Noland Engine Monitor and Multiplexer

This is a combination NMEA 0183 multiplexer and engine monitor. The unit creates a "glass bridge" of virtual instruments, similar to the glass cockpit on modern aircraft.

Vessel and/or engine sensor data is collected at the Interface Unit, which connects directly to existing vessel gauges or aftermarket sensors. GPS, depth, and other NMEA instruments are connected to the integral multiplexer.

The NoLand Engineering C-port software is a Windows-based application which displays vessel/engine data from the VS52 or VS52U multiplexer/monitor onto a simulated dashboard.

The simulated dashboard consists of two alarms, five gauges, and two dials to display the received data. These components can be customized to meet specific needs.

For instance, you can display 2 round tachometers, two oil pressure, two engine temps and a fuel gauge, and have alarms for voltage, or any other values.

C-port has a built in Data Window for displaying data coming from the VS52(U). The Data Window display appends to the bottom of the “Simulated Dash Panel”.

Above is a screen shot of the Vessel/Engine Monitor. It has 5 gauges to display analog inputs, 2 dials for frequency or period inputs and 2 enunciators to show alarm states and durations. A simulated VCR panel controls data logging and playback. The Data Display Window shows incoming measured data or operator comments during playback mode.

The C-port display software is based upon a simulated dash panel. Setup windows allow the user to configure the ranges, colors, labels and scale factors as desired. Data logging and playback are also provided, and logged data can be imported into Excel for further analysis and graphing. A data window at the bottom of the panel shows the incoming data sentences. This is very useful during setup, calibration, and troubleshooting.

The VS52(U) is also a 4-input NMEA 0183 multiplexer for combining multiple instruments into a single output for use by a PC or other instruments. Data originating in the PC (waypoints, steering commands, etc.) is converted into NMEA 0183 and available at the "TLK" terminals.

The Vessel/Engine Monitor is available with either of two different PC interfaces. The VS52 has an RS-232(DB-9) interface, while the VS52U has a USB interface.

Noland VS52(U) Specifications:

Supply voltage/current - 10-30Vdc/ 50mA. typ.
NMEA IN drive(IN1-IN4) - 2-14V (active state)
NMEA IN impedance - 1K Ohms (min.)
Input baud rate - 4800 (9600 selectable)
NMEA OUT, TLK drive - 3.5V @ 50ma. RS-422
Output baud - 4800 (9.6K-38.4K selectable)
Analog in range(A1-A5) - 0-5 to 0-30V, select.
Analog in resolution - 0.1% (10-bit)
Frequency hi range/res. - 10-9990Hz./ 10Hz.
Frequency lo range/res. - 2-998Hz./ 2Hz.
Period in range/res.(P1,P2) 1-2000 ms./ 1ms.
Size/weight - 3.75"x3.0"x1.0"/ 12oz.

You will need to configure C-port to meet your specific needs. Therefore, C-port comes with various property setup windows, as shown above.

The Display Setup window is responsible for setting up how the simulated dash will look. This includes:

Set the ranges of your gauges & dials.
Sets visibility of gauges, dials, and alarms on your dash panel display.
Determine the tic mark color scheme of dials and gauges.
Configure alarms’ color schemes to match your specific use.
Determine whether alarm duration timers are present or not.
Change the dash panel’s background color.

Each gauge, dial and alarm has a Properties Setup window, as shown above right. Each Properties Setup window has an attached Help button to assist with setup. Both Display Setup window and Properties Setup windows user settings will be saved into a configuration file.

The C-port software also includes the means to record and playback the displayed data. The log files are text-based, comma-delimited files which can be viewed by any text viewer or imported into a spreadsheet, such as Excel.

When C-port is recording incoming data, a recorder-control box will appear in the center of the “Simulated Dash Panel”, as shown above left. From this box, you will be able to control pausing the recording process and ending it. When C-port is playing back previously saved data, a small playback control box will appear in the center of the “Simulated Dash Panel”, as shown above right. It contains fast forward, pause, reverse, and speedup controls.

Noland Engine Monitor: Serial Interface $495 USB Interface $510