Roger - I’m looking at doing a project to use a...
I’m looking at doing a project to use a couple of ESP32s, connected over the n2k network, to control my windlass. One would be at the helm and will be used to receive the input from an up/down switch, and the other will be at the bow and will output to a pair of relays to control the windlass, and will also receive an input from a chain counter. Does anyone have any examples for sending switch commands over n2k to a specific device?
6 Replies
i have a chain counter using sensESP… but its only for reading/inputting … i use the hardwired switches or existing remote for winch control. … and its totally independent of n2k network …. so not helpful to you.
.. im guessing you would use “n2k switching” pgns for control as you describe … however this would all work “outside” of signalk?
that is, direct between two devices on n2k bus..
There’s already set of windlass PNGs already defined, so the plan will be to use those. I don’t have any hard wired switches at the helm, or a wireless remote, but I do have the n2k backbone running all the way to the front cabin where the solenoid is.
@Roger this is the windlass controller / chain counter to be connected to the windlass control box: https://github.com/OpenFairWind/SensESP-Windlass-Controller it uses Signal K, instead of n2k for communication.
I would like to use n2k if possible, to reduce the reliance on signalk (see my other post about frying my RPi 😢). This will be a good starting point though.
yes saw that post … ouch! 🙂 an expensive lesson
i did find some esp32 based “projects” that use n2k .
maybe something useful here
https://github.com/wellenvogel/esp32-nmea2000/tree/master
also you may care to take a look at this one
https://github.com/gregsyoung/SensESP-Windlass-Monitor
which was inspired by Raf (above) .. but mine is a monitor only (no winch control),
however i additionally implemented a local persistent memory storeage in the ESP, such that it stores the chain count value,
even when powered switched off, and then reads it from memory when powered up.
In case you have B&G displays, you may want to look at this counter for pgn info: https://github.com/htool/ESP32_chain_counter
My up/down wiring is hardwired and I can't think of a reason to do this over n2k. A signal wire can be so small that running it front to back can't be the problem. In my case the n2k network is powered of the service battery. The windlass has a dedicated battery. In case of a problem with the service battery / n2k, I can still drop/raise the anchor. What's your main reason to use n2k control?