QUARK-ELEC A037 Engine Data Monitor Instruction Manual
- August 16, 2024
- QUARK-ELEC
Table of Contents
QUARK-ELEC A037 Engine Data Monitor
Product Specifications
- Product Name: A037 Engine Data Monitor & NMEA 2000
- Version: 1.0
- Number of Pages: 44
- Year: 2024
Introduction
Provide an overview of the product and its functionalities.
Mounting/Installation
Mounting Location
Instructions for mounting without analog gauges and for parallel use with
existing gauges.
Case Dimensions
Details on the dimensions of the product case for installation purposes.
Connections
Sensor Inputs
Explanation of sensor inputs and how to connect them.
Alarm and Relay Output
Information on connecting alarm and relay outputs.
Communication Ports
Guidance on connecting communication ports.
NMEA 2000 Port
Instructions for connecting to the NMEA 2000 port.
Power
Details on power requirements and connections.
Status LEDs
Explanation of status LEDs and their indications.
PT1000/PT100 Sensor Input
Input Pinout Settings
Settings for configuring PT1000/PT100 sensor inputs.
N2K Output Settings
Instructions on configuring N2K output settings.
Frequently Asked Questions
Q: What is the purpose of the A037 Engine Data Monitor & NMEA 2000
Converter?
A: The A037 serves as a data monitor for engine information and converts data
to NMEA 2000 format for compatibility with other marine electronics.
Q: How do I calibrate the tank level sensor inputs?
A: Detailed calibration instructions can be found in section 5.2 of the
user manual.
Introduction
The A037 Engine Data Monitor & NMEA 2000 Converter is a state-of-the-art
solution meticulously designed to enhance the monitoring capabilities of
marine engines, ambient temperature and humidity. By utilizing the A037, users
can ensure that their boat engines operate under optimal conditions, thereby
extending their operational lifespan.
It converts RPM input and pulse signals as well as analogue gauge resistance
and/or voltages into NMEA 2000. This conversion facilitates real-time
monitoring through NMEA 2000 display devices, facilitating seamless
information sharing across the network.
Configurable for both single and dual engine installations, the A037 offers
extensive compatibility, supporting up to 4 tank level sensors, 5 voltage
input sensors, and 5 resistance input sensors (suitable for rudder, tilt/trim,
air temperature, coolant temperature and oil pressure sensors), along with
battery shunts. Users can effortlessly monitor a diverse array of engine
parameters on NMEA 2000 chart plotters.
Moreover, the A037 is compatible with popular digital sensors in the market,
including PT1000(temperature), DS18B20 (temperature) and DHT11 (temperature
and humidity), providing the user with multiple options to monitor the engine
data and the environmental conditions.
Equipped with two alarm outputs and relay outputs, the A037 enhances user
customisation and control. It provides configurable options to trigger relays
or external alarms, empowering users with advanced monitoring and notification
capabilities.
The A037 is equipped with a Type B USB port designed for configuration and
calibration purpose. Simply connect it to a Windows based PC and you’ll gain
access to configure the device and calibrate the input parameters. Moreover,
the USB port can also be used to update the firmware for additional features
and improvements.
Mounting/ Installation
It is highly recommended that all the installation instructions are read
before commencing the installation. There are important warnings and notes
throughout the manual that should be considered before installation is
attempted. Incorrect installation may invalidate the warranty.
The A037 was meticulously engineered for application in light commercial,
leisure and fishing boat and vessel monitoring markets. Although the A037
comes with conformal coating on the circuit board, the pinouts are open so
seawater and dust has the potential to cause a short circuit. It should be
securely fitted, avoiding direct exposure to water and areas where salt and
dust may come into contact.
The following installation points should be checked before commencing the
installation.
· Cable disconnection. Do not mount the A037 while the device is powered and
disconnect any sensors, cables or NMEA 2000 drop cables before installation.
· Avoid electronic compass interference. Maintain a minimum distance of 0.5
meters from any electronic compass (such as Quark-elec AS08) and ensure that
the connection cable remains separate from it.
· Avoid proximity to antenna cables. While there is no specific minimum
distance requirement between the A037’s connection cable and VHF or other
antenna cables, it is advisable to maintain separation. Do not bundle them
together in a single cowling.
· Minimizing wire noise. Avoid running noisy wires (such as those connected to
ignition coils) adjacent to sensitive gauge or alarm wires as noise may be
induced into these wires and this may result in inaccurate measurements.
· Consider all connection cables. All connections need to be considered and
prepared before selecting a proper installation location.
Mounting Location
Select a flat location to mount the A037. Avoid mounting on uneven or
contoured surfaces, as this could potentially fatigue the device casing.
Ensure that the A037 is mounted in a suitable location appropriately between
the NMEA 2000 bus and the senders or gauges.
The A037 is compatible with both existing analogue gauges and standalone use.
For Use Without Analogue Gauges
When directly connecting the A037 to the sender for measurement (where
analogue gauges are absent), follow these guidelines:
· Position the A037 close to the engine. · Ensure that the cable length
between the sender and the A037 typically does not exceed 2
meters.
For Parallel Use with Existing Gauges:
If the A037 is used alongside existing gauges to complement displayed
information, consider the following:
· Mount the A037 near the gauges (instrument panel). · Keep the cable length
between the gauges and the A037 typically within 2 meters.
2.2. Case Dimensions
The A037 enclosure is made of IP56 insulation class 2 plastic. External
dimensions are 150×85.5x35mm.
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3. Connections
The following is an example of an A037 set up. This gives an idea of the
connections that need to be made to install A037. All these connections must
be taken into consideration when locating a suitable mounting location for the
A037.
Figure 2 Typical system connections.
The A037 Engine Data Monitor & NMEA 2000 Converter has the following options for connection to inputs, outputs, and host devices.
3.1. Sensor Inputs
· PT1000/PT100 input. PT1000 is the most widely used RTD (Resistance Temperature Detector) sensor in many industries as well marine engines. RTD sensors are temperature sensors that operate based on the principle that the electrical resistance of certain materials changes predictably with temperature. PT1000 temperature sensors offer a superior solution for demanding temperature measurement applications where accuracy, stability, and reliability are paramount. The platinum-based construction, higher sensitivity, and wider temperature range make them indispensable tools in industries ranging from pharmaceuticals to aerospace. While PT1000 sensors come with certain challenges such as initial cost and calibration requirements, their benefits far outweigh the drawbacks in most scenarios.
While PT1000 typically come with two wires, variants with three or four wires are also available. The additional wires are used to compensate for the resistance of the connecting wires themselves, minimizing errors in temperature measurement caused by wire resistance. For many marine applications, two wires of PT1000 are the preferred option. For many marine applications, the standard two-wire PT1000 is adequate. Consequently, this manual predominantly addresses the implementation of PT1000 sensors with two wires. However, the A037 also supports three and four-wire PT1000.
Although most two-wire PT1000 sensors are not polarized. It’s good practice to
check the datasheet for accurate connection details. Establish a connection by
attaching one lead to the A037’s GND (either pinout 6 or 15) and the other
lead to PT1000 (pinout 1).
Performing calibration on the PT1000 sensor before using is an essential step
to ensure optimal functionality. This calibration process can be executed
through the configuration settings on a Windows computer. More details can be
found from PT1000 Sensor Input Section.
Figure 3 PT1000 wiring (two wires)
Similar to the PT1000, the PT100 is another widely used platinum RTD sensor,
commonly employed across industrial, marine, and automotive applications. The
wiring for the PT100 shares similarities with the PT1000 when connected to the
A037 device.
