Autohelm 2000 tiller pilot beeping

[tchierici]

Hi, I have an old but very efficient Autohelm 2000 tiller pilot which works fine except occasionally it starts beeping (a fast continuous beep) while it's on. Once I press stand by and auto it will engage again. What is it caused by? Is it the connection? Or is it to with the setting (there's a "rudder knob that regulates how more or less reactive)?
Thanks

 

[Refueler]

Usually the cause of losing control and then beeping - is that boat has failed to act on TP command ... after a certain time - the TP defaults to STBY and beeps.

Often caused by pressing boat too hard under sail making it hard work for TP ... or having sea state too high a gain.

Is the TP connected to Plotter for auto track ? If so - it may be loss of plotter signal or change of course point ? Its generally accepted internationally that TP and Plotter cannot complete a course change based on waypoints without user accepting a warning ..

 

[boatmike]

Agree with Refueler. My wheel pilot beeps when the boat drifts out of the limits of the course set due to sea state or being over pressed. Generally a good thing to warn you that you are off course

 

[thinwater]

Hi, I have an old but very efficient Autohelm 2000 tiller pilot which works fine except occasionally it starts beeping (a fast continuous beep) while it's on. Once I press stand by and auto it will engage again. What is it caused by? Is it the connection? Or is it to with the setting (there's a "rudder knob that regulates how more or less reactive)?
Thanks

It can also be a bad plug, common on older units. If it loses power for even a split second it reverts to standby and beeps. Try gently jiggling the plug to diagnose. The plug is proprieatary and probably impossible t find, but you can replace it with something else. Or just try cleaning it well and perhaps fooling with the angles of the prongs.

 

[Refueler]

It can also be a bad plug, common on older units. If it loses power for even a split second it reverts to standby and beeps. Try gently jiggling the plug to diagnose. The plug is proprieatary and probably impossible t find, but you can replace it with something else. Or just try cleaning it well and perhaps fooling with the angles of the prongs.

If the power plug is 'iffy' it only beeps once as power is restored ... it doesn't start 'fast continuous beeping' ...

I couple of months ago had to rewire my plug for that very reason.

 

[tchierici]

Usually the cause of losing control and then beeping - is that boat has failed to act on TP command ... after a certain time - the TP defaults to STBY and beeps.

Often caused by pressing boat too hard under sail making it hard work for TP ... or having sea state too high a gain.

Is the TP connected to Plotter for auto track ? If so - it may be loss of plotter signal or change of course point ? Its generally accepted internationally that TP and Plotter cannot complete a course change based on waypoints without user accepting a warning ..

That might be it then, it doesn't seem to happen when running downwind but often when pressed a bit. Guilty as charge for not bothering to reef a bit.

 

[Refueler]

Lets be honest ... tiller / wheel pilots are not designed to provide 'race standard' course keeping hard pressed ....

They are really designed to ease the course keeping for the cruising boat. I find it usual to 'ease' sheets when on Tiller pilot especially is seas are a touch heavy ... to give it good chance of coping with the yaw motion.