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Catalina/Capri 25/250 Sailor's Forums

General Sailing Forum

Help on mast wiring

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Lee T
1st Mate

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26 Posts

Initially Posted - 09/08/2004 : 16:16:52

Hello Catalina 25 owners,

Hope you don't mind me posting here once in a while (my normal home is the C27 forum) - your forum is quite a bit more active though...

Would greatly appreciate any advice on the following as I am planning to rewire my mast this weekend (mast will be down). I want to wire a vhf antenna and 3 lights: anchor, spreader (just 1), and steaming. My plan is to run a 16GA 4-plex wire (see link below) from the distribution panel to the spreaders (hook up to steaming & spreader lights at this point), then run a regular 2-plex wire from there to the anchor light. Also will run a regular VHF cable from masthead to radio.

http://www.westmarine.com/webapp/wcs/stores/servlet/ProductDisplay?storeId=10001&langId=-1&catalogId=10001&productId=16443&catalogId=10001&classNum=769&subdeptNum=120&storeNum=9

I plan to use a ton of wire ties, with 3 set up in a triangle every few feet, to prevent the wires from slapping inside the mast. I really don't have plans to add other electronics at the masthead, so am not adding any spare wires.

My main questions are:

-- is 16 gauge sufficient?

-- is it unadvisable to make an electrical connection inside the mast (this will be at the spreaders, from the 4-plex to the 2-plex going up to the anchor light)

-- i plan to use something like the 5-pole Aqua-Signal thru-deck plug (link below) for light wires, and single-wire Perko thru-deck plug for VHF. does this make sense?

-- any other critical complications I should watch out for?

Plug: http://www.westmarine.com/webapp/wcs/stores/servlet/ProductDisplay?storeId=10001&langId=-1&catalogId=10001&classNum=316&subdeptNum=124&storeNum=9&productId=28141

Thanks again,

Lee

[1975 C27 in LA]

Edited by - on

Oscar
Master Marine Consultant

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USA
2030 Posts

Response Posted - 09/08/2004 : 19:03:00

Sounds like you have a plan....Only thing I would add is the following: Solder the electrical connection, and then seal with shrink tubing. The wire ties will work, but a conduit is more elegant and provides better protection for the wiring. And, even though you don't plan on putting instruments in at this time, a conduit would let you install a messenger line which would allow you to easily change your mind.

Oscar
C42 # 76 "Lady Kay"
C250 # 618 Good Survey, awaiting closing.
http://www.woodenshoemusic.com/C250WB

Edited by - Oscar on 09/08/2004 20:43:03

frog0911
Master Marine Consultant

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USA
1349 Posts

Response Posted - 09/08/2004 : 22:09:36

I agree with Oscar, while the mast is down install a conduit with messanger line in addition to the wires and cable. You will be very sorry if you don't and then decide you want wind instruments or something else up there and have to drop it again.
I don't understand the need for five wires. Lets see 3 lights and a common ground that equals four. I would also use 14 guage wire for that length of run, which is basically from the switch panel to the top of the mast and back when you are talking current flow. Make sure you use marine grade wire or you may be taking the mast down sooner than you thought for corrision problems.
Good luck with your project and come back anytime.

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Ben - FL
Admiral

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880 Posts

Response Posted - 09/08/2004 : 23:43:29

Definetly 14g and tinned wire. Your biggest problem will probably be all the screws sticking inside the mast. Use the conduit. And while we are on the subject of spreader lights, I just had to replace mine while the mast is down for the hurricane. The old one from West Marine still worked. But it was full of nasty rain water. They replaced it for me no problem. But why would the lens fill up with water? There is nothing in the box about installation. Or sealing it up. It is supposed to hang upside down. And when I turned it upside down the water did not drain out. Anyone else experience this?

Edited by - Ben - FL on 09/08/2004 23:46:43

Lee T
1st Mate

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26 Posts

Response Posted - 09/09/2004 : 17:29:09

Thanks all, and please keep any additional comments coming.

In response to a comment above: I don't need 5 wires, only 4, you're right, it's just that that plug seemed like a good choice and happened to have 5 poles...

Lee

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frog0911
Master Marine Consultant

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USA
1349 Posts

Response Posted - 09/09/2004 : 23:27:26

The plug I use is on page 646 of the WM catalog, model # 184226, four prong priced at $14.99. It works great, but like any connector you need to keep corrison down to a minimum with some dialectric grease.

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Lee T
1st Mate

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26 Posts

Response Posted - 09/10/2004 : 02:58:58

Ah thanks - that looks perfect. And cheaper..

Anybody know how to test a VHF antenna & cabling (besides just talking on it)? Can an ohmmeter test that the antenna circuit has the proper resistance?

Thanks,

Lee

Edited by - Lee T on 09/10/2004 03:05:57

Frank Hopper
Past Commodore

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Pitcairn Island
6776 Posts

Response Posted - 09/10/2004 : 07:55:01

So are you going to use your anchor light at night to light the windex while you sail? Windex makes a nice light kit that would justify a fifth wire. Also search the mast lights topic and find the new remote switch that allows several mast lights on a single circuit.

Edited by - on

frog0911
Master Marine Consultant

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USA
1349 Posts

Response Posted - 09/10/2004 : 08:26:04

An ohm meter can tell you if you have good continuity, but not much else. You need a Standing Wave Meter to test the impedence match of your cable, antenna and radio. The perfect match is one to one, but is almost none attainable. This test tells you how much of the power from your radio is actually making it out the antenna tip. Example if your are transmitting 25 watts with a one to one you get 25 watts out the antenna. At two to one you get 12.5 watts out the antenna and etc. With the correct size cable you can get darn close to one to one. Everytime you add a splice you will increase the resistance and therefore increase your match numbers. Sometimes not much and sometimes a great deal. If you know any HAM radio operators they can help you with this and would probably have a SWM that they will let you use to test it.
Good luck with your projects.

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