Raymarine Axiom Pro and Evolution Autopilot Question

[cstinehour]

I have a quick question concerning my Autopilot and MFD. Which device, the MFD or the Autopilot is the master controller when they are synced? If i am following a route and my MFD and Autopilot is synced, and I put the Autopilot in stand by and then turn it off the next way point for the route I was following still shows active on my MFD. My boat handled as if the Autopilot was still on with the power off on the Autopilot. I passed the last WP and the boat wanted to turn to the WP with the Autopilot off. Is this normal? Is there a sequence to shutdown following a route, like stop on the MFD and just shutting of the Autopilot is not enough? Could this be a software issue? wiring issue?

 

[Steve S]

I do not have the Axiom system but an older Raymarine system and the MFD controls the autopilot. I engage or disengage the autopilot at the MFD.

 

[dtfeld]

Can you confirm the system components? Specifically do you have an ACU100/150/200 etc? The head unit is power from the SeaTalkNG network, but the course computer is supposed to be on its own switched circuit. On the 200/300/400, I believe you can also supply power to the SeaTalkNG network.

By turning off are you cutting the power via dash switch or the standby button?

To answer your question, I believe both are capable of being the “master” as you can run the Evolution headless (axiom controlling the course computer)! So turning one off, may not stop the navigation function.

On mine, I did notice a slight lag between what boat was doing and it being reflected on the MFD in the follow route mode, but hitting standby always return manual control. I contacted Raymarine about it, but don’t recall the answer...I’ll have to see if I can dig that up.

 

[Skybolt]

The basic function with just the auto pilot active, you have the Auto function which will follow the current "Compass" course, putting it into standby dis-engages and pilot function.

When engaged from the MFD, the MFD controls the Auto Pilot after the track has been accepted on the Auto Pilot. To navigate to the next leg of a route you must accept the new track to continue with the Auto Pilot following the route.

The route being selected on the MFD is just that, unless you select navigate too in some form and then accept the track on the AP.

So to answer your question both are in control, the MFD displays the route and the AP steers the boat by the MFD talking to the AP. When the AP is put in Standby or turned off, it does not steer the boat. When the AP is steering the boat it only keeps it on a straight course. What you are describing sounds like the AP was not turned off or put into standby.

Question, were you able to steer the boat at all after the AP was turned off? if you were, then the pilot is not your issue and perhaps you have a power assist pump that was turned off or your steering ram is going bad.

 

[Henry Boyd]

It’s both. Once we are clear of the harbor I set the AP to auto based on the heading that the boat was on. This gives me time to bring up the route to follow on the Axiom. Once I’ve got the route loaded I then choose “Steer to Nav.” Button in the pop out menu screen on the Axiom screen. There may be another choice in there between depending on how far off my starting heading is from the route’s first waypoint.

 

[cstinehour]

Thank you for all the quick responses everyone. I will try to answer all of your questions. The equipment is an Axiom Pro MFD 2019. The Auto Pilot is a 2018 ACU150. I tried the same set up today. I put the AP in stand by before the route was complete. I then turned off the power to the AP. The MFD still showed an active route and if I stopped manually steering the boat wanted to go to the last WP. I shut down the MFD (turned off the power) and I then had complete manual control of the boat. I powered back up the MFD and AP and there was no active route and I could still manually control the boat.

 

[Steve S]

Thank you for all the quick responses everyone. I will try to answer all of your questions. The equipment is an Axiom Pro MFD 2019. The Auto Pilot is a 2018 ACU150. I tried the same set up today. I put the AP in stand by before the route was complete. I then turned off the power to the AP. The MFD still showed an active route and if I stopped manually steering the boat wanted to go to the last WP. I shut down the MFD (turned off the power) and I then had complete manual control of the boat. I powered back up the MFD and AP and there was no active route and I could still manually control the boat.

I think you need to put the MFD on "Standby" and then either "Stop Route" or "Stop Follow", first before shutting down the AP. That will terminate the MFD sending a signal to the AP. That should also place the AP in "Standby" mode but it might default to "Auto" mode where it follows a heading. If the AP is in "Auto" mode, then place it in Standby. Then you should be able to power the AP down and have manual control of the boat.

 

[Skybolt]

Thank you for all the quick responses everyone. I will try to answer all of your questions. The equipment is an Axiom Pro MFD 2019. The Auto Pilot is a 2018 ACU150. I tried the same set up today. I put the AP in stand by before the route was complete. I then turned off the power to the AP. The MFD still showed an active route and if I stopped manually steering the boat wanted to go to the last WP. I shut down the MFD (turned off the power) and I then had complete manual control of the boat. I powered back up the MFD and AP and there was no active route and I could still manually control the boat.

It sounds like the Pilot head (P70s?) is turning off, but the ACU150 is staying on and talking to the Axiom MFD. Sounds like what @Steve S mentioned and you need to stop the route or from the MFD put it into standby.

