Dometic Optimus i7700 Instruction Manual

[REVISION C] Form No. 710465 | ©2020 Dometic Corporation
WARNING
Cancer and Reproductive Harm
www.P65Warnings.ca.gov
POWER & CONTROL
SHIFT & THROTTLE
Electronic Shi & Throttle Systems
Operation Instructions and User’s Manual — Book 79
i7700, i7800
EN

ii EN
All information, illustrations and specifications in this manual are based on
the latest information available at the time of publishing. The illustrations
used in this manual are intended as representative reference views only.
Moreover, because of our continuous product improvement policy, we
may modify information, illustrations and/or specifications to explain and/
or exemplify a product, service or maintenance improvement. We reserve
the right to make any change at any time without notice.
©2020 Dometic
All Rights Reserved. This document, subject matter and all information
herein is the sole, exclusive and confidential property of Dometic and shall
not be disclosed, copied, reproduced or used in whole or in part for any
purpose other than as specifically authorized in writing by Dometic.
is a registered trademark of the American Boat &
Yacht Council (http://www.abycinc.org)
NMEA 2000® is a registered trademark of the National Marine
Electronics Association.
Optimus, Optimus 360, SeaStar, and BayStar are all trademarks of Dometic.
California
Proposition 65 Warning
Battery posts, terminals, and related accessories contain
lead and lead compounds, chemicals known to the state
of California to cause cancer and reproductive harm.
Wash hands aer handling.
This book contains:
• the user’s manual for the i7700/i7800 electronic controls.
This book must be delivered to the owner when installation is complete.
Thank you for choosing Optimus™Electronic shift and throttle system
for mechanically controlled engines. You have chosen a state of the art
control system that will provide years of effortless and trouble free
steering performance.
About this Book
NOTE
If you are installing the Optimus 360 joystick control system, you will need
to refer to the joystick installation instructions provided separately.

iii
EN
Table of Contents
Abbreviations ........................................................................iv
1 Important Safety Information .............................................. 1-1
1.1 Explanation of symbols .................................................... 1-1
1.2 Safe operation............................................................... 1-2
1.3 Safety considerations for installers .................................... 1-3
1.4 Safety 1abels ................................................................. 1-4
2 System Overview ................................................................ 2-1
2.1 System description......................................................... 2-1
2.2 System overview diagram ............................................... 2-2
3 System Operation ............................................................... 3-1
3.1 Before each use ............................................................. 3-1
3.2 First time Use................................................................ 3-2
3.3 Control head operation ................................................. 3-2
3.3.1 Identification – Dual lever (DTM) .............................. 3-2
3.3.2 Identification – Single lever (STM)............................ 3-6
3.3.3 Lever adjustment .................................................. 3-8
3.3.4 Station selection and station select protection.......... 3-9
3.3.5 Two-lever sync .................................................... 3-10
4 System Faults & Hazards ..................................................... 4-1
4.1 Hazard definitions ............................................................ 4-1
4.1.1 Danger .................................................................. 4-1
4.1.2 Warning ................................................................ 4-1
4.2 Manual override............................................................ 4-2
5 Maintenance ....................................................................... 5-1
5.0.1 Owner(s) (end users) ............................................... 5-1
5.0.2 Qualified marine mechanic ..................................... 5-1
6 Warranty ..............................................................................6-1
6.1 Statement of limited warranty .......................................... 6-1
6.2 Return goods procedure ................................................ 6-1

iv EN
The following abbreviations are used in this manual:
ABYC American Boat & Yacht Council
AP Autopilot
AUX Auxiliary
BAT Battery
CAN Controller Area Network
CAN Bus Controller Area Network (data) Bus. (A harness of wires that
carry digital signals and power between electronic modules)
ENG Engine
EPS Electronic Power Steering
EST Electronic Shift and Throttle
FWD Forward
GND Ground
HI High
LED Light Emitting Diode
Lo Low
MPH Miles Per Hour
N Neutral
NMEA National Marine Electronics Association
NMEA 2000®A protocol for digital communication on a CAN Bus
NTW Neutral Throttle Warmup
N/C No Connection
PCM Pump Control Module
PTS Power Train Sync
R Reverse
RPM Revolutions Per Minute
STBD Starboard (right when facing forward)
SW Switch
TM Trolling Mode
WOT Wide Open Throttle
NOTE
Some abbreviations not listed here may be found in their respective sections.
Abbreviations

