I have now installed three radar systems and removed two. Each time the
signal cable to the scanner has been a major hastle because of the
connectors on each end of the cable.. (my experience has been on Furuno
radars).

Each time I have gone out of my way to install and remove the cables without
cutting the cable or removing the end connectors. This has envolved pulling
other wires out of a 'pass-thru', conduit or arch frame to make room for the
bulky connectors to pass..

Last week I installed a new cable for my new Furuno radar.. This cable was
larger in diameter and had 3 connectors on the scanner end (rather than 2 of
the previous Furuno). However, the number of cable conductor was the same
and the wire gage was the same,. Hmmm! just more material in the jacket I
guess. It took me two days to get it into place, only to discover that one
wire (signal coax), the center lead had broken off at the connector. $hit
happens when you have to work it through so many tight places. (I did have
the connectors taped down to the wire for protection, and I use electical
cable lub/slick when pulling it through the frame of the arch.)

That's not my point!! I learned something, after all of these cable INs and
OUTs jobs.. In the process of repairing the broken wire, I found that the
connector contacts can be removed from the connector strip with no damage,
effort or special tools.. These are the flat connector shell with inline
Molex/Waldom type contacts. There is a narrow slot on the side of the
connector shell and if you just push in the contact tab with a jewelers
screw driver the contact and wire come right out with out any damage..

The manuals all give a very clear discription of the proper wire color and
pin number..

I figure that with the connector contacts removed from the shell the bulk of
the cable end bundle (once taped up for pulling-in) would be about a third
of what it is with the connector shell and it would be much more flexable..

I doubt that I will ever again (my last boat) have to pull-in another radar
cable, but I just thought I would pass this along..

Steve
s/v Good Intentions

I always like to cut the connectors off while the horrified owner
looks on, listen to him rant while I'm pulling the cable to where it's
gotta go, then see the relief on his face when I reach into my pocket
and pull out a new connector to put on the cable with SOLDER NOT CRIMP
to complete the job.....(c;


Larry W4CSC

Is it just me or did the US and UK just capture 1/3
of the world's sweetest oil supply? What idiot wants to
GIVE IT BACK?!!

Steve,
That is a professional installer's secret you discovered. Also on the older
Furuno's with the blue plastic rectangular right angle connector at the
display end of the cable, you can use a Molex type pin extractor to release
the pins and pull the cable with that end taped up. Manual is real clear on
where to reinsert them also. Breaking the video coax center wire at the
scanner end is common to all brands it seems.
Doug K7ABX
"Steve" wrote in message
...
I have now installed three radar systems and removed two. Each time the
signal cable to the scanner has been a major hastle because of the
connectors on each end of the cable.. (my experience has been on Furuno
radars).

Each time I have gone out of my way to install and remove the cables
without
cutting the cable or removing the end connectors. This has envolved
pulling
other wires out of a 'pass-thru', conduit or arch frame to make room for
the
bulky connectors to pass..

Last week I installed a new cable for my new Furuno radar.. This cable was
larger in diameter and had 3 connectors on the scanner end (rather than 2
of
the previous Furuno). However, the number of cable conductor was the same
and the wire gage was the same,. Hmmm! just more material in the jacket I
guess. It took me two days to get it into place, only to discover that one
wire (signal coax), the center lead had broken off at the connector. $hit
happens when you have to work it through so many tight places. (I did have
the connectors taped down to the wire for protection, and I use electical
cable lub/slick when pulling it through the frame of the arch.)

That's not my point!! I learned something, after all of these cable INs
and
OUTs jobs.. In the process of repairing the broken wire, I found that the
connector contacts can be removed from the connector strip with no damage,
effort or special tools.. These are the flat connector shell with inline
Molex/Waldom type contacts. There is a narrow slot on the side of the
connector shell and if you just push in the contact tab with a jewelers
screw driver the contact and wire come right out with out any damage..

The manuals all give a very clear discription of the proper wire color and
pin number..

I figure that with the connector contacts removed from the shell the bulk
of
the cable end bundle (once taped up for pulling-in) would be about a third
of what it is with the connector shell and it would be much more
flexable..

I doubt that I will ever again (my last boat) have to pull-in another
radar
cable, but I just thought I would pass this along..

Steve
s/v Good Intentions