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09-23-2022, 03:32 PM
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#1
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TF Site Team
City: Saltspring Island
Vessel Name: Retreat
Vessel Model: C&L 44
Join Date: Nov 2007
Posts: 5,656
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Sounder installation issues
I have a sounder/chart plotter that died on my flybridge. I have a replacement ready to install. The installation will require the sounder cable to pass through bulkheads, on the dash, on the floor, on the dash below, before arriving in the bilge where T-ducers live. The holes I will need to cut to allow the connector fitting to pass through those bulkheads will need to exceed the size of the connector by the diameter of the other 3 cables that already pass that way. With the connector on this unit being significantly larger than the connector on the previous unit, the old hole will not suffice.
Does anyone know whether the sounder cable can be cut and spliced? That would make the holes that already exist adequate.
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Keith
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09-23-2022, 05:25 PM
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#2
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Moderator Emeritus
City: Au Gres, MI
Vessel Name: Black Dog
Vessel Model: Formula 41PC
Join Date: Jul 2015
Posts: 21,129
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I have cut Raymarine (Airmar) transducer cables. They make a connector block to reconnect the wires. Don’t remember the part number or exact name. Cost around $50 or so. But my new transducers say don’t cut them. I would contact the manufacturer and see if it is possible or not.
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Boat Nut:
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09-23-2022, 07:21 PM
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#3
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TF Site Team
City: Saltspring Island
Vessel Name: Retreat
Vessel Model: C&L 44
Join Date: Nov 2007
Posts: 5,656
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Thanks Dave. If I could identify the TDs used by Humminbird and Lowrance as both Airmar, I could simply change the end and re-use the Hummer on the Low. Hmmmm. Naa that would make too much sense.
Too late to get anyone on the phone, except the cleaning help, till Monday, so watch this space then.
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Keith
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09-23-2022, 07:32 PM
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#4
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Member
City: Chesapeake
Vessel Name: Saltwaters Dream
Vessel Model: Gulfstar 44
Join Date: Sep 2022
Posts: 14
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Is there room to simply drill another hole alongside? Cutting cables and splicing is usually very delicate. I've used a step drill to accomplish something similar, ends up easier and cleaner. Just a thought.
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09-23-2022, 07:38 PM
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#5
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TF Site Team
City: Saltspring Island
Vessel Name: Retreat
Vessel Model: C&L 44
Join Date: Nov 2007
Posts: 5,656
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Awkward, unsightly, but unless I find an easier way, what I will ultimately need to do. And there are three levels to drill through.
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Keith
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09-23-2022, 08:18 PM
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#6
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Moderator Emeritus
City: Au Gres, MI
Vessel Name: Black Dog
Vessel Model: Formula 41PC
Join Date: Jul 2015
Posts: 21,129
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The terminal block I used for the Airmar transducer was really simple to do. Cut and strip the wires and stick them into the terminal strip and tighten the screws. As long as you kept the colors straight you almost couldn’t go wrong.
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Boat Nut:
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09-23-2022, 08:23 PM
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#7
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Member
City: Chesapeake
Vessel Name: Saltwaters Dream
Vessel Model: Gulfstar 44
Join Date: Sep 2022
Posts: 14
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How many wires are in the cable? If it's set up for NEMA 2000 wouldn't there be a bunch?
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09-23-2022, 08:28 PM
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#8
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TF Site Team
City: Saltspring Island
Vessel Name: Retreat
Vessel Model: C&L 44
Join Date: Nov 2007
Posts: 5,656
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Quote:
Originally Posted by Xfirepop
How many wires are in the cable? If it's set up for NEMA 2000 wouldn't there be a bunch?
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Ha
No way I am cutting into this cable till I know for sure! I am planning to call Lowrance on Monday. The connector has a bunch of pins.
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Keith
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09-23-2022, 08:34 PM
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#9
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Moderator Emeritus
City: Au Gres, MI
Vessel Name: Black Dog
Vessel Model: Formula 41PC
Join Date: Jul 2015
Posts: 21,129
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Mine was a regular transducer and if I recall it had about 8 wires or so.
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Boat Nut:
If you are one there is no explanation necessary.
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09-23-2022, 08:39 PM
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#10
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Guru
City: Gulf Islands, BC Canada
Vessel Name: Sea Sanctuary
Vessel Model: Bayliner 4588
Join Date: Jul 2019
Posts: 4,993
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Quote:
Originally Posted by koliver
Ha
No way I am cutting into this cable till I know for sure! I am planning to call Lowrance on Monday. The connector has a bunch of pins.
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a careful cut along the sleeve casing only to see what is in there?
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SteveK
You only need one working engine. That is why I have two.
Sea Sanctuary-new to me 1992 Bayliner 4588
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09-23-2022, 09:44 PM
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#11
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Guru
City: Puget Sound
Join Date: Jun 2016
Posts: 631
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unless its a triducer and maybe even then, airmar makes an inline splice connector so if your existing transducer is the same frequency as your new sounder you can just swap the old connector with the new and you don't have to pull any cable at all..... https://www.thegpsstore.com/Marine-E...lice-Connector
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When crap happens, turn it into fertilizer for your tree of knowledge..... Scott Brodie
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09-24-2022, 07:58 AM
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#12
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Guru
Join Date: Jun 2008
Posts: 5,034
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If you can get to the bulkheads use a deemed and make a keyhole out of the existing holes. So the fitting can pass through
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Jay Leonard
Ex boats: 1983 40 Albin trunk cabin, 1978 Mainship 34 Model 1
New Port Richey, Fl
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09-24-2022, 10:14 AM
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#13
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Guru
City: Gulf Islands, BC Canada
Vessel Name: Sea Sanctuary
Vessel Model: Bayliner 4588
Join Date: Jul 2019
Posts: 4,993
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Quote:
Originally Posted by jleonard
If you can get to the bulkheads use a deemed and make a keyhole out of the existing holes. So the fitting can pass through
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dremel? with steady hand, but if you nick an existing wire, ouch.
