Raymarine experts - RL80CRC Radar Compatibiloty

Yes, it is. But if in your original installation you had the 2kw radome, more than likely you've got the "light" cable, which can't handle the 4kw.
If that is the case, on top of the 4kw radome you must find also its larger cable, and (most importantly) hope to be able to pull out the old one and replace it.
 
Ok cool thanks. Original kit is dead Furuno. Ray done came with cable but Ellesar not convinced it’s thick enough. Don’t suppose you know how to tell? Thickness?

I have a vague recollection that its just the positive and neg supplies that are larger worth confirming as then you could run an additional separate twin core cable
 
Sorry, but I'm afraid that in none of the pics I took when I replaced my radome the cable connector is visible.

Anyhow, yes, I suppose there must be a difference in thickness, but I can't tell you how much exactly.
Otoh, while the plug that goes on the back on the RL80 is the same for both cables, on the other end of the cable you can easily distinguish the light one rated for the 2kW radome, because aside from the connector of the data wires, it only has two power cables (red and black).
In the 4kW cable, the power cables are doubled (2 red and 2 black).
It could well be that it's sufficient to run additional separate power wires to use the 4kW radome with the light cable, as stelican suggested, but I can't be positive about that.
I'm attaching below the cable scheme (see footnote for the additional wires).

BpCP1UJ9_o.jpg
 
I just bought a RL70C and had to replace the black connector above in the dome. I noticed when doing so that I have the heavier cable suitable for 2kw or 4kw.
You need to open the dome and should have 2 x positive and 2 x negative feeds. They are separate from the black plug above. I would imagine if you only have 1xpositive and 1xnegative that you need to upgrade the cable, or as stated, run an extra positive and neg to a separate gland in the dome.

you can just see the connections in the picture I took while setting mine up

AfLIVFE.png
 
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All Pathfinder radomes have double +ve / -ve connectors regardless of 2kw / 4kw.

The only difference is that the thicker cable has two sets of power cables to either avoid voltage drop on long runs or supply the 4kw radar.

Personally I would sell the RL80 and buy a newer C80/C120 before you buy a radome. The map support and resolution for the old plotters is seriously dated now.
 
I can confirm that the Pathdinder 2kW (2004 vintage) is what I had in my boat, and it had a double power connector, even if it didn't require the cable with double wires (in fact, OEM installation was with the light cable). I suppose it was built with the double connector just for compatibility with the larger cable.
But I can also confirm, having recently replaced it with a 2007 RD218 2kW, that it also has the very same double connector.

J, I find it implausible that Raymarine built a radome of that series with a single connector, considering the compatibility needs.
Since the power connector is separate from the data connector, my guess is that someone fiddled with yours and for some reason replaced the original double connector with a single one.
 
According to the model sticker its an E52067 RD424 4Kw unit
From some research, it seems an E52067 means it was supplied with a cable, and E52080 without a cable.

I thought I have a photo of the serial number but I don't (which is annoying). Ill take a picture when I am out there. The connections are an 8 pin black connector that has the NMEA stuff in it (as per the page from the manual posted earlier) and them immediately behind that a couple of very large brass power connectors. What you say about a modification I suppose could be true but if that is the case then they've done it very well. Or the big brass things are nothing to do with anything and the power connections are elsewhere

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Found some pictures online. This is exactly what mine looks like inside

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You can see both +ve and -ve feeds going into the same terminal - the grey block has two large brass screw down terminals inside, one marked _ and one +. On the pictures they ahve two cables but both are connected at the same place.

I may need a different cable after all, Ill get one on ebay and run it again but its interesting to see the later models are quite different
 
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That's the later RD series which replaced the Pathfinder. 424 means 4kw 24".

The cables all interchangeable - the later dual-power cable was manufactured slighter differently but the wires all do the same thing internally with the same connections at each end.
 
That's the later RD series which replaced the Pathfinder.
Yup, but as I said I replaced my Pathfinder with a 2007 RD218, and it does have the double power connector.
It's weird that they used a single connector on the RD424 that needs the cable with two power wires, and they left the double connector on the RD218 that doesn't... :confused:

Anyhow, in reply to Jez, yep, both RD radomes (218 and 424) are indeed compatible with the RL Pathfinder displays, both radar-only (70/80C) or combined (70/80CRC).
When I replaced my defective Pathfinder radome, I checked all the possibilities, and eventually I went for the 2kW because I didn't want to bother with the cable replacement from the p/house up to the arch.
Besides, for collision avoidance 24Nm is more than enough, while for storm monitoring also the 4kW is still a bit weak.
So, imho in-between choices don't make much sense, and for anyone interested also in the latter usage a 10kW open array is just the ticket.
But the 4kW radome which you've got is 100% compatible anyway.
 
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