I am finally getting around to installing my AIS (well, more motivated as my local race organization now requires AIS; I have been delayed by the hassles of the tiny wires (have seen Christian's post re: those; thanks for that!) and the need for the NMEA 2000 backbone/trunk line adding complexity for me.)
But in the simplest case, I simply don't know how to secure it behind the panel on my E34 -- can I just screw stuff into the backing there (which I presume is some sort of liner and not the hull?) I was thinking of putting the antenna splitter/amp, Vesper AIS, and a piece of NMEA200 backbone on a piece of plywood and screw that back behind the panel... which beings me back to the screw question.
As an aside, I was thinking of wiring the AIS/backbone to power via a panel breaker, so I can turn it off while inside the (crowded) bay, but wire the (powered/amplified) antenna splitter directly to the bus pars since it always needs to be on if I want the VHF. But maybe the backbone needs to always be on in the future? And maybe one should never wire anything to power that doesn't go through a breaker... feel free to advice there too.)
Any thoughts appreciated!
But in the simplest case, I simply don't know how to secure it behind the panel on my E34 -- can I just screw stuff into the backing there (which I presume is some sort of liner and not the hull?) I was thinking of putting the antenna splitter/amp, Vesper AIS, and a piece of NMEA200 backbone on a piece of plywood and screw that back behind the panel... which beings me back to the screw question.
As an aside, I was thinking of wiring the AIS/backbone to power via a panel breaker, so I can turn it off while inside the (crowded) bay, but wire the (powered/amplified) antenna splitter directly to the bus pars since it always needs to be on if I want the VHF. But maybe the backbone needs to always be on in the future? And maybe one should never wire anything to power that doesn't go through a breaker... feel free to advice there too.)
Any thoughts appreciated!