Maretron FPM100 User manual

Revision 1.3 Page i
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FPM100
Fluid Pressure Monitor
User’s Manual
Revision 1.3
Copyright © 2012 Maretron, LLP All Rights Reserved
Maretron, LLP
9014 N. 23rd Ave #10
Phoenix, AZ 85021
http://www.maretron.com
Maretron Manual Part #: M002801

FPM100 User’s Manual
Page ii Revision 1.3
Revision History
Revision Description
1.0 Original document
1.2 Corrected accessory table and added new sensors
1.3 Added warning to not use pressure transducer accessories with gasoline

Revision 1.3 Page iii
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Table of Contents
1General ................................................................................................................................1
1.1Introduction....................................................................................................................1
1.2Firmware Revision.........................................................................................................1
1.3Features ........................................................................................................................1
1.4FPM100 Accessories.....................................................................................................2
1.5Quick Install...................................................................................................................2
1.6Theory of Operation.......................................................................................................3
1.6.1Choosing a Pressure Transducer Mounting Location for Tank Level
Measurement.................................................................................................................3
1.6.2Accuracy of Tank Level Measurement................................................................3
2Installation............................................................................................................................4
2.1Unpacking the Box.........................................................................................................4
2.2Choosing a Mounting Location ......................................................................................5
2.3Mounting the FPM100 ...................................................................................................5
2.4Mounting the Pressure Transducer................................................................................5
2.4.1Pressure Measurement Applications...................................................................5
2.4.2Tank Level Measurement Applications ...............................................................6
2.5Connecting the FPM100................................................................................................7
2.5.1NMEA 2000®Connection....................................................................................7
2.5.2Pressure Transducer Connections......................................................................8
3Configuring the FPM100 ......................................................................................................9
3.1Configuring Channel Mode............................................................................................9
3.2Configuring a Channel in Pressure/Vacuum Mode........................................................9
3.2.1Configuring Instance...........................................................................................9
3.2.2Configuring Label..............................................................................................10
3.2.3Configuring Pressure at 4mA............................................................................10
3.2.4Configuring Pressure at 20mA..........................................................................10
3.2.5Configuring Source ...........................................................................................10
3.2.6Configuring Data Damping Period ....................................................................10
3.3Configuring a Channel in Tank Mode ..........................................................................10
3.3.1Configuring Label..............................................................................................10
3.3.2Configuring Pressure at 4mA............................................................................11
3.3.3Configuring Pressure at 20mA..........................................................................11
3.3.4Configuring Tank Capacity................................................................................11
3.3.5Tank Levels Calibration.....................................................................................11
3.3.6Configuring Tank Number.................................................................................12
3.3.7Configuring Tank Type......................................................................................13
3.3.8Configuring Data Damping Period ....................................................................13
4Maintenance.......................................................................................................................13
5Troubleshooting .................................................................................................................14
6Technical Specifications.....................................................................................................15
7Technical Support..............................................................................................................16
8Installation Template..........................................................................................................17
9Maretron (2 Year) Limited Warranty...................................................................................18

FPM100 User’s Manual
Page iv Revision 1.3
Table of Figures
Figure 1 - Graph of Transducer Accuracy vs. Tank Depth......................................................... 4
Figure 2 - Pressure Transducer Selection Chart for Tank Level Applications............................ 4
Figure 3 – Mounting the FPM100 .............................................................................................. 5
Figure 4 – Fluid Level Measurement with Pressure Transducer................................................ 6
Figure 5 - Tank Mounting of the Pressure Transducer with Recommended Ball Value............. 7
Figure 6 – NMEA 2000®Connector Face Views ....................................................................... 8
Figure 7 – Pressure Transducer Connection Diagram .............................................................. 8
Figure 8 – Empty Tank Depth and Full Tank Depth Parameters............................................. 12
Figure 9 – Troubleshooting Guide........................................................................................... 15
Figure 10 – Mounting Surface Template.................................................................................. 17
Table of Appendices
Appendix A – NMEA 2000®Interfacing....................................................................................A1

