Exciting development!

[Bob Abell 2Participant @bobabell2]

The largest wire that can get round the system is 2.4mm

 

Looks about right to me?

 

Bob

[Mark Beard 1Participant @markbeard1]

Where did you find that cable?  If that’s okay to terminate, why not use that?  If I terminated the 2mm cable, you wouldn’t get it through that blue tubing.

 

Can you solder Bob?  I mean electrical soldering, not metalwork braising.  If so, I can fabricate you a couple of terminators to make wiring up easier.

Edited By Billysugger on 10/06/2011 18:39:04

[Bob Abell 2Participant @bobabell2]

Hello Mark

Just back from walking he dog

 

The cable on the above picture is 2.4 dia…..but it`s only single core!

I was just illustrating the max dia cable we could go up to.

The TV people like the co-ax cable because it`s of scale appearance, so we need co-ax about 2.4 dia

 

Since we`ve got plenty of time left, I`m going to make a bigger drum winch, just in case. The present diameter is about 20mm and it restricts the free flow of the thicker wire

 

Such is life!……Bob

[Mark Beard 1Participant @markbeard1]

I’ve searched Maplin, RS and Farnell. The next largest I’ve found is from RS and that’s 2.6mm, but it has very similar conductor specifications to the 2mm cable you have. So I don’t think that would impress you.

 

Those of us who work with modern electronics are used to working with small sized – a 2mm cable is a luxurious size compared with microprocessor pins which are spaced half a millimetre apart: those I use a microscope for when soldering.

 

Let me know if you’d like some aids for working with the stuff.

[Bob Abell 2Participant @bobabell2]

Thanks Mark

 

If you can work with it…..I can!

 

I was just being cautious

 

It`s a good job we`ve got some spare time on our hands!

 

Bob

[Mark Beard 1Participant @markbeard1]

Great! Not that you need it, but as I’m in a verbose mood, here are some tips for making the most of such cable:

 

Leave plenty of free cable at the end of the run, it’s all too easy to cut it through when trying to strip the insulation.

 

Strip the desired length from the outer insulation, but no less than an inch.

 

Before stripping the inner, gather all the strands of the outer screen and twist them together, making sure you haven’t left one escapee to short to the inner later on!

 

Strip the inner insulation to give a good margin of (red) inner insulation in place (at least 1/4 inch) to keep the inner conductor and outer screen well separated.

 

Well before soldering the wires or putting them in screw terminals, clamp the cable down by using a cable tie, extra wire, or screw a clamp over it, so that pulling the cable strains the clamp and not the wire tails. Make sure that there is plenty of free length of wire tails so that they are not tight when terminated.

 

Granny, eggs, sorry!

 

 

[Bob Abell 2Participant @bobabell2]

Hello Granny

 

Thanks for the good advice!……..I soon realised, things were tricky and taped the wires down first to the hub drum. Then was amazed that three strands of bumfluff actually worked in that gaping cavern of a terminal!

 

I could do with a method of rewinding the cable without taking the drum out of the hull now, since the wires are so delicate?

 

Just thought!………I could use a battery powered handdrill with a rubber roller and drive the drum on the flange rim?

 

Necessity is the Mother of Invention!…………Hello Mummy!

 

Bob

[Mark Beard 1Participant @markbeard1]

Bob, the core wire has 7 strands, so if you have 3 left you have cut off 4, probably while stripping the insulation. The outer screen has many more than 7.

 

[Bob Abell 2Participant @bobabell2]

Hello Mark

 

How do I strip the plastic off the inner core, correctly?…..I need all those inner wires!

 

It`s a pity I couldn`t use the inner wire, unstripped somehow?

 

Bob

[Mark Beard 1Participant @markbeard1]

The proper way to do it is with adjustable wire strippers which cut all around to a controlled depth!

 

I do it with a good sharp set of wire cutters and use judicious pressure to almost cut through the insulation, turning through 90° and cutting again. Relaxing the pressure slightly and pulling axially breaks the last vestige of insulation and keeps the inner strands intact.

 

The first time, when I haven’t yet gauged the pressure to use, I use conservative pressure then increase it slightly if it’s not enough to part the insulation.

