Totally lost on gauge/ merc monitor - just ordered boat

[ONECASTAWAY]

Hey fellas, I just ordered a new Phoenix this week and spec’d it with a SC1000 gauge. Sitting on the couch tonight i started reading about the different Mercury gauges and im totally confused now. I tried researching it on here but it just left me spinning in more circles.

Im just looking for something to tell me vital engine info( temp, psi, rpms, engine hours, and maybe fault codes). What would be the best thing for me? I like the idea of the big round gauge compared to the little black square but just want the easiest thing to give me the info.

Should i stick with smartcraft gauge or go to merc monitor? I hardly know the anything other then they are two different things.

Boat will be 819 Phoenix w/ 200 pro xs

thanks for any help

[Savage]

Mercmonitor is a better Smartcraft gauge.

[NOTGSXR]

Level 1 Merc Monitor at minimum...

[NOTGSXR]

I had the sc1000 and upgraded to the Level 1 Mercury Monitor last year... love it

[ONECASTAWAY]

Is the level one the small square gauge?

[Snakebait]

The level 1 is still the round mercmonitor gauge, there are 3 different levels of that gauge. The higher in level you go, the more options you have to monitor different things.

[06 SB]

It can be confusing. First of all “Smartcraft” is a Mercury trademark term for their motor’s network. In a sense it is the language that the motor speaks. There are many different instruments that can utilize this language.

The small black gauge you referred to is a Systemmonitor. It went out of production a while ago. It is the first generation of Smartcraft technology. It is no longer supported and does not network with anything else.

Its replacement is the Mercmonitor and comes in several versions - Basic (Level 0), Level 1 and on up. The Level 1 and higher is more customizable with tri-screens showing 3 data sources on one screen. My favorite is RPM, Water PSI and Engine Temperature. Level 1 and higher is also a NMEA2000 gateway to send data to a Lowrance unit. The MM also displays most alarm signals and what recommends a course of action. It can also receive inputs from Fuel tanks and GPS with optional harnesses.

There are also Smartcraft Tach and Speedo sets, Vessel view Link, Vessel View Mobile. Plus Systemlink gauges that can be purchased to show Smartcraft data in a traditional “analog” method...think gauge with a needle.

I have used quite a few of the options above. My recommendation is a Level 1 Mercomonitor to start. You can branch out from there as funds permit.

[ONECASTAWAY]

It can be confusing. First of all “Smartcraft” is a Mercury trademark term for their motor’s network. In a sense it is the language that the motor speaks. There are many different instruments that can utilize this language.

The small black gauge you referred to is a Systemmonitor. It went out of production a while ago. It is the first generation of Smartcraft technology. It is no longer supported and does not network with anything else.

Its replacement is the Mercmonitor and comes in several versions - Basic (Level 0), Level 1 and on up. The Level 1 and higher is more customizable with tri-screens showing 3 data sources on one screen. My favorite is RPM, Water PSI and Engine Temperature. Level 1 and higher is also a NMEA2000 gateway to send data to a Lowrance unit. The MM also displays most alarm signals and what recommends a course of action. It can also receive inputs from Fuel tanks and GPS with optional harnesses.

There are also Smartcraft Tach and Speedo sets, Vessel view Link, Vessel View Mobile. Plus Systemlink gauges that can be purchased to show Smartcraft data in a traditional “analog” method...think gauge with a needle.

I have used quite a few of the options above. My recommendation is a Level 1 Mercomonitor to start. You can branch out from there as funds permit.

Thank you! Now will/should my dealer know what im talking about if i say i want a level 1 Mercmonitor?

Im going to contact him today and change it.

[Gamblinman]

Thank you! Now will/should my dealer know what im talking about if i say i want a level 1 Mercmonitor?

Im going to contact him today and change it.

If he's any kind of Mercury dealer, he damn well better!

[Jim Dunn]

It can be confusing. First of all “Smartcraft” is a Mercury trademark term for their motor’s network. In a sense it is the language that the motor speaks. There are many different instruments that can utilize this language.

