Overview

The Garmin Spectra is a NMEA 2000 connected LED control module that lets you control onboard LED accent lighting from a compatible Garmin chartplotter or from the ActiveCaptain app on your phone. It runs on 12 Vdc systems (10.8 to 16.0 Vdc) and 24 Vdc systems (21.6 to 32.0 Vdc), and each output supports up to 2 A for dimmable LED loads.

It supports common marine LED types, including RGB, RGBW, CRGBW, and single-channel lighting, so you can name and group lights for different areas on the boat and then adjust color, brightness, and effects from the helm. The housing is rated IP67 for wet installations, but it is intended for LED accent lighting only and should not be used to control navigation lights or non-LED loads.

Key features

• Controls LED lights over NMEA 2000 from a compatible Garmin chartplotter or through the ActiveCaptain app
• Supports RGB, RGBW, CRGBW, and single-channel dimmable LED lighting
• Up to 2 A maximum output current per output connector
• Wide system compatibility for 12 Vdc (10.8 to 16.0 Vdc) and 24 Vdc (21.6 to 32.0 Vdc) boats
• IP67 water resistance for installs in areas exposed to spray and washdowns
• NMEA 2000 LEN 2 for network load planning
• Lighting modes include color selection, audio sync, and effects when configured in the system
• Requires a dedicated power connection and does not draw operating power from the NMEA 2000 network

Variants

This product is offered in multiple output configurations to match how many separate lighting zones you want to control from one module.

The number of outputs is the main difference between variants. Housing size, weight, fuse rating, and the number of LED flying leads included can also vary with the output count.

• 010-02829-00: Output 1. This version gives you a single lighting channel, which is useful when all connected LEDs will run as one zone up to 2 A.
• 010-02830-00: Output 3. This version provides three independent outputs, allowing separate zones while keeping each output limited to 2 A.

What’s included

• LED control module
• Power flying lead with water-resistant three-way connector
• LED flying lead(s) with water-resistant six-way connector(s)
• Tee connector for the NMEA 2000 network
• Backbone/drop cable (0.3 m) for the NMEA 2000 network
• Mounting screws
• Documentation

Installation and setup

Mount the module on a solid surface away from direct bilge water, with enough room for cable bends and for servicing the connectors. A compass-safe distance of 7.87 in (20 cm) helps when you are planning placement near a magnetic compass.

Power is supplied through a dedicated circuit, so plan an inline fuse that matches your supply and the connected LED load. Common wiring practice is heavier wire for the power feed (16 AWG) and smaller wire for lighting connections (20 AWG), using marine-grade terminations and proper strain relief for vibration.

Electrical and system integration

For helm control, the module must be on the same NMEA 2000 backbone as the chartplotter or compatible stereo. Standard NMEA 2000 drop cables should be kept within 6 m (20 ft.), and it helps to keep the NMEA 2000 network and the LED control modules tied to the same ground location.

On 24 V boats, keep the NMEA 2000 network on a 12 V supply even if your LED circuits are 24 V. Powering a NMEA 2000 network above 12 V can damage connected devices.

Use cases on board

This controller fits boats where you want centralized control of cockpit, cabin, under-gunwale, and speaker lighting without adding a separate lighting keypad. It is a solid match for owners already running a Garmin MFD with NMEA 2000 who want lighting zones and scenes that can be managed from the same screen used for navigation and systems.