__________________
SteveK
You only need one working engine. That is why I have two.
Sea Sanctuary-new to me 1992 Bayliner 4588
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09-24-2022, 10:56 AM
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#14
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TF Site Team
City: Saltspring Island
Vessel Name: Retreat
Vessel Model: C&L 44
Join Date: Nov 2007
Posts: 5,656
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Quote:
Originally Posted by Ka_sea_ta
unless its a triducer and maybe even then, airmar makes an inline splice connector so if your existing transducer is the same frequency as your new sounder you can just swap the old connector with the new and you don't have to pull any cable at all..... https://www.thegpsstore.com/Marine-E...lice-Connector
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Very helpful, thanks Ka_sea_ta
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Keith
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09-30-2022, 01:19 PM
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#15
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Senior Member
City: West Newbury.
Vessel Name: none
Join Date: Oct 2020
Posts: 419
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Solution 1: Try the old transducer.
Solution 2: I assume that the cable has a connector on one end and goes into the display on the other. Open the display and see how the cable connects. If you are careful with a soldering iron, you can probably disconnect the cable at that end. Take pix and make notes so you get the wires back in the right place. This will probably void the warranty.
Solution 3: Same assumption. Instead of cutting the cable, see if you can remove the connector. Same warning.
Jim
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09-30-2022, 05:35 PM
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#16
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TF Site Team
City: Saltspring Island
Vessel Name: Retreat
Vessel Model: C&L 44
Join Date: Nov 2007
Posts: 5,656
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Quote:
Originally Posted by Circumnavigator
Solution 1: Try the old transducer.
Solution 2: I assume that the cable has a connector on one end and goes into the display on the other. Open the display and see how the cable connects. If you are careful with a soldering iron, you can probably disconnect the cable at that end. Take pix and make notes so you get the wires back in the right place. This will probably void the warranty.
Solution 3: Same assumption. Instead of cutting the cable, see if you can remove the connector. Same warning.
Jim
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1. The old TD is a different brand, with its own proprietary connector and no way to know what their colour codes are, so no, I am not able to try the old one.
2 & 3. No, I won't be voiding the warranty.
I have drilled the holes. 1" Forstner bit did the trick, though pushing down through 2" of FG into 1" of plywood... no , wait, the length of the bit wasn't enough, so I had to get a 1" spade bit to finish, and that caused a lot of chipping on the bottom layer of finish plywood inside the valance above the helm. Not very elegant, but it worked.
Related issue, the cable on the TD was only 6" longer than the bare minimum to stretch from the bilge to the fly dash.
__________________
Keith
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09-30-2022, 05:53 PM
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#17
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Senior Member
City: Bella Bella
Vessel Name: Tenacious
Vessel Model: Uniflite 31 FB Sedan
Join Date: Feb 2019
Posts: 312
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Transducer cables can be spliced. Soldering is best, but a terminal strip, butt splices or even just twisting together securely works. An existing cable in good condition can be used, with a good splice at each end. A basic transducer uses one shielded pair of wires. Dual frequency may have one or two pairs. Other wires are used for options like temperature and speed. You can find wiring and connector info for all Airmar transducers in their online cross reference.
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Experience develops good judgement, bad judgement develops experience
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09-30-2022, 06:50 PM
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#18
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Moderator Emeritus
City: Au Gres, MI
Vessel Name: Black Dog
Vessel Model: Formula 41PC
Join Date: Jul 2015
Posts: 21,129
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Quote:
Originally Posted by koliver
1. The old TD is a different brand, with its own proprietary connector and no way to know what their colour codes are, so no, I am not able to try the old one.
2 & 3. No, I won't be voiding the warranty.
I have drilled the holes. 1" Forstner bit did the trick, though pushing down through 2" of FG into 1" of plywood... no , wait, the length of the bit wasn't enough, so I had to get a 1" spade bit to finish, and that caused a lot of chipping on the bottom layer of finish plywood inside the valance above the helm. Not very elegant, but it worked.
Related issue, the cable on the TD was only 6" longer than the bare minimum to stretch from the bilge to the fly dash.
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If you clamp a scrap of wood on the finish side when the spade bit cuts through the finish plywood it won’t chip out around the hole edge.
__________________
Boat Nut:
If you are one there is no explanation necessary.
If you aren’t one, there is no explanation possible.
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09-30-2022, 08:04 PM
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#19
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TF Site Team
City: Saltspring Island
Vessel Name: Retreat
Vessel Model: C&L 44
Join Date: Nov 2007
Posts: 5,656
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Quote:
Originally Posted by Comodave
If you clamp a scrap of wood on the finish side when the spade bit cuts through the finish plywood it won’t chip out around the hole edge.
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If only.
This is up inside the valance, so no opportunity to mitigate the damage. repair is much easier there than prevention.
Besides which, it is all over but the crying.
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Keith
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10-01-2022, 08:44 AM
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#20
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Senior Member
City: Langhorne
Vessel Name: Quiet Storm
Vessel Model: Nordlund 61
Join Date: Sep 2022
Posts: 307
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Use and oscillating tool to make the holes larger. Easy to control and get into tight spaces to make those keyholes as mentioned above
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