Ok, great topic. I just got my merc 150 hung and plan to NMEA2000 it to a simrad Go12 with radar. I wanted a single idiot proof gauge that shows the engine alert codes. So for my 150 (a few years old) that was the lvl2 smartcraft single gauge, plus the merc-branded gas filter that has the 'water' alarm that ties into the merc harness. It was pointed out to me that I could also have the gas tank senders integrated into the smartcraft, but that would require a new harness.
I haven't tried to wire anything up yet, so I look forward to whatever recommendations and advice your thread garners! I'm going to go poke around the Boston show this weekend, and ask out how hard it will be to connect the Go12 to the merc engine data.
In general, I like that analogue gauges do not need firmware updates, and the fewer things that depend on each other for when the shit hits the fan, the better. I don't get why everyone is so excited to have their engine depend on digital gauges/controls in the most caustic, corrosive environment on earth. Nevermind that toyota suddenly decided that 'keyfob automatic start' is now an annual $80 charge, and whatever toxicity John Deere charges its guys, now that everyone depends on firmware updates. In other words, it seems clear that once the corporate guys figure out how to charge SAAS fees, they will. Thank you for listening to my TED talk.
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