 

[dtfeld]

If you put the control head in standby, but do not turn it off, you don’t regain manual control? How long do you wait before killing power?

I’ll have to see if this works the same, I have the same setup...

My ACU-150 is wired same as the original Autopilot course computer with a dash mounted switch. This cuts power to the ACU-150 and the hydraulic pump. It will definitely give me back manual control.

 

[cstinehour]

I wait around a minute. I turn off the power because I can't gain manual control. Sorry, I have the following units (I went to Raymarine support and found my registration):

 

[Skybolt]

... My ACU-150 is wired same as the original Autopilot course computer with a dash mounted switch. This cuts power to the ACU-150 and the hydraulic pump. It will definitely give me back manual control.

@cstinehour this is how the AP should be wired. You need to be able to re-gain control of the boat without turning off the navigation at the same time.

 

[cstinehour]

I'm going to try the next time out: 1. have an active route and disengage from the MFD and see what happens and then try 2. have an active route and select Stop from the MFD and see what happens, then 3. have an active route, put the AP in stand by, and then turn off the power to the AP and see what the MFD shows; this will duplicate what has been happening (the MFD still shows an active route and I don't have manual control of the boat). This should tell me exactly what I need to do to gain control. This is my third AP I've owned; all were Raymarine. This is the first set up with a MFD. The other units would not resume to the WP if I put the AP in stand by and quit manually steering. I think that is why I am confused with my current set up.

 

[cstinehour]

I will add the kill switch to the hydraulic pump and ACU-400.

 

[dtfeld]

I'm going to try the next time out: 1. have an active route and disengage from the MFD and see what happens and then try 2. have an active route and select Stop from the MFD and see what happens, then 3. have an active route, put the AP in stand by, and then turn off the power to the AP and see what the MFD shows; this will duplicate what has been happening (the MFD still shows an active route and I don't have manual control of the boat). This should tell me exactly what I need to do to gain control. This is my third AP I've owned; all were Raymarine. This is the first set up with a MFD. The other units would not resume to the WP if I put the AP in stand by and quit manually steering. I think that is why I am confused with my current set up.

This is very confusing and not correct. If you go to standby, you need to have manual control.

Have you updated all the components to the latest firmware? If not there may be some mismatch in communication or capability. This may explain the issue....the Axiom / LH3 is pretty young, and has had a fair number of updates so far.

 

[sbw1]

The Evolution requires positive actions to change things. If you need manual control while on a route, you press Dodge so you can steer around whatever is in your way. Once that is past you hit Navigate or resume to continue on to the waypoint that is up next. Same thing with advancing a WP when you arrive at a WP. The alarm sounds and it announces your arrival. You are asked if you want to go to the next. You need to follow the on screen command to continuing navigating to the next route WP. So, to answer the question, which is in control, the computer coordinates the AP with the route you have stored. The route stays active until you enter Stop Follow.

 

[Skybolt]

I will add the kill switch to the hydraulic pump and ACU-400.

The pump should be powered from the ACU and the ACU should have a breaker and an on/off switch (dash button) for it already. That said the System also needs to be able to go into standby without turning everything off. You can try this at the dock as far as standby goes. Just navigate to a goto point, you should see the rudder indicator move and eventually go hard over, then hit standby on the P70rs and you should be able to bring the rudder back to center and have it stay there.

 

[cstinehour]

I do need to update my firmware. I’m a couple of months behind. I do not have an on/off switch on my dash. It is not tied into the accessory 1 or 2 rocker switches. From everyone’s posts I do agree I need to use the MFD to stop the route and not try to stop the AP with the AP head.

 

[Henry Boyd]

I do need to update my firmware. I’m a couple of months behind. I do not have an on/off switch on my dash. It is not tied into the accessory 1 or 2 rocker switches. From everyone’s posts I do agree I need to use the MFD to stop the route and not try to stop the AP with the AP head.

Hold off on that. I have been told by the folks that installed our Axioms that the latest update has serious flaws. I was told this when the update was announced, and it was repeated to me as recently as last week when I went by their shop to pickup a repaired vhf mic.

 

[cstinehour]

Thank you for the info on the latest firmware. It’s going to rain all day and I thought that would be a great project today.

 

[dtfeld]

Thank you for the info on the latest firmware. It’s going to rain all day and I thought that would be a great project today.

What revision are you up to? The latest Firmware is 3.14 Fremantle and I have not updated to this yet based on Henry's report. There is a note on this update to not use if you have Empirbus digital switching. I believe I'm running 3.13.103 Edgartown from March 2021, no issues. I believe there were some updates to the EV-1 heading sensor and ACU's in 2020, but you can update those individually.

The best update recently was 3.12.217 Dartmouth. Lots of new feature including a Night mode.