEA 2000 network consists of interconnecting
® Marine Electronic Devices
NMEA 2000 ® electronic devices using plug-and-play • NMEA Installation Standards
cables and connectors. The following pages provide a brief
description of how to set up a NMEA 2000® network using 1. Cable and Connector Network Basics
five basic steps: 1.1 Network Topology
The NMEA 2000® cable system uses a trunk (sometimes
1. Cable and Connector Network Basics referred to as the backbone) and drop line topology as
2. Installing Terminators shown in Figure 1.
3. Supplying Power
4. Grounding the Network The NMEA 2000® cable system includes five wires within a
5. Checking the Network single waterproof cable: two signal wires, power and ground
wires, and a drain wire. The drain wire shields the signal, power,
Please note that this installation guide contains a brief and ground wires from external Radio Frequency Interference
description of the basic concepts of installing an NMEA (RFI) and helps reduce RFI emission from the cable.
2000® network and Maretron suggests that you consult
a trained professional for any installation. You can learn You can connect devices using one of three cable options:
more about installing NMEA 2000® networks by contacting
the National Marine Electronics Association (NMEA) at Mini - This is commonly used for the trunk line on the network
www.nmea.org and consulting the following documents: because of its greater current carrying capacity (8 amps) as

Multi Figure 1
Port NMEA 2000®
Box
Network Topology
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 Figure 2
Maximum Cable
Length Determination

opposed to Micro cable (4 amps). Mini cable has an outside cordsets, you can make your own trunk line using bulk
diameter in the range from 0.41 to 0.49 inches. Its maximum cable and field-attachable connectors. If you decide to add
installed bend radius is 7x the cable diameter. You can also equipment later, you can simply disconnect a cordset from
use this type of cable for drop lines. a tee, add another tee directly to the existing tee, re-connect
the cordset and add the new component to the system using
Mid - This is commonly used for smaller networks as either the a drop cable. Alternatively, you could cut the trunk line,
network trunk line or as drop lines. Mid cable and connectors add two field-attachable connectors and insert a new tee.
are rated to 4 amps just like the Micro cable, however the Trunk lines can also be run up to watertight bulkheads and
larger diameter power conductors within the Mid cable connected to a waterproof bulkhead feed-thru connector to
provides for less voltage drop over Micro cable, especially for maintain the integrity of watertight compartments.
long runs. The diameter of the Mid cable is 0.33 inches.
To drop off the trunk line, you connect a device using a tee
Micro - This cable type is typically used as the drop line connector. Daisy-chaining of devices is not allowed, as it is
connecting devices to the main trunk line with an outside a requirement to be able to remove a component from the
diameter in the range from 0.24 to 0.28 inches. Micro cable network without affecting any other device. This allows you
has a smaller diameter and is more flexible than mini cable to remove a device for servicing while the rest of the network
with an installation bend radius of 7x the cable diameter. remains operational. Multiport boxes are also available
Smaller networks use this type of cable for both the trunk where instruments tend to be clustered, around the helm for
and drop lines. example.

You construct the trunk line using double-ended cordsets 1.2 Maximum Cable Distance
connected between tees or taps. One end of the cordset The cable distance between any two points (a point being
has a male connector with male pins while the other end of an electronic product or terminator) must not exceed 250
the cordset has a female connector and female receptacles. meters (820 feet) for a system based on the Mini or Mid trunk
The connectors are keyed so they can only connect to cable or 100 meters (328 feet) for a system based on a Micro
each other in one way. As an alternative to double-ended trunk cable.
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 For most cases, the maximum distance should be measured drop line to the trunk line is 6 meters (20 feet).
between termination resistors. However, if the distance from 1.5 Maximum Number of Devices
a trunk line tee to the farthest device connected to the trunk A maximum of 50 physical devices shall be connected to
line is greater than the distance from the tee to the nearest the network, and the disconnection of any device shall not
terminating resistor (TR), then you MUST include the drop interrupt any other device on the network.
line length as part of the cable length in your maximum cable
distance calculation. Figure 2 shows an example where both 1.6 NMEA 2000® Cable
5 meter drops must be included in the maximum cable The Mini, Mid and Micro cables contain five wires: One
distance since the drops are longer than the distance from twisted pair (red and black) for 12VDC power, one twisted
the tee to termination resistor. pair (blue and white) for signal and a drain wire (bare).

