radar cable splicing

[TommmD]

Raytheon says don't do it, but acknowledge it s done frequently by installers. I can't get the connector thru the conduit in the liner, so I've split the cable sheath back to data and power. Now I need to break the data cable. My plan is to locate the splice in the cabin where I can access it after I run the two halves, one thru the liner aft. the other from the lazarette/ helm forward.

Solder the lines, join the shield & I'm done, right? Makes it sound doable. What am I missing?

This is going into a Hunter 355, first time radar install. I will have a cable extension coming down the mast, plug above the deck at the mast step feed thru. To be honest, if I could find an electrician who would give me the time of day I'd pay him to do it. Necessity means I need to finish this project so I can splash it!

 

[chuckwayne]

our Raymarine cable is split at the deck thru run where the splice is in the cabin liner for the same reason, and the wires are simply connected with a terminal strip - has worked fine for 13 years

 

[Mark Maulden]

Will your space allow for a bigger conduit? Mine exits the mast just below the cabin sole and i bought the longer cable so mates directly with the plotter cable under the cockpit. If i pull the mast again, theres about 15' of radar cable that will have to go with it. I put Ace hdwre PVC tubing below the sole going back under the cockpit. It worked out well. I would try anything and everything before splicing high speed data lines. The installers will say most of the time it works and sometimes it doesnt. If you have to splice, do not just put wires together and twist as you would a wire nut. Lay them side by side and twist the ends onto the other wire and then solder the whole length. But before you do that, put some adhesive lined heat shrink on it and slide it up after soldering and heat until its shrunk and the adhesive is melted....just my .03 worth....

 

[Marc14857]

The radar cable on my H44 is spliced with access via a panel in the liner near the compression post. The cable is spliced using a terminal strip where the wires enter from the side of the strip and are captured by tightening down a screw. Has worked without any problem for 10 years. It is a bit of a pain to work with the data wires as they are very thin and I've thought about replacing the terminal,strip with some type of amphenol connector but have not got around to it yet.

 

[Maine Sail]

Power is easy just use a terminal strip. For the data cable (Cat 5E etc.) I prefer the Garmin network splice.

I usually use the Platinum Tools EZ-RJPRO HD CRIMP TOOL part #100054 and the shielded EZRJ 45's part #100020.

EZRJ 45 #100020

EZ-RJPRO Crimp Tool #100054

I make splices using the Garmin waterproof slice kit & coupler as it is one of the best I have found..

Garmin Marine Network Cable Coupler 010-10580-00

Garmin Marine Network Cable Connector RJ45 2 Pack 010-10603-00

 

[Ken Cross]

is this a simple data cable or does it have RF?

If this is a coaxial cable you do need to worry about characteristic impedance. Translate that to properly installed coax fittings. Not a simple solder job. Simple data lines might allow more room for error.

Ken

 

[Maine Sail]

If this is a coaxial cable you do need to worry about characteristic impedance. Translate that to properly installed coax fittings. Not a simple solder job. Simple data lines might allow more room for error.

Ken

Most radars, for at least the last 10 +/- years, are now using data cables and doing most of the processing in the display. Most are nothing more than Cat5 type cable with proprietary ends. Much easier to splice than the old white "garden hoses" of yester-year..... Hardly a boat in the North East, with mast mounted radar, that does not have a radar splice somewhere on-board...

 

[TommmD]

Thx everyone, great feedback. Love the idea of the Garmin spilce, just looked up the tool @ $90. I have a wifi cable I want to terminate too. @ $45 / splice + connectors its cheaper than paying an electrician (sorry guys).. Thats a great tip, Maine sail, thx much. That tool is a lot less expensive than the $200~300 tools I've seen. Are the white lines typical? even-odd ground / signal? The colored lines are easy to matchup of course.