sea talk ng network

[chubby]

Just setting up a network with autopilot, mfd, ais and a couple of i70 displays and the microtalk gateway.

The major items, ais,mfd and autopilot have their own power leads. The autopilot box supplies 12v to the network. This only has to power a few small items, does it matter where in the network it enters? one manual suggested in the centre rather than at the end? also only one 12 v power per network?

 

[maby]

Well, it's definitely one power source per network. Since all units drawing power from the network will be low(ish) power devices, I don't think the positioning of the power source matters.

 

[prv]

one manual suggested in the centre rather than at the end?

That could make a difference for very large networks, but isn’t relevant for the typical yacht.

Pete

 

[tross]

Hmm I would try to position it close to the devices taking load from the SeaTalk networks or in the middle of the network. That way the voltage drop will be only half the possible maximum

 

[chubby]

Thanks for the advice: it seems that for a small network it doesn't matter where the 12 v feed is, only if the cable run is 50 or 60 M! just have to remember the network is powered from the autopilot switch on the main panel! or change it but the autopilot cabling is all neatly cable tied together......

 

[maby]

Thanks for the advice: it seems that for a small network it doesn't matter where the 12 v feed is, only if the cable run is 50 or 60 M! just have to remember the network is powered from the autopilot switch on the main panel! or change it but the autopilot cabling is all neatly cable tied together......

Only low power devices draw directly from the network - plotters, autopilots and radar scanners need separate supplies - hence voltage drop should not be an issue.