· DS18B20 Input. The DS18B20 is a popular, pre-assembled waterproof
temperature sensor with the sensing component enclosed at its tip, making it
ideal for measuring temperatures in liquids or locations distant from the
A037. Being a digital sensor, there is no concerns about signal degradation
over extended distances, and there is no need for pre-calibration before use.
The DS18B20 operates on a 5V power supply, achieved by connecting its VCC to
the 5V pinout on A037 (Pinout 14) and GND to either Pinout 6,15 or 23 on A037.
Additionally, the DS18B20 has a data wire responsible for transmitting
temperature data to the A037. Connect the Data wire to the DS18B20 pinout on
A037 (Pinout 13). Before powering up, thoroughly verify the VCC and GND
connections to avoid potential permanent damage to the DS18B20. Once properly
connected and powered up, the DS18B20 will operate seamlessly.
Figure 4 DS18B20 wiring
· DHT11 Input. Similar as DS18B20, DHT11 is a very common digital sensor,
which output temperature and humidity data. It is an ideal device to detecting
ambient/engine room temperature and humidity. DHT11 is pre-calibrated and
ready for use. The single data wire interface makes the integration with the
A037 quick and easy. Its small size, low power consumption and up to 20-meter
signal transmission making it the best choice for use on boats.
Same as DS18B20, The DHT11 operates on a 5V power supply, achieved by
connecting its VCC to the 5V pinout on A037 (Pinout 14) and GND to either
Pinout 6,15 or 23 on A037. Additionally, connect the Data wire to the DHT11
pinout on A037 (Pinout 12). Ensure to carefully review the connections before
initiating the power-up process to prevent any possible permanent damage to
the DHT11. Upon successful connection, the sensor will function smoothly.
· Four Tank level inputs. Resistive liquid tank level sensors are very
commonly used to monitor the liquid level in boats water tanks. The A037
supports up to 4 tanks, which can be used to monitor fuel, fresh water, waste
oil, live well and black water level. After connecting the sensors, the user
will need to calibrate the sensor and setup the proper capacity value via the
configuration tool.
· Five Voltage inputs. The A037 supports various voltage output sensors for
engine and battery monitoring, capable of measuring parameters such as oil
pressure, engine rotation rate, battery voltage, temperature and more. With
five voltage channels, the device offers comprehensive calibration options,
allowing users to create an 8-point calibration table or select a predefined
industry-standard calibration table for the most common sensors and gauges.
· Two RPM inputs. Two RPM inputs can be assigned to Port and Starboard,
whereas the analogue or pulse inputs can be independently assigned to both
engines, as desired. RPM signals could come from different sources depending
on the engine. They may come from an alternator output, the ignition coil, or
pulse sender (diesel engines).
· Tilt/ Trim input. This resistive input can be connected to Tilt/trim sensor
directly or the parallel with tilt/trim gauge to monitor the position of the
engine position.
· Rudder input. Connect this input to rudder angle sensor to get the angle
information. Prior to usage, users must calibrate the resistance data using
the configuration tool.
· Coolant Temp input. This is a resistance input specified for temperature
sensors, tailored for measuring coolant temperature with pre-configured
settings available with the option to manually enter the values.
· Air Temp input. Similar to the Coolant Temp input, this is another
resistance input channel specifically designed for air temperature sensors.
· Oil Temp input. Similar to the Coolant Temp input, this is the third
resistance input channel specifically intended for oil temperature sensors.
The input sensor data will automatically convert to the related PGNs, allowing
it to be displayed on the multifunction displays (MFD).
· Shunt input (battery status) input. The shunt serves as a sensor for
measuring the load or unload current in a battery. Connect this input in
parallel with the shunt to monitor the battery status.
Alarm and Relay Output
· Two Alarm and relay outputs. Two relay outputs can be used to trigger
warning devices, e.g. light, buzzer, alarm.
Communication Ports
· WiFi port. The A037 enables the users to input engine data via WiFi on a PC,
tablet, or other WiFi-enabled device. The NMEA 2000 data is output via WiFi in
PCDIN format. Please be noted that due to the nature of NMEA 2000 data, most
engine data is not supported by NMEA 0183
format. In contrast, NMEA 2000, introduced after 2000, was designed with
engine data support in mind, reflecting evolving industry needs.
· USB port. The A037 is equipped with a type-B USB connector and comes with a
USB cable. This USB connector can be directly linked to a USB port on a PC.
The USB port serves two main functions: configuration of the A037 and firmware
updates. It’s important to note that the converted sensor data is not
transmitted via the USB port.
3.4. NMEA 2000 Port
The A037 Engine Data Monitor features an NMEA 2000 connection, enabling it to
integrate seamlessly with an NMEA 2000 network on the boat. The A037 reads all
available sensor data, converts the received data to NMEA 2000 PGNs, and
outputs these PGNs to the NMEA 2000 network. This allows the data to be easily
read and displayed by other devices such as chart plotters, MFDs, and
instrument displays on the NMEA 2000 network.
When a related sensor is connected and properly configured, the A037 outputs
the following PGNs:
NMEA 2000 PGN
HEX code
Function
127245 127488 127489
127505 127508 130312 130313 130314
1F10D 1F200 1F201
1F211 1F214 1FD08 1FD09 1FD0A
Rudder Angle Engine Parameters, Rapid Update (RPM, Boost pressure, Tilt/trim)
Engine Parameters, Dynamic (Oil pressure & Temperature, Engine Temperature,
Alternator potential, Fuel rate, Coolant pressure, Fuel pressure) Fluid Level
(Fresh Water, Fuel, Oil, Wastewater, Live well, Black water) Battery Status –
Battery Current, voltage, case temperature Temperature
Humidity
Pressure
The A037 comes with an NMEA 2000 drop cable, facilitating its connection to the NMEA 2000 network. It’s important to note that the A037 cannot be powered directly from the NMEA 2000 network. Instead, it must be powered through its 12V (Pinout 16) and GND (Pinout 15) pinouts using a 12V power supply.
Figure 6 NMEA 2000 bus connection
3.5. Power
The A037 operates on 12V DC power source. Power (Pinout 16) and GND (Pinout
15) are clearly indicated. Both the power and ground connections are clearly
marked. It is imperative to switch off the input power during the
installation. The A037 incorporates reverse polarity protection to safeguard
against potential damage from improper connections.
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The A037 transforms analogue data from the engine into digital format through
an advanced Analogueto-Digital Converter (ADC). The accuracy and reliability
of this conversion process are contingent upon a stable and low-noise power
supply.
3.6. Status LEDs
The A037 is equipped with three LEDs that indicate power, WiFi and Data status
respectively. The status LEDs on the panel provide information about port
activity and system status:
· Data: This LED flashes when any data is output to the NMEA 2000 bus. · WiFi:
The LED flashes for each valid NMEA message sent to the WiFi output. · PWR
(Power): LED light is constantly lit in red when the device is powered.
Figure 7 LED indications
4. PT1000/PT100 Sensor Input
PT1000 is the most widely used RTD (Resistance Temperature Detector) sensors
in many industries as well marine engines. The A037 features one PT1000
temperature sensor input.
