Connecting the Receiver Box to Power

Use the AIS 300 power/data cable to connect the receiver box to a 12 or 24 Vdc battery.

Notes:

Connect the red wire to the positive battery terminal, and connect the black wire to the negative battery terminal.

The replacement fuse on the power/data wiring harness is a 5 A, fast-acting fuse.

If it is necessary to extend the power wires, use 16 AWG or larger wire.

If your boat has an electrical system, you can possibly connect the AIS 300 directly to an unused holder on your fuse block. If you connect the AIS 300 to the fuse block, remove the in-line fuse holder supplied with the power/data cable.

Installing the AIS 300 Power Toggle

The AIS 300 can be powered on and off in one of 3 ways:

If the AIS 300 is connected to a NMEA 2000 network, it will turn on and off with the NMEA 2000 network.

Note: The AIS 300 is not powered by the NMEA 2000 network; however, it will turn on when it detects power on the NMEA 2000 network. You must connect the AIS 300 to power as well as to the NMEA 2000 network.

If the AIS 300 is connected to a Garmin chartplotter using NMEA 0183, connect the yellow wire from the AIS 300 power/data cable to the Accessory On wire from the chartplotter. The AIS 300 will then turn on or off with the Garmin chartplotter.

If the AIS 300 is connected to a non-Garmin NMEA 0183 chartplotter, or not connected to a chartplotter at all, then you must install a toggle switch to turn the device on and off.

Connect the yellow wire from the AIS 300 power/data cable to one terminal of a single-pole, single-throw switch (not included), and connect the other switch terminal to the negative (-) battery terminal.

When you close the switch, the AIS 300 powers on. When you open the switch, the AIS 300 powers off.

Connecting a VHF Antenna to the AIS 300

To transmit and receive AIS information, the AIS 300 must be connected to a VHF antenna (not included).

Connect a marine VHF antenna to the AIS 300 using the antenna port on the device. If you have a VHF radio on your boat, connect the VHF radio to the AIS 300 using the included RF interconnect cable according to the wiring layout diagrams starting on page 2.

Mount the antenna according to the installation instructions provided with the antenna.

Connecting the AIS 300 to a NMEA 2000 Network (Optional)

You can connect the AIS 300 to a NMEA 2000-compliant chartplotter using your existing NMEA 2000 network, or you can build a basic NMEA 2000 network if you do not have one on your boat. For more information on NMEA 2000, and to purchase required cables and connectors, go to www.garmin.com.

The AIS 300 wiring layout diagram on page 2 contains an example of the AIS 300 connected to a Garmin chartplotter through a NMEA 2000 network.

Note: If you are unfamiliar with NMEA 2000, see the “NMEA 2000 Network Fundamentals” chapter in the Technical Reference for Garmin NMEA 2000 Products for more information. Visit www.garmin.com/products/AIS300/, and click on “Manuals” on the AIS 300 page.

AIS 300 Installation Instructions