Molex to Coax Conversion - How to incorporate HUD?

divelermentov · 17th April 2008, 02:36

Quote: (Originally Posted by Padowan)

I'm thinking of converting the cells in my Classic inspo from Moles to Co-ax, however I have a Shearwater HUD fitted, which at the moment it piggy-backed into the Molex connectors.

I know it would be simple to make a couple of Y-splitters and split the cell output to both the Inspo loom and the HUD, but my hesitancy for doing this is because I don't want to add an additional mechanical connection in the control loop wiring.

What are peoples thoughts on this? One way to look at it is that the Co-ax SMB connection is more resiliant than the molex, and so an additional SMB in line with the control loop is of less risk than using the more unreliable molex's.

Of course if someone has a cunning thought about how I could splice an output for the HUD, without compromising the control wiring, that would be great too.

6 cells :-)

Mdemon · 17th April 2008, 23:57

I've just soldered in both coax and molex connectors to each cell cable, so now I can take either type of cell, depending on who's throwing away which type.

It strikes me that if you did the same thing Simon, then all you'd have to do is put similar on your Shearwater, but gender-bent - F > M etc. Et voila! Whichever one not being used on the Inspo gets plugged into the Shearwater and you have solved the problem!

And the connectors are the same as used to connect cells so can be no better and no worse than those connecting to the cells.

I'll post pics on SWM tomorrow.

Mdemon · 20th April 2008, 17:21

A little late, but here you go.

Solution to "coax or molex?" cell problem! - South West Mafia

All the anti-corrosion measures seem to have worked well too!

julieann charters · 21st April 2008, 19:54

Quote: (Originally Posted by Beanie)

my DIY option1 is to splice onto the current wires.
the really nice solution is to dig out the potting and rewire the lot but that's the biggy and asking for things to go expensivly wrong.

not really its straight forward the cell connections on the pcb board are right next to were they enter the junction box and are all marked cell 1,2 &3.
use a blunt knife to pop off the junctiuon box lid its only lightly glued & prise out the potted pcb board
potting compound is very soft you can break it off with yer nail .
i used a small blunt terminal screwdriver to pick it all off back to a clean pcb board which i stripped totally.
the potting compound does not stick to the pcb board which is slightly smaller than the junction box it sits in.
the pcb board is all marked for each cable core so you can't make a mistake on the rewire .
if your just replacing the coax cables its easy as the coax are thinner than the molex cables ,i hard wired in my shearwater HUD with the new coax connectors so you have to be tidy as its a small junction box.
it suited me as my head will never be serviced by AP again since it has custom handsets.
when my contollers finally die i'll prob move to a narked @90 replacement
elfyn

***Beanie*** · 21st April 2008, 20:20

oo nice thanks for the info

I was hoping mdemon was going to be up for a bit for rewiring but he's gone for the splice option

Mdemon · 21st April 2008, 21:05

Quote: (Originally Posted by Beanie)

oo nice thanks for the info

I was hoping mdemon was going to be up for a bit for rewiring but he's gone for the splice option

Best of both worlds mate.

Ultimately, I might do an Elfyn and completely rewire the lot. Right now though I think I've done enough meddling and would quite like to actually get a dive or two in!

***Beanie*** · 21st April 2008, 21:52

Quote: (Originally Posted by Mdemon)

Right now though I think I've done enough meddling and would quite like to actually get a dive or two in!

your not the only one

julieann charters · 21st April 2008, 23:13

Quote: (Originally Posted by Beanie)

your not the only one

yep me too ,looks like the weather gods are going to be kind this weekend so i might get some charters out.
other skipper is onboard so i'll be diving too ,result!!!!!
splice looks good
hope we have a better season than last year.
safe diving
elfyn

Padowan · 22nd April 2008, 12:11

Quote: (Originally Posted by Mdemon)

Best of both worlds mate.

I see that you have used non-coax cable for the leads to the co-ax connectors? How did you attach the outside contact to the plug? Did you just solder it to the plug casing?

Mdemon · 22nd April 2008, 19:34

Basically, yes. There is a tube-bit sticking out of the main body which has been gnurled on the outside to grip the coax. This also allows the inner wire to pass through it to the centre post in the SMB. The adhesive heatshrink adds strength to the join and seals it. The SMB connector comes with a collar to clamp coax wire but this would have removed the grip for the heatshrink so wasn't used.

Inside the connector was soldered, then potted. That is therefore not going anywhere and again adds strength to the outer connection.

I also tried some straight SMBs, male and female, but they come with a detachable inner piece which is just way too fiddly to solder reliably. Shame, as these were going to be adapters to allow the Ginger Tw*t to do the same thing.

The link on SWM shows a bigger picture.

