Anyone got a Neco Automatic Pilot?

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tillergirl

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I have just wired up the Neco following the manual. When I get to the mid point of doing the installation (ie. the Control Unit and Drive Unit in operation but the Compass still disconnected), it works as described: i.e runs to its 'neutral' position. If the trim is turned up it does a very short hunt and occasionally gives a single bleep.

Anyone know what the bleep means please?
 
I am pretty familiar with the Neco 692 and If you have such a model I can help you. Generally it is right that the TRIM knob works also when the compass is disconnected; be sure to set the TRIM to zero when you set/restore the mechanical linkage between the pilot and the rudder system.

...I am sorry but English is not my mother language and you should also explain me what a "bleep" means; if it is a beep then your autopilot model is newer than the 692, probably a 8401 and, in this case, I cannot be of much help.

Daniel
 
Daniel

Thanks. It is the NM692... and it doesn't bleep or beep, I have discovered the bleep is from the Navman Multi instrument. :o The bleep is from the speed function and it is getting inference from the Neco. When the bleep sounds, the speed reads 3.5kts! The cable from the transducer is adjacent to the Drive Unit. I need to work out how to re-route the cable. :confused:

The Trim is working fine. Tomorrow I shall fit the chain/set the rudder and then after that procedure I'll connect the compass. :encouragement:
And now for Anglo-Saxon 'English' instruction:

In 1951 neither word 'beep' nor 'bleep' could be found in the Oxford Dictionary. They did not exist.

Today 'bleep' means 'a high pitched sound or signal sent out by radio, used, e.g. as a summoning or warning device'. 'Beep' means 'repeated signal (as during a phone conversation, indicating that it is being recorded)'. I recall a pop song in the late 1950's. IN the UK the lyrics were twisted to talk about a bubble car but the original was American viz:

[Very slowly]
Beep beep beep beep
His horn went beep beep beep
While riding in my Cadillac
What to my surprise
A little Nash Rambler was following me
About one third my size
The guy must have wanted to pass me up
As he kept on tooting his horn
I'll show him that a Cadillac is not a car to scorn
Beep beep beep beep
His horn went beep beep beep

[Slowly]
I pushed my foot down to the floor
To give the guy the shake
But the little Nash Rambler stayed right behind
He still had on his brake
He must have thought his car had more guts
As he kept on tooting his horn (beep beep)
I'll show him that a Cadillac is not a car to scorn
Beep beep beep beep
His horn went beep beep beep

[Normal speed]
My car went into passing gear
And we took off with gust (whoosh)
Soon we were going ninety
Must have left him in the dust
When I peeked in the mirror of my car
I couldn't believe my eyes
The little Nash Rambler was right behind
You'd think that guy could fly
Beep beep beep beep
His horn went beep beep beep

[Quickly]
Now we were doing a hundred and ten
This certainly was a race
For a Rambler to pass a Caddy
Would be a big disgrace
The guy must have wanted to pass me up
As he kept on tooting his horn (beep beep)
I'll show him that a Cadillac is not a car to scorn
Beep beep beep beep
His horn went beep beep beep

[Very quickly]
Now we're going a hundred twenty
As fast as I can go
The Rambler pulled along side of me
As if we were going slow
The fella rolled down his window
And yelled for me to hear
"Hey buddy how do I get this car out of second gear?"

https://www.bing.com/videos/search?...8280823ADD843859D2968280823ADD84385&FORM=VIRE

Now note that American 'English' might mean 'beep' refers to the sound of the car horn. Not us in England, Oh no..... :D:)
 
pcatterall said:
...
I'm sure Daniels English will be much improved!
Click to expand...

Yes indeed! Thank you, both of you! :)

Now back to the problem. NM692, that's great because I know it very, very well and I can be of great help!

The Neco motor is a big beast which absorbs a lot of amps; it produces current surges that will do all kind of tricks on sensitive electronics but it can be easily tamed and the Normand Electric Co engineers already thought about it.
1) the power to the Neco autopilot is carried by two independent pair of wires; one pair (the "dirty" one) is dedicated only to feed the motor and should have its origin as close as possible to the home battery, at the main switchboard of the boat. This same wire should never be used to provide power to anything else and should run far from sensitive devices.
2) inside the Relay Box, on top of the Drive Unit, there are components able to cut EM emission.
3) a good earthing is advised and the original Neco manuals explain how to do it.

Daniel
 
Daniel

Thank you. I have broken the cardinal forum rule of not having two threads but I posted another higher up the list asking for 'suppression of rf interference' which has been helpful as well.

As to 1. I have done that.
2. I have located that now. It all looks ok in there.
3. Yes, I have to address the earthing. I shall attend to it on Monday (currently under domestic instructions today!).

I like the kit and it had obviously been well installed. Given that the speed transducer had been installed a long time ago as well as the Pilot I am hoping the earthing will resolve the issue. But as the other thread and your point 2 has raised, I need to check that everything inside the Relay Box is fine.
 
Hi Tillergirl

I don't want to hijack your thread; hopefully add to it.

I have an NM692 that we've been trying to troubleshoot on our new(to us) yacht. It steers port and starboard but won't keep a course. We have been trying to get it working several times over the last month, which has resulted in over 500 miles of mostly hand steering.

My question is, can somebody list the tests that we should be doing both at the dock and at sea to prove where the problem lies?

One separate question, can I just use it to keep a set course without using its own compass? ie. Steer to a course and turn it on.

Thanks
Stay-salty
 
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