---
title: What are Device Instance and Data Instance, and when should they be changed?
description: "**What is the purpose of Device Instance and Data Instance?** veLink supports multiple Bluetooth devices of the same type on a single NMEA 2000 network. To ensure that each device and its transmitted data are uniquely identified, veLink uses both…"
url: "https://digitalyacht.support/faqs/what-are-device-instance-and-data-instance-and-when-should-they-be-changed/"
updated: "2026-07-21"
category: veLink
---

# What are Device Instance and Data Instance, and when should they be changed?

**What is the purpose of Device Instance and Data Instance?**

veLink supports multiple Bluetooth devices of the same type on a single NMEA 2000 network. To ensure that each device and its transmitted data are uniquely identified, veLink uses both **Device Instance** and **Data Instance**.

For most installations, **no manual configuration is required**. During the pairing process, veLink automatically assigns a **Device Instance** that is not already in use by another paired device, preventing conflicts between devices of the same NMEA 2000 Device Class and Function.

The **Data Instance** is used to differentiate multiple data sets transmitted within the same PGN. This is particularly useful when a single device reports several values of the same type. For example, a battery monitor may transmit two Battery Status PGNs, where **Battery Instance 0** represents the input battery and **Battery Instance 1** represents the output battery.

To simplify installation for standard users, the **Data Instance** setting is hidden during the initial pairing process. It can only be modified later through the **Edit** menu, which is intended for advanced configuration.

 

**Can these settings be changed after pairing?**

Yes. The **Edit** function allows both **Device Instance** and **Data Instance** to be modified without removing and re-pairing the device. This makes it easy to resolve instance conflicts or adapt the configuration to existing NMEA 2000 installations while preserving the Bluetooth pairing.