Chartplotter wiring question

[kevsbox]

Hi All

Just purchased a Raymarine Element 7 S Chartplotter to replace our old, aging system. Unlike most of the equipment installed this unit has a earth wire as well as the usual live and neg.

Where is the best place to fix this earth wire on our Westerly Centaur? Hull, Engine or is there a Earthing point on the Centaur?

Cheers

Kev

 

[Tranona]

You don't need it. Just the positive and return (negative) to the distribution board.

 

[PaulRainbow]

Hi All

Just purchased a Raymarine Element 7 S Chartplotter to replace our old, aging system. Unlike most of the equipment installed this unit has a earth wire as well as the usual live and neg.

Where is the best place to fix this earth wire on our Westerly Centaur? Hull, Engine or is there a Earthing point on the Centaur?

Cheers

Kev

This is covered in the manual. It should be connected to ground, if no ground available connect it to the battery negative.

 

[kevsbox]

Thanks, all fitted and working

 

[ithet]

This seems to be a Raymarine thing.

 

[PaulRainbow]

This seems to be a Raymarine thing.

No, it isn't.

 

[ithet]

No, it isn't.

Ok, but most of the queries I had seen about this on these forums seem to be Raymarine. Maybe they give the most confusing instructions.

 

[PaulRainbow]

Ok, but most of the queries I had seen about this on these forums seem to be Raymarine. Maybe they give the most confusing instructions.

It's well documented in the fitting instructions, so it's probably just a case of people not reading the manual.


Power cable ground wire connection
The power cable supplied with this product includes a dedicated ground wire
for connection to a vessel's RF ground point (if available), or the negative
battery terminal.
It is important that an effective RF ground is connected to the system. A single
common ground point should be used for all equipment. If several items
require grounding, each item of equipment can be grounded by connecting
the ground wires first to a single local point (e.g. within a distribution panel),
and then this point connected via an appropriately-rated conductor to the
vessel's RF common ground point. An RF ground point is typically a circuit
with a very low-impedance signal at Radio Frequency, connected to the sea
via an electrode immersed in the sea, or bonded to the inner side of the hull
in an area that is underwater.
On vessels without an RF ground system, the ground wires of all equipment
should be connected directly to the vessel’s negative battery terminal.
The dc power system should be either:
• Negative grounded (“bonded”), with the negative battery terminal
connected to the vessel's RF ground.
• Floating, with neither battery terminal connected to the vessel's ground.
The preferred minimum requirement for the path to ground (bonded or
non-bonded) is via a flat tinned copper braid, with a 30 A rating or greater.
If this is not possible, an equivalent stranded wire conductor may be used,
rated as follows:
• for runs of <1 m (3 ft), use 6 mm2 (10 AWG) or greater.
• for runs of >1 m (3 ft), use 8 mm2 (8 AWG) or greater.
In any grounding system, always keep the length of connecting braid or
wires as short as possible.