So what kind of cable do I get. I have the AP wires ending in a teminal strip and the chartplotter is a PC with a serial port cable ending with a pig tail ( raw wire ends). Do I just go to the marine store and ask for NEMA cable?
autopilot cable to chartplotter
- Thread starter Seattle Scott
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Hi Scott, I did the following...
We're just completed our second extended cruise with Belle-Vie using a Garmin 178C map plotter sounder. Our 700 mile cruise last season was a dream with the 178C the fam got me for my birthday. I purchased a 32meg data card, which holds two chart regions (250 charts) that covers Puget Sound to the north end of Vancouver Island inside and outside. Belle-Vie has a 1991 Autohelm ST7000 course computer with a ST6000 head. I wired (22AWG stranded copper communications wire, black and blue) the Garmin data out lead to the head data in lead NMEA interface port. The two systems use different NMEA versions, but I'm happy with the results. Just make sure that you connect the Garmin data in lead (blue) and head data out lead (black) to ground. Otherwise, it will not work. It took alot of Raymarine and Garmin help desk time to figure it out. I still carry paper charts and a Garmin 38 hand held GPS just in case. The 178C is right on, easy to use and loaded with chart data. The unit has saved our fanny more than once. I mounted it on top of the instrument pod, right above the 6000 head. Running the wires through the SS pedestal guard conduit was a chore. The external antenna is mounted on the stern rail, starboard side and the sounder transducer is located on the port side of the shaft strut inside the aft cabin beneath the sole board. Terry
We're just completed our second extended cruise with Belle-Vie using a Garmin 178C map plotter sounder. Our 700 mile cruise last season was a dream with the 178C the fam got me for my birthday. I purchased a 32meg data card, which holds two chart regions (250 charts) that covers Puget Sound to the north end of Vancouver Island inside and outside. Belle-Vie has a 1991 Autohelm ST7000 course computer with a ST6000 head. I wired (22AWG stranded copper communications wire, black and blue) the Garmin data out lead to the head data in lead NMEA interface port. The two systems use different NMEA versions, but I'm happy with the results. Just make sure that you connect the Garmin data in lead (blue) and head data out lead (black) to ground. Otherwise, it will not work. It took alot of Raymarine and Garmin help desk time to figure it out. I still carry paper charts and a Garmin 38 hand held GPS just in case. The 178C is right on, easy to use and loaded with chart data. The unit has saved our fanny more than once. I mounted it on top of the instrument pod, right above the 6000 head. Running the wires through the SS pedestal guard conduit was a chore. The external antenna is mounted on the stern rail, starboard side and the sounder transducer is located on the port side of the shaft strut inside the aft cabin beneath the sole board. Terry
Hi Scott, no problem...
WM should carry what you need. As I recall mine was the standard harness (two or more sheathed wires inside an outer sheath) sheathed copper wire and not the tinned marine grade variety. Much of the wire on our 1991 model is plain sheathed copper and still looks good. Any new projects that I do on the boat get the tinned variety. Our last boat project was the Link 1000 installation that required six color coded 18AWG stranded marine grade (tinned) copper wires. I saved a bundle by buying the wire from Interstate Battery, even with their minimum 100 foot spools plus they had all the specified colors except one that I had to substitute. The manufacturer recommended a harness, but the plastic tie wraps work almost as well. See below link. Terry http://kb.sailboatowners.com/brand?post=978
WM should carry what you need. As I recall mine was the standard harness (two or more sheathed wires inside an outer sheath) sheathed copper wire and not the tinned marine grade variety. Much of the wire on our 1991 model is plain sheathed copper and still looks good. Any new projects that I do on the boat get the tinned variety. Our last boat project was the Link 1000 installation that required six color coded 18AWG stranded marine grade (tinned) copper wires. I saved a bundle by buying the wire from Interstate Battery, even with their minimum 100 foot spools plus they had all the specified colors except one that I had to substitute. The manufacturer recommended a harness, but the plastic tie wraps work almost as well. See below link. Terry http://kb.sailboatowners.com/brand?post=978
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