pugwash60
Well-Known Member
I’m wanting to fit a new autopilot on my 24 v boat. The instruments are 12 V. (Raymarine wireless.) I need a fairly hefty ram, probably what they call a type 3 and it will probably be a hypro one. Looking at Raymarine’s autopilot offerings they seem to want me to fit an ACU 400 which Is about a grand more than the 12 volt ACU 100. I think I can fit the ACU 100 with a manual clutching switch (which I want in any case so as to be able to choose to lock the steering without necessarily using the autopilot - the ACU 100 doesn’t have a clutch output. It’s output is a reversing pair of + and - wires) I would then have the ACU 100 outputs going to a reversing solenoid similar to a winching solenoid With 24Volts being connected to the big terminals of this solenoid.
I am also thinking that as there are only two wires coming from the ACU100 that in each instance one would be positive and the other negative so the third control terminal on the solenoid could be connected to battery negative ie 24v negative. This would however mean that the ‘negative‘ wire from the ACU would not be being used. (This being a different wire depending on whether port or starboard helm is asked for). Might this cause a problem? Might I get a residual current fault or similar? If so could I, maybe, connect each of these control wires, via a diode or similar to the negative control terminal?
I am also thinking that as there are only two wires coming from the ACU100 that in each instance one would be positive and the other negative so the third control terminal on the solenoid could be connected to battery negative ie 24v negative. This would however mean that the ‘negative‘ wire from the ACU would not be being used. (This being a different wire depending on whether port or starboard helm is asked for). Might this cause a problem? Might I get a residual current fault or similar? If so could I, maybe, connect each of these control wires, via a diode or similar to the negative control terminal?