17th April 2008, 02:36	#11 (permalink)
divelermentov Nutty dentist - uwdriller Current Rebreather/s: Inspiration Classic Home Build Other Rebreather/s: Home Build Join Date: May 2006 Location: Auckland Posts: 665	Re: Molex to Coax Conversion - How to incorporate HUD? Quote: (Originally Posted by Padowan) I'm thinking of converting the cells in my Classic inspo from Moles to Co-ax, however I have a Shearwater HUD fitted, which at the moment it piggy-backed into the Molex connectors. I know it would be simple to make a couple of Y-splitters and split the cell output to both the Inspo loom and the HUD, but my hesitancy for doing this is because I don't want to add an additional mechanical connection in the control loop wiring. What are peoples thoughts on this? One way to look at it is that the Co-ax SMB connection is more resiliant than the molex, and so an additional SMB in line with the control loop is of less risk than using the more unreliable molex's. Of course if someone has a cunning thought about how I could splice an output for the HUD, without compromising the control wiring, that would be great too. 6 cells :-) __________________ May The Sorb Be With You
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17th April 2008, 23:57	#12 (permalink)
Mdemon SiegeEngine II Current Rebreather/s: Inspiration Classic Home Build Other Rebreather/s: Inspiration Classic Home Build Join Date: Feb 2007 Location: SWUK Posts: 1,946	Re: Molex to Coax Conversion - How to incorporate HUD? I've just soldered in both coax and molex connectors to each cell cable, so now I can take either type of cell, depending on who's throwing away which type. It strikes me that if you did the same thing Simon, then all you'd have to do is put similar on your Shearwater, but gender-bent - F > M etc. Et voila! Whichever one not being used on the Inspo gets plugged into the Shearwater and you have solved the problem! And the connectors are the same as used to connect cells so can be no better and no worse than those connecting to the cells. I'll post pics on SWM tomorrow. __________________ www.southwestmafia.com "small minds talk about people, Average Minds Talk About Events, GREAT MINDS TALK ABOUT IDEAS!" The WRONG Attitude will get you killed. "Once the agenda-monkeys and perfect-worlders have moved on, perhaps we can do some diving?"
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20th April 2008, 17:21	#13 (permalink)
Mdemon SiegeEngine II Current Rebreather/s: Inspiration Classic Home Build Other Rebreather/s: Inspiration Classic Home Build Join Date: Feb 2007 Location: SWUK Posts: 1,946	Re: Molex to Coax Conversion - How to incorporate HUD? A little late, but here you go. Solution to "coax or molex?" cell problem! - South West Mafia All the anti-corrosion measures seem to have worked well too! __________________ www.southwestmafia.com "small minds talk about people, Average Minds Talk About Events, GREAT MINDS TALK ABOUT IDEAS!" The WRONG Attitude will get you killed. "Once the agenda-monkeys and perfect-worlders have moved on, perhaps we can do some diving?"
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21st April 2008, 19:54	#14 (permalink)
julieann charters New Member Current Rebreather/s: Home Build Other Rebreather/s: Inspiration Classic Home Build Join Date: Nov 2005 Location: Anglesey Posts: 47	Re: Molex to Coax Conversion - How to incorporate HUD? Quote: (Originally Posted by Beanie) my DIY option1 is to splice onto the current wires. the really nice solution is to dig out the potting and rewire the lot but that's the biggy and asking for things to go expensivly wrong. not really its straight forward the cell connections on the pcb board are right next to were they enter the junction box and are all marked cell 1,2 &3. use a blunt knife to pop off the junctiuon box lid its only lightly glued & prise out the potted pcb board potting compound is very soft you can break it off with yer nail . i used a small blunt terminal screwdriver to pick it all off back to a clean pcb board which i stripped totally. the potting compound does not stick to the pcb board which is slightly smaller than the junction box it sits in. the pcb board is all marked for each cable core so you can't make a mistake on the rewire . if your just replacing the coax cables its easy as the coax are thinner than the molex cables ,i hard wired in my shearwater HUD with the new coax connectors so you have to be tidy as its a small junction box. it suited me as my head will never be serviced by AP again since it has custom handsets. when my contollers finally die i'll prob move to a narked @90 replacement elfyn __________________ Diving Angleseys wrecks and reefs aboard hardboats "Julieann" & "Empress" with diver/ skippers Elfyn &Terry both on ccr since 1999. www.julie-anne.co.uk 08004584090 07768863355
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21st April 2008, 20:20	#15 (permalink)
