Raymarine Radar cable

[redsnapper]

I'm in the process of fitting a radar to the mast. The cable supplied is very thick, approx 14mm, and the plugs are even bigger. Has anyone cut the cable to ease it through the mast, and if so how did you re connect the cable.

Thanks

Steve

 

[drakes drum]

My last cable ( Raymarine analogue radar) was cut just where it entered the cabin. Joined with choccy blocks. No problem. My current B&G radar is joined in the same way.

 

[prv]

Is this a new radar, where the cable is essentially Ethernet plus power, or a second-hand analogue one with power, video, and assorted control lines?

Pete

 

[redsnapper]

Is this a new radar, where the cable is essentially Ethernet plus power, or a second-hand analogue one with power, video, and assorted control lines?

Pete

New radar, hd colour. Cable is both power and Ethernet cable

 

[Len Ingalls]

Please take my advice,after 30+ yrs as marine electronic tech.
Don't cut radar antenna cables,unless you need a take apart connection for mast removal/install
http://www.cruisersforum.com/forums...n-they-be-cut-off-and-reconnected-156222.html

If you must cut one for some obscure reason,cut it inside the antenna,where it can be re-spliced with crimps.

All cables that I have come across are designed to be fed from the display to the antenna. The antenna end plugs are designed so that they can be lain parallel & taped in a manner that they will be smaller than the OD of the cable itself. Any hole that the cable will go thru will accept the taped ends. Of course,it helps if you make holes oversize in the first place. It is never good practice to squeeze any type of wire thru a tight hole. It still won't be watertight. Use bushings,trim &/or butyl or your favorite Sika type product....... or,you can pay a tech $100/hr for 3 hrs to re solder the multi plugs-your choice

Cheers/ Len

 

[ColinR]

I'm in the process of fitting a radar to the mast. The cable supplied is very thick, approx 14mm, and the plugs are even bigger. Has anyone cut the cable to ease it through the mast, and if so how did you re connect the cable.

Thanks

Steve

Don't do it! If its anything like the Furuno cable there is a very thin coaxial (?) inside which is a nightmare to join. I cut mine for the same reason and always regretted it. I believe cable damage is the most common fault with radars. Mine worked but I have had various issues and I am currently replacing it with a new cable which I will not cut even though it makes installation quite a bit harder.

Colin

 

[prv]

New radar, hd colour. Cable is both power and Ethernet cable

Ok, that makes life easier. Unlike older analogue cables where any imperfection in the cable will (at least in theory) degrade the picture, ethernet packets will either get through or not. As long as your connection is not so poor that frames are regularly being dropped, the transmission will remain perfect.

I don't know what the physical construction of the inside of Raymarine's cable is like, but I would look to use standard Ethernet connectors if possible. Either a pair of crimp-on RJ45s and a back-to-back coupler, or an RJ45 and an inline socket if you can find such a thing. There are even waterproof ones available if you think it's necessary in your chosen location.

For the power cores, personally I'd use SuperSeal connectors.

A bit of adhesive-lined heatshrink will make a neat edge of the outer jacket where you break out the internal parts - not strictly necessary, but it gives a more professional-looking result.

Pete

 

[drakes drum]

Is this a new radar, where the cable is essentially Ethernet plus power, or a second-hand analogue one with power, video, and assorted control lines?

Pete

With the B&G, I fed the ethernet bit though the deck gland complete ( its pretty small) and then linked up with a connector and an extension cable to the display. The power bit I just choc blocked. Getting it through the mast ( Kemp 1995 35 footer) was no problem. Used the old cable to pull a mouse line and then the mouse line to the new cable well taped and greased bfeeding in at the top and pulling down to the base..

 

[prv]

With the B&G, I fed the ethernet bit though the deck gland complete ( its pretty small) and then linked up with a connector and an extension cable to the display. The power bit I just choc blocked.

Yes, that's a good point. Once it's inside the hull, you just need to run Ethernet to the plotter and presumably the power might even be coming from a different location. So it could make sense to end the "special" radar cable at that point and wire power and ethernet separately and in ways that make sense for those types of cable.

I would still use SuperSeal rather than choc-blocks for the power though

Pete