(WTD) Switch unit and knowledge

[treerat]

Morning all

My new toy has the vhf and echo sounder wired straight to the battery, has any one got 3 or 4 switch unit they want to sell on?

Been looking on ebay and they seem to go for silly money - I can get an external, waterproof switch box locally but a flush mounted one would be great.

Also - power cable on a Hummingbird - it's been cut and I'll need to extend it, can I use any 12v power cable or is there a marine type that I should use?

The transducer cable has also been cut
I have both ends so I guess the 5 core cable can be joined back together with cable joiners and then sealed in some way?

Many thanks

Andy

[JSP]

Can't help with the switches but Tinned wire is the best stuff to use http://www.boatelectricals.co.uk/FMP...%20Cable&-find

[willk]

Originally Posted by treerat

The transducer cable has also been cut
I have both ends so I guess the 5 core cable can be joined back together with cable joiners and then sealed in some way?

http://www.humminbird.com/support/FAQ.aspx?faqid=515

[treerat]

Ta muchly and oh

[jwalker]

Splicing screened cable is perfectly possible. It has been a topic on ribnet a few times. Do a search to find out how. And there is a recent thread about splicing radar cable; the same principles apply.

[Rogue Wave]

Originally Posted by treerat

Morning all

My new toy has the vhf and echo sounder wired straight to the battery, has any one got 3 or 4 switch unit they want to sell on?

Been looking on ebay and they seem to go for silly money - I can get an external, waterproof switch box locally but a flush mounted one would be great.

Andy

Hi Andy

it pays to put good switches on a boat if you can pick up blue sea stuff that's a very reliable make. When you say picking up a switch locally what type are you referring to

[treerat]

The box I had in mind is grey, made of heavy plastic and has 3 switches on top that are encased in a flexable plastic -

Local outdoor come garden centre sell them - I'm guessing it's a no no?

I have found one of these whilst looking for the picture above -



Owning a rib is new to me and a fair step up from the inflatable - I'm used to using Rescue Boats that somebody else looks after so thanks for the patience.

[TonyC]

That bottom pic of the Blue Sea switches is probably the most used that i've seen on ribs (and is what we have on ours)

Force4 has them on their site for £26

[Rogue Wave]

I'd g for the one frm your garden centre. It's more waterprof than the other switch panel plus you can flush mount it easily. the top is bigger than the box so just cut a hole big enough to clear the switches drill the clearance holes for the cover bolts and fix the box underneath.

I'm not sure that switch panel force 4 is selling is a Blue Sea systems plus I don't like rocker switches on a small rib, in fact I don't like rocker switches on any boat thats gonna see a bit of action

[jwalker]

You could fit the switches into the bottom of the box then do what Rogue Wave says but you'd be able to stick your head inside the console and gain access to the back of the switches by removing the box lid.

Twa heeds 'r better than yin.