Murphy HelmView, the many faces of
My April PMY column about Charles Industries, and isolation transformers specifically, is now online. Also up are some new product write-ups meant, in part, to illustrate how companies that traditionally supplied engine and boat manufacturers are now making plays for helm space and consumer attention. One is instrument maker F.W. Murphy, whose HelmView is seen above as part of Volvo Penta’s EVC system but is also capable of chart plotting using its SD slot for Navionics cards (below). This puppy can handled three simultaneous CANbus connections, including NMEA 2000, as explained here, and at the Murphy site (and also as used aboard a Cruisers Yachts 447). HelmView’s retail price is not trivial, but it might make a super geek gauge.
I also covered Charles’ new IMcharger series, which has optional helm display and/or N2K output, electronically controlled fuel tank selectors from Parker Fluid Control, and a nifty BilgeWatch8 monitoring system that I still have in the test lab, and will expand on here one day.
Public review of Helmview
The FWMurphy Helmview product is a well designed engine monitoring and multipurpose display. There is a lot to like about this stylish device and some things I'd like to see done better. That said, this is a plus up of a gauge package - NMEA2000 Chartplotter/gps (with Navionics), depth finder, 1939 engine connections, Genset monitor... etc. Engine diagnostic packages are key to mantaining a healthy engine, and I really wanted that built in. I chose the FWmurphy because of the realtime J1939 engine diagnostics. J1939 to NMEA2000 gateways are not the same thing (for example fuel flow messages are not passed).
The Helmview opens up a lot of options, and I would consider it essential to have these options - I mean the "right now diagnostics" for any boat with expensive engines. Hence the name "Helmview" The Helmview is drawn from FWMurphy's experience in engine gauges, diagnostics and montioring systems. In some ways, the onboard diagnostics at the helm were key to my selection. Engines are expensive and knowing the problem is half the battle. I purchased the Helmview with twin 5.7 Crusaders, and it now works well with these engines.
After resolving a software issue with dynamic addressing, (hint to FW. put a debug logger for CAN option to the SD), I found the product reliable and easy to use. Having dual helms actually was an issue with the released software, but this was fixed with a software update.
FW Murphy worked hard to resolve this and sent a map package for my cost and time.
Good features
- Lot of overall capability, it's almost like having a Diagnostic Package built in, reliable and easy to us to configure both J1939 and NMEA2000 bus systems,
- supports analog gauges with the Modbus,
- well made with good side buttons,
- reliable
- good look and feel to use,
- well supported by the company and factory,
- quick enough for the purpose,
- supports fuel flow and usage from the engines,
- electronically and physically well made, and very EMI quiet,
- better customer service support than the Crusader team,
- monitors different types of engines in the same package (Onan Quiet Gas and Crusader for me)
- Can have diesel and gas engine monitors together,
- and lot's of NMEA2000 PGN's (rudder, fuel, depth).
Not so great
- A bit dim (but readable) for direct sunlight. The contrast and brightness could be better, but brightness in a monitor is the inverse of life. It should be 750 NITS bright to be easily readable.
- A bit small of a display for the device as a main display. While 6.4 inches is small for a main display, the Helmview tries to cross from engine features to a chartplotter display. I will not use it as the main display. Processor speed is OK, but some features should be faster.
- The DT06 NMEA2000 connector should come with an adaptor for NMEA2000 micro (Devicenet) for non OEM Sales in the box. These Deutsch connectors are hard to find for the end user, and harder to order from distributors.
The Crusader harness adaptor is non standard for marine use, (not a Murphy knock) and is a pain to install and test to the Murphy system. The harness from Crusader is poorly designed and this is especially true for the dual helms installation. You really appreciate the NMEA2000 cable design after working with this.
- Crusader was not impressive as the engine package integrator - Their engine manual for dual helmview installation was scanty and that cost money to resolve issues.
- Sales distribution on the East Coast, it's hard to find and to buy and the accessories are even harder to get. I had to get most of my info from good people at Marysville Marine (which I could not buy from) rather than from EDI in New Jersey.
- NOTE: I'd like to be able to clear and download engine codes and diagnostic data - (as Diacom does by Rinda) - Hint add this feature to an installable SD card, and you have the winner.
I would recommend the FWMurphy for modern engines and as a back up to larger and brighter display system. I would also recommend this as the direct J1939 connection over a J1939-NMEA2000 solution.
Features I'd like to see....
- Brighter display and a bit larger
- Touchscreen
- Better use of the SD card, and show me where on the engine I should check
- Faster processor and better plotter options
- Gateway capability - A high speed isolated USB port for PC features or RS-232.
Thanks