Edited By Billysugger on 12/06/2011 09:40:23

[Bob Abell 2Participant @bobabell2]

Thanks for the info, Mark……..Need a new delicate wire stripper now

 

Made a new winch with a larger diameter drum with brass bush for easier cable payoff and also, just in case a larger size of wire is used

 

And a gerneral view forward….

Bob…………….It hasn`t stopped raining since the intended first sailing!

[Mark Beard 1Participant @markbeard1]

Looks great Bob. If you don’t want all that rain, feel free to send it East and South!

[DermisParticipant @dermis]

Ahoy there Cap’n.

 

All looking great here! But,……… I have noticed that there is an underwater bracket for the final paying out the cable, to give a realistic effect. If the cable is fixed at one end you rely on tension, and propulsion of the boat to draw the cable from the drum, then you will be drawing cable around an acute 90 degree bend. In my experience of dragging real cables, this might be a problem! Maybe a gentle curve at the final pay off point? A bit of 1/4″ plastic brewing pipe, curved somehow, and slit for easy threading? Huh?

 

Best regards. =]

[Bob Abell 2Participant @bobabell2]

Ahoy there yourself….Dermis

 

You have a point there, me ol` son!

 

Blimey!……..As soon as I finish one job………..Another one appears!

 

Might scrap the underwater thingy now and build a cage around the prop and rudder as the real GE had!

 

Thank you Dermis……Stand easy!

 

Capt Bob

[DermisParticipant @dermis]

At ease!

[Mark Beard 1Participant @markbeard1]

Bob, I’ve been watching the weather forecast, looking to see when your maiden cable run might take place. Now I understand the reputation your part of the world has for rain! Best of luck whenever there’s a break in the weather.

[Bob Abell 2Participant @bobabell2]

Hello Mark

 

We`ve had a lot of rain lately, right enough!

 

Watched the crazy 500 CLASS tonight at the club pond…..and the rain absolutely bucketed it down!

 

At the moment, Duckie is not available, due to family illness, so the rain can just get on with it, for the time being.

 

Making a rudder guard now, having to bend 1/4″ x 1/16″ brass…..edge on for the hoops!

You won`t believe how I`m doing it!

 

Outrageous picture to follow shortly

 

Bob

[Bob Abell 2Participant @bobabell2]

Well, here it is!…….The outrageous photograph!

 

Nowt outrageous there, Bob?

 

Oh yes there is!……..Look closely at the chuck flange………I`ve turned a groove in it!

 

Ever tried bending strip material edgeways?………A groove is needed, and the 4″ chuck is just the right size!

How`s that for lateral thinking?

 

And it`s nice and solid too, for bending round.

The brass needs constant annealing, but we`re getting there!

 

Bob

[Mark Beard 1Participant @markbeard1]

Great lateral thinking, I hope your lathe forgives you!

 

Now I’d have cut those pieces from brass sheet, or turned them out of sheet on the lathe, but that’s how much I know.

[Bob Abell 2Participant @bobabell2]

Hello Mark

 

Ain`t got not brass sheet……….Have you seen the price of brass sheet these days?….and it would be difficult to turn

 

Anyway, I`ve always fancied forming a ring, edge on!

 

Bob

[Mark Beard 1Participant @markbeard1]

I too love a challenge! Some time when I’m up your way I’ll have to try to get you to share your method over a pint!

[Bob Abell 2Participant @bobabell2]

You are very welcome, Mark

 

Bring your Pac a Mac!

 

Bob

[ashley needhamParticipant @ashleyneedham69188]

Bob..we are waiting wiv` bated bref`…surely its stopped raining for a tiny bit by now????

 

Ashley

[Bob Abell 2Participant @bobabell2]

Hello desperate and impatient Ashley, hang six there, kid!

 

Just got back from 3 days in Anglesey, hence the eerie silence!

 

The weather ain`t bad now, but my very excellent assistant, Duckie is unavailable at the moment. I don`t want to attract his displeasure by side stepping him, afterall, this is the prelude to Television stardom……Oscars and fame are just around the corner!

 

Rest assured, Good Buddy, this weekend is the club regatta on Saturday and Lifeboat day on the Sunday, so sailing isn`t far off

 

Let`s pretend, GE is still stuck on the launching ramp?

 

Bob

[Mark Beard 1Participant @markbeard1]

A good crew’s always worth keeping together.

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