NMEA puts out call for NMEA 2000 lighting working group

The National Marine Electronics Association has announced the formation of a new NMEA 2000 Working Group whose purpose will be to develop lighting control and status PGNs into the NMEA 2000 Standard. This set of messages will allow the control of brightness and color, along with more dynamic functions, including fade rates, flash frequencies and the communication of lighting scenes.

“We have seen a huge increase in the amount of lights, LED, or non-LED, that are being installed on vessels of all sizes and types,” said Mark Reedenauer, NMEA’s president & executive director. “This includes any light on the vessel, inside or out, below or above the waterline. As the multi-function display more and more becomes the command center of the boat, there is a clear need for a lighting control page that is one of the display options. The NMEA 2000 Lighting Working Group will pave the way for future lighting control and integration systems.”

Brian Rogers, president of Shadow-Caster Lighting, will chair the Lighting Working Group. Companies that have joined the group to help develop the new standard include Lumishore, Lumitec, Innovative Lighting, i2Systems and Ideas That Float. All other lighting or multi-function display manufacturers are invited to contribute to this new part of the NMEA 2000 Standard.

Interested manufacturers should contact NMEA Director of Standards Steve Spitzer at 410-975-9425 or email sspitzer@nmea.org.