Surface mounting a BM1, can I get rid of the connector block?

[steve yates]

I have a good spot to mount my battery monitor, very near the battery and the 121 switch, but it wont be recessed. The manual shows making connections at the connector block in the pic below, but I dont really want that exposed and visible, doesnt seem very safe. Can I get rid of it and use buttjoint or male/female bullet connectors instead?

 

[[70521]]

Yup, it's only a form of connecting two wires.

 

[PaulRainbow]

What Sandy said

 

[diverd]

I did exactly that on mine 2 weeks ago, and finally calibrated it today, i wanted to run the wires behind a wall and the block was never going to fit through the hole.. Mine looks different but its clearly very similar as the instructions are the same. Once calibrated its a cracking piece of kit, and so far i am really impressed. I will get more time messing with it this weekend, but its doing exactly what i wanted it to do!

 

[steve yates]

Yup, it's only a form of connecting two wires.

Ta, this is your old one Sandy

 

[Stemar]

The smallest diameter join you could make is to solder the wires together and cover with heat shrink. If you want more protection, you could put more heat shrink over the whole lot. I'm going to have to do that to fit new nav lights in a few days.

 

[st599]

The smallest diameter join you could make is to solder the wires together and cover with heat shrink. If you want more protection, you could put more heat shrink over the whole lot. I'm going to have to do that to fit new nav lights in a few days.

Soldering cables makes them brittle, so not great in a high vibration environment like a yacht. Better off with a good crimp.

 

[[70521]]

Ta, this is your old one Sandy

I thought it was. Good to see you are finally fitting it.

I'm about to fit a radar that I purchased last summer!

 

[andsarkit]

Soldering cables makes them brittle, so not great in a high vibration environment like a yacht. Better off with a good crimp.

A solder joint covered with adhesive heatshrink is fine. The heatshrink is stiff enough to prevent any movement and so there will not be a fatigue failure. Also the joint will be waterproof unlike a crimp joint.
I know there is generally a blanket condemnation of solder joints probably originating from the aircraft industry but if done properly with the wires secured there should not be a problem. If my sailing boat vibrated that much I would be looking for the cause.