How to run cable wire from cabin to cockpit on 320DA?

[Alex F]

I’m in the middle of installing cockpit TV. As I was exploring my options I’m having trouble finding a clear path to run cable wire from cabin TV (located on the port side by the forward berth) to cockpit area also on the port side right behind the port sitting. At this time I’m thinking that there’s no clear opening for the safety reasons. I think SR had blocked all possible access points between cabin and ER or cockpit are to avoid any fumes or CO getting in to the cabin. I hope that someone can give me tips on what my options are on doing this run properly and also maintain the safety standards. BTW, my plan B was to use cable wire that leads to Glomex, but after I’m hearing good reviews for Glomex with digital converter boxes I would like to use it while away form the dock.

Any advice is greatly appreciated.

Alex.

 

[sbw1]

I've never seen a boat that did not have some space between the ER bulkhead and the cabin. You may have to remove some electrical breaker panels on the 12 volt system to see what you have, but it will be there. Look around near the bulkhead against the head also. Once you figure out the opening you can start removing seats, drawers, speaker grills, lights, etc in the cabin and head or galley to follow the wire you are fishing through nooks and cranny's. I have used an old shifter cable as the fish to pull a strong string to where it needs to go, and then connected that with duct tape to pull the wire. Make sure you secure everything with nylon electrical ties along the way to eliminated wear and tear on the wire.

 

[drob]

I tried to run a cable from my port side cockpit to the starboard side cabin (electric panel). I tried running the cable through the engine room up the arch and through a panel beside the helm. The panel on the helm gave me access to the cabin but I could never get the cable to go down to the engine room. I ended up just leaving the cable on the starboard side and that is where I am going to mount it. It was a pain in the A-- trying to get the cable from the engine room to the cabin direct, so I gave up.

 

[Vince_nj1]

Alex

What about running the cable down under the floor to the large storage area, then snaking it through to the shower sump pump compartment (there is already a hole there on my boat for hoses, I stick my fishing poles through it) and then follow the hoses? I assume those hoses end up in the bilge. Once in the bilge you should be able to find a path up under the outside fridge and then up to the radar arch.

Just a thought.

 

[Alex F]

I've never seen a boat that did not have some space between the ER bulkhead and the cabin. You may have to remove some electrical breaker panels on the 12 volt system to see what you have, but it will be there. Look around near the bulkhead against the head also. Once you figure out the opening you can start removing seats, drawers, speaker grills, lights, etc in the cabin and head or galley to follow the wire you are fishing through nooks and cranny's. I have used an old shifter cable as the fish to pull a strong string to where it needs to go, and then connected that with duct tape to pull the wire. Make sure you secure everything with nylon electrical ties along the way to eliminated wear and tear on the wire.

You're absolutelly correct. There's 100% path by the electrical pannels (DC and AC). The only things is it's on the oposite side. I was thinking about it as a plan B, which would require much longer cable wire (I'd have to go from port side around or throught the forward berth and all the way to srbrd side through the pannels up the ER and then cut across to port side in the cockpit). Kind of complicated and long run. So I was trying to find an easier solution. BTW, I'm using electrical snake (in my "previouse life" I was an electrician.

Thanks for the idea.

 

[Alex F]

Alex

What about running the cable down under the floor to the large storage area, then snaking it through to the shower sump pump compartment (there is already a hole there on my boat for hoses, I stick my fishing poles through it) and then follow the hoses? I assume those hoses end up in the bilge. Once in the bilge you should be able to find a path up under the outside fridge and then up to the radar arch.

Just a thought.

Vince,
This is very interesting thought, I'll have to investigate that closer. I'm just concern blocking the water pathway, in case if something has to get drained fast. But, I'll check it anyway.

The thing that kills me is that I can get from forward TV all the way to the head and then trhough small access pannel (inside the cabinet) all the way to the wall that's right by the port seating. The issue is that there's no whole to get through that wall to the storage under the port seat. I guess, one of the options is to drill one and then when wire is in place seal it with silicone, just like SR did for everything else.

 

[waterlogged]

see below

 

[waterlogged]

When I installed my cockpit TV, I put a splitter on the incoming cable connection in the lazerette, and ran the cable up from the ER. Easy run, works perfectly and all hidden behind the lazarette bulkhead. I mounted the TV on the arch (above the sink), and ran AC from the outlet that powers the fridge. I'll try to get some pictures if that would help. Took about 4 hours - start to finish.

 

[Vince_nj1]

When I installed my cockpit TV, I put a splitter on the incoming cable connection in the lazerette, and ran the cable up from the ER. Easy run, works perfectly and all hidden behind the lazarette bulkhead. I mounted the TV on the arch, and ran AC from the outlet that powers the fridge.

Does this mean that powered antenna gain switch in the cabin isn't needed and can be bypassed?

 

[sbw1]

BTW, I'm using electrical snake (in my "previouse life" I was an electrician.Thanks for the idea.

