Cable caps for GPS - Kayak Fishing Adventures on Big Water’s Edge

Bruntoj · 06-11-2017, 11:19 AM

Has anyone found cable caps that fit Lowrance transducer power cables? I drybag my fish finder when launching/landing so my cables get wet every time and end up looking like this:

And that's AFTER cleaning with spray contact cleaner and canned blow dry.

Searching online it seems like the Lowrance connector might be a standard "NMEA 0183" but the only weather cap might be a Garmin weather cap upc 753759067663.

Has anyone solved this problem already, maybe found a common household cap that fits? I tried looking at electrical caps in HD/Lowes.

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FISH11 · 06-11-2017, 11:45 AM

All your connections should always have a generous coating of dielectric grease to prevent corrosion. Also always connect the battery last and disconnect first when putting in your fish finder or any electrical component. Never leave the battery connected to the harness when in storage.

Bruntoj · 06-11-2017, 12:07 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by FISH11

All your connections should always have a generous coating of dielectric grease to prevent corrosion. Also always connect the battery last and disconnect first when putting in your fish finder or any electrical component. Never leave the battery connected to the harness when in storage.

I've lubed it with dielectric in the past and all that seems to do is result in a messy green(corrosion) sludge that appears to be a mix of grease and water.

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YakDout · 06-11-2017, 12:45 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Bruntoj

I've lubed it with dielectric in the past and all that seems to do is result in a messy green(corrosion) sludge that appears to be a mix of grease and water.

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You need to add the grease before you get the corrosion not after.

ful-rac · 06-11-2017, 01:24 PM

#1 Don't leave your battery connected to wires that are exposed. When disconnecting fish finder disconnect battery first then fish finder. When connecting, connect your fish finder then connect your battery. If you want use a light coating of dielectric grease, it's okay but don't go crazy with it. If you put too much grease on it there is a possibility of damaging your fish finder contacts by hydraulic pressure when you connect it!

MITCHELL · 06-11-2017, 02:15 PM

As soon as you get off salt water, always disconnect battery no matter what. I tape a plastic bag over my graph with battery disconnected when I go through the surf, then i ripe plastic bag open and plug battery in when I come back through surf I take off my graph off and put it in a dry box.

kirkdavis · 06-11-2017, 02:16 PM

Dielectric grease is good, but you are talking about your connectors being exposed when you land. I couldn't find covers, so at first I would just wrap a grocery bag around the cable ends. Now that we can no longer get cheap plastic grocery bags to be reused for many other purposes.....OK, I'll get off my soap box.
Use balloons. You can buy a whole bag for a buck or two. Sometimes they tear after one use, but they are still cheap. You could probably go high-end and get the helium grade balloons that would last longer, but I'm a tightwad.

Bruntoj · 06-11-2017, 09:23 PM

If I could find the "male" end of the power connector, like what's on the fish finder unit, I could just screw that on while in the surf. Or find a cheap extension cord that I could cut the male end from, but it seems they don't exist. I couldn't find the name of the connector: NMEA 2000 or NMEA 0183 seem close. Anybody know the industry name for the red power connector?

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ful-rac · 06-12-2017, 01:32 PM

As well as following procedure for connecting and disconnecting my fish finder, I also have caps for the plugs just like you asked.

Here it what I use.

They are soft rubber plastic caps, made with the same material as the caps that are on the back of your fish finder, for those unused plugs.

Reiner · 06-12-2017, 05:56 PM

I have the same yellow caps as above and bought them for about a dollar at home depot. They were in the same section as all the screws.

Bruntoj · 06-12-2017, 07:17 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by ful-rac

As well as following procedure for connecting and disconnecting my fish finder, I also have caps for the plugs just like you asked.

Here it what I use.

They are soft rubber plastic caps, made with the same material as the caps that are on the back of your fish finder, for those unused plugs.