Figure 8 PT1000 RTD Sensor Probe
Upon connecting the temperature sensor to the A037 for the first time, it’s
essential to use the windowsbased configuration tool, which can be downloaded
from our website, to configure the A037 to seamlessly work with the PT1000
sensor. This will allow accurate conversion of the sensor’s signal to the NMEA
2000 PGN(PGN130312) for precise monitoring and data transmission.
In addition to the PT1000, the PT100 is also a popular platinum RTD sensor,
frequently utilized in diverse industrial, marine, and automotive
applications. When connected to the A037 device, the wiring, settings, and
calibration procedures for the PT100 is similar as for PT1000. This manual
primarily focuses on the detailed description of the PT1000, which can be
utilized as a reference for working with the PT100.
4.1. Input Pinout Settings
Please follow the steps below to set up the A037 to work with a PT1000
temperature sensor: 1. First, connect the PT1000 sensor to the A037, one wire
to the PT1000 pinout (Pinout 1), the other wire to the GND pinout (Pinout 6).
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2. Connect the A037 to a Windows PC using the provided USB cable. For users running Windows 10 or an earlier version of the operating system, it may be necessary to install a device driver to recognize the A037 USB port. The latest driver can be found from Quark-elec website.
3. Power up the A037.
4. Launch the configuration tool on the computer. Ensure that the “Connected”
status message with the firmware version and configuration tool version
appears at the bottom of the window
before changing any settings.
5. Click on the “Input Pinout settings” tab and select “PT1000: Pinout(1)” from the dropdown menu.
6. Select the required temperature unit (°C, °K or °F) from the dropdown list.
7. Enter the maximum and minimum values. These thresholds determine the settings for triggering alarm outputs. Leave it blank if there is no need to link with the output alarms.
8. Select “-Sensors-” form the Sensor Type dropdown list and fill in the Data Output Set with your measurements. Please note, that a thermometer is also required to be able to set up the sensor accurately. We would suggest you start with the lowest temperature of the temperature range you would like to measure. Click Measure and enter the displayed value into the Marker column. Check the temperature displayed by your reference thermometer and enter the temperature value into the Value column. Repeat these steps until you reach the upper limit of the temperature range. A total of ten “Marker-Value” data pairs can be entered into the Data Output Set table, please distribute the measurements through the temperature range evenly.
Practically, the above calibration process doesn’t need to be completed. As
the datasheet or the manual of PT1000 from the supplier should provide the
relevant data. For example, many
PT1000 were designed to follow IEC 751(1995) and IEC60751(1996).
Below is an example of Resistance Vs Temperature table for PT100/PT1000 followed with IEC
751(1995) and IEC60751(1996). PT1000 features the same temperature/resistance curve,
however the resistance value is 10 times for PT100. For example, the resistance of PT1000 on
0°C is 100×10=1000 .
Temp
Resistance PT100 PT1000
(°C)
()
()
-200
18.52 185.20
-100
60.26 602.60
0
100.00 1000.00
100
138.51 1385.10
200
175.86 1758.60
300
212.05 2120.50
400
247.09 2470.90
500
280.98 2809.80
600
313.71 3137.10
650
329.64 3296.40
700
345.28 3452.80
800
375.70 3757.00
850
390.48 3904.80
9. Click “Save” to save the new settings to the A037.
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Figure 9 PT1000 calibration
4.2. N2K Output Settings
Please click on the “N2K Output Settings” tab to set up the output PGN.
1. Select “PGN 130312: Temperature” from the dropdown menu. 2. Select
“Instance 0” if you are setting up the first temperature sensor, “Instance 1”
will be used for
the second temperature sensor, etc. 3. Select the temperature source type from
the dropdown list. The following options are currently
supported:
Figure 10 N2K source type selection 4. Select “PT1000: Pinout(1)” from the Input dropdown list. 5. Tick the checkbox next to “Enable PGN” to enable it. 6. Finally, click Save to save the new setting to your device and repower your device.
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Figure 11 N2K Output settings(PGN130312)
5. Tank Level Sensor Inputs
The A037 features four tank lever sensor inputs, which can be used to monitor
fuel, fresh water, wastewater, live well, oil or black water levels on leisure
boats, yachts, or light-commercial vessels. Once the fluid level sensor has
been connected to one of the tank level sensor pinouts on A037, the
configuration tool (Windows PC application can be downloaded from Quark-elec
website) needs to be used to calibrate the sensor and to assign the correct
input and the output N2K sentences. Tank level sensor output resistance values
are converted to the NMEA 2000 PGN 127505 by the A037. The following is an
example of how to set up and use Tank1 level R input (Pin 5) to monitor fluid
level in a tank on a boat.
5.1. Input Pinout Settings
Figure 12 Tank level sensor wiring Please follow the steps below to set up a tank level sensor:
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1. Connect the tank lever sensor to one of sensor inputs one wire to Pinout
2, Pinout 3, Pinout 4 or Pinout 5, and the other wire to GND (Pinout 6).
2. Connect the A037 to a Windows PC via USB. If you are using Windows 10 or a
previous version of the Windows operating system on your computer, a device
driver might have to be installed first for the computer to be able to
recognize the A037.
3. Power up the A037.
4. Launch the configuration tool on the computer. Ensure that the “Connected”
status message with the firmware version and configuration tool version
appears at the bottom of the window before changing any settings.
5. Click on the “Input Pinout settings” tab and select the pinout from the
dropdown menu to which the tank level sensor is connected to e.g., TANK 4:
Pinout(2).
6. The Physic Variable and Units fields are filled in automatically, these
cannot be changed.
7. Enter the maximum and minimum values. These thresholds determine the
settings for triggering alarm outputs. Leave it blank if don’t need to link
with the output alarms.
8. Please leave the “Sensor Type” setting on “-Sensors-“. Only choose the
others if you are authorized installer or been suggested by us.
Figure 13 Tank level senor setting
5.2. Calibration
Calibration process is to setup a table with the input data (Marker) and
calibration value (Value) so the A037 could output an accurate data.
The “Calibration” tool can be used to read and view the sensor data, output by
the tank level sensor. This is required when setting up the “Data Output Set”
table with the sensor data and the corresponding fluid level percentage. The
“Data Output Set” can be defined in the following way (as shown on the figure
above). Generally, input the measured data to “Marker” field and input the
related tank level(%) into Value field.
1. Start the process with an empty tank. Click “Measure” to view the sensor
data.
2. Enter this value into the first row of the Marker column.
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3. For the empty tank, we would suggest you enter a small number, e.g., 0 or
- This percentage will be displayed by your chart plotter when the tank is
empty.
4. Fill up you tank to 20% of its capacity and repeat the steps above.
· Click “Measure” to view the sensor data, enter this data into the second row of the Marker column.
· As the tank has been filled up to 20% of its capacity, 20 should be entered into the second row of the Value column.
5. Fill up the tank to 40%, 60%, 80% and 100% of its capacity, measure the sensor data and fill in the table with these values and the corresponding fuel level percentages.
6. More measurements will help to build up a more precise data set, so in case of tanks with unconventional shapes, the actual fluid level will be displayed more accurately. The “+” and “-” signs can be used to add more or to remove data fields.
7. Once the table has been accurately filled in, click “Save” to save the new settings and the data set to the device.
5.3. European or American Standard’s Sensor
Two primary standards are prevalent in the market for measuring tank levels on boats: American and European standards. Neither standard holds an inherent advantage or disadvantage over the other, as both are widely employed worldwide. European standards sensor operates on a variable resistance from 0 ohms at empty to 190 ohms at full. While American standards products work on a variable resistance from 240 ohms at empty to 30 ohms at full capacity. Below, two diagrams illustrate typical settings for European and American standard tanks. Please not that the examples provided are based on rectangular tanks. For tanks of different shapes, adjustments to the values may be necessary.
