Boat Forum / Electronics / March 2006

While trying to figure out where solar enthousiasts are going to put enough
square miles of solar panels to produce 6KW of power for their ever-
increasing needs, I think it's time to introduce another "boat simulator",
similar to my Liveaboard Simulator you've all enjoyed over ...

I am having two E-80's installed, one at helm and one at navstation
(with radar & GPS attached).
Can I make a good case for installing a 2nd GPS antenna at the helm
E-80?   Would it even be useful, considering I might have to change

I purchased a Raymarine model 100 autopilot.  I now need to purchase
the compass and rudder sensor.  How do I identify the correct items to
purchase?  Are there particular model or part numbers that I should
look for or stay away from?  

Looking for a simple circuit idea that will tell us when a 12V DC load is
activated. This is a critical load so we don't want to do anything that will
make it unreliable. The circuit just has to activate a tiny relay when the
load is going. Any ideas?

I am a bit worried that my pair of Danfoss BD50 compressors are going to put
out a lot of RFI so am working to isolate them by lining the compartment
with foil and putting common mode chokes on the power lines.  I have found a
lot of chokes that can handle the current but they ...

 Anybody have any experience with the SR161 AIS receiver from Milltech
marine?
Seems reasonably priced.
Gordon

Raymarine ST60 Plus Benefits Quote "Expandable SeaTalk networking
technology enables connection to Raymarine autopilots, multifunction
displays, radars, chartplotters and fishfinders."
Does anyone know what this means ?

In planning the electronics layout in my pilothouse it is difficult to
arrange everything and maintain reccomended distances between displays
and the magnetic compass. The manuals indicate minimum distances
usually with two figures:

Anyone know of some good sources of inexpensive brackets that would be
adaptable to marine electronics gear (eqpt that there isn't a mfr to go to
for these items)?

  We have some RF connectors that due to their location (mounted
against a bulkheak, and underneath a lip) are rather difficult to
weatherproof.  I have seen a weather proof boot that wraps around a
cable, and can just slide up and down the length of the cable, whever

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I have four L16H 6V batteries for my  840AH 12V house bank.  Due to space
and balance limitations two are on the port side of the companionway and two
on the starboard.  The fuse, battery switch and power connections are on the
starboard side.  I am running 5' of 4/0 cable ...

Does anybody know of a wireless headset with built-in mike and battery for
use for skipper-to-crew communication?
Thanks,
Robert

I am an NMEA neophyte.   I am trying to connect my Raymarine speedo,
depth, and wind indicator.  They use SeaTalk.  Apparently, SeaTalk is
not NMEA language.   I thought the point of NMEA was to make multiple
manufactures equipment communicate, much like MIDI (musical instrument

I am looking for a solution for the fact that a regulator shuts off
charging current when it measures say a 14 volts on the circuit.
I have a windgenny that charges with 14,4 volts in bulk-fase.
That causes the solarpanels not to charge at all cause their regulator