Splice a SEATALK cable ?

S

SEA3PO

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SEA3PO
I am installing a new GPS antenna and it came with a really long cable (seatalk connections at both ends)...I would like to shorten it ..... is there any problem cutting the cable and shortening it ? I will solder the wires and use shrink tubing ....

I know that you are not supposed to shorten the radar cable which is about 7' longer than I need, but I think that is because it has some sort of special terminal ends... (sure would like to shorten that too)

Thanks
Joel
SEA3PO
 
IMO, I don't see any problem if done as you say. Don't forget to label the cable for future reference.

Art
 
Not exactly the same, but I looked into splicing a transducer cable last spring (because my kicker had been put on in such a way that it pinched/broke the existing cable), and from what I gathered it is often unsuccessful. I think it had to do with impedance changes vs. simply being able to make a "good" connection. I wonder if radar cables are for a similar reason? Anyway, this may not be applicable to the cable you are asking about, but I just thought I would mention it. (For my depth sounder I just ended up getting a new triducer, which was an improvement over what I had anyway.)
 
I have successfully spliced several different types of cables, including some NMEA 2000. One of the issues, is not only insulation of the independent cables, but the shielding. I generally try and get some open braid, solder it at one end, and then after the individual cables are soldered and heat shrunk, then pull the braid over the bundle, and solder to the braid or ground at the other end….Many of these cables will have a foil, which is not easily soldered--and I just warp with foil, making sure there is a good physical connection--and then heat shrinking the whole splice. Just remember to put the heat shrinks on at each stage before doing any soldering...
 
Here's a reference which discusses the various Seatalk incarnations.

Basically is says that the original Seatalk can be spliced and the latest Seatalk HS is ethernet, which can be shortened. There's some inbetweens, take a look.

Just as minor point, some of the new radars (Garmin, Navionics,) are starting to do all processing in the dome and send the data down over ethernet.

Boris
 
As I understand it in the older C80 displays with the 2/4KW units the cable length would impact the timing of the system and a recalibration has to be done. the setup procedures address this.

As to the SeaTalk (older version) I have spliced it without any problems using the technique already mentioned, I just had to be careful of which line/wires carried the '+' and '-' VDC.

Art
 
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