RAM mic on pedestal?

[mainemandean]

Is routing my RAM mic's cable thru the pedestal a realistic idea? (Not the coiled part connected to the mic.) I would like to have the mic at the helm.

Or is this likely to wreak havoc with the compass?

If there is going to be compass interference from this, will it likely be:
a all the time, even when radio's off (I doubt this)
b whenever the radio is on
c when RAM mic is being a speaker
d when RAM mic is keyed, or
e both c and d above
f b, c and d?

Thanks,

Dean

[rikhall]

Dean

Mine is not through the SS piping, but this is how close it is and no interference at all.



Rik

[DwayneSpeer]

It's no problem. Go ahead and do it.

[fallard]

I've got my RAM located inside the coaming at the aft end of the cockpit. This way the cord stays away from the wheel. It was a lot easier to wire it, too.

[RhythmDoctor]

Very timely question, as I have been considering getting a RAM mic, and routing it through my pedestal guard. For those of you who have done this, does the extension cord typically come with the end plugs pre-attached, or are they removable and/or user-assembled? I ask this because the plugs clearly would not pass through the close confines of the tube and a small hole drilled into the tube without removing them in some way:

[nimbusgb]

The cable ends are pre-soldered and sealed ( heat shrink ) in place.

I built a pod and installed my e80 with radar, autopilot, engine panel, ram mic, power socket and nav and other light switches all into the pod. needless to say I needed a separate stainless tube ( 40mm ID ) to get all the cables up!

[RhythmDoctor]

Originally Posted by nimbusgb

The cable ends are pre-soldered and sealed ( heat shrink ) in place.

I built a pod and installed my e80 with radar, autopilot, engine panel, ram mic, power socket and nav and other light switches all into the pod. needless to say I needed a separate stainless tube ( 40mm ID ) to get all the cables up!

So how did you terminate your ram mic connection at the pod? Do they make a bulkhead mount adapter where you plug the extension cord into the back side and the mic itself into the front side? Or do you just have the ext. cord hanging out of the hole?

[nimbusgb]

Hmmm iirc the Ram mic adaptor came with a bulkhead fitting at one end and a plug at t'other. Either that or it was a bulkhead fitting with a fly lead about 2m long terminated in an inline plug, I'd confirm but the boat is in Greece and I'm in the UK for another 3 weeks .....

The long extension pictured above with two plugs runs from radio to the inline connector to extend the mic even further.

Someone else pm'd me for a pic of my home made pedestal.



Left hand side - Ram Mic
Right hand side - clip mount for Raymarine autopilot remote
Top panel - Raymarine 6000 series autopilot display
Ignition keyswitch
Idiot lights - preheat on, charge, oil pressure, coolant temp,coolant flow ( flow switch in intake )
Gem engine graphic display module ( J1989 bus conversion of old Perkins 4108 engine instrumentation to modern digital display )
Main Panel - Raymarine e-80 ( map, radar, video etc )
Lower face
left - Forward looking soanr control head.
2 switches -
LED/conventional nav light select
AIS transmit enable/disable

4 switches
Red/white table lighting select ( the red lighting makes the cockpit look like a bordello!
Table light on/off
Cockpit/deck and transom courtesy lights ( small white leds ) on/off
Foredeck floodlight on/off

4 way nav light selector. ( selects correct lights for a given config )
Nav ( sailing ) /Steaming/Anchor/Auto Anchor ( light sensitive turn on )

The forward side of the pod has a detachable panel for access.
There is a courtesy light that illuminates the cockpit table.
There is an auxilliary 12v socket for using a hand held spotlight or other accessories.

The RAM mic bulkhead fitting is mounted on the bottom of the unit to keep it out of harms way and able to shed water / rain

The old straigt vertical guard rail was removed and a new rail with a 30 degree 'Z' in the appropriate place was bent up by a fabricator. A centre stainless steel tube was fitted to get all the wires up to the pod, they effectively filled a piece of 40mm tubing! Radar, all the control wires ( 3 * 7 core cables - in retrospect stripping the sheaths off would have saved a little space ! ) sonar, engine signals, mic extension, lighting.

The pod was made up out of 4mm marine ply and mahogany framework. glassed over with epoxy glass and cloth. Filled with microballoons , gelcoated and polished. A couple of evenings work over the winter

[MikeinLA]

Gee, thanks Nimbus. One more thing for my "To Do" list. I absolutely LOVE that pedestal! Trouble is, I don't think I'm as talented as you are.

Mike