Raymarine experts - RL80CRC Radar Compatibiloty

[MapisM]

Yup, that's very understandable.
Interestingly, arch mount space wouldn't have been a problem for me, so I could offer you a swap, in this respect.
But as I said, having already the light cable installed and working, I didn't fancy the idea of pulling it out and replacing it with the larger one, also because I was fearing to ruin the connectors.
Did you already manage to snake the Raymarine cable from the helm to the arch mount?
I'm 99% sure that you can't use your old Furuno cable with the Raymarine components.

 

[Whitelighter]

I’m 100% sure the furuno cable won’t work

I ran the cable to the upper helm as the two screens are networked.
Also left spare pull cables in the void so if I do needs to swap the cable out it should be straight forward.

 

[vas]

sorry cannot help in anything you're discussing, but reading all this I realise how helpful digital radars are, just have to route a shielded ethernet cable (with field installable connector on the one side) and the reasonably heavy gauge power cable...

good luck!

V.

 

[[165042]]

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...

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.

No RD-series radars have double power connectors - they all have the tower connector with screw posts. What you likely have if this is the case is an old radar in a new housing.

 

[Elessar]

No RD-series radars have double power connectors - they all have the tower connector with screw posts. What you likely have if this is the case is an old radar in a new housing.

so up above you said "that's the RD series" and it had a single connector. Remember its a random pic he googled, not his radar.

Now you're saying it not an RD its an old radar in a new case.

But it is exactly the same as Jez's. I am 100% certain of that because I too was up close and personal with it helping (or maybe hindering) him fit the flippin thing.

It seems unlikely that there are multiple radars out there in the wrong housings? Or maybe that is just coincidence.

Whatever, he only has 2 power cables and 2 power connectors.

The question for me is, if it is a 2 kW cable, what would be the consequence of using it? Would a) the MFD refuse to play, B) it would it work with impaired performance, or c) is there a risk of overheating the cable due to overcurrent?

Incidentally it is a 15m cable that can be chopped to about 11m so that's a 25% reduction in the resistance in the cable, reducing the risk of c).

 

[[165042]]

You've misread my statement. No RD-series radars (as in zero).

 

[Elessar]

You've misread my statement. No RD-series radars (as in zero).

apologies!

the question remains the same though - it almost doesn't matter what it is - what's the consequence of using the "wrong" cable?

 

[MapisM]

No RD-series radars have double power connectors - they all have the tower connector with screw posts.
What you likely have if this is the case is an old radar in a new housing.

Nah, I'm pretty sure that the internal components in my RD218 are visually very different from those of the Pathfinder.
Also the connectors placement is in a different position, with the RD requiring a bit more cable to run inside the housing compared to the Pathfinder.
In fact, for a moment I feared some troubles with that, but luckily there was a bit of cable slack inside the arch and I could pull out of it a bit more cable, just enough to reach the RD connectors.
If you are positive about all RDs having single power connectors, the only possibility is that my memory is mixing up what I've seen when I replaced them.
Actually, I could have sworn what I previously said, but I can't check that ATM.
Will do as soon as I'll have a chance though, 'cause now you are making me curious!

 

[[165042]]

apologies!

the question remains the same though - it almost doesn't matter what it is - what's the consequence of using the "wrong" cable?

At some point the radar will just not work due to voltage drop. It's very sensitive to voltage and has a threshold where it deems no connection.

 

[[165042]]

Nah, I'm pretty sure that the internal components in my RD218 are visually very different from those of the Pathfinder.
Also the connectors placement is in a different position, with the RD requiring a bit more cable to run inside the housing compared to the Pathfinder.
In fact, for a moment I feared some troubles with that, but luckily there was a bit of cable slack inside the arch and I could pull out of it a bit more cable, just enough to reach the RD connectors.
If you are positive about all RDs having single power connectors, the only possibility is that my memory is mixing up what I've seen when I replaced them.
Actually, I could have sworn what I previously said, but I can't check that ATM.
Will do as soon as I'll have a chance though, 'cause now you are making me curious!

100% sure - it's a Klippon 2-Way connector in the RD series part number 07395.

 

[Elessar]

At some point the radar will just not work due to voltage drop. It's very sensitive to voltage and has a threshold where it deems no connection.

Ok good so no harm done by giving it a go. Excellent. Thanks

 

[[165042]]

Less of an issue with 24v systems but the quoted maximum length is 15m before you need the heavy duty cable (2kw radar).

 

[Higgo]

Coming late in the discussion, but does this thread from the Raymarine USA forum help??

http://forum.raymarine.com/showthread.php?tid=20

As mentioned earlier, the old analog Pathfinder stuff is getting pretty long in the tooth. There’s a lot of older digital radomes and MFD’s being ripped out with upgrades that are relatively cheap (at least in this part of the world). Anyway good luck with it!

Cheers