Figure 14 – Standard European sensor setting.
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Figure 15 – Standard US sensor setting.
5.4. N2K Output Settings
Once the “Data Output Set” table has been filled in with the required data,
please click on the “N2K Output Settings” tab to set up the output PGN.
1. Select “PGN 127505: Fluid Level” from the dropdown menu. 2. Select
“Instance 0” if you are setting up the first tank lever sensor, “Instance 1”
will be used for
the second tank level sensor, etc. 3. Enter your tank’s capacity in cubic
meters into the Capacity field. 4. Select one of the following options from
the Type dropdown list:
Figure 16 Tank type settings 5. From the Input dropdown list select the Pinout
number to which the sensor is connected. In our
example is “Tank 4: Pinout (2)” 6. Tick the checkbox next to “Enable PGN” to
activate it. 7. Finally, click Save to save these new setting to your device
and repower the A037.
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Figure 17 N2K Output settings (PGN 127505 Fluid level)
Repower the A037 after changing any of its settings or after setting up a new
sensor with the configuration tool.
6. Voltage Sensor Inputs
There are various voltage output sensors used for engine and battery
monitoring, that can monitor oil pressure, engine rotation rate, battery
voltage, current, temperature and so on.
The A037 features five independent voltage input channels, which can be
connected to voltage output type sensors. Like Tank level sensors input, these
five voltage inputs have comprehensive calibration function that allow you to
create a 10-points calibration table.
Once the voltage sensor has been connected to one of the sensor input pinouts,
the configuration tool (Windows PC application can be downloaded from Quark-
elec website) must be used to calibrate the sensor and to assign the correct
input to the output data. The output voltage value from voltage sensor is
converted to the NMEA 2000 PGNs by the A037.
6.1. Input Pinout Settings
The A037 supports up to 32VDC input voltage. A sensor typically is using two
wires or pins to output, one is used for the output voltage, the other is for
GND. Connect the output voltage wire to one of the voltage input pinouts
(e.g., in below example its V2 input, Pinout 8) and the other wire to one of
the GND pinouts (Pinout 6 or 23). The below details how to set up this
pressure sensor. A voltage output pressure sensor generates an electrical
signal corresponding to the pressure it measures. Typically, this signal is a
direct current (DC) voltage, providing a ratiometric value relative to the
measured pressure. Such sensors are frequently used in marine, automotive
applications due to their commonality and effectiveness.
Here, an illustrative example is provided for setup a 0.5V to 5V pressure
sensor.
1. Please ensure that all your electronic devices are switched off and
disconnected from their power supply, to avoid creating a short circuit during
the installation process. Connect the output of the pressure sensor to Pinout
8 and the other pin to GND (Pinout 6,15 or 23) of A037.
2. Power up the A037.
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A037 Manual 3. Launch the configuration tool on the computer. Ensure that the
“Connected” status message with the firmware version and configuration tool
version appears at the bottom of the window before changing any settings. 4.
Click on the “Input Pinout settings” tab and select “Volts 2: Pinout(8)” from
the dropdown menu. 5. Select “Pressure V” from the Physic Variables dropdown
list.
Figure 18 Voltage input data type 6. The Units field will be automatically
filled in with “Bar”, this cannot be changed. 7. Enter the maximum and minimum
values. These thresholds determine the settings for triggering
alarm outputs. Leave it blank if don’t need to link with the output alarms. 8.
Choose “Sensors” from the dropdown tab for “Sensor Type” setting.
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6.2. Calibration
The “Calibration” tool can be used to read and view the sensor data (in this
example, its voltage), output by the sensor. This is required when setting up
the “Data Output Set” table with the sensor data and the corresponding value
to be displayed. The “Data Output Set” can be defined in the following way (as
shown on the figure above)
1. The sensor’s manual or datasheet should contain a data table or graph
showing the sensor’s voltage output in relation to the measured value. Please
use this information to fill in the “Data Output Set” table in the
configuration tool. In this example, for a measured value of 0.5, the A037
will output 0 Bar. For 1.5, the A037 will output 1.72 Bar, etc..
2. Start with the minimum value, a total number of ten “measured data:
pressure value” pairs can be added to the data table. The last value added to
the “Data Output Set” should be the maximum voltage value that the sensor can
output. Spread the “measured data: pressure value” data pairs evenly through
the sensor’s voltage output range.
3. More data pairs will help to build up a more precise data set. The “+” and
“-” signs can be used to add more or to remove data fields.
4. Once the table has been accurately filled in, click “Save”.
6.3. N2K Output Settings
Once the “Data Output Set” table has been filled in with the calibrated data,
please click on the “N2K Output Settings” tab to set up the output PGN.
1. Select “PGN 130314: Pressure” from the dropdown menu. 2. Select “Instance
0” for the first pressure sensor, “Instance 1” will be used for the second
pressure sensor, etc. 3. Go to “Source type” and select one of the following
options:
Figure 20 N2K output source settings In this example, “Generic Source
Pressure” has been selected. 4. Go to Input and select the Pinout number to
which the sensor is connected. In this example, select Volts 2: Pinout (8)
from the drop-down menu.
5. Tick the checkbox next to “Enable PGN” to activate it.
Finally, click “Save” to save these new setting to your device and repower the
A037. Now, the pressure sensor is ready for using.
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Figure 21 Voltage input settings (N2K output)
7. Tacho Inputs (RPM)
The A037 supports two RPM inputs, which is suitable for use with the majority
of boats equipped with two engines. The tacho inputs, RPM1 and RPM2 of A037
can measure RPM data from the engine. Both are designed to be connected to
existing engine senders either with or without the gauge connected.
RPM signals could come from different sources depending on the engine. They
may come from a ignition coil, alternator output, or electronics pulse sender.
The A037 supports most of these, however the wiring methods may vary.
7.1. Ignition Coil
The following diagram shows how to connect the A037 to an ignition coil or
alternator output signal or a single wire flowmeter. Connect the negative
connection of the ignition coil to the RPM. And connect GND to GND of A037. If
there is only one wire from ignition coil or alternator, then just don’t
connect this. Single wire (negative connection) is sufficient.
Figure 22 Ignition coil wiring
7.2. Alternator
Connect the Tacho (also called AC Tap or marked as “W”) connection of the
alternator to the A037 RPM input. Connect GND to GND of A037 if applicable.
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Figure 23 Alternator wiring
7.3. Hall Effect and Electronic Pulse Senders
Connect the signal line of the sender to the RPM on the A037 and connect GND
to GND pinout of A037.
Figure 24 Hall Effect & Electronics Pulse sensor wiring
7.4. Calibration
The Tacho inputs must be calibrated in the configuration tool before use. The
following is an example of how to set up one of the RPM inputs with an
electronic pulse sender. The Calibration filed shows the measured result as
1800, while a 30Hz Tacho inputs.
Figure 25 Tacho(RPM calibration)
Follow the steps below to set up the RPM input:
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1. Click on “Input Pinout Settings” tab and select the “RPM 1: Pinout(25)” or
“RPM 2: Pinout(24)” option from the dropdown menu, to which pinout the sensor
is connected.
2. The Physic Variable and Units fields will be automatically filled in.
These parameters cannot be changed. Enter the engine’s minimum and maximum RPM
values. Select “-Sensors-” from the Sensor Type list.