1-1
EN
1 Important Safety
Information
Safe operation of i7700/i7800 electronic controls depends on proper
installation and maintenance of the system, as well as the operator’s safe
judgment, boating knowledge, and expertise.
The installer and operator must read and understand the safety requirements
in this section before installing or using the steering system. If you have any
questions about safe installation or operation of this system, contact
Dometic Marine. Please don’t guess.
The symbols below are used throughout this publication to alert you to
potential hazards involved with the operation and installation of this product.
Observe these warnings and notices carefully. The safety alerts alone
cannot eliminate hazards; strict compliance with any special instructions
during installation, operation, and maintenance, along with common sense
operation, are important measures to prevent hazardous situations.
1.1 Explanation of symbols
DANGER!
Safety instruction: Indicates a hazardous situation that, if not avoided,
will result in death or serious injury.
WARNING!
Safety instruction: Indicates a hazardous situation that, if not avoided,
could result in death or serious injury.
CAUTION!
Safety instruction: Indicates a hazardous situation that, if not avoided,
could result in minor or moderate injury.
NOTICE!
Indicates a situation that, if not avoided, can result in property damage.
NOTE
Supplementary information for operating the product.

1-2 EN
General
• Read and understand this manual, the Quick Reference Guide, and any
other documentation provided with your steering system.
• Know and obey all applicable federal, state, and municipal laws and
regulations that govern boating in your area. Dometic recommends all
boat operators take a boating safety course.
• Never operate a boat while under the influence of drugs or alcohol.
Before every use
• Perform the system inspection as described in section 3.1.
• Make sure your Quick Reference Guide and/or this manual is on your
boat. Both contain important safety information that you may need in the
event of a system fault while on the water.
During use
• Wear a Coast Guard-approved personal flotation device (PFD).
• Attach the engine shut-off lanyard to your PFD.
• Do not allow anyone not familiar with the controls (steering, shift/
throttle) to operate the boat.
After use
• Rinse off the Electric Actuator(s) thoroughly, using only fresh, clean water
at low pressure. Never use high-pressure water from a hose nozzle or
pressure washer.
• Do not use acetone, or cleaners containing ammonia, acids, or any other
corrosive ingredients, on any Optimus components.
• Some products formulated for cleaning fiberglass hulls are known to
aggressively corrode stainless steel shafts. If using a hull cleaner, avoid
overspray on to the Electric Actuators. Rinse off any overspray
immediately with fresh, clean water.
WARNING!
Do not operate the boat if any component is not in proper working order.
It may result in a loss of steering control, which could lead to a collision
and/or ejection from the boat, causing property damage, personal injury,
and/or death.
1.2 Safe operation
WARNING!
The safety information below is intended to inform you of hazards that
may be present when operating a boat equipped with electronic controls.
Read and understand this information.

1-3
EN
Before installation
• Read and understand this manual, and any other manuals supplied with
this system.
• Ensure you have all the required components on hand before you start.
• Do not use a wheel-mounted trim switch with coiled cord. The cord can
wrap around the steering wheel shaft and inhibit steering.
During installation
• Install components as instructed in this manual. Some component parts
and kits may contain additional installation instructions – refer also to
those instructions.
• Do not substitute any component of the system. Dometic parts are
rigorously engineered and tested to ensure system integrity. Substitution
of components may compromise safety, performance,
and reliability.
• If an instruction is unclear, contradictory, or you are otherwise unsure how
to proceed, do not guess. Contact Dometic Marine technical support.
After installation
• Perform the system inspection checks described in section 3.1.
• Correct any interference issues before handing the boat to the owner.
1.3 Safety considerations for installers
WARNING!
The i7X00 System must only be installed by an authorized dealer or
OEM boat builder.
WARNING!
Failure to comply with these instructions may result in a loss of steering
control, which could lead to a collision and/or ejection from the boat,
causing property damage, personal injury, and/or death.

1-4 EN
1.4 Safety labels
The labels shown below are found on the i7X00 actuators.
Figure 1-1. Actuator decal, PID# 277045.
Figure 1-2. Actuator decal sheet, PID# 277044.
WARNING!
The labels below should call attention to the possible hazards associated
with the equipment shown later in this manual.

