3.1 General cabling guidanceCable types and lengthIt is important to use cables of the appropriate type and length• Unless otherwise stated use only standard cables of the correcttype, supplied by Raymarine.• Ensure that any non-Raymarine cables are of the correct qualityand gauge. For example, longer power cable runs may requirelarger wire gauges to minimize voltage drop along the run.Routing cablesCables must be routed correctly, to maximize performance andprolong cable life.• Do NOT bend cables excessively. Wherever possible, ensure aminimum bend radius of 100 mm.Minimum bend of cable100 mm (4 in) radiusMinimum bend200 mm (8 in)diameter• Protect all cables from physical damage and exposure to heat.Use trunking or conduit where possible. Do NOT run cablesthrough bilges or doorways, or close to moving or hot objects.• Secure cables in place using tie-wraps or lacing twine. Coil anyextra cable and tie it out of the way.• Where a cable passes through an exposed bulkhead or deckhead,use a suitable watertight feed-through.• Do NOT run cables near to engines or fluorescent lights.Always route data cables as far away as possible from:• other equipment and cables,• high current carrying ac and dc power lines,• antennae.Strain reliefEnsure adequate strain relief is provided. Protect connectors fromstrain and ensure they will not pull out under extreme sea conditions.Circuit isolationAppropriate circuit isolation is required for installations using bothAC and DC current:• Always use isolating transformers or a separate power-inverterto run PC’s, processors, displays and other sensitive electronicinstruments or devices.• Always use an isolating transformer with Weather FAX audiocables.• Always use an isolated power supply when using a 3rd partyaudio amplifier.• Always use an RS232/NMEA converter with optical isolation onthe signal lines.• Always make sure that PC’s or other sensitive electronic deviceshave a dedicated power circuit.Cable shieldingEnsure that all data cables are properly shielded that the cableshielding is intact (e.g. hasn’t been scraped off by being squeezedthrough a tight area).34 e7 / e7D — Installation instructions