3. Start your engine and keep it running.
4. By clicking on the Measure button, the configuration tool will display the
pulse value(Hz) received from the engine/Tacho. In this example, it is
measured as 30, while the engine is running at 1800PRM. This indicates that
the engine or tacho is outputting a 30Hz signal at 1800 RPM. So, in the “Data
Output Set”, set marker as 1800(30hz times 60 seconds) and the related value
as 1800.
5. Repeat the above step multiple times to get a few more marker/value pair.
In most cases, you will find these values are in liner patten. For example,
when the engine runs at 3000 RPM, the output pulse is 3000/minutes(50Hz).
6. Fill above value pair into “Data Output Set” and put “o” and “o” in the
first line and calculate the maximum value based on the above values using
liner patten.
Practically, you may find that step 5 is unnecessary. Instead, you can obtain
the Tacho PPR (Pulses Per Revolution) from the engine datasheet, or a plaque
affixed to the engine. From there, you can calculate the relationship between
the marker and the value. Below, you’ll find a general rule that can serve as
a reference, but it’s advisable to verify this before finalizing the settings.
· For an ignition coil it can normally be counted as: PPR = (No. of cylinders
× 2) / (No. of strokes × No. of ignition coils)
· For an Alternator (“W”. “R” or “AC”) pinout connection it can be counted as:
PPR = (Crank pulley diameter / Alternator pulley diameter) × (No. of poles in
Alternator / 2)
· For a hall effect or inductive sensor, it is derived from the number of
teeth on the flywheel: PPR = No. of teeth on flywheel
7.5. N2K Output Settings
Once the calibration process completed, the next step is to activate the NMEA
2000 PGN which contains the RPM information. This can be done as shown below:
1. Click on the “N2K Output Settings” tab and select the “PGN 127488: Engine
Rapid Update” option from the dropdown list.
2. For the first engine select “Instance 1 – Port” (for the second engine
“Instance 2 – Starboard”, etc.)
3. For Engine Speed select the pinout to which the sensor is connected. In
this example this is “RPM 1: Pinout(25)”.
4. If Engine Boost and/or Tilt/Trim data is also available for this engine,
these can also be added to the PGN by selecting the pinouts to which these
sensors are connected.
5. The last step is to tick the box next to “Enable PGN” and to click Save to
save the new settings to the device. Repower the A037 Engine Data Monitor
after the setup process to activate the new settings.
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Figure 26 PGN 127488 settings
8. Shunt Input
A shunt is an electrical device that allows the measurement of electrical
current in a circuit. The A037 Engine Data Monitor does not come with an
electrical shunt, however, the Quark-elec A016 battery monitor with a shunt
can be used with the A037 to measure the current. This can be purchased
directly from Quark-elec’s website or from an authorized Quark-elec
distributor, reseller or installer. The A037 can be connected to the A016
Battery Monitor’s shunt as shown on the figure below:
Figure 27 Battery Shunt wiring
8.1. Input Pinout Settings
The shunt’s B- pinout must be connected to the A037’s Pinout 32 (SHUNT GND),
the shunt’s P- pinout to the A037’s Pinout 31 (SHUNT).
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We recommend that all electrical devices should be installed by trained
electrical installers, trained marine electronics technicians or engineers
only.
Figure 28 Shunt input settings
8.2. Calibration & N2K Output Settings
The above is an example of how to set up a 100Amp A016 Battery Monitor shunt
with the A037 Engine Data Monitor. The steps are the following:
1. Click on the “Input Pinout Settings” tab and select “SHUNT: Pinout(31)”
from the dropdown menu.
2. Set the Physic Variable to “Current”, the Units to “A” (Amps). 3. Set the
Max Value to 100 and the Min Value to 0, if a 100 Amp shunt is being used. 4.
The sensor type should be left on “-Sensors-“. 5. The “Data Output Set” table
can be filled in based on the measured data. Start by filling in the
first row with a Marker value of 0 and a Value of 0. 6. Switch on one device
or instrument, click Measure to read the sensor value and read the current
from the A016’s display. Fill in the second row with this data the measured
value into the Marker column, the current value into the Value column. If you
have more than nine devices onboard, two or more devices can be switched on
and added to the same measurement. 7. The configuration tool allows a total of
nine measurements to be added to the “Data Output Set”. The last Marker: Value
pair should be filled in with the measured value and the electrical current
value measured with all devices and instruments switched on. 8. Click Save, to
save the new data to the device.
The next step is to activate the NMEA 2000 PGN which contains the Shunt
(current) data. This can be done as shown below:
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Figure 29 N2K output settings(PGN127508)
1. Click on the “N2K Output Settings” tab and select the “PGN 127508: Battery
Status” option from the dropdown list.
2. Select “Instance 0” for Instance. 3. Select “SHUNT: Pinout(31)” for
Current. 4. If a voltage sensor or case temperature sensor is also connected
to the A037, these sensor data
can also be added to this PGN if required by selecting the Pinouts from the
Voltage and Case Temperature dropdown lists to which these sensors are
connected. 5. The last step is to tick the box next to “Enable PGN” and to
click Save to save this configuration to the device. Repower the A037 Engine
Data Monitor after the setup process to activate the new settings.
9. Rudder R Input
Apart from 5 tank level sensor inputs, the A037 also provides another 4
resistance specific sensor inputs which can cater for the most used sensors
onboard. Connect the output pinout of the Rudder indicator to Rudder R
input(Pinout 27) and the other pinout to GND(pin 6, 15 or 23)
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Figure 30 Rudder sensor wiring
9.1. Input Pinout Settings
The rudder input allows the customer to connect an existing resistive type of
rudder angle sensor installed on a rudder and provides the rudder angle to
NMEA 2000 autopilots, chart plotters and other devices. The A037 can support
most rudder angle sensors in the market, including European (10 to 180 Ohm
range) or American (240 to 33 Ohm range) standard sensors. The A037 can be
installed as a standalone measuring rudder sensor data or work together with
an existing analogue gauge.
9.2. Calibration & N2K Output Settings
The rudder angle readings can be calibrated with up to 10 calibration points
to compensate for nonlinearity of the sensor’s resistance value vs rudder
angle. To set up the rudder angle sensor with the A037, the data displayed by
an existing rudder angle gauge can be used if this gauge displays the angle
accurately, in degrees. If not, the rudder angle will have to be measured
during the setup. The A037 can be set up to convert sensor data to an NMEA
2000 PGN as shown below:
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Figure 31 Rudder sensor calibrations
Please follow the steps below to set up the rudder angle sensor: 1. Click on
Input Pinout Settings tab and select “Rudder: Pinout(27)” from the dropdown
list. 2. Enter the maximum and minimum values of the angle the sensor can
measure. 3. Select “-Sensors-” from the Sensor Type dropdown list. 4. The Data
Output Set table allows 10 [ sensor value: angle] data pairs to be added to
the table. Turn the rudder so it reaches one of the end points and click
Measure to read the rudder angle sensor value. Enter this into the Marker
column and enter the angle corresponding to this into the Value column. 5.
Keep adding more [sensor value: rudder angle] data pairs to the Data Output
Set until you reach the other end position of the rudder. 6. Click Save to
save the data and the new settings to the device.
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Figure 32 N2K output settings(PGN127245)
To set up the N2K output, please follow the steps below: 1. Click on the “N2K
Output Settings” and select “PGN 127245: Rudder” from the dropdown list. 2.
