LM32 wiring

[johnwebb]

I have bought a LM32 and have had lots of pre purchase advice from Brian and Glenda in particular. I am now looking at what I have got and also had Sod's law intervene, The Furuno radome was working perfecly and a few days into owning her has clearly had a major mechanical failure judging by the noises. I am working on what to replace it with. However, the wiring is not how I would like it, grown a bit randomly over the years. One silly problem is inadequate wiring to the radio, volts drop 2v on transmit. However, the mast is going to have to come down at some point as the rig is 20 years old so exploring leads me to a basic question, what is the plug at the mastfoot in the bathroom in the picture! Obviously LM fitted as the wires from the socket are behind it leading into a small channel and were clearly put in when it was built. Being cheeky asking as could find out after a lot of elimination but someone here is bound to know!

Attachments:

[Brian & Glenda]

I remember having one of these too! It was cracked, and had poor electrical connections when I bought the boat. If I recall correctly it was the connector for the mast's white forward facing running light / deck light combo and the anchor light. It allows these wires to be disconnected easily when the mast is lowered. Else, it was for the connector for the VDO masthead wind instruments. I put heat shrink eyes on each wire, and replaced both sets of connections with simple terminal blocks.

Brian.

[johnwebb]

Thanks for that Brian, my guess was reasonable and as I have a Raymarine wind sensor I guess just lights. The wind was not working when I bought her and planned to replace it with a new one, on order. Sadly Prof Soddie has intervened and the Furuno radome has started making funny mechanical noises and is of an age when there are no spares. A local company, Hudson Marine, suggests a Raymarine system using the WiFi connected radome, did not realise such things existed. That would have the side effect of clearing the plotter and radar head in my line of sight forward! I would mount an Element 9 directly on the chart desk area. Another thing I don't like is the large play in the wheel steering. Looking at the manual I found it does not seem adjustable. Must look further.
John

[chrismunson]

Whether I liked it or not, I have redone most of the wiring on the LM 32, including a new breaker panel so I could actually see the switches. I have taken apart cleaned and put back together every electrical connection on the boat, with the exception of the very large connector panel which was underneath the old switch panel and is inaccessible. I am happy to answer any questions I can about the wiring,. Basically they made a large wiring harness, and then built a boat around it.

[johnwebb]

I do see what you mean. Build wiring, add boat! The switch panel does not bother me as the previous owner put a large diagram of it in easy sight so just feel. However,I am totally uncertain what to do as lots of bits have been added. Even a little switch going to a chocolate connector with lots of wires going off ut. The only place I have identified so far is the instruments. However my immediate problem is how to get the old radar cable out and run a power cable through instead to feed the new Raymarine WiFi radome. Someone knew how as a TV cable has been added. Do I have to remove lockers in the bathroom and saloon. So far I have tried getting my head into various places to see what is possible but I am fed up with not being as flexible as I was 20 years ago!

[Brian & Glenda]

Our Raymarine digital radar unit (a digital model bought in 2015) is not mast mounted. It resides on top of a column that runs alongside our backstay, and that has a left to right pendulum mount so it always hangs parallel with the horizon. As the radar emits a fairly flat beam, having one on a pendulum mount is (my radar instructor told me) much better than having one on top of a fixed column, or mounted on a fixed platform up the mast, as when sailing the beam of a fixed mounted radar will be pointed up into the air on the windward side of the boat, and pointing into the nearby sea on the leeward side. Our column extends about eight feet above the aft deck, and works very well at all angles of heel. It is the white unit just above the cockpit canvas in our photo. I'm not sure what brand our mast support column is, but it is similar to although not the same as: ca.binnacle.com/Electronics-Radar-Mounts/c12_587/p9476/Scanstrut-LMB-A1-Self-Levelling-Backstay-Radar-Mount-Aft-Facing/product_info.html The wiring runs through the support, and out the base of the column under the aft deck, and follows the steering cable from there back into the pilothouse and helm. I can make more photos available if you wish to see them.

Brian.

[johnwebb]

Brian,
I did wonder about a transom based mast but not keen for many reasons. One is cost, I have spent enough! If I am forced I can leave the old cable and use its power cores. Another is I am never keen on having my head in a radar path, I think the beam angle is +-20 but there are always side lobes. It is nowhere near the biggest radar I have encountered which is Blue Yeoman when I worked at the Royal Radar Establishment at Malvern which could see high altitude planes over Paris. It was so powerful that limit switches disabled it when it was pointing at the nearby populated hills. However, in common with all radars, it did have side lobes outside the declared beam as did every other one I have encountered. In the boat I am only 2 m away from the transmitter, probably being over cautious but I have seen the immediate effect on some. Hence, up the mast! I am taking a few days off now as want to visit a holiday home I have in Wales. It is 220 miles away but is in a fairly normal village but by the sea. Get my kayak out for a paddle and visit my wife's ashes.
John

[Brian & Glenda]

Yes, I had a similar concern and put it in stand-by if I am going on the side or fore decks, but I understand that today's digital radars use a lot less power and emit a lot less radiation than the older models. It seems that manufacturers are now quite dismissive of even the thought of any danger being presented! Ours is if I recall correctly, a Raymarine 418D with a 4 kw of power, and a nominal 4.9 degree horizontal and 25 degree vertical beam width. I like that its display can overlay the charts on my Raymarine E7d plotter. Makes it very easy to read and interpret. I believe that as we are almost directly under it when steering from the cockpit, and ~45 degrees under it when in the pilothouse, we are quite safe.

Enjoy your visit to Wales, have a great paddle, and sorry to hear about your wife. I hope you have a great visit with her.

Cheers, Brian.