Unsheathed -ve wire

[LONG_KEELER]

Just looking at the wiring of a stand alone Raymarine log.

The -ve negative wire of the unit indicates connection to the negative post of the battery. It's unsheathed. Is this normal ?.

TIA

 

[Alan S]

If you mean bare copper, that does seem unusual.

 

[[70521]]

I've seen both, really up to the person doing the wiring. Personally, I prefer sheathed.

 

[andsarkit]

I assume it is the cable braid screen that is used as the negative to provide screening and prevent electrical interference to the log.
The whole engine is usually connected to the battery negative and is unsheathed so it is not an electrical problem. However the exposed wire is likely to suffer corrosion and water wicking down the cable. I would be inclined to cover the exposed wire with heatshrink for protection.

 

[LONG_KEELER]

Diagram.

 

[BabaYaga]

If, as in the diagram, the screen is used for negative return, then of course it will be uninsulated from where the power cable cover is cut to separate pos and neg (unless you cover the neg with heatshrink as suggested above).
However, you don’t have to use the moulded seatalk plug and cable to power the unit, instead you could simply use common two core cable and crimp on two female spade connectors, 2.8mm.