[CA] RAY54 > RAY52 Replacement

[jrmlsc]

I am hoping to replace a 10yr old RAY54 with the RAY52 in a system with a Raymarine 125 GPS, C80 and wondering if I can do the exchange... Is the exchange a simple unplug and replug in the new unit or are their loose wires to attach, etc? I am also assuming that I can switch GPS signals between the 125 and the internal 52 GPS. Thanks

[Chuck - Raymarine - Moderator]

Welcome to the Raymarine Forum jrmlsc,

Q1. Is the exchange a simple unplug and replug in the new unit or are their loose wires to attach, etc?
A1. The wiring harness of the Ray54 and Ray52 are not identical. Accordingly, it would not be possible to simply unplug the Ray54's harness from the radio and then plug the Ray52 to the Ray54's harness. However, the Ray52's harness will simply need to be spliced to the corresponding power and NMEA 0183 leads which the Ray54's harness had been wired to.

Q2. I am also assuming that I can switch GPS signals between the 125 and the internal 52 GPS.
A2. Correct.

[jrmlsc]

Q3. Got radio and love it - fantastic usability! Easy to connect power and antenna BUT network question: existing cable to old Ray54 GPS input has larger connector than Ray52 so do I cut it off and connect wires to the NMEA 0183 wires provided? What colors on old cable - they do not seem to match the RAY52s? is there an adapter? then config Ray52 network to NMEA 0183 or is it the same as SeaTalk?
Will my C80 automatically prioritize GPS choices between Ray52 and Raystar 125 or do I need a Raymarine Service Tech?

[Chuck - Raymarine - Moderator]

jrmlsc,

Q1. existing cable to old Ray54 GPS input has larger connector than Ray52 so do I cut it off and connect wires to the NMEA 0183 wires provided? What colors on old cable - they do not seem to match the RAY52s?
A1. Per my initial response, it would not be possible to simply unplug the Ray54's harness from the radio and then plug the Ray52 to the Ray54's harness. However, the Ray52's harness will simply need to be spliced to the corresponding power and NMEA 0183 leads which the Ray54's harness had been wired to.

The diagram below shows that the Ray54's 4800 BAUD NMEA 0183 IN+ (yellow) and NMEA 0183 IN- (green) leads were used to interface the Ray54 to the 4800 BAUD NMEA 0183 GPS data source ... in your case, this may be the NMEA 0183 OUT+ (yellow) and NMEA 0183 OUT- (brown) leads of the MFD's NMEA 0183 cable.



The diagram below shows that the Ray52's 4800 BAUD NMEA 0183 IN+ (yellow) and NMEA 0183 IN- (green) leads will also be used to interface the Ray52 to the 4800 BAUD NMEA 0183 GPS data source ... in your case, this may be the NMEA 0183 OUT+ (yellow) and NMEA 0183 OUT- (brown) leads of the MFD's NMEA 0183 cable. Should you additionally desire to have the MFD plot DSC position reports received from other vessels, then he Ray52's 4800 BAUD NMEA 0183 OUT+ (white) and NMEA 0183 OUT- (brown) leads will also be used to interface the Ray52 to the NMEA 0183 IN+ (white) and NMEA 0183 IN- (green) leads of the MFD's NMEA 0183 cable.



Q2. Will my C80 automatically prioritize GPS choices between Ray52 and Raystar 125 or do I need a Raymarine Service Tech?
A2. Negative. The Ray52 internal GPS receiver will support transmission of GPS data along with DSC transmissions, the Ray52 is not designed to transmit GPS data to the marine electronics system.

[jrmlsc]

Q. As I understand your answer, If I choose to continue using my Raystar 125 for system GPS and want its GPS used by my new Ray52, and want Vessel information from my Ray52 sent to my C80 I would connect these wires:
Ray52 NMEA Cable Wires NMEA Cable from BUS Wires
Yellow GPS to Ray52 Yellow
Green GPS to Ray52 Brown
White Ray52 Vessels to MFD White
Brown Ray52 Vessels to MFD Green

Q. BUT if I choose to disconnect my Raystar 125 and use my new Ray52 for system GPS, I would connect the Ray52 wires to which NMEA cable wires?
Ray52 NMEA Cable Wires NMEA Cable from BUS Wires
White GPS to C80 ?
Brown GPS to C80 ?