2-1
EN
2 System Overview
SeaStar i7X00 is an electromechanical system that replaces a traditional
cable-operated engine remote control with an electronic control. Shift and
throttle settings are sent over a serial data network to electro-mechanical
actuators, where they are converted to cable motion. The elimination of
mechanical cables to the control head simplifies multi-station installations,
especially when a station is installed onto a flybridge or tower that is
removed for shipping. The system supports the installation of up to three
control heads.
The i7X00 system consists of the major components listed below.
CAN Network
CAN (controller area network) is a serial network protocol that is widely
used in marine and automotive control systems. Each device (node) on the
network can send and receive data using specially formatted messages.
The ability to reliably communicate data between devices is what enables
the functionality of i7X00.
i7X00 implements the high-speed CAN protocol using DeviceNet
harnesses and connectors. We refer to the network as CAN2 in the
documentation to distinguish it from other CAN protocols used on SeaStar
products.
Control Head
The control head looks much like a conventional mechanical remote
control, but it is an electromechanical device that converts lever position
into digital messages that are sent over CAN2 to the shift and throttle
actuators. The control head features adjustable lever feel, status lights, a
synchronous trim switch (optional), and control buttons for added
functionality.
Shift and Throttle Actuator
The actuators are electromechanical devices that receive digital
commands on the CAN2 network and convert these commands into
movement of a mechanical cable for gear selection and throttle control.
2.1 System description

2-2 EN
2.2 System overview diagram
Figure 2-1. System Overview.
DUAL STATION/DUAL ENGINETRIPLE STATION/DUAL ENGINE
1. Control Head
2. Throttle/Shift Actuator
3. CAN Network Bus
1
2 3
1
2222 3
1
1
1 1
3
SINGLE STATION/SINGLE ENGINE

3-1
EN
3 System Operation
3.1 Before each use
WARNING!
Failure to adhere to these warnings may result in loss of boat control,
leading to possible ejection from vessel; causing property damage,
personal injury and/or death.
WARNING!
It is recommended the full system inspection be reviewed on a regular
basis to retain familiarity.
WARNING!
Do not operate the boat if any component is not in proper working condition.
1. Check your steering system.
If your vessel has a hydraulic steering system, ensure that the fluid level
is correct. Check that the steering responds immediately and correctly
when you turn the steering wheel(s), and that the hydraulic hoses move
freely through the range without snags or hang-ups.
2. Inspect all and mechanical cables and electrical harnesses for
wear, kinks, or damage.
Check all electrical harnesses and mechanical cabling for abrasion,
wear, rubbing or chafing. Check that all connections are tight and free
of corrosion.
3. Check for binding, loose or worn shift/throttle control
components.
Check all shift and throttle cables and harnesses for signs of wear,
damage or chafing. Check that all linkages and cables move freely and
are not binding or corroded.
4. Verify proper shift and throttle response for all control levers
Check that all shift and throttle levers operate freely and cause the
engines to shift accordingly. Put the engines in neutral idle mode and
confirm that the throttle responds correctly and returns to idle.
5. Verify that no faults or warnings are indicated on the Shift and
Throttle Control Head.
Rapidly flashing LEDs on the control head indicate that there is a
Warning or Danger fault. Refer to section 4 for more information.

3-2 EN
WARNING!
Be very cautious when first engaging the gears to establish that forward is
truly forward and reverse is truly reverse. A quick in-and-out of gear test is
recommended. Ensure that the boat is clear of all obstacles forward and
aft before conducting this test.
3.2 First time use
3.3 Control head operation
Before starting the engines for the first time, familiarize yourself with the
shift and throttle controls and the features described in section 3.3. With
the engines and control system off, move the control levers over the full
range until you are familiar with the feel. The lever feel can be adjusted if
desired. See section 3.3.3.
The control head is the user interface for shift and throttle control. There
are two types of control head used with the i7X00 system: single lever
(STM), used on single-engine applications, and dual lever (DTM), used on
multi-engine applications. Both types of control head are top-mounted; a
side-mount single lever control head is not available for the i7X00 system.
The i7X00 Quick Reference Guide provides a summary of the control head
operation and should be kept on the vessel at all times.
3.3.1 Identification – Dual lever (DTM)
The following figures identify the components and features of the control
head. This information is also found on your i7X00 Quick Reference Guide.
Please take some time to familiarize yourself with the controls and features
before going out on the water for the first time.
Figure 3-1. i7X00 Dual Lever Control Head.