*Beanie* Gallery Administrator Current Rebreather/s: Inspiration Classic Other Rebreather/s: Inspiration Vision Join Date: Jan 2005 Location: In da house! yeah baby! Posts: 3,312	Re: Molex to Coax Conversion - How to incorporate HUD? oo nice thanks for the info I was hoping mdemon was going to be up for a bit for rewiring but he's gone for the splice option __________________ Beanie Gallery Admin & Library Assistant. www.outlawdivers.org.uk www.beandiving.co.uk www.beanengineering.co.uk
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21st April 2008, 21:05	#16 (permalink)
Mdemon SiegeEngine II Current Rebreather/s: Inspiration Classic Home Build Other Rebreather/s: Inspiration Classic Home Build Join Date: Feb 2007 Location: SWUK Posts: 1,946	Re: Molex to Coax Conversion - How to incorporate HUD? Quote: (Originally Posted by Beanie) oo nice thanks for the info I was hoping mdemon was going to be up for a bit for rewiring but he's gone for the splice option Best of both worlds mate. Ultimately, I might do an Elfyn and completely rewire the lot. Right now though I think I've done enough meddling and would quite like to actually get a dive or two in! __________________ www.southwestmafia.com "small minds talk about people, Average Minds Talk About Events, GREAT MINDS TALK ABOUT IDEAS!" The WRONG Attitude will get you killed. "Once the agenda-monkeys and perfect-worlders have moved on, perhaps we can do some diving?" Last edited by Mdemon : 22nd April 2008 at 06:40.
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21st April 2008, 21:52	#17 (permalink)
*Beanie* Gallery Administrator Current Rebreather/s: Inspiration Classic Other Rebreather/s: Inspiration Vision Join Date: Jan 2005 Location: In da house! yeah baby! Posts: 3,312	Re: Molex to Coax Conversion - How to incorporate HUD? Quote: (Originally Posted by Mdemon) Right now though I think I've done enough meddling and would quite like to actually get a dive or two in! your not the only one __________________ Beanie Gallery Admin & Library Assistant. www.outlawdivers.org.uk www.beandiving.co.uk www.beanengineering.co.uk
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21st April 2008, 23:13	#18 (permalink)
julieann charters New Member Current Rebreather/s: Home Build Other Rebreather/s: Inspiration Classic Home Build Join Date: Nov 2005 Location: Anglesey Posts: 47	Re: Molex to Coax Conversion - How to incorporate HUD? Quote: (Originally Posted by Beanie) your not the only one yep me too ,looks like the weather gods are going to be kind this weekend so i might get some charters out. other skipper is onboard so i'll be diving too ,result!!!!! splice looks good hope we have a better season than last year. safe diving elfyn __________________ Diving Angleseys wrecks and reefs aboard hardboats "Julieann" & "Empress" with diver/ skippers Elfyn &Terry both on ccr since 1999. www.julie-anne.co.uk 08004584090 07768863355
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22nd April 2008, 12:11	#19 (permalink)
Padowan RBW Member Current Rebreather/s: Inspiration Classic Other Rebreather/s: Join Date: Feb 2005 Location: Exeter, UK. Posts: 526	Re: Molex to Coax Conversion - How to incorporate HUD? Quote: (Originally Posted by Mdemon) Best of both worlds mate. I see that you have used non-coax cable for the leads to the co-ax connectors? How did you attach the outside contact to the plug? Did you just solder it to the plug casing? __________________ Padowan The future's bright, the future's Yellow .....for now padowan.net - Latest Video: Scapa Flow Rebreather Diving
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22nd April 2008, 19:34	#20 (permalink)
Mdemon SiegeEngine II Current Rebreather/s: Inspiration Classic Home Build Other Rebreather/s: Inspiration Classic Home Build Join Date: Feb 2007 Location: SWUK Posts: 1,946	Re: Molex to Coax Conversion - How to incorporate HUD? Basically, yes. There is a tube-bit sticking out of the main body which has been gnurled on the outside to grip the coax. This also allows the inner wire to pass through it to the centre post in the SMB. The adhesive heatshrink adds strength to the join and seals it. The SMB connector comes with a collar to clamp coax wire but this would have removed the grip for the heatshrink so wasn't used. Inside the connector was soldered, then potted. That is therefore not going anywhere and again adds strength to the outer connection. I also tried some straight SMBs, male and female, but they come with a detachable inner piece which is just way too fiddly to solder reliably. Shame, as these were going to be adapters to allow the Ginger Twt to do the same thing. The link on SWM shows a bigger picture. __________________ www.southwestmafia.com "small minds talk about people, Average Minds Talk About Events, GREAT MINDS TALK ABOUT IDEAS!" The WRONG Attitude will get you killed.* "Once the agenda-monkeys and perfect-worlders have moved on, perhaps we can do some diving?" Last edited by Mdemon : 22nd April 2008 at 19:39.
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