Raymarine auto pilot

6 posts / 0 new
Last post
Jack Sterrett
Offline
Joined: 12/3/18
Posts: 13
Raymarine auto pilot

My 2003 Mark II tall rig/wing keel Catalina Linear Drive P70 auto pilot worked fine until I upgraded the other eletronics.  I changed the binnacle Garmin 545 to a Garmin 1040 with radar, added a Garmin thru hull depth finder, and added a Vesper Marine AIS.  Now the auto pilot works for a few minutes and then the boat starts drifting -the screen is lit and pushing direction buttons does nothing.  When I put the auto pilot on "standby"" and then back to "auto" it works fine for another few minutes.  I am thinking it may be a compass issue (I put the old 545 down below, and I also added a Garmin Heading sensor. ) I moved the 545  antenna and the Vesper antenna a few feet apart (they are both on the stern rail)  but there was no change. The Raymarine control box has a switch that was "off" and I moved it to "on" with no change.
I am on the ICW in Florida heading south and need suggestions.    I think there is a good Raymarine  dealer in Ft. Pierce but I would like to see if I can fix it-I think it is probably something simple.
Thanks
Jack
2151

2003 Catalina 36 Mark II
Wing Keel
Hull 2151

rstonge
Offline
Joined: 11/2/08
Posts: 64

I upgraded an ST50 auto pilot to the newer version.  The ST50 had the compass mounted backwards (facing stern) and worked fine.  New compass would not work in the same orientation.  Boat would wander.  Remounted it facing forward, and it works great.

Also, most Raymarine electronics need a dedicated ground connection for a reference voltage.  You cannot use the black wire carrying return current.

Ron St. Onge
1995 Catalina 36 MKII Hull 1384

Ron St. Onge

1995 Catalina 36 MKII Hull 1384

LeslieTroyer's picture
LeslieTroyer
Offline
Joined: 3/13/16
Posts: 533

I suspect you introduced a split backbone when you installed the Garmin.  Can you post a sketch ofthe Tees and device connections. 

thanks

Les & Trish Troyer
Mahalo 
Everett, WA
1983 C-36 Hull #0094
C-36 MK 1 Technical Editor. 

Commodore

 

Jack Sterrett
Offline
Joined: 12/3/18
Posts: 13

Thanks for the replies! I did not mention in the original post that the Raymarine autopilot, depth sounder and wind indicator are on a Sea Talk system and the Garmin 1040, heading sensor, and Vesper AIS is on a  NMEA 2000 cable. (The autopilot is not connected to anything new.)  Maybe two systems is a problem.  I will look at the orientation issue.  Not sure I can sketch connections but am travelling with a person who can.  A rain day is coming up and we will try.
Thanks again.,
Jack  

2003 Catalina 36 Mark II
Wing Keel
Hull 2151

True Wind
Offline
Joined: 7/15/12
Posts: 139

Jack
If your autopilot was working fine before, then one would naturally think that some of the new Garmin equipment is not playing well with your Raymarine autopilot. 
 
If your autopilot was working well before, I assume you had a Raymarine EV-1 sensor in your system. If that is true, why did you add another heading sensor? That may be part of your problem. Both the EV-1 sensor and the Garmin heading unit may be putting data on the NMEA 200 bus and the autopilot may be confused which data to use. I would try your autopilot without the other electronics on and see if the problem goes away, then turn one thing on at a time and see which device if any are causing the issue. 
 
When you mentioned control box, are you referring to the Raymarine autopilot control unit (ACU). Some of the ACU units have a switch that when switched on will power up the NMEA 2000 bus. You only want one source of power on the NMEA 2000 bus. If you already have a power source for the NMEA 2000 and if you are refering to the NMEA 200 power switch on the ACU then turn the NMEA 2000 power switch off on the ACU.

In the setup page on the controller you can choose the data sources.
 
Just my 2 cents worth 
David
 

2003 Catalina 36

LeslieTroyer's picture
LeslieTroyer
Offline
Joined: 3/13/16
Posts: 533

The EV1 with the P70 ARE SeaTalkNG which IS NMEA 2000 with different connectors.  How or are the systems communicating NMEA 0183???  It's possible when you removed the old electronics you eliminated a blue plug (terminating resister) from the SeaTalkNG network.  

 

your SeaTalkNG network should look like ( order except terminator doest matter

             EV1.       P70.    ACU200___rudder position
term------|-------------|-----------|------term
where | are Tees and white cables
and -- are blue cables
and___ is the cable from the rudder position sensor

there will also be a black red cable connected in there to power the thing (unless powered by the switch in ACU mentioned above).  If using a 5 way connector rather than Tees black plugs must be in any open white connections and also in the second white connector on the P70   

if you have the SeaTalkNG to SeaTalk connector (like a 5-way but yellow middle, I don't know if this could cause problems if you have nothing connected to the yellow connector   

If you want to connect the SeaTalkNG network to the N2K network so your pilot can follow tracks - let me know and I'll tell you how (this is where you can easily cause problems like you describe).   

Another configuration that causes problems is having the CP connected to the AP by both 0183 and N2K

Another possibility is lack of voltage to drive the linear motor   

 

Les & Trish Troyer
Mahalo 
Everett, WA
1983 C-36 Hull #0094
C-36 MK 1 Technical Editor. 

Commodore

 

Log in or register to post comments