I am installing a heading sensor on the Lightningshack so I can overlay radar on my chart plotter. I cannot find a great place to put this sensor. I would like to just put it above the headliner but I don't have easy access to this area on the Lightningshack.
The sensor has a few buttons on it for calibration and setup. Will I ever need to touch these buttons after I initially set it up? If not the area up above the headliner would not be all that inconvenient.
Mike- would you consider mounting it inside the bridge console? Mounted on the inside forward wall of the bridge super structure. The C500 is close to the furuno units which makes wiring easy.
If you epoxy in a nice mounting plate of marine ply (or really anything you have) then attach the c500 to the mounting plate or block. I have done similar installs, but not for this application, where I raised the mounting block off the wall with small riser blocks, forming a sort of bridge. This allowed any moisture that might roll down that wall to pass, without coming in contact with the unit.
If you get really fancy you can cut the riser blocks at the complement to the wall's angle, maybe even a bit more. This makes the mounting unit practically square, for easy access, and again directs moisture away from the unit. I can make some drawings if you want. A picture is worth a thousand words.
I have the Furuno 500 heading sensor for my autopilot and radar-chartplotter setup. I placed the heading sensor flush inside the bridge helm compartment on the centerline. I have never had an issue with it. Don't forget a good ground is key.
