Molex to Coax Conversion - How to incorporate HUD?

Padowan · 15th April 2008, 08:26

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.

***Beanie*** · 15th April 2008, 08:31

Coax T peices I'm going to do the same thing when I get time.

Padowan · 15th April 2008, 09:58

Quote: (Originally Posted by Beanie)

Coax T peices I'm going to do the same thing when I get time.

But doesn't that still give you 2 mechanical connections between the cell and the electronics? I don't see that as any different to the Y-Splitter, except you don't have the added SMB-to-wire connections that you'd have at the ends of the splitter?

***Beanie*** · 15th April 2008, 10:07

Quote: (Originally Posted by Padowan)

But doesn't that still give you 2 mechanical connections between the cell and the electronics? I don't see that as any different to the Y-Splitter, except you don't have the added SMB-to-wire connections that you'd have at the ends of the splitter?

True but it's a solid (ish) lump and it allows you to remove it if required. Neater than the same thing as a cable.

I guess you could have 1 coax connector and wire that to both the inspo wire and the hud wire.

Padowan · 15th April 2008, 10:11

I also assume that if you do a DIY Coax conversion, AP would have a fit if you put the lid in for a service?

I'm trying to make any mods on my unit reversible, so that in the unlikely event that I want to send the head back, I can strip out all the mods, leaving things all standard.

I suppose an official AP coax conversion combined with some T-Pieces could be a good reversible solution.

How much is their Coax conversion by the way?

***Beanie*** · 15th April 2008, 10:18

Quote: (Originally Posted by Padowan)

How much is their Coax conversion by the way?

lots
£500

http://www.rebreatherworld.com/inspi...with-coax.html

PCDiver · 15th April 2008, 11:02

I would create a splitter. Have a look at the farnell website for the correct connectors. They are cheap as well and have plenty in store, even fischer connectors. (UK website: UK - world-leading distributor of electronic and maintenance, repair and operations products. | Farnell UK)

Padowan · 16th April 2008, 16:12

Quote: (Originally Posted by Beanie)

lots
£500

http://www.rebreatherworld.com/inspi...with-coax.html

Damn, that is expensive! £536 quoted which includes a FULL head service and stripdown to the handsets (not sure why that is, as the cell wiring only goes as far as the potted box?) replacement loom and 3 new cells.

So the cells are about £65 each I guess, so that accounts for £195 of that cost, a BASIC head service is £35 (including new Batt Box, and solenoid service), so there's another bit. That leaves £306 for some wire, 3 plugs, digging out and repotting the terminal box and a bit of soldering.... Hmmmm.

I'm quite handy with a soldering iron and the like, and it's frustrating that I would have to pay through the nose for something I think i could do myself - it's like paying a main dealer to service your car, so that you can get the FSH stamp. I'm sure AP would refrain from doing any subsequent work on my head if I did it myself, or at best they would cut out all of my work, start again, and charge me for the priviledge.

Not sure what to do now....

divetheworld · 16th April 2008, 16:51

Quote: (Originally Posted by Padowan)

Damn, that is expensive! £536 quoted which includes a FULL head service and stripdown to the handsets (not sure why that is, as the cell wiring only goes as far as the potted box?) replacement loom and 3 new cells.

So the cells are about £65 each I guess, so that accounts for £195 of that cost, a BASIC head service is £35 (including new Batt Box, and solenoid service), so there's another bit. That leaves £306 for some wire, 3 plugs, digging out and repotting the terminal box and a bit of soldering.... Hmmmm

Funny you should mention this because MP on the Inspo list just posted;

“During a lid service everything is disconnected and re-soldered on.
During a full service we also open up the handsets and remove the electronics and replace the on/off switch. “

If the lid service is the basic one at about £35, the soldering etc are covered by that. I always thought the loom was about £180, even if so that makes a bit of mains flex £150 ish.
Damn, we could do it for you and put marine grade wire in for that price. Next time someone with an APD unit comments on the price of our stuff, I'm gonna have to giggle at the irony.

<edit>
Ok, my mistake. A loom isnt £180 ish, its £341.22 for molex and £365.05 for SMB type.

***Beanie*** · 16th April 2008, 18:26

Quote: (Originally Posted by Padowan)

Damn, that is expensive! £536 quoted which includes a FULL head service and stripdown to the handsets (not sure why that is, as the cell wiring only goes as far as the potted box?) replacement loom and 3 new cells.

So the cells are about £65 each I guess, so that accounts for £195 of that cost, a BASIC head service is £35 (including new Batt Box, and solenoid service), so there's another bit. That leaves £306 for some wire, 3 plugs, digging out and repotting the terminal box and a bit of soldering.... Hmmmm.

