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Technical Reference for Garmin NMEA 2000 Products
NMEA 2000 Fundamentals
Linear Backbone Construction
Use the NMEA 2000 T-connectors to construct your NMEA 2000 backbone, and extend the backbone with appropriate lengths of backbone
cable if necessary. Use one T-connector per device. Use the sides of the T-connector to construct the backbone of the NMEA 2000 network, and
use the top of the T-connector to attach a NMEA 2000 device. By using only the sides of the T-connectors to construct the backbone, you create
a linear construction to your NMEA 2000 network. T-connectors can be separated by backbone cables or connected directly together.
Although the male and female connectors on the T-connectors and backbone cables will fit on all sides of a T-connector, it is very important to
use the top of the T-connector only to attach NMEA 2000 devices, not to attach other T-connectors or backbone cables.
Correct Linear Backbone Construction
CORRECT
To NMEA 2000 devices
and power
Male
terminator
Female
terminator
Backbone extension cable
Incorrect Linear Backbone Construction
INCORRECT
To NMEA 2000 devices
and power
Male
terminator
(also installed
incorrectly)
Male
terminator
T-connector
installed incorrectly
Backbone extension cable
