Actisense A2K-TDC-0M25 NMEA 2000 Micro Cable 0.25M
Actisense A2K-TDC-0M25 NMEA 2000 Micro Cable 0.25M — Product description
The Actisense A2K-TDC-0M25 is a 0.25 meter NMEA 2000 Micro cable, Male to Female, built from the same UL-certified wire as the longer Actisense runs. It's the short drop you reach for when a device sits right next to a tee. Gold-plated contacts, IP67 sealed when mated, and no slack to coil behind the dash.
The Actisense A2K-TDC-0M25 is a 0.25 meter NMEA 2000 Micro cable with a Male connector on one end and a Female on the other. It's one of the shortest lengths in the Trunk and Drop Lite range, and it earns its keep in tight spots. You'll reach for a cable this short when a device sits right next to a tee, or when you need to close a small gap in a backbone without leaving a loop of slack coiled up behind the dash.
Every NMEA 2000 network is built the same way. A backbone runs the length of the boat, tees branch off it, and each device hangs off a tee on a drop cable. This 0.25 meter assembly works either way. Drop it from a tee to a nearby sensor or display, or splice it inline to stretch a backbone segment by a hand's width. Because it uses the same Actisense UL-certified cable as the longer runs, you're not mixing cheap wire into an otherwise clean install, and that consistency is worth a lot when you're chasing a fault later.
A quick refresher on the rules, because they matter. NMEA 2000 Lite cable can build a backbone up to 100 meters long. Push past that and you extend the center of the bus with heavier Mini cable so the outer Lite sections stay under 100 meters. Drop cables have their own budget. Each drop can run up to 6 meters from the backbone, and the total of every drop on the network can't exceed 72 meters. At a quarter meter, this cable barely touches those limits, which is exactly why it's so handy. Keep your drops short and you keep the whole network healthy.
Inside the jacket you get five conductors. Two power wires, two signal wires, and a drain. The drain ties to the cable shield, and that shield does two jobs. It protects the data and power lines from outside radio frequency interference, and it keeps the cable from throwing interference back out at the rest of your electronics. The power pair is 22 AWG, the data pair is 24 AWG, all 19-strand tinned copper so it flexes without work-hardening. The contacts are gold plated on both ends, which is the small detail that keeps a connection quiet after a couple of seasons in salt air.
The M12 connectors thread together and seal to IP67 when mated, so a mounted, connected joint shrugs off spray and washdown. Operating range runs from -20 to +70 degrees C, and it'll sit in storage down to -40. The jacket is black PVC at a nominal 0.8 millimeters, about 6.85 millimeters across the outside, so it routes easily through a rigging tube or behind a crowded panel. The whole assembly weighs about 51 grams, so it puts no meaningful strain on a connector.
A few things we've picked up rigging these. On a compact helm, a 0.25 meter drop keeps you from stuffing a big service loop into a pod that's already packed. On a sailboat, it's a clean way to reach mast-base electronics without cable ties chafing the run. And if your boat lives with a lot of vibration, like most outboard rigs do, give the locking collar a check at the start of the season, because vibration can slowly back a collar off. Snug it by hand and don't crank it. The O-ring does the sealing, not brute force.
This isn't a glamorous part. It's the kind of thing you buy a couple of and keep a spare in the parts box. But a bad drop cable will drop devices right off the bus and send you chasing a ghost all afternoon, so it's worth running the real thing end to end. And if you're not sure whether you need a short drop like this or a longer backbone run, send us your network layout and we'll tell you exactly what to order.
