Transducer Cable

[Rickyracer]

Is it possible to cut the transducer cable and then splice it back together so I don't have 13 extra feet of cable laying around.

 

[WIMUSKY]

Re: Transducer Cable

I shortened one once.........

 

[gm280]

Re: Transducer Cable

Is it possible to cut the transducer cable and then splice it back together so I don't have 13 extra feet of cable laying around.

The simple answer to your question is...absolutely. You can cut the coaxial cable and splice the ends together if you understand how to do that. You need to make sure you splice the center to the center and of course the shielded outside to the shielded outside. Just make sure you slide the shrink tube on the cable before splicing so after your finished making the splices you can shrink the tube over the entire spliced section... I've done it many many times...

 

[dingbat]

Re: Transducer Cable

Transducers use a multi-conductor cable with foil shield. Minimum 3 conductor, most use 5-10 conductors. The splice is pretty straight forward. Make sure you tie the foil shields together as well. The key is sealing the cable. I use adhesive lined shrink tubing when I make a splice / repair.

 

[UncleWillie]

Re: Transducer Cable

This is one of those items that are a lot more difficult than it appears on the surface.
Coaxial cable was never meant to be cut, and then Red-Necked back together with solder and heat shrink.
It is not a DC power cable, it is a 200kHz transmission line.
Your best option is to neatly coil the cable into a nice 3 inch loop where it passes someplace you can secure it.

One day you will want to move the sonar to another place on the boat, or even to another boat.
If you upgrade and sell it in a few years the next user may need the extra length.
13 feet too long is a lot better than 3 inches too short! :blue:
Once you cut it, the integrity and reliability of the cable will be reduced.
You will also be eliminating all future re-routing options.

Cutting the transducer cable is in the same category as tattooing your girlfriend's name on your forearm.
You WILL live to regret it!

Think twice about cutting it, and then think again!

 

[dingbat]

Re: Transducer Cable

Coaxial cable was never meant to be cut, and then Red-Necked back together with solder and heat shrink.
It is not a DC power cable, it is a 200kHz transmission line.

A 200kHz transmission line? I think your confusing the frequency of the output of the peizo with the output of the signal generator. Even the best units are running no more than 66 Hz.

They don't use coax cable and the signals are voltages (SPD) or current loops (temp). The piezo (depth) is an AC signal.

 

[gm280]

Re: Transducer Cable

This is one of those items that are a lot more difficult than it appears on the surface.
Coaxial cable was never meant to be cut, and then Red-Necked back together with solder and heat shrink.
It is not a DC power cable, it is a 200kHz transmission line.
Your best option is to neatly coil the cable into a nice 3 inch loop where it passes someplace you can secure it.

One day you will want to move the sonar to another place on the boat, or even to another boat.




If you upgrade and sell it in a few years the next user may need the extra length.
13 feet too long is a lot better than 3 inches too short! :blue:
Once you cut it, the integrity and reliability of the cable will be reduced.
You will also be eliminating all future re-routing options.

Cutting the transducer cable is in the same category as tattooing your girlfriend's name on your forearm.
You WILL live to regret it!

Think twice about cutting it, and then think again!

Not sure what YOU are talking about because I've spliced cables for more years then I care to remember. And I can equally assure you it is neither "Red-Necked" or wire tied back together either. In fact I’ve done such repairs for so long that I can honestly say that after I repair such a cable that there is no degradation in any signal either. For starters these Depth sounders fish locaters are not microwave devices; they use very low frequencies to accomplish their goals. So before you condemn someone’s response, maybe you need to understand the question first... I do know exactly what I am talking about... I am retired now but just a few months ago I was an Engineering Technician for nearly 40 years and have done such splices and tested such cables for any degradation of signals on very precision equipment... YES, you can splice your depth sounder/fish finder transducer cable with perfect results...there is no VSWR to worry about!

 

[Silvertip]

Re: Transducer Cable

Transducer cables are shielded to avoid noise. Done properly there is no issue with splicing. Done incorrectly and noise is a problem. Treat the shield carefully to ensure solid connection.

 

[UncleWillie]

Re: Transducer Cable

Sonar may be far from microwave but it is still not speaker wires.
Modern units are using up to 800kHz.
Can you splice a cable back together and get it to work? Certainly!

Repairing an accidentally damaged cable is one thing.
Recommending that someone intentionally cut one and splice it back together is another.
If you want to do it correctly, shorten the cable by attaching a new connector to the end.
Unfortunately sonar connectors are proprietary and hard, to impossible, to come by.

My background includes being a certified medical electronics technician.
Making any connections that are not 100% reliable could result in someones death.
So, I admittedly, tend to be overly anal about making reliable connections.
Splicing a shielded cable, except as a temporary emergency fix, would never be a consideration.

No one is likely to die from a noisy sonar signal.
It is the OP's cable and he is free to do as he pleases.
We all have different opinions. Can we agree, to disagree?

 

[gm280]

Re: Transducer Cable

Sonar may be far from microwave but it is still not speaker wires.
Modern units are using up to 800kHz.
Can you splice a cable back together and get it to work? Certainly!

Repairing an accidentally damaged cable is one thing.
Recommending that someone intentionally cut one and splice it back together is another.
If you want to do it correctly, shorten the cable by attaching a new connector to the end.
Unfortunately sonar connectors are proprietary and hard, to impossible, to come by.

My background includes being a certified medical electronics technician.
Making any connections that are not 100% reliable could result in someones death.
So, I admittedly, tend to be overly anal about making reliable connections.
Splicing a shielded cable, except as a temporary emergency fix, would never be a consideration.

No one is likely to die from a noisy sonar signal.
It is the OP's cable and he is free to do as he pleases.
We all have different opinions. Can we agree, to disagree?

Well one thing I will agree with you on is cutting the cable and installing a new connector on it. That IS a preferable technique indeed. But I have spliced cables for nearly every type fighter aircraft in existence and I do know how to do it properly as well. As stated, if it is done properly there are zero problems. I mean it isn't rocket surgery with a low frequency transducer cable... And yes it does seem we both could do the splice without issue. So enough said and no hard feelings from my side... I have read enough of your post to think highly of your abilities... But I certainly don't do, or ever have done "Red-Neck" repairs ever in my career... eace:

 

[dingbat]

Re: Transducer Cable

Modern units are using up to 800kHz.

What does the frequency of output of the piezo have to do with the cable?