I am about to start rewiring my mast. I figure there will be 2 wires plus an antenna. Of the 2 wires one will be a 3 conductor for the anchor/windex lights and the other a 5 conductor for the spreaders and motoring light. All told there will be 8 individual wires. I was thinking of using a 8 way trailer plug at the termination for easier mast removal at a later date. So there would be only an antenna plug and an 8 way trailer plug in the mast base. Does this sound correct. Also does anyone know of a replacement for the old metal mast wiring plug door. The old one is rusted and nows the time to replace it. I will also replace the antenna. I have heard the new cable should be RG-8X. Is this correct? And do I need to replace the antenna. It works well but its 20 plus years old. The mast base will have a Garhauer mast plate with 6 pulleys. This will eliminate 24 possible leak spots from the old degraded plastic pulleys bolt holes through the cabin top. I also would like the mount a solar panel plug at the mast base for the panel forward of the mast. Any ideas for a low profile weather proof plug?
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You can..
You can lose a couple of wires by not adding the spreader lights. Ever since the invention of the head lamp I have found no need for spreader lights because I have light where ever I look. I do have a steaming/deck light that is nice for illuminating the fore deck but I got rid of the spreader lights...
You can lose a couple of wires by not adding the spreader lights. Ever since the invention of the head lamp I have found no need for spreader lights because I have light where ever I look. I do have a steaming/deck light that is nice for illuminating the fore deck but I got rid of the spreader lights...
rad
The trailer connector is a great idea,are you going to put these wires inside a conduit? so they wont slap around inside the mast Also use a RG-213 cable for the mast cause there's about 50 feet of cable just for the mast and then there's more lengh going to the radio and the heaver cable will limit signal loss. the other RAD
The trailer connector is a great idea,are you going to put these wires inside a conduit? so they wont slap around inside the mast Also use a RG-213 cable for the mast cause there's about 50 feet of cable just for the mast and then there's more lengh going to the radio and the heaver cable will limit signal loss. the other RAD
Great Ideas
All great ideas. There is already a conduit for the cables. The shared grounds are only ever between lamps that would never be used together, ie: anchor/windex. So RG-213 is the way to go. Thanks the other rad
All great ideas. There is already a conduit for the cables. The shared grounds are only ever between lamps that would never be used together, ie: anchor/windex. So RG-213 is the way to go. Thanks the other rad
The way I did it last winter ...
I did a mast refit and bought new lights. I have an anchor light and a combination steamer/deck light. I agree with MS that the spreader lights are unnecessary. I guess I don't know what a windex light is for unless its necessary to light up the windex in the dark. I don't think there is a need for that either. With the wind indicator I added, there is no need to look up in the dark, we just look at the display. Besides, it's rarely so dark that you can't see it anyway. So, with that said, I have a duplex cable for the anchor light and a triplex cable for the steamer/deck light. The triplex wiring is sized so the ground can be shared for both on at the same time. Then, at the bottom of the mast I combined the two grounds. That way, I could use a round 4-post trailer light plug, with 3 positives and one ground for all three lights. From the plug to the panel, I replaced the ground wire and sized it for using all 3 lights at the same time (even though you don't normally have them on at the same time). I replaced my VHF cable with RG-8X, the kind that you can get at WM with 35' of cable and the plug already fixed at one end. The other end is a screw-on arrangement and there is supposedly no need for soldering. That cable was expensive! I used the old whip at the top and I thought I could save by salvaging the cable in the boat. Since I cut the old plug off, I had to install a new plug and I tried making the connection with one that I soldered on. I don't get any reception now, so I think that possibly the two cables are not compatible, but I don't know why they would be. Any thoughts? I don't need a VHF so I don't plan on replacing the cable (in the boat) until the next time I have the mast down and can get access to the connection (no mast gate on my mast).
I did a mast refit and bought new lights. I have an anchor light and a combination steamer/deck light. I agree with MS that the spreader lights are unnecessary. I guess I don't know what a windex light is for unless its necessary to light up the windex in the dark. I don't think there is a need for that either. With the wind indicator I added, there is no need to look up in the dark, we just look at the display. Besides, it's rarely so dark that you can't see it anyway. So, with that said, I have a duplex cable for the anchor light and a triplex cable for the steamer/deck light. The triplex wiring is sized so the ground can be shared for both on at the same time. Then, at the bottom of the mast I combined the two grounds. That way, I could use a round 4-post trailer light plug, with 3 positives and one ground for all three lights. From the plug to the panel, I replaced the ground wire and sized it for using all 3 lights at the same time (even though you don't normally have them on at the same time). I replaced my VHF cable with RG-8X, the kind that you can get at WM with 35' of cable and the plug already fixed at one end. The other end is a screw-on arrangement and there is supposedly no need for soldering. That cable was expensive! I used the old whip at the top and I thought I could save by salvaging the cable in the boat. Since I cut the old plug off, I had to install a new plug and I tried making the connection with one that I soldered on. I don't get any reception now, so I think that possibly the two cables are not compatible, but I don't know why they would be. Any thoughts? I don't need a VHF so I don't plan on replacing the cable (in the boat) until the next time I have the mast down and can get access to the connection (no mast gate on my mast).
Oh, and another thing ...
For the wind indicator plug a the base of the mast, I purchased a Maretron NMEA 2200(?) field connector. It is a very slick little plug with 6 posts and I think it could easily be used for wiring even though it is designed for NMEA connections. It's pricey - over $50. But it seems like a neat little connection for the dicey conditions at the base of the mast. I had to go on line to find out where I could purchase it and I bought it from a supplier in Seattle.
For the wind indicator plug a the base of the mast, I purchased a Maretron NMEA 2200(?) field connector. It is a very slick little plug with 6 posts and I think it could easily be used for wiring even though it is designed for NMEA connections. It's pricey - over $50. But it seems like a neat little connection for the dicey conditions at the base of the mast. I had to go on line to find out where I could purchase it and I bought it from a supplier in Seattle.
Lightning protection?
I'm curious. What considerations are there as to lightning protection when rewiring a mast? Or is this something that only begins at the base of the mast?
I'm curious. What considerations are there as to lightning protection when rewiring a mast? Or is this something that only begins at the base of the mast?
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