Key Features
- 0.25 meter length keeps drops short and eliminates coiled slack in tight helm pods
- Male to Female M12 Micro connectors with standard A-code polarization for NMEA 2000
- Actisense UL-certified Lite cable, the same wire used across the full Trunk and Drop range
- Five-conductor build: 22 AWG power pair, 24 AWG data pair, 22 AWG drain, all 19-strand tinned copper
- Shielded with a 37 AWG tinned copper braid and drain to block RFI in and out
- Gold-plated male and female contacts for reliable low-loss connections in salt air
- IP67 sealed when mated, rated to 3A at 60VDC
- Wide -20 to +70 degrees C operating range, storage down to -40 degrees C
- Black PVC jacket at 6.85 mm outer diameter routes easily behind panels and through rigging tubes
Why Buy from NVN Marine
- Authorized Actisense reseller, full manufacturer warranty
- NMEA member and ABYC certified, advice from real boat techs
- Same-day shipping before 3 PM ET on in-stock items
- NY headquarters and Fort Lauderdale flagship retail store
Technical specifications
| Title | Actisense A2K-TDC-0M25 NMEA2000 Micro Cable Assembly - 0.25M |
|---|---|
| Brand | Actisense |
| Manufacturer Part Number | A2K-TDC-0M25 |
| UPC | 5060998710195 |
| Weight | 51 g |
| Cable Length | 0.25 m |
| Connection Gender | Male to Female |
| Data Interface | NMEA 2000 |
| Rated Current | 3A |
| Rated Voltage | 60VDC |
| Male Contact | Brass, gold plated |
| Female Contact | Phosphor bronze, gold plated |
| Contact Carrier | PBT, black |
| Contact Polarization | Standard M12 A-code polarization |
| Mating Thread | M12 |
| Screw Cap | Brass, nickel plated |
| O-Ring Seal | Rubber, black |
| Housing | PVC, black |
| Power Pair | 22 AWG (19-strand tinned copper) |
| Data Pair | 24 AWG (19-strand tinned copper) |
| Drain | 22 AWG (19-strand tinned copper) |
| Braid | 37 AWG (tinned copper) |
| Jacket Material | 0.8mm Nom. PVC, black |
| Jacket Outer Diameter | 6.85mm +/-0.254mm |
| Protection | IP67 (when mated) |
| Operating Temperature | -20°C to +70°C |
| Storage Temperature | -40°C to +85°C |
Frequently asked questions
Can I use this as a drop cable or to extend my backbone?
Both. You can hang it off a tee as a drop to a nearby device, or splice it inline to stretch a backbone segment by a quarter meter. It's the same UL-certified Lite cable either way.
What connectors does it use?
Standard NMEA 2000 Micro M12 connectors, Male on one end and Female on the other, with A-code polarization. They thread together by hand and seal to IP67 once mated.
How long can a drop cable be on an NMEA 2000 network?
Each individual drop can run up to 6 meters from the backbone, and the total of all drops on the network can't exceed 72 meters. At 0.25 meters, this cable uses almost none of that budget.
Is this the same cable as the longer Actisense runs?
Yes. It's Actisense UL-certified Lite cable, just cut to 0.25 meters. You get the same conductors, shield, and connectors found on the longer lengths.
Will the connection hold up to spray and washdown?
When the M12 connectors are mated, the joint is rated IP67. Keep it connected and hand-tight and it shrugs off spray. The O-ring in the collar does the sealing.
What wire gauge is inside?
The power pair is 22 AWG, the data pair is 24 AWG, and the drain is 22 AWG, all 19-strand tinned copper. There's also a 37 AWG tinned copper braid shield.
What is the temperature range?
It operates from -20 to +70 degrees C and tolerates storage down to -40 degrees C, so it handles both a hot engine space and a cold winter layup.
How much current can it carry?
The cable is rated to 3 amps at 60 volts DC, which covers the power a standard NMEA 2000 device draws off the network.
Why are the contacts gold plated?
Gold plating resists corrosion and keeps contact resistance low, so the connection stays quiet and reliable after a couple of seasons in salt air.
Do I still need terminators and a power tee?
Yes. This is just the cable. A working NMEA 2000 network still needs a terminator at each end of the backbone and a power tee feeding the bus. This drop plugs a device into that network.