Select “Instance 0” for Instance and “No Order” for Direction Order. 3. Select
“Rudder: Pinout(27)” for Angle Order. 4. Tick the Enable PGN check box and
click Save.
Repower the A037 to activate the new settings.
10. Coolant Temp R Input
In addition to the other inputs listed in this manual, the A037 also features
a coolant temperature sensor input and allows the user to connect an existing
resistive coolant temperature sensor to the A037. This sensor is based on a
temperature-variable resistor, it is connected to the engine’s cooling system
and measures the coolant’s temperature. As the coolant temperature rises, the
resistance of the sensor reduces.
10.1. Input Pinout Settings
The resistive coolant temperature sensor must be connected to Pinout 28
(Coolant Temp R) and Pinout 23 (GND). We recommend that all electrical devices
should be installed by trained electrical installers, trained marine
electronics technicians or engineers only.
10.2. Calibration & N2K Output Settings
The first step is the calibration of the sensor. The calibration of the coolant temperature sensor can be done with the sensor detached from the cooling system and disconnected from the electrical system of the boat. Remember, that to be able to calibrate the sensor accurately, a thermometer will be required.
Please ensure, that during the calibration process, the pinouts of the sensor, the wiring, the A037 or your other electrical devices do not get in contact with water, as this might cause a short circuit and permanent damage to your devices!
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Figure 33 Coolant Temp output settings
Please follow the steps below to calibrate the sensor: 1. Connect the sensor
to the A037, to Pinout 28 (Coolant Temp R) and to Pinout 23 (GND). 2. Launch
the configuration tool on your computer and click on the “Input Pinout
Settings” tab. 3. Select the “Coolant Temp: Pinout (28)” from the dropdown
list. 4. The Physic Variable field is filled in automatically with
“Temperature”. 5. Units can be set either to Celsius, Fahrenheit or Kelvin, as
required. 6. Enter the maximum and minimum temperature values. 7. Select
“-Sensors-” from the Sensor Type dropdown list. 8. Submerge the sensor’s
measuring tip into cold water placed in a suitable water container. 9. Measure
the water’s temperature in the container with the thermometer and click
“Measure” at the same time to read the sensor data. Enter the measured sensor
data into the Marker field and the measured temperature value into the Value
field. 10. Start heating the container and take temperature measurements and
sensor data readings periodically. Fill in the “Data Output Set” with the
measured values. Please note, that the above image is an example only, you
might get different sensor data temperature values. 11. Click “Save” to save
the new data to the device.
Please ensure that, during the procedure, you work safely and wear suitable
protective equipment (e.g., safety goggles, safety gloves, etc.) to prevent
injury. Quark-elec does not take responsibility for any injury or damage
caused by hot water or other issues.
To set up the N2K output, please follow the steps below:
1. Click on the “N2K Output Settings” and select “PGN 130312: Temperature”
from the dropdown list.
2. Select “Instance 0” for Instance. 3. Select “Generic Source Temperature”
for Source Type and “Coolant Temp: Pinout(28)” for Input. 4. Tick the Enable
PGN check box and click Save.
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Figure 34 N2K output settings(PGN 130312, Temperature)
11. Air Temp R Input
The A037 features an air temperature sensor input, which allows an RTD
(resistance temperature detector) to be connected to it. The resistive
temperature sensor’s resistance changes as the temperature of air changes
around the sensor. This sensor can be used to measure the inside temperature
(e.g., engine room temperature, ambient temperature inside the cabin or
pilothouse etc.) or the outside temperature on a boat.
11.1. Input Pinout Settings
The resistive air temperature sensor must be connected to Pinout 29 (Air Temp
R) and Pinout 23 (GND). We recommend that all electrical devices, measuring
equipment and sensors should be installed by trained electrical installers,
trained marine electronics technicians or engineers only.
11.1. Calibration & N2K Output Settings
The first step is the calibration of the sensor. The calibration of the air
temperature sensor must be done with the sensor connected to the A037.
Remember, that to be able to calibrate the sensor accurately, a thermometer
will also be required. When calibrating the temperature sensor, we would
suggest starting with the lowest temperature or the highest temperature and
going through the required temperature range by recording the sensor output
and the actual temperature at regular intervals. The measurements should be
spread out evenly over the required temperature range.
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Figure 35 Air Temp output settings
Please follow the steps below to calibrate the temperature sensor:
1. Click on Input Pinout Settings tab and select “Air Temp: Pinout(29)” from
the dropdown list. 2. Select the required temperature unit (°K, °F or °C) from
the Unit dropdown list.
3. Enter the maximum and minimum temperature values.
4. Select “-Sensors-” from the Sensor Type dropdown list. 5. The Data Output
Set table allows 10 [ sensor value: actual temperature] data pairs to be added
to the table. To add a data pair, click Measure in the calibration section to
read sensor data and enter this value into the first row of the Marker column.
Read the temperature from your thermometer and enter the temperature value
into the first row of the Value column.
6. Wait until the air temperature changes and make a second measurement and
add the measured sensor data and the temperature value to the table. Click on
the + or the to add more or to remove data fields. Continue adding data to
the table until the Data Output Set table is filled in and covers the required
temperature range that is required to be measured.
7. Click Save to save the data and the new settings to the device.
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Figure 36 N2K output setting (PGN130312, Temperature)
To set up the N2K output, please follow the steps below: 5. Click on the “N2K
Output Settings” and select “PGN 130312: Temperature” from the dropdown list.
6. Select “Instance 0” for Instance if this is the first temperature sensor
connected to the A037. If multiple temperature sensors are connected to the
A037, the first sensor should have “Instance 0”, the second temperature sensor
should have “Instance 1”, etc. 7. Select “Outside Temperature” for Source Type
and “Air Temp: Pinout(29)” for Input. 8. Tick the Enable PGN check box and
click Save. 9. Repower the A037 to activate the new settings.
12. Oil Pressure R Input
The A037 features an oil pressure sensor input, which allows a resistive oil
pressure sensor to be connected to it. The resistive oil pressure sensor’s
resistance changes as the pressure of the oil changes. This sensor can be used
to monitor the engine oil pressure on a boat.
12.1. Input Pinout Settings
The resistive oil pressure sensor must be connected to Pinout 30 (Oil Pressure
R) and Pinout 23 (GND). We recommend that all electrical devices, measuring
equipment and sensors should be installed by trained electrical installers,
trained marine electronics technicians or engineers only.
12.2. Calibration & N2K Output Settings
The first step is the calibration of the sensor. The calibration of the oil
pressure sensor can be done with the sensor connected to the A037. We would
suggest setting up the oil pressure sensor based on the characteristic table
or characteristic curve published by the manufacturer. Usually this can be
found in the installation manual or on the data sheet. The sensor’s
characteristic table contains the resistance values of the sensor in relation
to the different oil pressure values.
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Figure 37 Oil pressure input settings
Please follow the steps below to set up the oil pressure sensor:
1. Click on Input Pinout Settings tab and select “Oil Pressure: Pinout(30)”
from the dropdown list. 2. Select “Pressure R” for the Physic Variable. 3. The
Unit field will be automatically filled in with “Bar”. 4. Enter the maximum
and minimum pressure values.
5. Select “-Sensors” from the Sensor Type dropdown list. 6. The Data Output
Set table allows a maximum of 10 [ sensor value: actual oil pressure] data
pairs
to be added to the table. To add a data pair, read the sensor value and the
pressure value corresponding to the sensor value from the sensor’s
characteristic diagram. Enter the sensor value into the Marker column and the
pressure value into the Value column. Start from the lowest value and proceed
towards the highest value. Try to spread out the data pairs evenly between the
lowest and highest values.