1.3 Cumulative Drop Line Length The following table shows the color, name, and usage for
The cumulative drop line length refers to the sum of all drop each wire contained within the cable.
lines, Mini, Mid or Micro cable in the cabling system. This
Color Name Usage
sum cannot exceed 78 meters (256 feet). Figure 3 shows
an example using four drop tees and two multiport drops to White NET-H Signal
attach 11 devices to the trunk line. The cumulative drop line Blue NET-L Signal
length is 37 meters (122 feet) and no single device is more
than 6 meters (20 feet) from the trunk line. Bare SHIELD Drain
Black NET-C Ground
1.4 Maximum Drop Line Length
Red NET-S Power
The maximum cable distance from any device on a branching

Figure 3
Multi Maximum
Port Cumulative
Box
Drop Line Length
Determination
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 Figure 4 Figure 5
Mini Powertap Micro/Mid Powertap

NET-S Left Side (+12V)(Brown) SHIELD (Bare)

NET-S (+12V)(White) NET-S (+12V)(Red) NET-C Left Side (Ground)(Blue) NET-C Right Side (Ground)(Black)
NET-C (Ground)(Black) NET-C (Ground)(Green) NET-S Right Side (+12V)(White)

1.7 NMEA 2000® Connectors 3. Supplying Power

Connectors attach cables to devices or other components NMEA 2000® networks can use a power supply originating
of the NMEA 2000® cable system. This allows the network from a single-point connection to the vessel’s 12 volt battery
to be completely “plug-and-play”. Connections can be or one or more isolated power supplies distributed along the
made with pre-molded cordsets or with field-attachable network, but not a combination of battery and power supply
connectors. The following diagram shows the pins found connections. For the purpose of this installation guide, we will
within Mini connector and the Micro and Mid connector and focus on the power source being a single-point connection
the corresponding wire colors for those pins. to the vessel’s battery. Over current protection should be
provided and should be sized in accordance with ABYC
E-11, AC and DC ELECTRICAL SYSTEMS ON BOATS,
taking into consideration the smallest gauge of cable being
used for the backbone or drop cables. The NET-S wire is
connected to the positive side of the battery while NET-C is
connected to the negative side of the battery.