I'm quite handy with a soldering iron and the like, and it's frustrating that I would have to pay through the nose for something I think i could do myself - it's like paying a main dealer to service your car, so that you can get the FSH stamp. I'm sure AP would refrain from doing any subsequent work on my head if I did it myself, or at best they would cut out all of my work, start again, and charge me for the priviledge.

Not sure what to do now....

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.

15th April 2008, 08:26	#1 (permalink)
Padowan Proper Boffin Current Rebreather/s: Inspiration Classic Other Rebreather/s: Join Date: Feb 2005 Location: Kent, UK. Posts: 518	Molex to Coax Conversion - How to incorporate HUD? 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. __________________ Padowan The future's bright, the future's Yellow .....for now padowan.net - Latest Video: Scapa Flow Rebreather Diving
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15th April 2008, 08:31	#2 (permalink)
*Beanie* give a man an inch....... Current Rebreather/s: Inspiration Classic Other Rebreather/s: Inspiration Vision Join Date: Jan 2005 Location: In da house! yeah baby! Posts: 3,174	Re: Molex to Coax Conversion - How to incorporate HUD? Coax T peices I'm going to do the same thing when I get time. __________________ Beanie Gallery Admin & Library Assistant. www.outlawdivers.org.uk www.beandiving.co.uk www.beanengineering.co.uk
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15th April 2008, 09:58	#3 (permalink)
Padowan Proper Boffin Current Rebreather/s: Inspiration Classic Other Rebreather/s: Join Date: Feb 2005 Location: Kent, UK. Posts: 518	Re: Molex to Coax Conversion - How to incorporate HUD? Quote: (Originally Posted by Beanie) Coax T peices I'm going to do the same thing when I get time. But doesn't that still give you 2 mechanical connections between the cell and the electronics? I don't see that as any different to the Y-Splitter, except you don't have the added SMB-to-wire connections that you'd have at the ends of the splitter? __________________ Padowan The future's bright, the future's Yellow .....for now padowan.net - Latest Video: Scapa Flow Rebreather Diving
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15th April 2008, 10:07	#4 (permalink)
*Beanie* give a man an inch....... Current Rebreather/s: Inspiration Classic Other Rebreather/s: Inspiration Vision Join Date: Jan 2005 Location: In da house! yeah baby! Posts: 3,174	Re: Molex to Coax Conversion - How to incorporate HUD? Quote: (Originally Posted by Padowan) But doesn't that still give you 2 mechanical connections between the cell and the electronics? I don't see that as any different to the Y-Splitter, except you don't have the added SMB-to-wire connections that you'd have at the ends of the splitter? True but it's a solid (ish) lump and it allows you to remove it if required. Neater than the same thing as a cable. I guess you could have 1 coax connector and wire that to both the inspo wire and the hud wire. __________________ Beanie Gallery Admin & Library Assistant. www.outlawdivers.org.uk www.beandiving.co.uk www.beanengineering.co.uk
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15th April 2008, 10:11	#5 (permalink)
Padowan Proper Boffin Current Rebreather/s: Inspiration Classic Other Rebreather/s: Join Date: Feb 2005 Location: Kent, UK. Posts: 518	Re: Molex to Coax Conversion - How to incorporate HUD? I also assume that if you do a DIY Coax conversion, AP would have a fit if you put the lid in for a service? I'm trying to make any mods on my unit reversible, so that in the unlikely event that I want to send the head back, I can strip out all the mods, leaving things all standard. I suppose an official AP coax conversion combined with some T-Pieces could be a good reversible solution. How much is their Coax conversion by the way? __________________ Padowan The future's bright, the future's Yellow .....for now padowan.net - Latest Video: Scapa Flow Rebreather Diving
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15th April 2008, 10:18	#6 (permalink)
*Beanie* give a man an inch....... Current Rebreather/s: Inspiration Classic Other Rebreather/s: Inspiration Vision Join Date: Jan 2005 Location: In da house! yeah baby! Posts: 3,174	Re: Molex to Coax Conversion - How to incorporate HUD? Quote: (Originally Posted by Padowan) How much is their Coax conversion by the way? lots £500 http://www.rebreatherworld.com/inspi...with-coax.html __________________ Beanie Gallery Admin & Library Assistant. www.outlawdivers.org.uk www.beandiving.co.uk www.beanengineering.co.uk
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15th April 2008, 11:02	#7 (permalink)
PCDiver Submerge Productions Current Rebreather/s: Inspiration Vision Other Rebreather/s: Inspiration Classic Join Date: Feb 2005 Location: Belgium Posts: 969	Re: Molex to Coax Conversion - How to incorporate HUD? I would create a splitter. Have a look at the farnell website for the correct connectors. They are cheap as well and have plenty in store, even fischer connectors. (UK website: UK - world-leading distributor of electronic and maintenance, repair and operations products. \| Farnell UK) __________________ >>>>> www.submergeproductions.com dedicated to promoting technical diving >>>>> Check out our dive show video interviews and Wreck dive videos >>>>> Now also on iTunes and Zune
