Mini Bus for NMEA Ins and Outs

Pat Anderson · Posted: Fri Oct 07, 2016 12:08 pm Post subject: Mini Bus for NMEA Ins and Outs

The Raymarine C-80 has a NMEA cable with outs and ins, all color coded. They are all very small wires. The outs are connected to a number of different things, and I need to add my new AIS to that list, as well as connect the AIS outs to the C-80 ins if I want to use the AIS with the C-80 as well as the Coastal Explorer laptop. These are all over the place behind the helm connected up with a lot of Scotchlok connectors.

It occurred to me that what is really needed is some kind of mini bus for the C-80 NMEA outs and ins, such that, for instance, all devices needing to connect to the C-80 NMEA outs would connect to the mini-busses carrying those signals. I think I saw something like that in a video a while ago, the small wires that were connected to it went into small holes and were held in place by little screws that clamped down on them. But I cannot find that video now, and do not know what they are really called, and so far, no luck locating such a critter on Amazon or elsewhere.

Anybody know what I am talking about, what they are called, and where I could possible get them?

Thanks!

beermanPDX · Posted: Fri Oct 07, 2016 1:01 pm Post subject:

This is what I used for my NMEA 0183 connections. They're called terminal or barrier strips.

12 Position Terminal Strip

journey on · Posted: Fri Oct 07, 2016 1:42 pm Post subject:

An output NMEA 0183 device is designed to drive only so many equivalent TTL loads. This means that you just can't add units for the output to drive ad infinitum. What I've done is add a buffer multiplexer where I can drive more devices. Here's an example: NMEA 0183 mux. that should allow one to add a whole lot of devices.

Look on the internet for the best prices.

Boris

thataway · Posted: Fri Oct 07, 2016 2:09 pm Post subject:

I solder mine, but as Beerman PDX notes, the "euro terminal strips" come in sizes down to #28 wires. Be cause of the size of the wires, if I use the small strips, I double the wire back and put a dot of solder on the doubled back wire--gets a much better "grip".

hardee · Posted: Fri Oct 07, 2016 3:48 pm Post subject:

Pat,

I had to have a multiplexer added into my system due to the limitations of the Raymarine C-(xxx) systems. The C-120 didn't have enough ports, for multiple VHF, GPS, AP, and AIS. It all works great now.

Harvey
SleepyC Moon