I ran a wire from my satilite radio antenna on the starboard side of my hardtop down to the radio in my forward berth on the port side. I started with an electrical snake and would loose it in the radar arch. The cable shifter worked like a charm. I was able to go through the ceiling of the hard top into the radar arch inspection panel, recover the shifter and string by an open speaker by on the cockpit wall and from there got into the head. Then took out a ceiling light and guided it into an overhead bin in the galley. From there it was a piece of cake.

My new holding tank monitoring lines went through an opening I discovered when I had the electrical panels off in the ER. There is always a way.

You ought to pick up an old shifter cable to add to your bag of tricks.

 

[waterlogged]

Does this mean that powered antenna gain switch in the cabin isn't needed and can be bypassed?

Its not needed, unless you're planning on using the Glowmex antenna. We just use dockside cable.

 

[Alex F]

Its not needed, unless you're planning on using the Glowmex antenna. We just use dockside cable.

I guess, the difference in my installation is that I want all of my 3 TVs use every signal source available (cable box in the cabin and glomax and may be some day M1). I have DirectTV at the dock, which required dedicated box. It's installed on the top shelf on the port side near the forward TV. So, even if I didn't care for glomax I need to have this wire run to the cabin just to be in the same splitter after the cable box anyway, otherwise I'd have to order another box to feed the cockpit TV.

 

[waterlogged]

That does throw a wrench into things. My 3 TVs just use cable, so the fix was easy. I don't know how the Glowmex setup works, but would it be possible to split it in the arch? The run from the arch to the cockpit would be an easy one. There's an access panel in the arch below the antenna. Might require an additional amplifier (?), but may be easier that running from the cockpit.

 

[waterlogged]

duplicate

 

[Alex F]

Karl, are you suggesting to move the glomax switch from cabin to the cockpit and run the splitter? I guess, no matter how you twist it and turn it this install will require two separate cables from the cockpit/arch (one from cockpit tv and another from glomex). When last year I didn't care about glomax I was thinking to use it's cable and hook it to cockpit tv, b/c it comes from the cabin. Now that glomex delivers some channels I intend to use it off dock, so then I'll need the second cable run from cabin. Btw, as we speak, I'm thinking that I can try to find how the SR ran the glomax cable to the cabin, so this is an idea that can help as well.

 

[topgun1185]

I hope this helps on my 320 there is a gray plastic wire run that goes from port to starboard across the er just below the deck on the front bulk head. The cover is secured by tie wraps. It's about 5 feet long and can't be missed. Well now to the point if you take the cover off there is budles of wires. Carefully search this nest towards the batteries side and you will dicover rg 58 cable tv wire. It simply taped up and ended. Rg cable is black and is very is to find since nothing else looks like that. Put on an end f connector then a barrel splice and you have cable service in the cocpit. I suspect that SR wired the boat for cable cockpit tv option. There you go.

 

[Alex F]

I hope this helps on my 320 there is a gray plastic wire run that goes from port to starboard across the er just below the deck on the front bulk head. The cover is secured by tie wraps. It's about 5 feet long and can't be missed. Well now to the point if you take the cover off there is budles of wires. Carefully search this nest towards the batteries side and you will dicover rg 58 cable tv wire. It simply taped up and ended. Rg cable is black and is very is to find since nothing else looks like that. Put on an end f connector then a barrel splice and you have cable service in the cocpit. I suspect that SR wired the boat for cable cockpit tv option. There you go.

topgun1185,
I know that run across the ER. Are you saying that there's cockpit tv cable hidden in there that SR prepared? That would be just awsome. I just hope I can fin it.

 

[topgun1185]

topgun1185,
I know that run across the ER. Are you saying that there's cockpit tv cable hidden in there that SR prepared? That would be just awsome. I just hope I can fin it.

yup that's right , I found the terminated coax cable (which is black) about on top of the batteries or below the helm seat. hope this hepls. Also if you go to your parts manuel and look at the wire runs you will see the entire run.

 

[Skuza]

I have snaked a cable from almost the fwd stateroom all the way to the engine room. It was not fun but possible. I did have to take apart some interesting stuff (access panels and cabinet enclosures) but I did make it. Also had to cut through GIANT gobs of silicone once I reached the fwd bulkhead of the engine room. Tough but possible!

 

[Alex F]

yup that's right , I found the terminated coax cable (which is black) about on top of the batteries or below the helm seat. hope this hepls. Also if you go to your parts manuel and look at the wire runs you will see the entire run.

topgun1185,
Finally I got my DirectTV back in order, so I was able to switch my focus back on cocpit tv. Thanks to your suggestions I was able to find that black cable wire (#319). The only problem is that I'm not getting any signal there. I was hoping it would be on the same line as forward and aft cabin TVs, but while those two get cable service the cockpit doesn't. Any thoughts?