What's happened to my Autopilot?? PHOTO

[Jimmy Buoy]

I noticed late last season that my Raytheon Autopilot ST7001+ unit no longer displayed my heading in big digital numbers on its screen. That being said, it seemed to function just fine. The rudder indicator works - when I press AUTO it continues to keep the set heading (without any numbers) and will respond appropriately to -10 or +10 inputs to change direction. (see photo above)

Just splashed the boat and it didn't magically correct itself during the winter (as hoped). :smt089

Now it's developed a new symptom. After travelling for an hour or so on Auto and making slight corrections using the + or - buttons, the unit can suddenly make an abrupt turn to the port. The rudder indicator goes off the scale during the abrupt turn and I must press STANDBY to disengage the Autopilot to avoid a collision. Not nice… :smt100

Anyone have ideas of what the issue could be?? Everything else seems to be working just fine (plotter and radio both display GPS fixes and other gauges seem fine).:huh:

Thanks guys! It was a gorgeous day here to splash her to start the season!

 

[my3sons]

Electronics is not my long suit so just a long shot, but check to make sure that nothing metal is within 3 or 4 feet of the fluxgate compass.

 

[NorCal Boater]

Jim I had a very similar issue on my 52' KhaShing. My 8001 showed a heading but not a correct one and in fact the heading was constantly changing and on the Chart plotter the little boat icon was never pointing the direction I was actually going even though it showed the correct position. I went to the RayMarine Forum and got some really good advice about re-calibrating the fluxgate compass which I did, unsuccessfully, a couple of times. They also gave me tips on checking ohms between signal wires from the compass and the rudder sensor but I could never get the readings they said I should. So I figured it was the fluxgate compass causing the issues and bought one on eBay and I was waiting to install it.

So a couple of months ago I'm in the compartment behind the hem on my flybridge working on a few projects and while I'm laying there on my back I see a bus with several terminals and one wire was out of the crimped connector. Turns out it was the power wire to the SeaTalk bus. I crimped on a new connector, screwed it to the bus and Holy Crap! Everything is now working correctly.

Not saying this is your issue but I would check the SeaTalk power supply and get on the RayMarine Forum. There are RayMarine technicians that monitor the forum all the time and you should get some areas to look.

Good luck.
Shawn

 

[Jimmy Buoy]

Mark - I'll double check that there is nothing metal near the fluxgate compass. Thanks.

Shawn - thanks for the post. I'll be checking the power supply to the Sea Talk bus. I'm assuming that it is on the Auto Pilot computer itself...

 

[NorCal Boater]

No, its not. My auto pilot computer is in a spot in in my galley which is behind the lower helm. The Sea Talk bus was up on the flybridge and behind and under that helm. Yours could be anywhere. My flybridge is where my C120 and the 8001 are but I also have everything duplicated at the lower helm except for the C120. The lower helm just has kind of an after monitor. Not sure why the bus is on the fly bridge.

My 8001 has a terminal labeled Sea Talk. You should have the same and if you follow the cable out of your 7001 you should be able to track down the bus. Don't forget to go to the RayMarine support site. Here is the link to their forum's auto pilot section. http://raymarine.ning.com/forum/categories/autopilots/listForCategory