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1 General
1.1 Introduction
Congratulations on your purchase of the Maretron Fluid Pressure Monitor (FPM100). Maretron
has designed and built your monitor to the highest standards for years of reliable, dependable,
and accurate service.
Maretron’s Fluid Pressure Monitor (FPM100) is used to adapt up to six pressure transducers to
the NMEA 2000®network (pressure transducers sold separately). This allows you to observe
fluid pressures and tank levels anywhere on the vessel where there are NMEA 2000®
compatible displays. With the appropriate transducer, the FPM100 reports either pressure or
vacuum for a variety of applications including water pressures, oil pressures, hydraulic
pressures, or system vacuum for detecting clogged filters.
The FPM100 also has a tank level mode, so that fluid levels in a tank can be monitored via a
pressure transducer mounted at the bottom of the tank and transmitted over the NMEA 2000®
network. This allows you to monitor the fluid levels in tanks that are extremely deep, have
internal structures, or are otherwise not suited for other tank level sensing technologies. In this
mode, the FPM100 can be calibrated for irregular tank shapes so that you know the true level
of the tanks.
The Maretron FPM100 is designed to operate within the harsh demands of the marine
environment. However, no piece of marine electronic equipment can function properly unless
installed, calibrated, and maintained in the correct manner. Please read carefully and follow
these instructions for installation, calibration, and usage of the Maretron FPM100 in order to
ensure optimal performance.
1.2 Firmware Revision
This manual corresponds to FPM100 firmware revision 1.0.1.
1.3 Features
The Maretron FPM100 has the following features:
•NMEA 2000®interface
•Adapts up to six pressure transducers to the NMEA 2000 network
•Each channel independently programmable to match pressure transducer
characteristics
•Each channel independently programmable to pressure/vacuum mode or tank level
mode
•In Pressure Mode:
oCan report programmable pressure sources including Water Pressure,
Atmospheric Pressure, Compressed Air Pressure, Hydraulic Pressure, Steam
Pressure, or User Defined pressure sources.
•In Tank Level Mode:
oPressure transducer allows use in extremely deep or irregularly shaped tanks
that can’t be sensed using other technologies

FPM100 User’s Manual
o16 programmable tank types including Fuel, Fresh Water, Waste Water
oProgrammable tank number(s) up to 16 per tank type
oProgrammable tank capacity
1.4 FPM100 Accessories
Maretron offers the following accessories for the FPM100:
•PT-V-0-1BAR-01 Pressure Transducer Vacuum to 1 Bar (14.5 PSI)
•PT-0-3PSI-01 Pressure Transducer 0 to 3 PSI (0.21 bar)
•PT-0-5PSI-01 Pressure Transducer 0 to 5 PSI (0.34 bar)
•PT-0-10PSI-01 Pressure Transducer 0 to 10 PSI (0.69 bar)
•PT-0-50PSI-01 Pressure Transducer 0 to 50 PSI (3.45 bar)
•PT-0-100PSI-01 Pressure Transducer 0 to 100 PSI (6.89 bar)
•PT-0-300PSI-01 Pressure Transducer 0 to 300 PSI (20.68 bar)
•PT-0-500PSI-01 Pressure Transducer 0 to 500 PSI (34.47 bar)
•PT-0-1000PSI-01 Pressure Transducer 0 to 1000 PSI (68.95 bar)
•PT-0-3000PSI-01 Pressure Transducer 0 to 3000 PSI (206.84 bar)
•PT-0-5000PSI-01 Pressure Transducer 0 to 5000 PSI (344.74 bar)
•PT-SNUB-01 Pressure Snubber
WARNING
Maretron pressure transducers are not approved for use with gasoline. If you
wish to use the FPM100 to monitor pressures or levels of gasoline, you must
obtain a pressure transducer that is approved for use with gasoline.
1.5 Quick Install
Installing the Maretron FPM100 involves the following steps. Please refer to the individual
sections for additional details.
1. Unpack the Box (Section 2.1)
2. Choose a Mounting Location (Section 2.2)
3. Mount the FPM100 (Section 2.3)
4. Connect the FPM100 (Section 2.4)
5. Configure or Program the Mode for each Channel (Section 3.1)
6. For each channel in Pressure/Vacuum mode:
oSet the channel’s instance (Section 3.2.1)
oSet the channel’s source (Section 3.2.5)
oConfigure the Pressure at 4mA (Section 3.2.3)
oConfigure the Pressure at 20mA (Section 3.2.4)
7. For each channel in Tank mode:
oConfigure or Program the Tank Type (Section 3.1)
oConfigure or Program the Tank Number (Section 3.3.6)
oConfigure or Program Tank Capacity (Section 3.3.4)
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oConfigure for Tank Depth and Shape
Configure or Program the Tank Depth (Section 3.3.5.1)
Custom Calibration (Section 3.3.5.2)
1.6 Theory of Operation
The FPM100 operates by measuring the current transmitted by pressure transducers.
When you are using the FPM100 in conjunction with a pressure transducer to perform tank
level measurement, it is important to understand the relationship of tank depth, the range of
the pressure transducer, and the accuracy of the resulting tank level reading.
1.6.1 Choosing a Pressure Transducer Mounting Location for Tank Level
Measurement
Choosing a proper mounting location for pressure transducers is critical to obtaining accurate
tank level measurements. The pressure transducer should be mounted as close to the bottom
of the tank as possible, as the pressure transducer will not be able to measure fluid levels
below the pressure port on the transducer.
1.6.2 Accuracy of Tank Level Measurement
Maretron offers two pressure transducers that are suitable for indicating tank levels: a 0-3 PSI
transducer and a 0-5 PSI transducer. For maximum accuracy, you should always use the
transducer with the smallest range that is sufficient for your application.
The accuracy of these transducers is specified to be ±2% full scale. However, if you are using
a transducer to measure the level of a tank where you are using only a portion of that
transducer’s range, the accuracy will be less than this. For example, if you are using a 0-3 PSI
(0-0.21 bar) pressure transducer to measure a tank level of water in a 41.5” (1.05m) deep tank,
the pressure measurements will vary over a range of 0 to 1.5PSI (0 to 0.10 bar) – only half the
designed range of the pressure transducer. Therefore, the ±2% full scale accuracy
specification of the transducer means that the accuracy of the transducer in this example will
actually be ±4%. You can use the table in Figure 1 below to look up the depth of your tank and
see the actual accuracy for either a 0-3 PSI (0-0.21 bar) transducer or a 0-5 PSI (0-0.34 bar)
transducer.