The small black gauge you referred to is a Systemmonitor. It went out of production a while ago. It is the first generation of Smartcraft technology. It is no longer supported and does not network with anything else.

Its replacement is the Mercmonitor and comes in several versions - Basic (Level 0), Level 1 and on up. The Level 1 and higher is more customizable with tri-screens showing 3 data sources on one screen. My favorite is RPM, Water PSI and Engine Temperature. Level 1 and higher is also a NMEA2000 gateway to send data to a Lowrance unit. The MM also displays most alarm signals and what recommends a course of action. It can also receive inputs from Fuel tanks and GPS with optional harnesses.

There are also Smartcraft Tach and Speedo sets, Vessel view Link, Vessel View Mobile. Plus Systemlink gauges that can be purchased to show Smartcraft data in a traditional “analog” method...think gauge with a needle.

I have used quite a few of the options above. My recommendation is a Level 1 Mercomonitor to start. You can branch out from there as funds permit.

This is the best explanations of the MM systems I've read, anywhere, on any forum on here.

But I still have a question, isn't the SC1000 discontinued/out of date? How is the OP able to order it with a new boat? Or am I still missing something?

[ONECASTAWAY]

This is the best explanations of the MM systems I've read, anywhere, on any forum on here.

But I still have a question, isn't the SC1000 discontinued/out of date? How is the OP able to order it with a new boat? Or am I still missing something?

Spoke to dealer and he said that he does not believe that the extra $400 more for merc monitor level 1 would benefit me for what im looking at needing it for. He said its the small rectangle gauge and will tell me everything that i told him i wanted to know. He had no problems in changing it if I wanted but said he couldnt justify selling me on it. As of now im going to leave it as it is. I have 10-14 week wait to change my mind.

Thanks fellas and hopefully the explanation above will help someone in the future as well.

[Fishinreb]

Does it give operating temp ? That's important. Motor should be warmed up to 120 degrees before acceleration.

[06 SB]

I disagree with your dealer. The Systemmonitor only displays one item at a time. Also, it will only give you an icon similar to a check engine light. The MM will say System Fault 140 STBD Thermostat. Proceed to port and have motor serviced. To me KNOWING what is causing an alarm is huge. I am sure I have saved more then $400 by fixing the issue myself and not being towed in since I knew what was causing the problem.

BTW, I am not sure if Sys Fault 140 is for the T-stat. I just picked a number out of my butt to use as an example.

[csurp]

Order the boat with what is called the small gauge console. Then replace the speedometer with the round smartcraft gauge that will pop right into the hole. I'm not sure which level you need but get the one that for sure hooks up to your nmea network. This will allow you to display all of the information contained in the gauge right in front of you on your Lowrance hds this way. You can pick and choose which information to display.

[EuropeanAM]

The System Monitor does not provide fault numbers or text- ONLY FLASHING ICONS.

Need to move up into the System Tach & Speed, MercMonitor Series, or Vessel View Series to obtain that info.

[AreTheyBiting]

Great information here!

My question is about upgrading from the old square one
How plug and play is it?
Can you use the old cable or do you need a new one?

[06 SB]

Here is a perfect example of what I wrote about above...

http://www.bbcboards.net/showthread.php?t=825530

[ONECASTAWAY]

Mr. Don- will i be able to search the icon and figure out the approx cause of the problem.

AreTheyBiting- i would like to know that as well

[ONECASTAWAY]

Order the boat with what is called the small gauge console. Then replace the speedometer with the round smartcraft gauge that will pop right into the hole. I'm not sure which level you need but get the one that for sure hooks up to your nmea network. This will allow you to display all of the information contained in the gauge right in front of you on your Lowrance hds this way. You can pick and choose which information to display.

The dealer did say that i would have to change the dash for the gauge to fit and that it was $300 for the other dash if i remember correctly.

My mind isnt set in stone i just want to make sure that i dont haphazardly change it again.

thanks!!

[Savage]

The alarm will only be displayed as long as it is occurring.