Autohelm 4000 wiring

[NealB]

Just over three few weeks ago, I removed the very ancient, and very defective, plug and socket from my ancient, but hopefully, not too seriously defective, Autohelm 4000 wheelpilot.

I’ve bought a shiny new, Bulgin Buccaneer matching set as replacements, as recommended by some on here.

Now, this is rather deeply embarrassing to admit, so please keep it to yourselves, but in the intervening period, I’ve been rather distracted by non-boaty things, and I have forgotten which wire connects to which (there .... I've said it ).

Can anyone help, please?

There’re four wires that come from the black control box to the plug: a thin red, a thin black, and then a thicker brown and a thicker blue.

There are then two black outer-casings, screwed to the underdeck, in the cockpit locker, which lead to the socket. One of the black outer casings is slightly thicker than the other. Each of these black outer casings, contains a blue and a brown wire.

The blue and brown wires, in the thicker outer casing, are connected to the switch panel, so there’s 12 volts across that pair, when the panel switch is on.

The blue and brown wires, in the thinner outer casing, show no voltage.

So ……. when wiring up the new Bulgin connectors, should the brown and blue wires, with 12V across them, connect to the thin red and black wires, that go to the control box? Or, should those brown and blue 12V wires connect to the brown and blue wires that go the control box?

OK …… come on … behave ……… stop laughing .... this is serious!!

Thanks for your thoughts.

 

[Plum]

Just over three few weeks ago, I removed the very ancient, and very defective, plug and socket from my ancient, but hopefully, not too seriously defective, Autohelm 4000 wheelpilot.

I’ve bought a shiny new, Bulgin Buccaneer matching set as replacements, as recommended by some on here.

Now, this is rather deeply embarrassing to admit, so please keep it to yourselves, but in the intervening period, I’ve been rather distracted by non-boaty things, and I have forgotten which wire connects to which (there .... I've said it ).

Can anyone help, please?

There’re four wires that come from the black control box to the plug: a thin red, a thin black, and then a thicker brown and a thicker blue.

There are then two black outer-casings, screwed to the underdeck, in the cockpit locker, which lead to the socket. One of the black outer casings is slightly thicker than the other. Each of these black outer casings, contains a blue and a brown wire.

The blue and brown wires, in the thicker outer casing, are connected to the switch panel, so there’s 12 volts across that pair, when the panel switch is on.

The blue and brown wires, in the thinner outer casing, show no voltage.

So ……. when wiring up the new Bulgin connectors, should the brown and blue wires, with 12V across them, connect to the thin red and black wires, that go to the control box? Or, should those brown and blue 12V wires connect to the brown and blue wires that go the control box?

OK …… come on … behave ……… stop laughing .... this is serious!!

Thanks for your thoughts.

Is your Autohelm 4000 box the same as my 3000 box?

 

[NealB]

Thank you!

It certainly looks the exactly same, from that shot (well, ok, mine has 4000 on it).

 

[Plum]

Thank you!

It certainly looks the exactly same, from that shot (well, ok, mine has 4000 on it).

I will dig through my files to see if I can help .........

 

[NealB]

I will dig through my files to see if I can help .........

Thank you!!

 

[Plum]

I will dig through my files to see if I can help .........

Picture below is the inside (looking from the rear) of the Autohelm 3000 control box. Along the bottom are three sockets and one cable exiting through a cable-gland on the right in the photo below. The cable is the power supply, just 2 wires, BROWN is positive and BLUE is negative. The socket next to the power cable is for the plug from the wheel drive motor (just 2 wires), the other two sockets are for the wind vane and the remote control (both optional extras). Does this match your Autohelm 4000 at all?


EDIT:- There may be a difference in the wiring between the 3000 and the 4000 models. I just found this very poor quality image regarding an Autohelm 4000, hope you can read it:


or, look on page 7 of this manual Drive Unit Connection; Windvane Attachment - Raymarine Autohelm 4000 User Manual [Page 7]

 

[VicS]

Just over three few weeks ago, I removed the very ancient, and very defective, plug and socket from my ancient, but hopefully, not too seriously defective, Autohelm 4000 wheelpilot.
I’ve bought a shiny new, Bulgin Buccaneer matching set as replacements, as recommended by some on here.
Now, this is rather deeply embarrassing to admit, so please keep it to yourselves, but in the intervening period, I’ve been rather distracted by non-boaty things, and I have forgotten which wire connects to which (there .... I've said it ).

Thanks for your thoughts.

For what they are worth my thoughts are that the thicker wires brown and blue wires from the control panel should connect to the thicker brown and blue wires with the 12 volt power supply on them.
and that the (thinner) red and black should connect to the thinner brown and blue wires. going to the drive unit.
The brown and blue in Plum's photo definitely look like the incoming power supply.

Next time you disconnect any wiring make a decent diagram of it all first and take some photos.

 

[NealB]

Thanks, yet again, Plum.

It's very similar, but, on mine, the red, black, brown and blue wires are all in one black sheathing, terminating at a four pin plug.

If the brown and blue wires, in your pic, have 12 volts across them, then that's the vital piece of information I need.

I'll connect those brown and blue, to the brown and blue that come from my switch panel.

The red and black, must therefore connect to the brown and blue that show no voltage (I assume these must be giving the 'port a bit, starboard a bit' instructions to the wheel drive unit).

Thanks, Plum ...... I think you'e cracked it,

Fingers crossed now, that the unit itself still works.

 

[NealB]

For what they are worth my thoughts are that the thicker wires brown and blue wires from the control panel should connect to the thicker brown and blue wires with the 12 volt power supply on them.
and that the (thinner) red and black should connect to the thinner brown and blue wires. going to the drive unit.
The brown and blue in Plum's photo definitely look like the incoming power supply.

Next time you disconnect any wiring make a decent diagram of it all first and take some photos.

Many thanks, VicS: I've learned, over too many years in this place, that your thoughts on such matters are always worth a very great deal.

Yes, I think your description fits with my thinking, outlined in post #8.

Many thanks, too, for going so very easy on me with your final advice: a very obvious, very important, point, very elegantly made.

 

[NealB]

Just to close the loop .... phew ....... it works.

Mega thanks to Plum and VicS for their sound advice.

The virtual pints are on me.