Is 'Seatalk' 'plug-n-play'?

Boomshanka

Boomshanka

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Is \'Seatalk\' \'plug-n-play\'?

I've got Raymarine ST60 wind, tridata and a repeater in the cockpit and a Raynav 300 GPS and Raymarine DSC VHF down below. There is a single Seatalk cable going in to the wind instrument, then 'daisy chain' link to the tridata then another on to the repeater... I can't as yet though find the other end of the seatalk cable down below... but it must go to the instrument panel as each instrument 'fires up' (that's another issue that I'm working on - it's definitely not connected to the GPS). The repeater shows depth & temp but nothing else (obviously not the GPS) ie. the wind info... Sorry to ramble... here's my question... with Seatalk, can you just plug the instruments together and the repeater can 'recognise' what's in the loop or do I have to programme it in some way?
 
Re: Is \'Seatalk\' \'plug-n-play\'?

Also seem to remember there is a limit to length of a SeaTalk chain (x devices, where x is a number I've forgotten) and that above x you need to build a loop rather than a linear chain.

But I could be wrong - long time since I read the installation manual.
 
Re: Is \'Seatalk\' \'plug-n-play\'?

Many thanks for the replies. It is a 'multi' repeater and I've been back this morning armed with all the manuals and after some (admittedly random in cases) button bashing and wire wiggling, I've managed to get the three instruments 'talking' with each other.

My next task is to integrate the GPS... but whereas the other instruments have a seatalk in and seatalk out, the GPS only has one seatalk plug socket (currently with nothing in it)... I need to get into the manuals but would appreciate any advice from folk who have wired this sort of thing up before, how can I 'daisy chain' the GPS in if there's only one seatalk socket?...

RayNav 300 GPS
ST2000+ tiller pilot
Raymarine DSC VHF
ST60 wind
ST60 tridata
ST60 multi repeater
 
Re: Is \'Seatalk\' \'plug-n-play\'?

hook-up the gps with a seatalk cable

my raystar is fitted into the instruments not direct into the plotter
i also have a Furuno GP32 & is hooked-up into the plotter via nmea output
so i can use either raystar or Furuno to in-put into the plotter & drive the A/h
 
Re: Is \'Seatalk\' \'plug-n-play\'?

[ QUOTE ]
... how can I 'daisy chain' the GPS in if there's only one seatalk socket?...

[/ QUOTE ]You can just connect the GPS as the last unit in the chain. It won't supply power to the chain.
 
Re: Is \'Seatalk\' \'plug-n-play\'?

Many thanks, yep makes sense now. I'll come out of the repeater (which is current at the 'end of the line') to the tiller pilot and then from there into the back of the GPS. My local marine electronics co. quoted £80 (+VAT?) for a 9m Seatalk cable... just found the same thing online for £25 /forums/images/graemlins/mad.gif
 
Re: Is \'Seatalk\' \'plug-n-play\'?

The other thing I remember about seatalk cables (as recommended to me by a well known marine electronics company) is that you don't need them. Any suitable cable with the right number of wires in the core (5?) will do, because the right sized spade grips crimped on will connect with the male plug in the back of the instrument.
 
Re: Is \'Seatalk\' \'plug-n-play\'?

Make sure you get the correct size of spade connectors .... they are very small but I don't remember the actual size (3mm????)

Alan.
 
Re: Is \'Seatalk\' \'plug-n-play\'?

JG Technologies sell the seatalk cable by the metre and the correct spade connectors. If my memory serves they just specify "seatalk" spade connectors.
 
Re: Is \'Seatalk\' \'plug-n-play\'?

You do not need to "daisy chain" Seatalk connections. You can make a "star" connection with all instruments/devices wired back to a central distribution block if you want. The ST instruments have 2 connectors (either can be considered in or out) for ease of connection in a cluster.

As others have advised, the seatalk cable is not special, it is usually 2 or 3 core shielded. Red for +12V, Yellow for the Seatalk signal bus and grey or shield for the Gnd(-12V). But the special cresent shaped Seatalk connectors do give better protection against water, not so much a problem for water into the instrument but to stop water/salt getting up into the cable. As most instruments are marked R/Y/G is is better if you can find cable to match or be similar to the R/Y/G. The size of the cable will depend on the length of the run but as the Red/Grey are often powering a number of instruments and the circuit fused at 5A, it is better to go for cable rated to suit (say 1.5mm2) than skimp and find the system gets flakey due to voltage drops.
 
Re: Is \'Seatalk\' \'plug-n-play\'?

It's all working!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!! oh, deep joy. Many thanks to everyone who replied. I traced seatalk cables back from the instruments and tiller pilot and just connected the GPS to the red, yellow and 'bare' metal to form a 3-way junction... bingo. Virtual beers all round as I was on the verge of getting the local marine electrical folk in on an hourly rate with no promise of how long the job would take... /forums/images/graemlins/smirk.gif /forums/images/graemlins/smirk.gif
 
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