Can I replace my open-array radar with a radome?

jimmy_the_builder

jimmy_the_builder

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Anyone know how easy it would be to replace an open-array radar with a power-equivalent radome? Old and new units are both current Raymarine products. The open array that's coming off is the 4kw digital HD; the radome going on is the 60cm 4kw analogue. Does anyone know if the connectors are the same?

Cheers
Jimmy
 
Jimmy, I've done this in reverse lately. The analogue/digital cables are different so you have to change the cable too.

The HD has a special cable and is powered from the boat's 12v or 24v via a DC converter that lifts it to 42v. To remove the HD you have to remove the scanner (tricky, heavy, delicate connector twixt rotating bit and motor box, consult the instriuctions), and the cable, and the VCM (voltage converter module - a Raymarine grey box)

If the scanner was retrofitted (post build) this should be possible. On the Sq58 the removed analogue scanner was fitted in build so I couldn't remove the cable as it took a complex route with no access post build so I had to leave it in and abandon it. You might find the same on the boat from which you're removing the analogue job.

A new cable is about £150. The cables are pretty thick and quite tricky to pull thru unless you are lucky with an easy route. If pulling thru a conduit pipe you need to lube the cable

All well worth it - I can guess what you're doing. An analogue open scanner is way superior to the analogue enclosed jobs, so a digital open scanner is leagues ahead. Well worth the effort, but an all day job not a 2 hour gig :-)
 
On reflection the easiest answer is praps buy a new digital radome for the p42, then swap it with the digi open array, but no new cable needed. Cost £950+vat rrp incl a 10m cable. Then put the open array on whatever new boat you buy, using the cable that came with the digi radome. (Check same cable, but i think it is)

total cost £950+Vat, minus what you eBay the analog radome for, and you don't have to dismantle the P42 to remove and relay the cable.

Ok, you have to thread a digi cable into the new boat, erk, but you were gonna have to do that anyway.
 
Unfortunately it turns out that the new digital radomes are not yet available from Raymarine, and it'll be two or three months before they are. So it looks like it's a day of cable-coaxing...!

Cheers
Jimmy
 
Nooo! Jimmy has said for ages his p42 with digi radar is for sale. He's just preparing her for sale, ie taking off her digi radar, and replacing it with analogue. Then he can put digi radar on whatever boat he buys next :-)
 
No, tho I saw them at Cannes show - super stuff. I'm sort of committed to Raymarine cos boat came with a bit of Ray stuff already installed and the dealer selling me the boat could get much bigger discount on Ray than Fur and passed it on to mne.

Jimmy's digi open scanner is actually a Raym not a Furuno
 
Jfm is completely correct in what he suggests - in fact we have decided to chop the price of the P42 pretty hard to try and get it away - and I think in return for that I'm probably allowed to keep this one component ready for next time around.

The P42 is all Raymarine, and I think the next boat will be too - I like the way the gear is put together. Given a completely free hand next time I would probably go for C120W, ST70's, and my existing 4kw HD open array.

Cheers
Jimmy
 
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