7. Click Save to save the data and the new settings to the device and repower
the A037.
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Figure 38 N2K output settings(PGN127489)
To set up the N2K PGN output, please follow the steps below:
1. Click on the “N2K Output Settings” tab and select “PGN 127489: Engine
Parameters Dynamic” from the dropdown list.
2. Select “Instance 1 – Port” for Instance if this is the first oil pressure
sensor connected to the A037. If multiple oil pressure sensors are connected
to the A037, the first sensor should have “Instance 1”, the second pressure
sensor should have “Instance 2”, etc.
3. Select “Oil Pressure: Pinout(30)” from the “Oil Pressure” dropdown list.
4. Tick the Enable PGN check box and click Save.
5. Repower the A037 to activate the new settings.
13. Monitor the N2K Output via WiFi
After any setup changes, the A037 needs to be power cycled for the changes to
take affect. From time to time, the user may wish to monitor the output raw
data. Monitoring software (e.g., SSCOM) can be used if required to check the
data stream output by the A037, to ensure that the required PGN is part of the
data stream. For this, connect your computer to the A037’s WiFi network.
Launch the monitoring software on your computer. Enter the A037’s IP address
and port number into the data monitoring software and click Connect to start
monitoring the data stream output by your device.
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Figure 39 Monitor the output PGNs via WiFi
14. Configuration (via USB)
14.1. WiFi Settings
The A037 allows sensor data to be broadcasted to a laptop, smartphone, or
tablet via WiFi in PCDIN format. This is a very helpful feature when marine
electronics technicians, engineers and installers are required to do data
monitoring, troubleshooting or faultfinding work. The A037 supports the
following three WiFi working modes: Ad-hoc, Station and Standby(disabled).
· In Ad-hoc mode, wireless devices can be directly connected to the A037’s
WiFi network (peer to peer) without a router or access point.
· In Station mode, wireless devices communicate through an access point (AP)
such as a router that serves as a bridge to other networks (such as the
Internet or LAN). This allows your router to handle the data and traffic from
your A037. This data can then be picked up through your router anywhere on
your local area network. It is similar to connecting the device directly to
the router, but using wireless technology. This way, the mobile devices can
receive both the sensor data from the A037 and other AP connections such as
Internet.
· In Standby mode, the WiFi connection is disabled.
The A037 is set to Ad-hoc mode as a default setting but can be easily set up
to Station or Standby mode through the configuration tool. To check or to
modify the WiFi settings, power up your A037 and connect it to your Windows
computer via USB. Download the A037 configuration tool from our website and
launch it on your computer. The A037 should automatically connect to the
configuration tool and the “Connected” status message together with the device
firmware should be displayed at the bottom of the configuration tool window.
To view the actual settings of the A037’s WiFi adapter, click on the “WiFi
Settings” tab and click “Refresh”.
WiFi ad-hoc Mode
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Figure 40 WiFi Settings(Ad-hoc)
To set the A037’s WiFi adapter to Ad-hoc mode, select “Ad-hoc” from the Mode
dropdown menu. Fill in the rest of the data fields as indicated below:
· SSID: enter the A037’s WiFi network name here, e.g., QK-A037_xxxx. ·
Password: enter a password here for the A037’s WiFi network, this should be
between 8 to 12
alphanumeric characters long. · IP: enter the A037’s own IP address here,
default IP address is 192.168.1.100. · Gateway: in Ad-hoc mode filling this
field in is not important, the default value is 192.168.1.1. · Mask: enter
255.255.255.0 here. · Port: by default, the port number is 2000.
Click Save to save the new settings to the A037 and repower your device. Wait
for 10-15 seconds for the A037 to boot up and on your laptop or mobile device
scan for a WiFi network with an SSID of QKA037_xxxx or the new SSID you have
entered. Enter the default password of 88888888 or the password you have set
and click or tap connect for your device to connect to the A037’s WiFi
network. A network monitoring software (e.g., TCP/IP Net Assistant) can then
be used to view or monitor the PCDIN data stream broadcasted by the A037, by
using the IP address and port number defined earlier.
WiFi Station Mode
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Figure 41 WiFi Settings (Station)
To set the A037’s WiFi adapter to Station mode, select “Station” from the Mode
dropdown menu. Fill in the rest of the data fields as indicated below:
· SSID: enter your router’s WiFi network name here. · Password: enter the
router’s WiFi network password here. · IP: enter the A037’s own IP address
here, default IP address is 192.168.1.100. · Gateway: enter the router’s IP
address here, this can be found usually on a label on the back of
the router or in the user manual of your router · Mask: enter 255.255.255.0
here. · Port: by default, the port number is 2000.
Click Save to save the new settings to the A037 and repower your device. Wait
for 10-15 seconds for the A037 to boot up and on your laptop or mobile device
scan for your router’s WiFi network and connect to the network using the
router’s password. A network monitoring software (e.g., TCP/IP Net Assistant)
can then be used to view or monitor the PCDIN data stream broadcasted by the
A037 to the router by using the A037’s IP address and port number.
WiFi Standby Mode
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Figure 42 WiFi settings (Standby)
To set the A037’s WiFi adapter to Standby mode, select “Standby” from the Mode
dropdown menu. Click Save to disable the A037’s WiFi adapter and repower your
device.
14.2. Input Pinout Settings
To ensure optimal functionality and accurate data transmission on the NMEA
2000 data bus, it is necessary to configure the input sensors properly. This
involves accessing and adjusting the settings in the “Input Pinout Settings”
and “N2K Output Settings” sections. Additionally, if alarm or alert functions
are required for specific input sensors, appropriate configurations must be
made in the “Output Pinout Settings”.
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All input pinouts are conveniently listed in the drop-down tab, with detailed
setup instructions available in the corresponding sections (Section 4 to
Section 11) of the manual for each input sensor. Click “Save” and restart A037
to get the new setting active.
14.3. Output Pinout Settings —Alarm/Alert Settings
The A037 has two external alarm output and two relay output connectors. All
these output pinouts can be connected to various alert devices (e.g. warning
light, speaker) or relays. The only difference is the alarm output supports up
to 12V interface devices, while relay only works with 5V. The A037 can be
configured to trigger an external alert or alarm devices which can be accessed
from the configuration tool, by choosing Output Pinout Settings.
Figure 44 Output pinout settings
With the right settings, the A037 can monitor its inputs and trigger external
alerting devices based on different pre-set conditions.
1. The first step in setting up a relay or alarm output is to ensure that the
required Input Pinout setting has been set up correctly. This can be done as
shown in chapters 4 to 12.
2. The next step is to click on the Output Pinout Settings Tab and select the
required alarm or relay pinout from the dropdown list. In our example this is
“Output Relay 1: Pinout(22)”.
3. Select one of the available options from the Source Channel list. We have
selected “Air Temp: Pinout(29)”. The following inputs can be selected from the
screen:
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Figure 45 Output pinout settings (Source Channel)
4. The maximum and minimum values will be filled in automatically based on
the Input Pinout Settings configuration of the chosen input.
5. Next, choose the required Activation Rule from the dropdown list:
Figure 46 Output pinout settings (Activation rule) In our example “Higher than
Max Value” has been selected. In this case, if the air temperature reading
reaches the maximum value or goes above the maximum value, the relay will be
activated. 6. The last step is to select one of the available options for
Action. These are the following:
Figure 47 Output pinout settings (Action type) 7. Click Save to save the new settings to your device and repower the A037.
