2003 330 Express Overhead Electronics Cabinet- Best way to run a wire

[irishayes22]

Wondering the best way to run a NMEA drop from the overhead electronics cabinet down into the helm instrument cabinet. I assume that the wire would run down the starboard forward support tube. I opened up and looked behind the breaker switches to see what is all there. Obviously its tight in there. Trying to figure out how to get it from the support tube to behind the breaker panel. Any input is greatly appreciated.

 

[SkunkBoat]

Not familiar with the 330 wire routing but consider running a 2k backbone up to the top rather than a drop. That way you can eventually add more drops up there without more wires.

 

[irishayes22]

Not familiar with the 330 wire routing but consider running a 2k backbone up to the top rather than a drop. That way you can eventually add more drops up there without more wires.

Good point. Thanks

 

[wspitler]

If you want to get to the helm instrument cabinet and then into an area behind the breakers, the support tube is the easiest and from behind the gauges area you can feed drop cables down into the area behind the electronics panel. I ran my Nema net work up into the overhead radio box thru the support tube behind the starboard speaker from behind the instrument gauges area at the helm but no need to get it to the switches. My primary backbone is located behind the gauge clusters and the various drop cables originate from behind the instrument area. The drop cables can be fished into your electronics box from behind the instruments. If you remove your electronics panel in the cabin you will see it is all accessible once you get behind the gauges. I pulled my power for the Nema net work from my electronics bus behind the switch panel in the cabin. That was done via a drop cable. My 330 is a 2007 so there may be slight differences.

 

[irishayes22]

If you want to get to the helm instrument cabinet and then into an area behind the breakers, the support tube is the easiest and from behind the gauges area you can feed drop cables down into the area behind the electronics panel. I ran my Nema net work up into the overhead radio box thru the support tube behind the starboard speaker from behind the instrument gauges area at the helm but no need to get it to the switches. My primary backbone is located behind the gauge clusters and the various drop cables originate from behind the instrument area. The drop cables can be fished into your electronics box from behind the instruments. If you remove your electronics panel in the cabin you will see it is all accessible once you get behind the gauges. I pulled my power for the Nema net work from my electronics bus behind the switch panel in the cabin. That was done via a drop cable. My 330 is a 2007 so there may be slight differences.

Great thanks! Yes I can see my nmea connections when I open the breaker panel. And yes I see where the tube connects to the electronics panel. Do I need to remove the tub in the electronics console to help fish the wire down or does it seem to work it's way there on its own?

 

[wspitler]

No need to remove the tub. There are holes in it to get the Nema drop cables up to your electronics and there is a long opening in the front of the gauge area that will work down into the area behind the cabin breaker panel. Just have to work with a few slots here and there.

 

[irishayes22]

Great! Thanks for your help

 

[Fishtales]

I did it the way Wspitler indicated. Ran a wire snake down the tube opening in the overhead box into the help area where displays are. You can then run under the helm area if needed (depending where your connection points are).

 

[irishayes22]

Thanks. Appreciate the advice.