Power Considerations

Power Considerations

The Proteus Device is powered via the NMEA 2000 network on your vessel. It operates at 12 V and draws about 10W (or 0.8Amps) during normal operation. 

Before installing your Proteus unit, ensure that the NMEA2000 network is powered by a 12V DC source ONLY. Any other power source, such as 24V, can damage the Proteus and other NMEA2000 devices.

Make sure that you are using official NMEA2000 certified Cables and Tees. A hand-made or knock-off connector may have an incompatible pin order which can cause damage to the Proteus unit.

If, after installation, you are experiencing issues with the voltage on your NMEA2000 network (total system voltage below 10V, devices not receiving power and/or messages) try the following steps:
  1. Reduce the length of NMEA2000 cables as much as possible - Extra wire length can lead to extra resistance and more voltage drop. By keeping the overall length of the network as short as possible, you can reduce voltage drop and network resistance.
  2. Install the Proteus drop cable as close as possible to the NMEA2000 power source - Installing the Proteus at the far end of a network means that current must flow across the entire length of the network to reach the device. By connecting the Proteus as close as possible to the 12V power source on the network you can further reduce network voltage drop.
  3. Install a Power Isolator (Such as this device by GARMIN) and provide Proteus with a dedicated power source - A Power Isolator is a special NMEA2000 Tee which allows data to pass, but blocks power. By adding this device to the network, you can isolate the Proteus from the other devices and provide it with a dedicated 12V power source. This will ensure that your other NMEA2000 devices are unaffected by the Proteus, but are still able to communicate with it.



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