I have built my NMEA-2000 around the idea that devices connect the backbone with spur cables. Including for example my e-80 classic, and now my replacement e125.
I am getting tripped up that some of the Raymarine components are designed to have the backbone enter one side, and exit the other, such as the itc-5 and the Seatalk 1 to Seatalk ng converter.
I am also getting tripped up that the new autopilot has an abysmally short, custom NMEA-2000 cable, not long enough to reach my backbone.
From Raymarine "Welcome to the Raymarine Technical Forum Dan,The iTC-5 is not designed to be installed as a spur. As such, it may be installed at one end of the backbone or within the middle. To do so, a SeaTalkng Backbone Cable will need to be spliced to the Maretron backbone cable ... simply match the colors of the wires within the respective backbone cables."
Some questions for the Panbo forum
1. Each of these devices has two back bone (blue) connectors and a spur (white) connector. Is Raymarine advice above correct, (i) must I insert them in the middle of my backbone, or can I connect these devices to my backbone using the spur connector? (ii) if I can use just the spur connector, should I put terminators in the two blue connectors or leave them empty?
2. Is it ok to to have a backbone that alternates between Maretron cabling and Raymarine Cabling, back to Maretron cabling? (other than the obvious, voltage drop considerations of the thinner cable, is there any impedance issues ?)
3. For my evolution autopilot, with the abysmally short custom spur connector, what is an acceptable way to extend a spur cable ?
Thanks, Dan
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