FPM100 User’s Manual
Figure 1 - Graph of Transducer Accuracy vs. Tank Depth
The pressure transducer you select must have sufficient range to measure the full height of the
liquid column of a full tank. The table in Figure 2 below shows the maximum depth that can be
sensed by each pressure transducer type. This table assumes that water level is being
measured. The maximum depth of diesel fuel can that can be measured varies from these
figures slightly depending on the density of the diesel fuel.
Transducer Maximum tank depth
PT-0-3PSI-01 (0-3 PSI) 83.04” (2.11m)
PT-0-5PSI-01 (0-5 PSI) 138.4” (3.52m)
Figure 2 - Pressure Transducer Selection Chart for Tank Level Applications
2 Installation
2.1 Unpacking the Box
When unpacking the box containing the Maretron FPM100, you should find the following items:
•1 – FPM100 Fluid Pressure Monitor
•1 – Parts Bag containing 4 Stainless Steel Mounting Screws
•1 – FPM100 User’s Manual
•1 – Warranty Registration Card
If any of these items are missing or damaged, please contact Maretron.
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2.2 Choosing a Mounting Location
Please consider the following when choosing a mounting location.
1. The FPM100 is waterproof, so it can be mounted in a damp or dry location.
2. The orientation is not important, so the FPM100 can be mounted on a horizontal deck,
vertical bulkhead, or upside down if desired.
3. The FPM100 is temperature-rated to 55°C (130°F), so it should be mounted away from
engines or engine rooms where the operating temperature exceeds the specified limit.
2.3 Mounting the FPM100
Attach the FPM100 securely to the vessel using the included stainless steel mounting screws
or other fasteners as shown in Figure 3 below. Do not use threadlocking compounds
containing methacrylate ester, such as Loctite Red (271), as they will cause stress cracking of
the plastic enclosure.
Figure 3 – Mounting the FPM100
2.4 Mounting the Pressure Transducer
All pressure transducer accessories for the FPM100 are fitted with 1/4” NPT male threads.
Some pressure transducers measure gage pressure (pressure above atmospheric). These
transducers have a small plastic vent tube enclosed in the connecting cable. Special care must
be taken not to block or kink the vent tube, and not to expose the vent tube to moisture.
2.4.1 Pressure Measurement Applications

FPM100 User’s Manual
Keep in mind that the rated burst pressure of the pressure transducer is 2.4 to 3 times the
maximum measurement pressure of the transducer. If the pressure transducer will experience
pressure spikes in excess of the transducer’s maximum measurement pressure, use of a
Pressure Snubber (PT-SNUB-01) accessory is highly recommended. The snubber will dampen
pressure spikes that will be seen by the pressure transducer.
Please refer to the installation instructions packaged with the pressure transducer accessory
for detailed installation instructions for the transducer itself.
2.4.2 Tank Level Measurement Applications
The pressure transducer should be mounted to a properly sized fitting on the side of the tank
as close as possible to the tank bottom. The pressure transducer cannot provide an accurate
measurement when the fluid level is below the level of the pressure port of the pressure
transducer. Please refer to Figure 4 below for an example of pressure transducer mounting on
the side of the tank.
Below Sensor Port, so
Cannot be Measured
Full Tank Depth
Pressure Transducer
Figure 4 – Fluid Level Measurement with Pressure Transducer
It is highly recommended that a ball valve be mounted between the pressure transducer and
the tank. This allows the pressure transducer to be serviced without draining the tank. Please
refer to Figure 5 below for an example of the installed ball valve.
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