I'm wiring new Raymarine ST60 instruments (wind, tri-data, multi) and ST4000+ autopilot this weekend. I emailed Raymarine Tech Support with the following question and got such a garbled response that I still don't know the answer, and I repeat it here for the "real experts": Is it possible to connect a SeaTalk instrument in parallel with another instrument, or must they be daisy-chained (series) connected? I think it might be possible because Raymarine sells an accessory (D244) connector block which sounds as if it allows extra instruments to be connected. In particular, I would like to connect the ST4000+ remote-control socket across the line between two instruments - it will be a real pain to run wiring to the end of the daisy-chain. (I'm making my own SeaTalk cables, so it's not a problem to make a Y connection.) I guess the same question is: is the signal wire (yellow) a simple "pass-through" connection between the two SeaTalk sockets on the instruments? If it is, we're in business. Derek
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J
Jim Hague
D
Derek Rowell
I trashed it.
I asked a couple of other questions as well. All were answered within a single sentence, which I couldn't "decode". No point in keeping it around. One of the other questions was how to best connect NMEA to the SeaTalk bus, I could do it through the ST4000 or through the ST60 multi. The multi apparently translates the NMEA GLL (lat/lon) sentence (so I could display coordinates at the nav station) but the ST4000 does not. I asked if using the multi as the GPS interface to the SeaTalk autopilot would work (the manual says it translates the appropriate sentences, but a friend said that it ddn't work for him). As I recall, the response sentence included the phrase "... better to connect to the NMEA terminals on the autopilot..." I don't know what "better" means. -- Derek
I asked a couple of other questions as well. All were answered within a single sentence, which I couldn't "decode". No point in keeping it around. One of the other questions was how to best connect NMEA to the SeaTalk bus, I could do it through the ST4000 or through the ST60 multi. The multi apparently translates the NMEA GLL (lat/lon) sentence (so I could display coordinates at the nav station) but the ST4000 does not. I asked if using the multi as the GPS interface to the SeaTalk autopilot would work (the manual says it translates the appropriate sentences, but a friend said that it ddn't work for him). As I recall, the response sentence included the phrase "... better to connect to the NMEA terminals on the autopilot..." I don't know what "better" means. -- Derek
T
Tom
From what I understand The "Seatalk" is a "Buss"
where all information is shared with all other instruments and the "buss" is bidirection. So if you attached an Ohm-Meter on the yellow (signal) wire at any spot and read the resistance to any other spot you should have zero ohms (or a small amount of resistance due to the wire). The same should go for the black/screen (Ground) or red (+12v) for that matter. You ask is it series or parallel.....well it could be both or either. Connect them up the best you can. I beleive the most receiving Seatalk Units that one Seatalk Unit can drive is 6 or 8 (Check the manual). So I believe you can connect anyway you'd like just as long as either the distance or # of devices are too great......(BTW thats what I've done and had no problem)
where all information is shared with all other instruments and the "buss" is bidirection. So if you attached an Ohm-Meter on the yellow (signal) wire at any spot and read the resistance to any other spot you should have zero ohms (or a small amount of resistance due to the wire). The same should go for the black/screen (Ground) or red (+12v) for that matter. You ask is it series or parallel.....well it could be both or either. Connect them up the best you can. I beleive the most receiving Seatalk Units that one Seatalk Unit can drive is 6 or 8 (Check the manual). So I believe you can connect anyway you'd like just as long as either the distance or # of devices are too great......(BTW thats what I've done and had no problem)
K
Kenneth Pfaff
S
Steve
Yes...and more.
The D244 connector block is a non-electrical connection having three Seatalk connectors in parallel about 3/4" apart. By the way, if you buy one, buy the kit which is about $10 more and comes with two short Seatalk cables. Probably your best bet to bring NEMA into the Seatalk is through the PC/Seatalk interface box. This will also give you an RS-232 connector to bring your computer onto the Seatalk system so you can enter waypoints. The more you have on the Seatalk bus, the slower it will communicate between instruments. I spent a lot of time talking with Raytheon (now Raymarine) before I got my system, and there were a lot of conflicting answers. I don't think they have all learned to say that they might not know something and will give you and answer anyway. The guys that were on the forum here a while back seemed to have a good knowledge, so if you can get to the right person, you get the correct answers. The problem is that you don't know if you got to the right person unless you already knew the answer, and then why would be asking? Good luck, Steve
The D244 connector block is a non-electrical connection having three Seatalk connectors in parallel about 3/4" apart. By the way, if you buy one, buy the kit which is about $10 more and comes with two short Seatalk cables. Probably your best bet to bring NEMA into the Seatalk is through the PC/Seatalk interface box. This will also give you an RS-232 connector to bring your computer onto the Seatalk system so you can enter waypoints. The more you have on the Seatalk bus, the slower it will communicate between instruments. I spent a lot of time talking with Raytheon (now Raymarine) before I got my system, and there were a lot of conflicting answers. I don't think they have all learned to say that they might not know something and will give you and answer anyway. The guys that were on the forum here a while back seemed to have a good knowledge, so if you can get to the right person, you get the correct answers. The problem is that you don't know if you got to the right person unless you already knew the answer, and then why would be asking? Good luck, Steve
D
Derek Rowell
Here's the technical scoop...
for anybody interested in the technical details of SeaTalk. Click on the link below:
for anybody interested in the technical details of SeaTalk. Click on the link below:
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