3.1 Mini Power Connection

2. Installing Terminators Power is supplied to a Mini trunk line via a Powertap that is
Termination resistors are attached to each end of the trunk shown in Figure 4. Note that the Mini power cable does not
cable to reduce reflections of the communication signals have a shield wire as this connection is made to the screw
on the network. If you do not use termination resistors as terminal on the Powertap itself.
described, the network will not operate properly. Termination
resistors are typically connected directly to the last tee on 3.2 Mini Power Capability
the trunk line although they can be connected to a cordset Although Mini cable is rated to 8 amps, the cable system can
extending from the last tee on a trunk line. Inline terminators support a total load of more than 8 amps. For example, 16
are also available and they are used to terminate the network amps of power could be supplied to the middle of the trunk
at the last product. where 8 amps is supplied to both sides of the power tap. The
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 Powertap can handle large loads as long as no more than 8 network consists of two legs, one leg extending in each
amps is drawn through any single segment of the trunk line. direction from the power insertion point. Figure 7 shows a
However, cable resistance may limit your application to less middle-powered network.
than 8 amps.
3.7 Maximum Power Supply Voltage Drop
3.3 Micro/Mid Power Connection The NMEA 2000® network is designed to work properly
Like the Mini power connection, power is supplied to a Micro/ as long as there is no more than a 1.5 volt difference in
Mid trunk line via a Powertap, which is shown in Figure 5. the power supply voltage between any two devices on
the network. Therefore, you should perform an estimate
3.4 Micro/Mid Power Capability of the voltage drop across a network using the
Micro/Mid cable is rated to 4 amps but like Mini cable, following equation:
strategic placement of the power source could support
higher current. For example, 8 amps of power could be Voltage Drop = 0.1 x Network Loads x Network Length x Cable Resistance/100
Where: Network Loads is sum of Load Equivalent Numbers (LEN)
supplied to the middle of the trunk where 4 amps is supplied
for all devices (see device nameplate)
to both sides of the power tap. It can handle large loads as Network Length is in meters
long as no more than 4 amps is drawn through any single Cable resistance is in ohms/100 meters
segment of the trunk line. However, cable resistance may
limit your application to less than 4 amps Power supply voltage drop estimates resulting in less
than 1.5 volts across the entire network require no further
3.5 End-Powered Network analysis. Likewise, estimates ranging between 1.5 and 3.0
End-powered networks are typically seen on smaller vessels volts require no further analysis as long as a mid-powered
with only a few NMEA 2000® devices. Figure 6 shows an network is used. Occasionally, estimated power supply
end-powered network. voltage drops will occur outside these limits and will require
further consideration through detailed calculations by
3.6 Middle-Powered Network certified technicians.
A middle-powered network is typically found on larger
vessels and is any network where the power is connected 4. Ground the Network
to the network at some location other than at the end. This The NMEA 2000® network should be grounded at ONE

Electronic Compass
Trunk Line
Depth Sounder Compass Display Drop Line
2 meters
3 meters 3 meters 1 load Device or Node
2 loads 2 loads
TR
TR TR
10 2 5
3 meters 3 meters Drop Tee
meters meters meters
3 meters
2 loads
2 meters
1 load
Speed Log
Figure 6
Power from
End-Powered Network
Battery Autopilot
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 Autopilot Speed Log
Trunk Line
1 meter 3 meters Drop Line
1 load 2 loads
Device or Node
5 meters 20 meters 5 meters 3 meters 0.3 meters
TR TR TR

Drop Tee
2 meters 3 meters 3 meter
1 load 2 loads 2 loads

Electronic Compass Compass Display Depth Repeater

Power from
Figure 7
Battery Middle-Powered Network

location. Grounding at more than one location may • More or less than two terminating resistors
produce ground loops, which can cause problems with • Loose connections, make sure that all connectors are
communications on the network. In addition to the ground securely fastened
wire, connect the drain or SHIELD wire at the supply ground • Excessive trunk line length-especially with Micro cable
location and NO other place. • Excessive drop line cable length
• Improper shield and ground connection at the
5. Checking Your Network power supply
Verify that the network has been correctly designed and • Shorts and opens in field-attachable connectors
installed by reviewing the following checklist:
• Failure to perform power distribution calculations for
new installations and when adding new devices
• Number of devices does not exceed 50
• Using a typical device current rather than maximum
• Maximum Mini cable distance between any two
current for power distribution calculations
devices does not exceed 250 meters (820 feet)
• Maximum Micro/Mid cable distance between any two In order to insure the proper installation and configuration of
devices does not exceed 100 meters (328 feet) an NMEA 2000® network, it is a good idea to have available at
• Maximum cumulative drop line length does not exceed least one N2KMeter®. The N2KMeter® greatly simplifies network
78 meters (256 feet) diagnostics and can detect many fault conditions including:
• No drop should be greater than 6 meters (20 feet)
• Opens and shorts
• Termination resistors are installed on both ends of
the trunk • Incorrect topology
• The network is grounded at a single location • Bad nodes
• The SHIELD wire is connected to a single point, the • Bad termination
supply ground • Improper shield connection
• Intermittent problems
If you are having difficulties with the network make sure to • Excessive scan rate
check the following most common network problems: • Common mode voltage

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