3-3
EN
Figure 3-2.
NOTE
If the lamp does not come on when you press Take Command, Station
Protection may be enabled. See section 3.3.4.
ENGINE TRIM CONTROL (OPTIONAL):
Provides simultaneous trim control of all engines.
LEVER POSITION
INDICATORS
INDICATOR DIMMING FEATURE:
When the control head is active, pressing
Take Command repeatedly will cycle through
five available indicator brightness levels.
NEUTRAL INDICATOR LAMPS:
These lamps have four states:
Steady green – engine is in neutral
Slow flashing green (0.5s on, 0.5s off) – Neutral
Throttle Warmup is engaged
Very slow flashing green (1s on, 2s off) – Trolling Mode
is engaged
Fast flashing red – A danger fault is active
See section 4.
TAKE COMMAND BUTTON AND LAMP:
Used to activate a control head.
To take command with a control head:
• Put control levers in neutral and press Take Command.
• The adjacent lamp signals the transfer status as follows:
Steady blue – station is active and in control of shi and throttle.
Flashing blue – station transfer from one station to another is underway.
You have five seconds to match the control lever positions
with those of the
active station to complete the transfer.
Fast flashing blue – A warning fault is active. See section 4.
Lamp off – station is inactive

3-4 EN
NEUTRAL THROTTLE WARMUP (NTW):
NTW allows you to control engine throttle without gear
engagement, so that you can warm up your engines at a
higher RPM. A slow flashing green neutral indicator lamp
tells you that NTW is engaged for the corresponding
engine.
To engage Neutral Throttle Warmup:
• Move the engine’s control lever to the Neutral position.
The neutral indicator lamp will light steady green.
• Press the corresponding Nbutton. The neutral indicator
lamp will flash green to indicate that NTW is engaged.
• You can now increase throttle and the engine will stay
in neutral.
To disengage Neutral Throttle Warmup:
• Return the engine’s lever to the Neutral position.
• Press the corresponding Nbutton. The lamp will light
steady green. The engine and transmission will now
respond normally to lever commands.
TROLLING MODE (TM):
• Provides greater throttle sensitivity: moving an engine’s control lever to
full forward will only produce a percentage of wide open throttle.
The default TM throttle limit is 50% in forward gear, 100% in reverse gear.
• Very slow flashing (one second on, two seconds off) green neutral
indicator lamps indicate that trolling mode is engaged.
TO ENGAGE Trolling Mode:
• Move one or both control levers to the forward idle or reverse idle
positions. The other lever must be in the same position or in neutral.
• Press either Nbutton. Both lamps will flash green slowly to indicate that
TM is engaged.
TO DISENGAGE Trolling Mode:
• Move both control levers to forward idle, reverse idle, or neutral position.
• Press either Nbutton. The flashing green lamps will go out to indicate
that TM is disengaged.
Figure 3-3.

3-5
EN
Figure 3-4.
POWER TRAIN SYNC (PTS) BUTTON AND LAMP:
PTS synchronizes engines and transmissions so that the port lever controls
shi and throttle of all engines.
The lamp adjacent to the Sync button indicates PTS status. A steady blue
lamp means PTS is engaged.
To engage Power Train Sync:
• Press Sync. The blue lamp will flash.
• Match control lever positions within 5% of each other. The lamp will go
steady blue to indicate that power trains are in sync.
To disengage Power Train Sync:
• Press Sync. The blue lamp will flash.
• Match control lever positions within 5% of each other. The blue lamp will
go off – PTS is now disengaged.
ADJUSTABLE LEVER FEEL
Turn screw in to tighten the lever
feel, and turn screw out to loosen
the lever feel.
STARBOARD
SHIFT
DETENT
THROTTLE
FRICTION
PORT

3-6 EN
3.3.2 Identification – Single lever (STM)
ENGINE TRIM CONTROL (OPTIONAL)
LEVER POSITION
INDICATOR
INDICATOR DIMMING FEATURE:
When the control head is active, pressing SEL
repeatedly will cycle through the available
indicator brightness levels.
NEUTRAL INDICATOR LAMP:
This lamp has four states:
Steady green – engine is in neutral
Slow flashing green (0.5s on, 0.5s off) – Neutral
Throttle Warmup is engaged
Very slow flashing green (1s on, 2s off) – Trolling
Mode is engaged
Fast flashing green, with fast flashing amber – A
danger fault is active See section 4.
SEL BUTTON:
Used to activate a control head.
To activate a control head:
• Put control lever in neutral and press SEL.
• The amber lamp signals the transfer status as follows:
Steady amber – station is active and in control of shi and throttle.
Slow flashing amber – station transfer from one station to another is
underway. You have five seconds to match the control lever positions
with
those of the active station to complete the transfer.
Fast flashing amber – A warning fault is active. See section 4.
Lamp off – station is inactive
NOTE
If the lamp does not come on when you press SEL, Station Protection may
be enabled. See section 3.3.4.
Figure 3-5.

