Electrical Terminals

[SPembleton]

I am going to be installing a chartplotter this spring and want some advice on the best terminals to use for the NMEA0183 wire.  It has 2 16AWG power wires and 6 22AWG wires.  I have been looking at Euroterminals, regular marine screw terminals using crimp-on spade or round terminals or regular marine screw terminals and just wrap the wire around the terminal screw.  Which is best? I have looked on this site, but haven't found a related discussion.

[Ralph Masters]

Go NEMA 2000, plug and play, no terminals

[SPembleton]

Go NEMA 2000, plug and play, no terminals

Actually Garmin appears to need both. NMEA2000 for sensors, NMEA 0183 for power and to connect to VHS radio. I will be installing a NMEA2000 also.

[mainesail]

This may help.


http://www.pbase.com/mainecruising/terminating_small_wires

[KWKloeber]

I am going to be installing a chartplotter this spring and want some advice on the best terminals to use for the NMEA0183 wire.  It has 2 16AWG power wires and 6 22AWG wires.  I have been looking at Euroterminals, regular marine screw terminals using crimp-on spade or round terminals or regular marine screw terminals and just wrap the wire around the terminal screw.  Which is best? I have looked on this site, but haven't found a related discussion.

The connections will be located where?

[SPembleton]

One terminal strip will be behind my elec dist panel. The other will be inside the aft cabin on the ceiling where the wires from the chartplotter come down. I plan to buy the pedestal guard mounting plate from compass marine and then run the wires inside the port side of the pedestal guard and then into the aft cabin by drilling a hole inside the foot. I am not sure how far the wires will reach, but i will leave a little slack and mount the terminal block. But I am open to better ideas. I am new to this!

[SPembleton]

Mainsail: Thanks for the link to the article.  Good info there.  I am assuming that you prefer to use the round crimp-on terminals.

[mainesail]

Mainsail: Thanks for the link to the article.  Good info there.  I am assuming that you prefer to use the round crimp-on terminals.

For 0183 busbars and ring terminals make connections, adding new devices and testing far more easy....  Seen far too many 0183 systems run out of wire every-time a new device is added and splices are cut out. With a busbar it makes it simple, neat and easy to add or remove 0183 communicators..

[KWKloeber]

One terminal strip will be behind my elec dist panel. The other will be inside the aft cabin on the ceiling where the wires from the chartplotter come down. I plan to buy the pedestal guard mounting plate from compass marine and then run the wires inside the port side of the pedestal guard and then into the aft cabin by drilling a hole inside the foot. I am not sure how far the wires will reach, but i will leave a little slack and mount the terminal block. But I am open to better ideas. I am new to this!

If they were anywhere exposed, I'd say butt splice them leaving plenty of spare wire for future changes.   But if they are protected, then terminal strip and ring, not fork terminals.  Heat shrunk all around.

I am not in favor of adding terminals unless they are absolutely protected, accessible, can be easily inspected -- otherwise butts.  No reason to add one more potential failure point unless it's "near foolproof."


Ken K

[SPembleton]

Thank you all.  It may be a couple of months before i tackle the job, but i will let everyone know how it comes out.