Hi, I installed a Raymarine EV200 autopilot on my 1988 C36 (Mark 1) and have 2 problems.
First, I lost some steering due to the short (12") stroke. Not sure there is any way to avoid this problem. Before I installed the autopilot, the thing turned on a dime. Now, not so much. It feels like I lost 20-25 degrees of steering - especially when I am trying to back into my slip.
Second, after 15 to 30 minutes, the "low battery" warning comes on and the autopilot disengages and continues to disengage regularly. I recently installed some solar but that has not resolved that problem, but I cannot believe there are no autopilots for sailboats that do not need the engine going to power the unit. I have set the autopilot to minimize adjustments and reduce power consumption, but that did not seem to have any effect at all. The boat yard says the wiring is fine.
I am considering a new autopilot - any thoughts on a system that will not have these problems? Does anyone have this setup but no problems?
Thanks!
Aaron
Aaron
Guilford, CT
1988 Catalina 36 "Raptor"
Aaron,
My EV200 was installed a couple months back. I knew going in that I would lose some rudder angle...I've just had to adjust and anticipate this in tight situations. It is hard to understand why you are getting low battery warnings from the information you provide. I can tell you that I have sailed for hours and hours with no problem and I have felt that what battery use there was is quite good. You do not say what battery system you have, capacity, state of the battery when you leave the dock etc. Something must be going wrong in your system. When you get the low battery warning, are your batteries actually low? What voltage are they showing? Can you see what is going on with your batteries when the AP is engaged vs not engaged?
I have to say, I love the EV 200 as I single hand quite a bit. It will sail a constant angle to the wind and it will tack for me, so I can handle the sheets. I've had no problems with battery issues on three day sails with reefer on etc.
Al on Jubilee
Al Fricke
S/V Jubilee San Francisco Bay
Catalina 36' MkII #1867
Universal 35-B
I installed the EV 200 2+ years ago. No problem with low voltage. What size wire did you run to the controller and linear motor. I have 10awg both positive and negative. If you refused wire from the 100 it may be too small
Les
Les & Trish Troyer
Mahalo
Everett, WA
1983 C-36 Hull #0094
C-36 MK 1 Technical Editor.
Commodore
Hi,
I have a B&G NAC 3 with and hidraulic actuator. No problems at all with electricity issues, battery service bank is 3agm 110ah each.
Regarding the "lost" of steering angle is normal, what is important is to add stoppers (not know the right word) to prevent the ram to limit the steering angle. If it is so, the cilinder could be damaged.
Eladio Vallina
C-36 TR EUREKA II
Hull 1122 (1991)
Home port Barcelona (Spain).
Thanks for the suggestions and info. The install was done by the yard and the stoppers are there to prevent any damage to the piston. Still, I think I am going to move up to a 16" piston, which will restore some of the steering and, since it needs new controller, I will replace that as well and hope the unit does not have the same issues with power.
FWIW I tested the power last year and it was fine at the battery and at the control unit. Batteries are new this year, too. And I was running with solar the other day, so I assume it is just a bad unit. I will see what I can get them to do.
Thanks!
Aaron
Aaron
Guilford, CT
1988 Catalina 36 "Raptor"
Raptor
FYI. If the yard (or you) that installed your current RAM did it correctly, they (or you) had to fabricate a mount location for the RAM dependent on the stroke distance of that RAM. Going to a longer stroke RAM will most likely not solve your lack of an acceptable steering turning radius, without changing the mount location of the new longer stroke RAM. The Raymarine EV200 autopilot system, when installed correctly, is a very good autopilot system.
I know you said your batteries were fairly new, but that doesn't mean that they are fully charged or capable of handling the power requirements of you boat. Putting a DVM on a battery is only measuring the surface charge. It is highly unlikely (but possible) that the autopilot is draining the battery (assuming it is good and fully charged and it is a properly sized battery) down that quickly.The low voltage alarm comes on when the battery supply voltage falls below 10vdc. How do you start your engine when the battery is that low? Hope some of this is helpful.
2003 Catalina 36