Need advice

[Cladpirate]

I just made purchase of an old whites surf pi pro. I know schematics exist and it should work when I receive it. My question is that the coil cable is deteriorating and I was hoping to fix the existing coil. Can I cut it as close to the coil as possible and create an epoxy bath for it by welding pvc pipe, soldering a new connection and pouring in epoxy or should I try to open the coil and solder directly to the winding?

[kt315]

shrinking tube and silicone sealant.

[Carl-NC]

Repairing/replacing a coil cable on a water machine is pretty much guaranteed to be a short-term solution. It won't last. My preference would be to open the coil and replace the whole cable. If you manage to re-seal the coil it could last a long time.

If this is a 950 type coil it is either weighted or not weighted. If it is weighted then you won't get it open... it is filled with epoxy. If it is a non-weighted coil then it is filled with foam and you might destroy the windings getting it open.

Fortunately building a whole new coil from scratch is pretty easy for the SMPI and probably your best choice.

[kt315]

anyway you have to open a housing. send pls pics of board.

[dbanner]

I wouldn't open the coil on first attempt. Use a 1/2 inch piece of PVC and fill with silicone. Then use 3/4 inch PVC slightly longer than the piece of 1/2 PVC around the outside and fill with epoxy. Use a 3/4 inch end cap filled with silicone with a hole drilled to pass the cable through, and cap off the 3/4 inch PVC. I think you get the idea. If after a while, it doesn't hold up, then try to do intrusive surgery!

[dbanner]

Use a flange at the base, epoxied on to the coil. This will add strength to the repair.

[Cladpirate]

Thanks for the tips guys. Carl, perhaps I was vague in my wording. The intention was to replace the entire cable from control pod to coil. My main concern was how a soldered connection would effect the coils performance. I did build a baracuda kit and made a coils for it and I also did the surf kit from silver dog and used a sea hunter coil. Any further than that and I am lost, I am ace at soldering and good with my hands and cad design but fall short in the electronics department. In fact, I acquired an old tektronic tds 210 to use with my last project and it either did not work or I could not understand it, not to mention it’s busted screen. So a building a coil I could do but would likely be trial and error and I’m not keen on that.
KT315 I will definitely upload some pics of the pcb here for you to analyze.

[Cladpirate]

[Cladpirate]

Coil is as expected and trashed, the rest of the unit looks new.

[Cladpirate]

I believe this is the foam filled coil as Carl mentioned, unit got better air test than my home built

[Cladpirate]

So if I am correct here I am looking for 10 awg shielded cable with two wires. Looking on McMaster care I am not finding much. Any suggestions there?

[kt315]

for what two wires in a cable? you have to seek a coaxial.
thank you for pics but pls more light. https://www.geotech1.com/forums/show...here-share-out

[Cladpirate]

I will have to go outside for more light. After work today

[Cladpirate]

I found this cable. Rg174/u. Is this correct? https://www.mcmaster.com/coaxial-cab...type~stranded/

[Carl-NC]

You may be in luck, that is one of the newer 950 coils. Since you said the cable was bad I assumed you had an older unit with an old-style 950 coil, which was injected-filled after the housing was glued together.

This 950 has a foam core but it is a molded core, not injected. So if you can split the seams it will come apart easily. Replacing the cable will also be fairly easy; you want a coax with a stranded center conductor. But you still have the task of getting it sealed again and that will be highly iffy if you want it waterproof.