3-7
EN
Figure 3-6.
NEUTRAL THROTTLE WARMUP (NTW):
NTW allows you to control engine throttle without gear
engagement, so that you can warm up your engine at a
higher RPM. A slow flashing green neutral indicator lamp
tells you that NTW is engaged.
To engage Neutral Throttle Warmup:
• Move the control lever to the Neutral position. The neutral
indicator lamp will light steady green.
• Press the Nbutton. The neutral indicator lamp will flash
green to indicate that NTW is engaged.
• You can now increase throttle and the engine will stay
in neutral.
To disengage Neutral Throttle Warmup:
• Return the lever to the Neutral position.
• Press the Nbutton. The lamp will light steady green.
The engine and transmission will now respond normally
to lever commands.
TROLLING MODE (TM):
• Provides greater throttle sensitivity: moving the control lever to full
forward will only produce a percentage of wide open throttle. The
default TM throttle limit is 50% in forward gear, 100% in reverse gear.
• A very slow flashing (one second on, two seconds off) green neutral
indicator lamp indicates that trolling mode is engaged.
TO ENGAGE Trolling Mode:
• Move the control lever to the forward idle or reverse idle positions.
• Press the N button. The lamp will flash green slowly to indicate that
TM is engaged.
TO DISENGAGE Trolling Mode:
• Move the control lever to forward idle or reverse idle position.
• Press the Nbutton. The flashing green lamp will go out to indicate
that TM is disengaged.

3-8 EN
3.3.3 Lever adjustment
The control lever feel can be adjusted by means of adjusting screws on the
forward face of the control head.
• The friction drag on the lever is adjusted with the throttle friction adjuster
screw (see figure 3-4 or figure 3-7). Turn the screw clockwise to increase
the friction on the lever, counter-clockwise to reduce the friction.
• The force required to move in and out of the shift detents is adjusted with
the Shift Detent adjuster screw. The detents are meant to prevent
accidental gear engagement, so bear that in mind as you make
adjustments. Clockwise increases force, counter-clockwise decreases.
Adjusting
Screws
Figure 3-7.
Figure 3-8. Control Head lever positions.
SHIFT
DETENT
THROTTLE
FRICTION

3-9
EN
3.3.4 Station selection and station select protection
The way in which you activate a control station depends on whether the
Station Select Protection (SSP) feature has been enabled. SSP prevents
unauthorized or inadvertent activation of a control head and can only be
enabled by an authorized dealer. By default, SSP is not enabled.
SSP Not Enabled (Default)
On single station boats the control head is always active when the ignition
is on, but on multi-station boats the control head must be activated. This
can be done in two ways:
• the Smart Select feature will automatically activate a control head if the
levers are moved out of the neutral position. This feature only works
when the ignition is first turned on.
• the control head can be manually activated using the SEL button (STM
control heads) or the Take Command button (DTM control heads) with
the lever(s) in neutral.
An active control head is indicated by an LED lamp: solid amber (STM) or
solid blue (DTM).
SSP Enabled
When SSP is enabled there is no automatic activation of control heads.
A specific sequence of button presses is always required to activate a
control head.
Dual lever control head:
1. Press Take Command twice.
2. Press Nonce.
3. Press Take Command again.
4. If the blue light turns on solid the station is active.
5. If the blue light flashes, match the lever position with the originally
active station and the blue light will go solid to indicate that the transfer
has been completed.
Single lever control head:
1. Press SEL twice.
2. Press Nonce.
3. Press SEL again.
4. If the amber light turns on solid the station is active.
5. If the amber light flashes, match the lever position with the originally
active station and the amber light will go solid to indicate that the
transfer has been completed.
WARNING!
Until the blue (DTM) or amber (STM) light is on solid, the original active
station retains control of the shift and throttle.

3-10 EN
3.3.5 Two-lever sync
When enabled on a dual lever control, this feature will synchronize engine
speeds on multiple engines when both levers are in forward gear and
within 5% throttle of each other.
The feature requires engine RPM feedback (not all vessels will be so
equipped) and can only be enabled or disabled by an authorized dealer.
Contact your dealer to determine if your vessel has this feature enabled.