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16th April 2008, 16:12	#8 (permalink)
Padowan Proper Boffin Current Rebreather/s: Inspiration Classic Other Rebreather/s: Join Date: Feb 2005 Location: Kent, UK. Posts: 518	Re: Molex to Coax Conversion - How to incorporate HUD? Quote: (Originally Posted by Beanie) lots £500 http://www.rebreatherworld.com/inspi...with-coax.html Damn, that is expensive! £536 quoted which includes a FULL head service and stripdown to the handsets (not sure why that is, as the cell wiring only goes as far as the potted box?) replacement loom and 3 new cells. So the cells are about £65 each I guess, so that accounts for £195 of that cost, a BASIC head service is £35 (including new Batt Box, and solenoid service), so there's another bit. That leaves £306 for some wire, 3 plugs, digging out and repotting the terminal box and a bit of soldering.... Hmmmm. I'm quite handy with a soldering iron and the like, and it's frustrating that I would have to pay through the nose for something I think i could do myself - it's like paying a main dealer to service your car, so that you can get the FSH stamp. I'm sure AP would refrain from doing any subsequent work on my head if I did it myself, or at best they would cut out all of my work, start again, and charge me for the priviledge. Not sure what to do now.... __________________ Padowan The future's bright, the future's Yellow .....for now padowan.net - Latest Video: Scapa Flow Rebreather Diving
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16th April 2008, 16:51	#9 (permalink)
divetheworld Dive porn pimp Current Rebreather/s: Inspiration Classic Other CCR Other Rebreather/s: Not Bought Yet Inspiration Classic Inspiration Vision Classic Kiss Other CCR Join Date: Mar 2005 Location: Leeds, England Posts: 1,586	Re: Molex to Coax Conversion - How to incorporate HUD? Quote: (Originally Posted by Padowan) Damn, that is expensive! £536 quoted which includes a FULL head service and stripdown to the handsets (not sure why that is, as the cell wiring only goes as far as the potted box?) replacement loom and 3 new cells. So the cells are about £65 each I guess, so that accounts for £195 of that cost, a BASIC head service is £35 (including new Batt Box, and solenoid service), so there's another bit. That leaves £306 for some wire, 3 plugs, digging out and repotting the terminal box and a bit of soldering.... Hmmmm Funny you should mention this because MP on the Inspo list just posted; “During a lid service everything is disconnected and re-soldered on. During a full service we also open up the handsets and remove the electronics and replace the on/off switch. “ If the lid service is the basic one at about £35, the soldering etc are covered by that. I always thought the loom was about £180, even if so that makes a bit of mains flex £150 ish. Damn, we could do it for you and put marine grade wire in for that price. Next time someone with an APD unit comments on the price of our stuff, I'm gonna have to giggle at the irony. <edit> Ok, my mistake. A loom isnt £180 ish, its £341.22 for molex and £365.05 for SMB type. __________________ Attitude and self praise is no reccomendation. Dont try to be a great man, just be a man and let history be the judge of you. CHECK OUT OUR INTERWEBS FOR CUSTOM REBREATHER UPGRADES *WWW.NARKEDAT90.CO.UK* *http://www.grpservices.com/pursuit/* Supporting Shearwater Research Products in Europe Last edited by divetheworld : 17th April 2008 at 15:50. Reason: i forgot how much it costs to run a Cessna
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16th April 2008, 18:26	#10 (permalink)
*Beanie* give a man an inch....... Current Rebreather/s: Inspiration Classic Other Rebreather/s: Inspiration Vision Join Date: Jan 2005 Location: In da house! yeah baby! Posts: 3,174	Re: Molex to Coax Conversion - How to incorporate HUD? Quote: (Originally Posted by Padowan) Damn, that is expensive! £536 quoted which includes a FULL head service and stripdown to the handsets (not sure why that is, as the cell wiring only goes as far as the potted box?) replacement loom and 3 new cells. So the cells are about £65 each I guess, so that accounts for £195 of that cost, a BASIC head service is £35 (including new Batt Box, and solenoid service), so there's another bit. That leaves £306 for some wire, 3 plugs, digging out and repotting the terminal box and a bit of soldering.... Hmmmm. I'm quite handy with a soldering iron and the like, and it's frustrating that I would have to pay through the nose for something I think i could do myself - it's like paying a main dealer to service your car, so that you can get the FSH stamp. I'm sure AP would refrain from doing any subsequent work on my head if I did it myself, or at best they would cut out all of my work, start again, and charge me for the priviledge. Not sure what to do now.... 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. __________________ Beanie Gallery Admin & Library Assistant. www.outlawdivers.org.uk www.beandiving.co.uk www.beanengineering.co.uk
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