JimC
Well-Known Member
Do the cables carrying NMEA signals between instruments need to be screened? At the low impedances involved I should have thought not, but has anyone experienced problems through using unscreened cable?
NMEA wiring
- Thread starter JimC
- Start date
David2452
Well-Known Member
Yes, the NMEA 0400 standard is shielded twisted pair of 22 to 28 AWG, drain cable connected at talker only, whether your (or any individual install) would experience any issues if you used damp string is an unknown until you try it, but if you use the right cables then it gives the best chance of reliability now and down the line, at the cost for the cable there is no reason not to use it.
Puggy
Well-Known Member
Mine's just regular tinned marine cable and it all works fine.
Coaster
Well-Known Member
Me too.
JimC
Well-Known Member
Thanks all.
Norman_E
Well-Known Member
The stuff on my boat's old system which uses both NMEA 0183 and VDO Logic Bus which is a CANBUS system looks like ordinary telephone wire! NMEA 2000 is a completely different kettle of fish.
Boo2
Well-Known Member
Well, the wire/connectors may be different but NMEA 2000 is based upon CAN bus : http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/NMEA_2000
Boo2
David2452
Well-Known Member
Obviously it is C.A.N. it's a Controlled Area Network as is the vehicle J1939 et al, but the N2K cabling is a direct lift from Devicenet as is much of its physicality.
Philiz
Well-Known Member
My 0183 runs through 8 strand alarm wire with no problems. 2000 is Garmin network
elton
Well-Known Member
It's worth considering that screening of cable is not just to defend the signal in the cable; it's also there to shield other devices, unconnected to the signal from interference.
David2452
Well-Known Member
Indeed, both now and for future additions to the boats system that could interfere, I have never understood why people will not use best practise with this stuff, its not as though it costs much more to do a job to be proud of really.
Norman_E
Well-Known Member
That is just my point, both NMEA 0183 and a system which is very similar to NMEA 2000 are working perfectly well over what looks just like telephone or alarm system wire. Actually its mostly going to be ripped out very soon and replaced with an NMEA 2000 system.
