timjet
Guru
- Joined
- Apr 9, 2009
- Messages
- 1,920
Well I got a new Raymarine E90W chart plotter and Ray 18" HD radar to replace my Raytheon RL 80 CRC legacy plotter and radar. I will wire it myself and the current wiring at the helm behind the wheel looks like a bowl of spaghetti.
I'm not going to rewire everything but I do want to do a proper wiring job on the new stuff. I think all the new connections should be in boxes with separate boxes for nav comm and power. However I'm open to suggestion. Where best to buy boxes and how the heck does one deal with these tiny 24 or higher gauge wires coming out of the plotter?
My old radar was powered by the chart plotter. The new unit has a separate power cord for the radar separate from the plotter. I am assuming the plotter powers the radar on and off even though the power for the radar comes from a different circuit breaker. What I don't want is for the radar to be powered on any time there is DC power at the breaker. Is this generally correct, plotter acts as a on/off switch for the radar.
The instructions say a 10 amp thermal breaker or a 15 amp fuse is required for the radar.
I have the 10 amp breaker available for the radar, but I’m unclear if it’s a thermal breaker, how do I tell.
The radar has 3 wires in addition to the data connection to the plotter. One wire is power, one is battery negative and one is drain (screen). Is it required that the drain (screen) wire be connected to the bonding system on the boat?
My plan is to power the plotter, heading sensor, depth gauge, GPS sensor and autopilot from one circuit breaker then to an existing switch on the helm labeled "autopilot". The radar will have it's own CB but not switched. This way when I'm on the hook, I can turn the autopilot switch off and all the nav stuff will be un-powered and not running the batteries down.
Suggestions please.
I'm not going to rewire everything but I do want to do a proper wiring job on the new stuff. I think all the new connections should be in boxes with separate boxes for nav comm and power. However I'm open to suggestion. Where best to buy boxes and how the heck does one deal with these tiny 24 or higher gauge wires coming out of the plotter?
My old radar was powered by the chart plotter. The new unit has a separate power cord for the radar separate from the plotter. I am assuming the plotter powers the radar on and off even though the power for the radar comes from a different circuit breaker. What I don't want is for the radar to be powered on any time there is DC power at the breaker. Is this generally correct, plotter acts as a on/off switch for the radar.
The instructions say a 10 amp thermal breaker or a 15 amp fuse is required for the radar.
I have the 10 amp breaker available for the radar, but I’m unclear if it’s a thermal breaker, how do I tell.
The radar has 3 wires in addition to the data connection to the plotter. One wire is power, one is battery negative and one is drain (screen). Is it required that the drain (screen) wire be connected to the bonding system on the boat?
My plan is to power the plotter, heading sensor, depth gauge, GPS sensor and autopilot from one circuit breaker then to an existing switch on the helm labeled "autopilot". The radar will have it's own CB but not switched. This way when I'm on the hook, I can turn the autopilot switch off and all the nav stuff will be un-powered and not running the batteries down.
Suggestions please.