Cable connector corosion

[Melja]

Does Anybody know the best solution to replace inner and outer digital cables on a Raymarine 4kw 18in Radome Scanner Radar,
The cable connector which is situated in the dome housing is corroded and a new connector required, is it possible to by a new waterproof connector and cut and rejoin cable or replace the whole outer and inner dome cable System?

 

[Catalina36]

Ask Raymarine, but my understanding is that the cable can't be cut and joined. That's why all my spare yards of it are are coiled up and cable-tied in the stern locker.

 

[prv]

Loads of people cut and join radar cables to allow them to unstep the mast. I'm not sure exactly what the cores inside of a "digital" radome cable are - I skipped that generation, from the "analogue" one with half a dozen signal cores and a video co-ax, straight to cat6 ethernet - but it will be possible to join them with a suitable connector. Some people even use choc-block and apparently don't notice any degradation in the system, but I would definitely not recommend that.

I'm not entirely sure what you mean by "inner" and "outer", by the way.

Pete

 

[Melja]

Loads of people cut and join radar cables to allow them to unstep the mast. I'm not sure exactly what the cores inside of a "digital" radome cable are - I skipped that generation, from the "analogue" one with half a dozen signal cores and a video co-ax, straight to cat6 ethernet - but it will be possible to join them with a suitable connector. Some people even use choc-block and apparently don't notice any degradation in the system, but I would definitely not recommend that.

I'm not entirely sure what you mean by "inner" and "outer", by the way.

Pete

Loads of people cut and join radar cables to allow them to unstep the mast. I'm not sure exactly what the cores inside of a "digital" radome cable are - I skipped that generation, from the "analogue" one with half a dozen signal cores and a video co-ax, straight to cat6 ethernet - but it will be possible to join them with a suitable connector. Some people even use choc-block and apparently don't notice any degradation in the system, but I would definitely not recommend that.

I'm not entirely sure what you mean by "inner" and "outer", by the way.

Pete

 

[Melja]

Loads of people cut and join radar cables to allow them to unstep the mast. I'm not sure exactly what the cores inside of a "digital" radome cable are - I skipped that generation, from the "analogue" one with half a dozen signal cores and a video co-ax, straight to cat6 ethernet - but it will be possible to join them with a suitable connector. Some people even use choc-block and apparently don't notice any degradation in the system, but I would definitely not recommend that.

I'm not entirely sure what you mean by "inner" and "outer", by the way.

Pete

Hi Pete, I will call the inner cable the one that sits inside the dome and is connected to a multi pin plug that is fitted in the dome housing. This is heavily corroded connector needs replacement with the original Raymarine cable system or a suitable aftermarket waterproof connector that will join the outer long cable that runs down the mast to power and seatalk system.

 

[prv]

Hi Pete, I will call the inner cable the one that sits inside the dome and is connected to a multi pin plug that is fitted in the dome housing. This is heavily corroded connector needs replacement with the original Raymarine cable system or a suitable aftermarket waterproof connector that will join the outer long cable that runs down the mast to power and seatalk system.

Ah, ok. As I said, I'm not familiar with this generation of radar. The analogue ones that came before it had a gland on the dome instead of a connector, so the long cable passed right into the housing and plugged directly into the PCB inside. I understand the problem now.

Basically your choices would seem to be obtaining the Raymarine spare (connector and internal pigtail) if it's still available anywhere, or identifying a suitable alternative type and fitting one half to the old internal pigtail (if those cables themselves aren't too corroded?) and the other half to the main cable. I know I'd prefer the first if it can be done, but the second should work, just more fiddly to do. There's nothing magical about Raymarine connectors specifically.

Pete

 

[Melja]

Thanks Pete, I understand there is a connector R32142 available at marine stores that might solve my problem, the Dome is down from the mast so no problem in fitting a gland connector to the housing, the hard part might be wiring the mast cable while up the mast or maybe mouse line the cable and then rewire once down on the deck