Best waterproof nmea cable connector?

[cliveshelton]

I hate buying online. Too much choice and I end up with the wrong thing. I need to connect a log transducer 5 way nmea cable. I am replacing a tape wrapped choc block. I'd prefer to be able to connect and disconnect the transducer easily in future.

What do need to buy? Which crimp tool, if any?

Thanks.

 

[Moonbeam]

I assume you are not looking for an IP rated submersible waterproof connection, but one that will withstand damp conditions, rain, waves etc?

I have not used these but they look like they might be worth a go. I'd back up the yellow collars where the wires enter the block with some silicone sealant.

http://www.ebay.co.uk/itm/Tyco-AMP-...hash=item4b0925d852:m:m8fkUnY7eWsrc0SFlCqeIWw

 

[wizzer]

I've just used some of these:
http://www.maplin.co.uk/p/2-way-jelly-crimp-connectors-100-pack-n72dv
and I'm impressed

 

[Yellow Ballad]

I've used the Superseal jobbies above (Ebay link) on my motorcycle, they take 1mm wires nice but the wires on my NASA wind instrument has very fine wires so I don't think they would really work.

I was going to buy some of these to try but haven't yet.

http://www.ebay.co.uk/itm/231877160...49&var=531109220591&ssPageName=STRK:MEBIDX:IT

 

[David2452]

As you mention 5 cables I assume you are talking about N2K, in which case just use the right thing, male and female N2K field attachable plugs.http://www.maretron.com/products/pdf/Micro%20Bulk%20Field%20Datasheets.pdf and

 

[prv]

For general-purpose internal connections I too use the Superseal connectors as recommended in post #2. There is a specific crimp tool which comes in proper, expensive and cheap, flat versions; for low-volume use the flat kind are ok.

If it's NMEA2k then David's answer is of course the by-the-book one. Although worth noting that we have some equipment at work which uses CANbus (same as NMEA2K) and comes from the manufacturers with Superseal connectors on it.

Pete

 

[cliveshelton]

Many thanks. A link to the cheaper crimp tool for the superseal connectors would be useful. I think I'll go for one of those. The cable is from an airmar transducer to Raymarine st60+ tridata. I used the existing cable when replacing the transducer.

 

[prv]

The cable is from an airmar transducer to Raymarine st60+ tridata.

Ah, ok, so not actually NMEA (of either type).

As Yellow Ballad said, the Superseals don't work particularly well with very thin wires - you can crimp them into the pins ok, but it's a bit tricky to then insert them since the wire just bends, and the yellow sealing grommets hang too loosely around the wires. It can be done, but it's a bit of a bodge. I can't remember whether the transducer wires are small enough to fall into this category or not.

Here's an example of the cheap flat type of crimping tool: http://www.ebay.co.uk/itm/High-Qual...365092?hash=item20eeccfd64:g:5PcAAOSw-W5Ux4C4 . With this you need to make two crimps on each pin, one for the core and one for the strain relief. The proper three-dimensional ones do the whole thing in one squeeze, and probably also help with positioning. As I said, for a one-off job you can get by with the flat kind.

For what it's worth, I like to squirt some contralube into the shells before final assembly.

Pete