NOT USED: Yellow, Green NOT USED: Yellow, Green, Blue, Grey, Mustard

Q. And do I need to configure anything in Ray52 or C80?

[Chuck - Raymarine - Moderator]

Q1. As I understand your answer, If I choose to continue using my Raystar 125 for system GPS and want its GPS used by my new Ray52, and want Vessel information from my Ray52 sent to my C80 I would connect these wires:
Ray52 NMEA Cable Wires NMEA Cable from BUS Wires
Yellow GPS to Ray52 Yellow
Green GPS to Ray52 Brown
White Ray52 Vessels to MFD White
Brown Ray52 Vessels to MFD Green
A1. Should the RS125 GPS sensor presently be interfaced to a SeaTalk bus as most, then the answer is as follows:
- Ray52 NMEA 0183 IN+ (yellow) to MFD NMEA 0183 Cable OUT+ (yellow)
- Ray52 NMEA 0183 IN- (green) to MFD NMEA 0183 Cable OUT+ (brown)
- Ray52 NMEA 0183 OUT+ (yellow) to MFD NMEA 0183 Cable IN+ (white)
- Ray52 NMEA 0183 OUT- (yellow) to MFD NMEA 0183 Cable IN- (green)

Q2. BUT if I choose to disconnect my Raystar 125 and use my new Ray52 for system GPS, I would connect the Ray52 wires to which NMEA cable wires?
Ray52 NMEA Cable Wires NMEA Cable from BUS Wires
White GPS to C80 ?
Brown GPS to C80 ?
A2. Please note that while the Ray52 internal GPS receiver will support transmission of GPS data along with DSC transmissions, the Ray52 is not designed to transmit GPS data to the marine electronics system. Accordingly, the Raystar 125 GPS Sensor would need to remain within the system to supply C80 MFD with GPS data. If having the VHF rely on its internal GPS receiver for GPS data and have the Ray52 transmit received DSC position reports to the MFD, then the following leads would need to be joined:
- Ray52 NMEA 0183 OUT+ (yellow) to MFD NMEA 0183 Cable IN+ (white)
- Ray52 NMEA 0183 OUT- (yellow) to MFD NMEA 0183 Cable IN- (green)

Q3. And do I need to configure anything in Ray52 or C80?
A3. The MFD's NMEA 0183 port setting will need to be configured to NMEA 4800. If using the Ray52 will be relying upon the Raystar 125 GPS sensor for GPS data, then Ray52's internal GPS receiver will need to be switched off. When the Ray52's internal GPS receiver is switched ON, it should ignore GPS data received via the Ray52's NMEA 0183 port. Accordingly, you may want to consider interfacing the Ray52 to the MFD's NMEA 0183 Cable as specified within the response to Q1 for redundancy purposes. Should the Ray52's internal GPS receiver be unable to acquire/maintain a GPS position FIX, then its internal GPS receiver may then be switched OFF to permit the Ray52 to draw GPS data from the Raystar 125 GPS Sensor. Detailed information addressing how to do so may be found within Chapter 6.17 GPS/GNSS setup of the Ray50, Ray52, Ray60, and Ray70 INSTALLATION & OPERATION INSTRUCTIONS.

[jrmlsc]

Thank you for your answers. It is bad news for me as I bought the GPS feature to replace the Raystar 125 that is no longer supported and I am told an expensive replacement.

[Chuck - Raymarine - Moderator]

jrmlsc,

Should the Raystar 125 GPS Sensor have failed, then it may be replaced with the Raystar 150 GPS Sensor. Please click here to view a FAQ addressing this subject.