Hang on...how are you fitting those round caps over the octagonal caps? (see my first corrosion pic). I thought I was looking for something that fits the inner round section?

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PescadorPete · 06-12-2017, 07:34 PM

Here's what I use, over the inner section. Very watertight. A dab of dielectric grease on the inside. I use the same on the back of the fish finder. I got them at Marshall's Industrial hardware in Miramar. They have a large selection of types and sizes.

Bruntoj · 06-12-2017, 07:40 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by PescadorPete

Here's what I use, over the inner section. Very watertight. A dab of dielectric grease on the inside. I use the same on the back of the fish finder. I got them at Marshall's Industrial hardware in Miramar. They have a large selection of types and sizes.

Awesome, thank you so much! I'll head there later this week.

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ful-rac · 06-12-2017, 09:03 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Bruntoj

Hang on...how are you fitting those round caps over the octagonal caps? (see my first corrosion pic). I thought I was looking for something that fits the inner round section?

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The caps are made out of a soft plastic/rubber type material. It easily stretches over the lowrance plugs, and covers them.

Baja_Traveler · 06-13-2017, 02:50 PM

Contact Lowrance and get the real thing. I'm just now installing structurescan on my PA, and one of the cables came with this cap. Since it will be permanent below deck, I moved the cap up to my power cord to the finder.

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ful-rac · 06-13-2017, 03:07 PM

Yeaaah I got those...They would be great if they stayed on, but they just don't fit tightly enough for my liking, they were constantly falling off. If they work for you great!

Bruntoj · 06-16-2017, 02:02 PM

19 cents each at Marshalls Industrial Supply near Miramar. That place is like a toy store for grown ups

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Reiner · 06-16-2017, 02:21 PM

Perfect

katchfish · 06-18-2017, 07:29 PM

http://www.marshallshardware.com

They have an amazing selection of stainless steel fasteners too.

JayDee · 12-11-2017, 12:59 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Bruntoj

19 cents each at Marshalls Industrial Supply near Miramar. That place is like a toy store for grown ups

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Do you have the part number or size? I have the Lowrance Hook 5

06-11-2017, 11:45 AM	#2
FISH11 Member Join Date: Aug 2013 Location: Pine Valley when not fishing La Jolla Posts: 2,642	All your connections should always have a generous coating of dielectric grease to prevent corrosion. Also always connect the battery last and disconnect first when putting in your fish finder or any electrical component. Never leave the battery connected to the harness when in storage. __________________ MARK ......... 2016 MALIBU X FACTOR, 2020 SOLO SKIFF (Fishing Kayak on Steroids )

06-11-2017, 01:24 PM	#5
ful-rac Emperor Join Date: May 2009 Location: Buena Park Posts: 3,649	#1 Don't leave your battery connected to wires that are exposed. When disconnecting fish finder disconnect battery first then fish finder. When connecting, connect your fish finder then connect your battery. If you want use a light coating of dielectric grease, it's okay but don't go crazy with it. If you put too much grease on it there is a possibility of damaging your fish finder contacts by hydraulic pressure when you connect it! __________________ There's nothing colder than yesterday's hotdog.

06-11-2017, 02:15 PM	#6
MITCHELL Sea Hunter Join Date: Nov 2011 Location: Where ever I may roam where I lay my head I call home. Posts: 2,269	Rise your plug connecter with fresh water... As soon as you get off salt water, always disconnect battery no matter what. I tape a plastic bag over my graph with battery disconnected when I go through the surf, then i ripe plastic bag open and plug battery in when I come back through surf I take off my graph off and put it in a dry box. __________________ Duke Mitchell Last edited by MITCHELL; 06-11-2017 at 02:41 PM.

