Raymarine ST60 Wind Instrument Mast Connection

[Theo Weber]

When I first purchased this instrument, it came with a small
connection box that connected the instrument wiring together. However,
I didn't like the box since the wires are so small and the whole set up
seemed very fiddly and time consuming when it came time to step the
mast. This season, I bought a small $12 5-pin male and female connector
and soldered the wires.
Now I'm finding that wires don't stay connected very well since the
connector is quite small and the amount of solder I can apply is
minimal. I'm thinking I need a connector that has a push fit wire
insertion method instead of solder. I spoke with CMC Electronics, the
Ontario Raymarine service facility, and they have a PNP off-shore
connector for about $35., which seems somewhat pricey.
Does anyone have any experience with another solution. Cheers

Theo

 

[Peter Hendra]

When I first purchased this instrument, it came with a small
connection box that connected the instrument wiring together. However,
I didn't like the box since the wires are so small and the whole set up
seemed very fiddly and time consuming when it came time to step the
mast. This season, I bought a small $12 5-pin male and female connector
and soldered the wires.
Now I'm finding that wires don't stay connected very well since the
connector is quite small and the amount of solder I can apply is
minimal. I'm thinking I need a connector that has a push fit wire
insertion method instead of solder. I spoke with CMC Electronics, the
Ontario Raymarine service facility, and they have a PNP off-shore
connector for about $35., which seems somewhat pricey.
Does anyone have any experience with another solution. Cheers

Theo

My Raytheon wind did not come with any connection box. I cut the cable beneath
the mast (inside the cabin) and joined it using a connector strip - the cheap
hardware ones that you screw the wire to. The wires were tinned, the whole thing
secured from the weather in a air-tight electronics box. Have had no problems
whatsoever.

For the Raytheon radar, did the same thing, only longer strip and larger box. I
cut wires across the cable at an angle so that unsheiled area would not be too
long.

 

[Kees Verruijt]

How
thick are the ST60 wires? (I've only worked on ST 40&50 stuff) If they
are a similar thickness to the wires in a PC network cable, I'd be
tempted to crimp on a RJ45 connector. OTOH a properly soldered
connector should be more reliable.

The ST-60 cable contains wires that are too thick to crimp on an RJ-45,
so what I did was I soldered the ST-60 cable onto a short ethernet
cable, then used a RJ-45 to RJ-45 connector block to connect them up.
Works beautifully. Gold plated contacts mean no issues with corrosion
(theoretically, and practically as well so far, after four years).

Regards,
Kees

 

[Dennis Pogson]

My Raytheon wind did not come with any connection box. I cut the
cable beneath the mast (inside the cabin) and joined it using a
connector strip - the cheap hardware ones that you screw the wire to.
The wires were tinned, the whole thing secured from the weather in a
air-tight electronics box. Have had no problems whatsoever.

For the Raytheon radar, did the same thing, only longer strip and
larger box. I cut wires across the cable at an angle so that
unsheiled area would not be too long.

I do the same, but use a film canister, Kodak or Fuji or any other. By
drilling each end of this plastic box ((one end plus the lid) making it a
very tight fit for the sheath of the multicore cable, I can create a
watertight box by simply taping the lid on. Push the 2 ends of the cable
thru the holes, knot the cables to prevent pulling out, make your joins,
then put the lid on and seal, it's as simple as that

 

[Dennis Pogson]

I do the same, but use a film canister, Kodak or Fuji or any other. By
drilling each end of this plastic box ((one end plus the lid) making
it a very tight fit for the sheath of the multicore cable, I can
create a watertight box by simply taping the lid on. Push the 2 ends
of the cable thru the holes, knot the cables to prevent pulling out,
make your joins, then put the lid on and seal, it's as simple as that

BTW, save those film canisters, they are rapidly becoming an endangered
species with the advent of digital photography!

 

[Peter Hendra]

Thank you very much for this Gentlemen,

You can have no idea how good it is to be able to zap off a question to a
newsgroup such as this and obtain advice and experience from all over. When you
Have been in isolated areas and do not have access - often when you really need
it, you really appreciate the times when you have done.

I am currently working as an IT Project Manager implementing improvements to an
existing 3G mobile network. I think I am going to miss the technology when I go
to sea again - still it is nice to be at sea away from so called civilisation.