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 Repairing cut depth finder cables.
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Chevy_Ranger
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281 posts
Portland OR
 Repairing cut depth finder cables.3:25 PM 1/23/2010 Reply  Edit

If you have cut your depth finder cable and need to repair it here is the best way I have found. Go to a GOOD electronic store and find a coax repair kit that fits your size cable. I have some that have two ends and a barrel connector that screws them together. You just cleanly cut the coax in to two pieces. Then insert the connector into the ends of the coax cable. Some screw in, some need to be crimped on. Then join the two ends with the barrel connector. To further enhance the RF protection of the cable wrap foil around the connection. To seal it, you can use shrink tubing, but be sure to put it on the cables first.
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Petereric
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Fredericksburg Va
 Re: Repairing cut depth finder cables. (Chevy_Ranger) »4:59 PM 1/28/2010 Reply  Edit

fantastic!!!! Where were you 2 years ago when i needed it!!!!


spiffey28694
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West Jefferson NC
 Re: Repairing cut depth finder cables. (Petereric) »11:51 AM 2/2/2010 Reply  Edit

great idea

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mideerslayer
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clinton township mi
 Re: Repairing cut depth finder cables. (spiffey28694) »7:02 PM 2/2/2010 Reply  Edit

where can you find coax fitting that are that small? rg-59 is small cable but my fishfinder cables are a little smaller then a pencil in diamater.

To bad i coudn't use rg-6, as i have more fittings and barrels and cable then I know what to do with

Chevy_Ranger
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Portland OR
 Re: Repairing cut depth finder cables. (mideerslayer) »1:25 PM 2/3/2010 Reply  Edit

You have to find a really good electronics store that deals with "true" electronic stuff. Not Radio Shack. Search the internet for cable repair connectors. Get in touch with these guys:
http://www.digikey.com/

Call them and give them the size of your cable and see if they have a kit for the repair.
There was an electronic shop near me that went out of business in the early '90's and I found these repair connectors that fit small coax. I bought all 55 he had. I am down to the last 10. No...you can't buy any of them.

I will try finding these guys on the net somewhere, and post it here.
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When people haven't a clue as to what is going on...
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Jonestrollingmotor
Moderator/Electrical & Trollingmotor



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Texarkana Ar
 Re: Repairing cut depth finder cables. (Chevy_Ranger) »11:21 AM 2/6/2010 Reply  Edit

Works great for the older transducers that were coaxial cables. Newer cables actually have 4 to 6 smaller wires in them with a sheilded cover. The wires are about the size of telephone wiring. If one of these is cut, and you want to try and repair, you will need to remove about 4" of outside sheath on each side. Get the right size heat shrink, for the connections and don't forget one to cover all of the wires once done. This one will need to go on the cable first. Stagger the connections, solder, the apply the shrink. John

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Chevy_Ranger
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Portland OR
 Re: Repairing cut depth finder cables. (Jonestrollingmotor) »1:08 PM 2/8/2010 Reply  Edit

I don't repair the new DF cables with solder. It can mess up the ohm rating on the line and give false readings.(per Lowrance) I use phone connectors and make the repair like a CAT5 network system uses. There is no signal loss using this method. All you need is some blank 4 or 8 connector phone/network cable ends, crimp tool, and a connector. You can get all that a Radio Shack.
I got this repair method from Lowrance when I first came across the 4 wire network cable they started using. Of course they recommend replacing the entire cable and sensor. But I dug a little deeper and they said this repair would work for a temporary splice. I have some repairs that are over 2 years old and still show no sign of deteriation. Here is a picture of the things I use to make this repair:


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mike28nc
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raleigh nc
  »5:02 AM 3/10/2010 Reply  Edit

guys, there is some connectors that are sold at lowes and I have even seen them at radio shack. They are filled with silicon to seal them. You push the wires in each hole and crimp it down and the silicon comes out. Seals the connections. Then all you have to do is put tin foil over it and wrap it. I have used this for two years on TM I put on the front of my little boat. Not heat shrink, just electrical tap.

I will try to find a picture. I have tons of them. They were for spicing in low voltage applications.


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mrbassfla
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palmbay fl
 Re: (mike28nc) »7:39 PM 3/11/2010 Reply  Edit

good ideal
 


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