06-11-2017, 02:16 PM	#7
kirkdavis Senior Member Join Date: Apr 2015 Location: SD County Posts: 360	Balloons Dielectric grease is good, but you are talking about your connectors being exposed when you land. I couldn't find covers, so at first I would just wrap a grocery bag around the cable ends. Now that we can no longer get cheap plastic grocery bags to be reused for many other purposes.....OK, I'll get off my soap box. Use balloons. You can buy a whole bag for a buck or two. Sometimes they tear after one use, but they are still cheap. You could probably go high-end and get the helium grade balloons that would last longer, but I'm a tightwad.

06-12-2017, 01:32 PM	#9
ful-rac Emperor Join Date: May 2009 Location: Buena Park Posts: 3,649	Here's what I use.. As well as following procedure for connecting and disconnecting my fish finder, I also have caps for the plugs just like you asked. Here it what I use. They are soft rubber plastic caps, made with the same material as the caps that are on the back of your fish finder, for those unused plugs. __________________ There's nothing colder than yesterday's hotdog.

06-11-2017, 11:19 AM	#1
Bruntoj Senior Member Join Date: Jan 2016 Location: San Diego County Posts: 168	Cable caps for GPS Has anyone found cable caps that fit Lowrance transducer power cables? I drybag my fish finder when launching/landing so my cables get wet every time and end up looking like this: And that's AFTER cleaning with spray contact cleaner and canned blow dry. Searching online it seems like the Lowrance connector might be a standard "NMEA 0183" but the only weather cap might be a Garmin weather cap upc 753759067663. Has anyone solved this problem already, maybe found a common household cap that fits? I tried looking at electrical caps in HD/Lowes. Sent from my iPad using Tapatalk

06-11-2017, 09:23 PM	#8
Bruntoj Senior Member Join Date: Jan 2016 Location: San Diego County Posts: 168	If I could find the "male" end of the power connector, like what's on the fish finder unit, I could just screw that on while in the surf. Or find a cheap extension cord that I could cut the male end from, but it seems they don't exist. I couldn't find the name of the connector: NMEA 2000 or NMEA 0183 seem close. Anybody know the industry name for the red power connector? Sent from my iPad using Tapatalk

06-12-2017, 05:56 PM	#10
Reiner Member Join Date: Apr 2016 Posts: 71	I have the same yellow caps as above and bought them for about a dollar at home depot. They were in the same section as all the screws.

06-12-2017, 07:34 PM	#12
PescadorPete Senior Member Join Date: Mar 2005 Location: Leucadia, CA Posts: 261	Here's what I use, over the inner section. Very watertight. A dab of dielectric grease on the inside. I use the same on the back of the fish finder. I got them at Marshall's Industrial hardware in Miramar. They have a large selection of types and sizes.

06-13-2017, 02:50 PM	#15
Baja_Traveler Senior Member Join Date: Nov 2005 Location: Table 17, Bay Park Fish Co. Posts: 943	Contact Lowrance and get the real thing. I'm just now installing structurescan on my PA, and one of the cables came with this cap. Since it will be permanent below deck, I moved the cap up to my power cord to the finder. Sent from my iPhone using Tapatalk Pro

06-13-2017, 03:07 PM	#16
ful-rac Emperor Join Date: May 2009 Location: Buena Park Posts: 3,649	Yeaaah I got those...They would be great if they stayed on, but they just don't fit tightly enough for my liking, they were constantly falling off. If they work for you great! __________________ There's nothing colder than yesterday's hotdog.

06-16-2017, 02:02 PM	#17
Bruntoj Senior Member Join Date: Jan 2016 Location: San Diego County Posts: 168	19 cents each at Marshalls Industrial Supply near Miramar. That place is like a toy store for grown ups Sent from my iPhone using Tapatalk

06-16-2017, 02:21 PM	#18
Reiner Member Join Date: Apr 2016 Posts: 71	Perfect

06-18-2017, 07:29 PM	#19
katchfish Paddle for Mahi Join Date: Mar 2005 Location: Doing the happy paddle! Posts: 848	http://www.marshallshardware.com They have an amazing selection of stainless steel fasteners too.