advice on through the body cable glands

[Mike k]

Hi

is there an easy to understand guide how to fit them and any suggestions for best makes ( manufacturers/suppliers) .
Would also be interested in any preferred types s e,g drill through type or split insert?

many thanks

Mike

 

[Tranona]

There are several different types but most common are the Index Marine type. Nothing clever about fitting them. Drill your hole in the deck and screw on the base. Choice of split seal or drilling yourself depends on whether you have a plug you want to pass through the deck. Clearly the split type best if you can't remove the plug. There are many variations on the theme such as side entry and multiple cable glands and you choose the one most appropriate to your specific requirements.

 

[garvellachs]

I think the drill through the rubber type are a bit awkward - it's not easy to drill the rubber cleanly. I've had more success with the split insert kind. If you are fitting it to go through the deck it is wise to seal the initial hole well with epoxy, esp if the deck has a balsa core.

 

[Mike k]

There are several different types but most common are the Index Marine type. Nothing clever about fitting them. Drill your hole in the deck and screw on the base. Choice of split seal or drilling yourself depends on whether you have a plug you want to pass through the deck. Clearly the split type best if you can't remove the plug. There are many variations on the theme such as side entry and multiple cable glands and you choose the one most appropriate to your specific requirements.

Thanks Tranona- its for VHF and GPS cables coming from the radar arch so thinking of fitting them on the topside of the cabin( just below roof height but on the side)- are thses still ok and when you say drill the hole then screw on the base would you be kind enough to explain if the hole is for the cable or to fit the gland?

 

[Mike k]

I think the drill through the rubber type are a bit awkward - it's not easy to drill the rubber cleanly. I've had more success with the split insert kind. If you are fitting it to go through the deck it is wise to seal the initial hole well with epoxy, esp if the deck has a balsa core.

Thnaks Garvellachs- noted but its going on the top sides above the side window- does that any difference re sealing it coz when i read 'deck' i thuink of horizontal main surface.

 

[Cardo]

We recently fitted a couple of the standard Index Marine cable glands to route the cables for our new solar panels. Very easy to fit, we opted for the drill through type as we had to route two cables through each and they have been fully waterproof so far. I'm always apprehensive about drilling holes through the deck but this was surprisingly easy to fit and no issues so far.

 

[Cardo]

As for sealing, we only used a couple of dabs of sikaflex for the screw holes for the base of the deck gland. The hole for the cables is sealed by a rubber seal and the big rubber block the cables fit through.

 

[Tranona]

Thanks Tranona- its for VHF and GPS cables coming from the radar arch so thinking of fitting them on the topside of the cabin( just below roof height but on the side)- are thses still ok and when you say drill the hole then screw on the base would you be kind enough to explain if the hole is for the cable or to fit the gland?

The hole is for the cable and needs to be big enough to pass the plugs through. The base is crewed to the GRP using a dab of sealer as Cardo suggests. You may find the side entry ones best for this application as the cable comes out parallel to the cabin side. You can get them from most chandlers - see the Force 4 catalogue, page 95 for a range of types.

 

[Mike k]

The hole is for the cable and needs to be big enough to pass the plugs through. The base is crewed to the GRP using a dab of sealer as Cardo suggests. You may find the side entry ones best for this application as the cable comes out parallel to the cabin side. You can get them from most chandlers - see the Force 4 catalogue, page 95 for a range of types.

Thanks again- self tapping screws? Do you mean side entry ( split seal) as opposed to drill through? Sorry for being thick!!

 

[Mike k]

As for sealing, we only used a couple of dabs of sikaflex for the screw holes for the base of the deck gland. The hole for the cables is sealed by a rubber seal and the big rubber block the cables fit through.

thanks Cardo much appreciated

 

[Tranona]

Thanks again- self tapping screws? Do you mean side entry ( split seal) as opposed to drill through? Sorry for being thick!!

Screws are self tapping but you need to drill a pilot hole in GRP. The more common glands have the cable coming out vertically as they usually go on a horizontal deck and you want the cable to go up a mast. If you want the cable flush with the deck (or cabin sides) you need the sort that turns the cable through 90 degrees. It is obvious which is which when you see the pictures in the catalogue.

 

[Mike k]

Screws are self tapping but you need to drill a pilot hole in GRP. The more common glands have the cable coming out vertically as they usually go on a horizontal deck and you want the cable to go up a mast. If you want the cable flush with the deck (or cabin sides) you need the sort that turns the cable through 90 degrees. It is obvious which is which when you see the pictures in the catalogue.

thanks very much all sorted now

Mike

 

[ditchcrawler]

All is revealed if you go to their website www.indexmarine.co.uk
From products go to cable glands

 

[garvellachs]

Thnaks Garvellachs- noted but its going on the top sides above the side window- does that any difference re sealing it coz when i read 'deck' i thuink of horizontal main surface.

Sounds like it will be going through a single layer of grp. So yes sealing the hole in the grp is less important in that case.