nasa wind system fitting

[simon_sluggett]

Hi folks
I have a wind system to fit to mast, which is unstepped, and I need to fit the cable up to masthead, preferably inside the mast void. Is it OK to cut the plug off the cable to thread through mast and deck and re-join with a suitable connector (5 pins I think) at deck level. If so what make/type of connector to use and what is best way to thread the cable inside mast?

cheers

 

[roger]

I never like cutting cables or removinbg and refitting plugs as its difficult to remake the plug joints and more difficult to make the plug watertight. I also dislike deck plugs.
If you can possibly get the cable with plug on down the mast I think that would be the best solution.
Next there's the question of getting the plug out of th emast without making a big hole. You could make a big hole and cover it with a cable gland.
Next repeat the process with the deck and, when you have the plug inside the boat, make the plug connection in the dry hull. Yes its much more of a pain than using a deck plug but you are much more likely to get a reliable unit.

 

[woody001]

Really dont like making such big holes in a mast.
Would rather risk cutting the wire and use a joining box to join the wires up (just join the sheld using the box as well)
I have cut a nasa clipper connector of and soldering the sheld onto a pic is almost impossible! in the bin that went :-(
Now have brought another one, so will be trying to use the joing box method when my mast is un stepped in 2 weeks, willing to try it first if you want?

 

[morgandlm]

I have recently fitted a NASA wind instrument and simply used a multi-pin Dri-Plug and socket at deck level. The pins are small and the soldering job fiddly but perfectly possible.
Good luck
Morgan

 

[macd]

If my experience of NASA wind heads, and that of several friends, is anything to go by, it's a lot of work for something that won't work reliably for long. You'll find several threads about replacing paddle wheel assemblies. What seems to happen, at least in part, is that if the wheel assembly has too much up and down play on the spindle, it can tilt and wear the hole oval. I'd suggest you take special care to ensure it's shimmed/adjusted correctly (there are two different types of spindle fittings, adjustment being different for each), rather than assume it's arrived correct from NASA.

 

[woody001]

think my soldering skills must be crap....

 

[sailaboutvic]

I have fitted many wind ins in the past and what I have done is cut the cable and once tho the roof I’ve put a block connect to join all the wire to gather .
Never had a problem

http://mysite.wanadoo-members.co.uk/vicsailng

 

[savageseadog]

Cut the cable. Prefer a cable gland through deck to a connector myself, use a juction box or solder inside.

 

[LORDNELSON]

My boat has a NASA wind instrument. The cable has been cut below deck and joined with a "chocolate"(?) connector which is, itself, fitted inside a little box. Works Ok. Have replaced the cup fitting at mast head once in three years. Personally I feel a wind instrument is redundent; one can tell when to reef by other indications and get a good idea of the force of the wind by looking at waves/swell/crests. Maybe useful for people who race.

 

[jerryat]

Entirely agree. This is an accepted way of doing it (Raymarine even provide the connection box with their ST60 and other instrument systems) and is FAR better than cutting a 'big' hole in or near the mast foot. I wouldn't think of risking this near a point of such high compression.

Magwitch, I'd remove the plug, drill a small hole, if necessary, at the top of the mast, feed the cable down and out through a similarly small hole near the mast foot. Fit a properly sized deck gland to the deck and a connection ('chocolate type') box underdeck adjacent to the gland.

Feed the cable through the deck gland and connect it up. The connections and mast removal are therefore made far simpler in the future.

I, and many others, have ben doing it this way far many years without problem, so it is a very well proven and successful method.

 

[wcarpenter]

I fitted a NASA wind system three years ago with mast down. Desoldered the cable at the masthead fitting, fed the cable through and resoldered. Three years later still no problems.

 

[Seastar]

My soldering must be bad, I cut to install a deck fitting. The connector had small screw clamping terminals, these little b's have been a constant source of problems, due to the tiny wires. I even tried to solder them in. A wind speed of 60kts is often recorded still under full sail!
On a more serious note the signal voltages are so small that nothing short of an excellent connection will work.

 

[ShipsWoofy]

STOP

STOP!

I am about to modify my set up when my mast is un-stepped in a couple of weeks.

I have lost the pin from the nasa head and SWMBO can do small jobs up the mast, she is not confident to glue a new pin 30ft up. I have bought a male and female in-line din connector from maplin which I will be fitting at the mast head. I will be sealing it from the weather with a rubber boot, though I might drop the connectors just under the mast head cover <it probably has a name>.

This will allow the whole unit to be brought down for servicing inside should it break again.

May I suggest a similar route from bitter experience!