SHIPMATE RS8400 HANDSET CABLE

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John100156

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Hi I have two RS8400 handset cables where the rubber sheath is breaking down, has anyone had them made-up/repaired? If so I could do with some info.

There are some cords on Ebay ranging from £60-£85 a cable but if I am to pay this I may as well upgrade to a VHF with AIS receiver and DSC as I did on my F43 (Standard Horizon GX2100E now 2200E I believe) if its going to cost me £150 for just two cords plus postage...!

Shame though to rip out an otherwise perfectly good VHF and have to cut the dashboard to fit a new one.... Just thought I would ask before doing so!

Happy new year to one and all...
 
Same problem with our flybridge RS85 handset.
Ane we had the RS8400 on our previous boat.
I repaired my own by buying a better connector and a new curly wire.
Very fiddly job but it works - better than the Simrad cords and connectors - they are always falling apart.
Just buzz the old connector out with a multi meter and make sure the connections are the same after replacing both the plug and the socket.
Shame - it was probably the most expensive VHF on the market when it was new.
I don't rate the Simrad kit's performance ether.
I will probably end up replacing it all with a Standard Horizon - sometime in the future.
 
I bit the bullet and bought the eBay one which was well made however if you go down this route make sure you buy the right size plug, I bought the wrong one first time around.
In support of Hurricane’s solution, the sockets are no longer made or available so you solve two problems in one.
 
Thanks chaps, weighing up whether to make up my own with Bulgin plugs and connectors, had some heat shrink on board but would not pass over either end before shrinking and the cord was breaking up anyway in several places.

Leaning toward new SH kit but will wait to see if any other useful suggestions arrive!
 
John100156 said:
Thanks chaps, weighing up whether to make up my own with Bulgin plugs and connectors, had some heat shrink on board but would not pass over either end before shrinking and the cord was breaking up anyway in several places.

Leaning toward new SH kit but will wait to see if any other useful suggestions arrive!
Click to expand...

You need a pack of various sizes of heat shrink, and choose one for the conductors and a larger one to enclose them all, and cover the remaining outer insulation. As well as a suitable soldering iron and the skill to use it. It'll be as good as new. I've just done it to the power cable of a laptop.
 
I know, I have various sizes that shrink 2.5-3 times but the rubber is friable along the entire length of the cable(s), no problem with soldering connectors, done that and circuit boards many times in the past and have all the kit on board. Just need to source some decent 6 core curly cords and probably some decent waterproof Bulgin connectors. May take both handsets home next week and sort before I'm back out to boat at the end of Jan.

When you add up the cost of all the bits though and cost of postage (not bothered about the time as I like doing little jobs like this) and possible sale of 8400 as spares, it goes some way towards the cost of new more modern VHF kit..... Have sent out a couple of emails for the best price on a SH GX2200E Fixed VHF with RAM that I fitted to my F43 and worked really well.
 
This is what I bought
Coiled Cable - 6 Core 0.09mm² Screened PU | eBay
and
these connectors
SP13 SP17 Std Series IP68 Waterproof Circular Multipole Plug & Socket Connectors | eBay

Like you, I didn't want to spend a fortune.
The exercise was just putting off the day when I will replace the whole VHF system - as I say, I don't rate Simrad radios.
But that was two seasons ago and the new wire/connector is still working so no need to change - yet.
If you are thinking of changing the whole setup, have a good look at Standard Horizon - IMO it is good kit.
 
Thanks Mike, that's really useful. I will bring both HS back to UK on Sunday, I'm out again at the end of the month.

Took the boat out into the lagoon for a few hours today, run down close to Alcanar and back, just to check out her top-end for a short burst and to run-up the engines, short chops with wind over waves and a few white horses in the lagoon early on but she performed really well, we easily made 28k with around 150rpm left to WOT. Sat very square in the water with very little trimming required and seemed to like to cruise at 22-24k with both engines accelerating equally and running smoothly. If it wasn't so cold we would have dropped the hook, but back on berth in time for a beef stew cooked in red wine from a slow cooker,,,!

See you out in SC soon.
 
Ordered parts suggested by Hurricane and repaired both handset yesterday, which look great, prepared the sockets so I can just cut and solder to cables on boat,!

The new curly cords and connectors all meter out well with very low resistance, so optimistic, will let you know if they work when back on the boat, fingers crossed....!

Mike - many thanks.
 
I had this problem with the phone style vhf unit on my s28 a few years ago. I had the wires renewed by a company in Devon I believe ! Sorry I can’t remember there name but they are out there so a google search will help !! They were very good value and did an excellent job with a swift turn around !
 
John100156 said:
Ordered parts suggested by Hurricane and repaired both handset yesterday, which look great, prepared the sockets so I can just cut and solder to cables on boat,!

The new curly cords and connectors all meter out well with very low resistance, so optimistic, will let you know if they work when back on the boat, fingers crossed....!

Mike - many thanks.
Click to expand...
Which size did you go for SP13 or SP17
How many pins?
 
I had same issue with Garmin VHF and sent them to the manufacturer and sent us back at a cost of about £20 each I think but were just like new, not sure if they offered the same service?
 
DavidJ said:
Which size did you go for SP13 or SP17
How many pins?
Click to expand...

As there is only 6 pins required I used the SP13 - it was a little tricky as pin spacing was close, but if you clamp/hold say the socket, tin the wire first with solder you can just hook it into the connector pin, then hands are free to add heat/solder creating a nice bright joint.

Many years ago (48) I use to do this a lot when building photocell units (Old ORP12's amazing how part numbers stick) and circuit boards but that was a lifetime ago, I used nice little black rubber sleeves (not heat-shrink) that you slid down over a hot solder joint as it was cooling, I looked but couldn't find any.....probably still exist!
 
John100156 said:
Many years ago (48) I use to do this a lot when building photocell units (Old ORP12's amazing how part numbers stick) and circuit boards but that was a lifetime ago, I used nice little black rubber sleeves (not heat-shrink) that you slid down over a hot solder joint as it was cooling, I looked but couldn't find any.....probably still exist!
Click to expand...

I still have a couple of unused ORP12 in my spares box, as well as a load of BC108, BC109, 2N3702, and a few 74LS00 etc.
 
Remember them well, RC timing loops and the transistors too and if you still remember thermionic valves there's no hope....! Looking in the back of the B&W TV to see if all the valves were alight - life seemed simpler then.
 
John100156 said:
As there is only 6 pins required I used the SP13 - it was a little tricky as pin spacing was close.
Click to expand...
Thanks John
I do enjoy ‘brain surgery’ soldering jobs so well up for it as my socket has only another season left in it.
Thanks for raising the topic.
just an afterthought....
Is your old socket ok and is it going begging?
 
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Yes I think so, the one on the lower helm should be fine and the upper helm is not in bad nick, you can have them both in a few weeks time, after I return to UK if you like - just pm me around w/c 10 Feb with address.
 
John100156 said:
Yes I think so, the one on the lower helm should be fine and the upper helm is not in bad nick, you can have them both in a few weeks time, after I return to UK if you like - just pm me around w/c 10 Feb with address.
Click to expand...
So kind of you. I’ll put a couple of notes in the RNLI box and pm you w/c 10 Feb
Cheers
David
 
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