14.4. N2K Output Pinout
The A037 outputs the following PGNs when a related sensor connected and proper
configured.
NMEA 2000 PGN
HEX code
Function
127245 127488 127489
127505 127508 130312 130313
1F10D 1F200 1F201
1F211 1F214 1FD08 1FD09
Rudder Angle Engine Parameters, Rapid Update (RPM, Boost pressure, Tilt/trim)
Engine Parameters, Dynamic (Oil pressure & Temperature, Engine Temperature,
Alternator potential, Fuel rate, Coolant pressure, Fuel pressure) Fluid Level
(Fresh Water, Fuel, Oil, Wastewater, Live well, Black water) Battery Status –
Battery Current, voltage, case temperature Temperature
Humidity
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130314
1FD0A
Pressure
To enable the A037 to output data via the NMEA 2000 network, you must ensure
that the “N2K Output Settings” have been configured correctly. All supported
N2K PGNs are listed in the drop-down tab, with detailed setup instructions
available in the
related input sensor sections (Section 4 to Section 11).
Figure 48 N2K output pinout settings(PGN type)
After settings have been chosen, click “Save” and restart A037 to enable the
changes to take place.
15. Upgrading Firmware
The current firmware version can be verified through the configuration tool
(When connected, the firmware version will show in the bottom of the
Configuration software window). The A037 operates with two firmware versions:
one for the main board and an additional for the WiFi module. Upgrade the main
board firmware (MCU) to access the latest features. The WiFi Module must be
updated ONLY when instructed to do so by Quark-elec.
The user must take great care to ensure the correct firmware version is being
applied to the appropriate module. Improper operation may result in the module
freezing. In such cases, the A037 will need to be returned to us for repair to
restore functionality.
To upgrade the MCU firmware, 1. Power up your A037 and then connect it to a
Windows computer via USB. 2. Run the Configuration software. 3. Ensure the
configuration tool is connected to the A037, and then press Ctrl+F7. 4. The
following message will pop up on your screen:
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Figure 49 Upgrading firmware
Click OK to continue with the firmware update. 5. Two new windows will pop up
with a disk drive named “STM32(APP)” and the other called
STM32(WiFi) or similar. Copy the firmware into STM32(APP) drive and wait
around 10 seconds to make sure the full file has been copied. In no
circumstances must you copy to STM32(WiFi) as this could leads to freezing the
product. 6. Close the window and the Configuration software. 7. Re-power the
A037, and the new firmware will be active.
16. Factory Reset
Due to different reasons, it might be required to restore the A037 to its
factory settings. This might be required if the A037 is transferred to another
boat equipped with different type of sensors or if the boat is being refitted
with a new set of sensors and devices. In these cases, the CTRL+F5 key
combination can be used to delete all settings, instead of having to reset all
settings manually.
To restore the A037 to its factory settings, please follow the steps below:
1. Connect your A037 to your computer via USB and power up your device.
2. Launch the configuration tool on your computer. 3. Ensure that the
“Connected” status message is being displayed by the configuration tool,
together with the actual firmware version of the A037.
4. Press CTRL+F5 (on laptops CTRL+Fn+F5 key combination will have to be
pressed).
5. A message will pop up on your screen asking if you would like to restore
your device to its factory settings. Please confirm.
6. Wait for a few seconds, a new message will pop up on the screen confirming
that your device has been restored to its factory settings.
7. Repower your A037.
Your device should now be restored to its factory settings.
17. Specification
Item DC supply Operating temperature Storage temperature DC supply Resistance
input Voltage input Resistance & Voltage input accuracy Tacho input impedance
Tacho input pulse range
Specification 9V to 35V -5°C to +55°C -25°C to +70°C 9V to 35V 0 to 600 +/-36V 1% 100 Kohm 4 to 20kHz
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Tacho accuracy Alarm/Relay output Maximum supply current NMEA data format Shunt input WiFi mode Security Equivalent load Environmental Protection
1% Open Collector(OC) output 145mA ITU/ NMEA 0183 format 100mV current shunt Ad-hoc and Station modes on 802.11 b/g/n WPA/WPA2 3 LEN as per NMEA 2000 IP20
18. Limited Warranty and Notices
Quark-elec warrants this product to be free from defects in materials and
manufacture for two years from the date of purchase. Quark-elec will, at its
sole discretion, repair or replace any components that fail in normal use.
Such repairs or replacement will be made at no charge to the customer for
parts and labour. The customer is, however, responsible for any transportation
costs incurred in returning the unit to Quark-Elec. This warranty does not
cover failures due to abuse, misuse, accident or unauthorized alteration or
repairs. A returns number must be given before any unit is sent back for
repair.
The above does not affect the statutory rights of the consumer.
19. Disclaimer
This product is designed to enable the user to monitor engine data and safety
parameters and should not be used as a sole solution and must be paired with
physical checks. The user must ensure routine safety checks and procedures are
upheld. It is the user’s responsibility to use this product prudently. Neither
Quark-elec, nor their distributors or dealers accept responsibility or
liability either to the user or their estate for any accident, loss, injury or
damage caused by use of this unit.
Quark- products may be upgraded from time to time and future versions may
therefore not correspond exactly with this manual. The manufacturer of this
product disclaims any liability for consequences arising from omissions or
inaccuracies in this manual and any other documentation provided with this
product.
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20. Document History
Issue Date
1.0
20-04-2024
Changes / Comments Initial release
21. Glossary
IP: internet protocol (ipv4, ipv6). IP Address: is a numerical label assigned
to each device connected to a computer network. NMEA 0183: is a combined
electrical and data specification for communication between marine
electronics, where data transfer is one-directional. Devices communicate
through talker ports being connected to listener ports. NMEA 2000: is a
combined electrical and data specification for networked communication between
marine electronics, where data transfer is one-directional. All NMEA 2000
devices must be connected to a powered NMEA 2000 backbone. Devices communicate
both ways with other connected NMEA 2000 devices. NMEA 2000 is also known as
N2K. ADC: Analogue-to-Digital Converter Router: A router is a networking
device that forwards data packets between computer networks. Routers perform
the traffic directing functions on the Internet. WiFi – Ad-hoc mode: devices
communicate directly with each other without a router. WiFi – Station mode:
devices communicate by going through an Access Point (AP) or router. PGN:
Parameter Group Number refers to numerical IDs used to define different data
groups used by NMEA 2000 devices to communicate. MFD: Multi-function Display
integrates and can control various marine electronic devices including chart
plotters, radars, fish finders, GPS receivers, AIS receivers or transponders,
etc. RPM: revolutions per minute is a unit for rotational speed. PT1000: is a
type of resistance temperature sensor. DS18B20: is a digital temperature
sensor. It is widely used due to its simplicity and accuracy. DHT11: is a
digital temperature and humidity sensor used for environmental monitoring.
LED: a light-emitting diode is a semiconductor device that can emit light when
electric current flows through it. SHUNT: a shunt is an electrical device that
allows the measurement of electrical current in a circuit.
22. For more info…
For more technical information and other enquiries, please go to the Quark-
elec forum at: https://www.quark-elec.com/forum/ For sales and purchasing
information, please email us: info@quark-elec.com
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Quark-elec (UK) Unit 3, Clare Hall, St. Ives Business Park, Parsons Green, St
Ives, Cambridgeshire PE27 4WY info@quark-elec.com
2024