Autohelm ST1000 Plus Question

[Mavis]

I can't seem to get my unit to enter Track Mode. According to the instructions you select Auto, then press the +10 and -10 buttons together and then you should be in Track Mode.

Can anyone tell me if the unit needs to be receiving mnea sentances to do this, or does it go into Track Mode regardless of receiving the sentances or not?.

I am trying to connect my new plotter to it without much luck. The unit simply beeps once and then continues to show the current heading. I don't know if I have a connection problem or a not fully functioning autohelm.

 

[Chrissie]

you need the nmea conection, it cant follow a track if there is no track imput to follow.

 

[steve28]

can you indicate the make and model of plotter, it sounds like your nmea wiring is wrong, the st1000 will protest with error beeps if the wiring is reversed, more info is needed to guide you more.

 

[Burnham_Bob]

i have the manual in pdf form if you want it but it must be receiving NMEA for it to enter track

 

[Mavis]

ok, the chart plotter is the Standard Horizon CP180i and following what I believe is good advice I have connected the yellow port 3 output to the pilots terminal 6, and the Green (common) to the pilots terminal 5.

I have tried setting a waypoint and navigating to it (though I am not actual moving as the boat is ashore) I press the right buttons on the pilot, but it doesn't do anything. Just beeps once and then continues showing it's heading.

 

[CliveG]

I have just had a look at the manuals for the CP180 and the 1000+

You have connected to the correct terminals on the autopilot.

In the CP180 book there is section that states
[ QUOTE ]
***NOTE: AUTOPILOT CONNECTION
Care must be taken when connecting the GPS Chart Plotter to an autopilot. Normally Port
3 (Yellow wire) will be used to connect to an Autopilot input, however older autopilots may
not be able to read the sentences due to the talker ID that is being used (II Integrated
Instrument). If the autopilot connections are made to Port 3 (Yellow wire) and the autopilot
is not reading the sentences, change the connections to Port 1 (Brown) or 2 (White) and
change the sentences to APA, APB, XTE, COG and BOD.

[/ QUOTE ]

Hopefully this will sort the problem.
The other issue is that the boat is not moving and the plotter may not be happy with this.

 

[philip_stevens]

I am sure you need to input a route on your GPS initially. You then press the buttons you

"If cross track error and bearing to waypoint data are both available
(via SeaTalk or NMEA), the pilot can acquire a track automatically:
1. Bring the boat to within 0.1 nm of track.
2. Press AUTO.
3. Press -10 and +10 together to enter Track mode.
4. An alarm will sound and the display will alternate between:
• the bearing to waypoint, and
• the direction the boat will turn to take up the new track

5. Check that it is safe to turn the boat onto the new course.
6. Press -10 and +10 together:
• the boat will now turn on to the new course
• the alarm will cancel

7. The display will continuously cycle through the following
navigation information pages: "

You obviously know all of the above, but from memory of our ST3000, I think you first need to input a route, rather than a waypoint to goto.

 

[Mavis]

Yes, I have already tried the white but not the brown (which is connected to the VHF) I suppose it could be that the boat is not moving, if so I will have to wait for the spring, which can't come soon enough for me as I am dying to get out there again!!

 

[CliveG]

Have you reprogrammed output 2 (the White wire) to transmit the NMEA sentences required?

Like you I can't wait to get back on the water but I have a lot more work to do 1st.
Just starting completely rewiring both power and data.
I will be most surprised if it all work 1st time!

 

[Mavis]

Sorry Philip I missed your reply.
I have not tried a route yet, just the goto.

 

[DavidTav]

I have the ST1000 with a Lowrance plotter. You need to set the plotter to navigate a route before the autohelm will track it. With my plotter I needed to activate the NMEA through menu command as well as connecting the wires, maybe worth checking if you need to do this on yours? When it works the unit will beep and the display on the autohelm shows the course change required and you then press the two keys again and the boat changes direction.

 

[simonfraser]

my plotter has a software switch for the nmea output, on/off.
see if yours has one and it is on.

 

[SolentPhill]

Im not sure about Press -10 and +10 together you can set a routes use a pre set route or just go to curser. in all cases press go to then make your selection, if your going to a pre set route press auto then track it will say "next waypint starboard or port you press track again it will turn the boat. when you have reached that waypoint the plotter will bleep to say waypoint arrival the pilot will bleep and give direction again press track again once this has happened and so on.

if you press -10 or + 10 at all during the journey you have to press auto or track to put it bback on course. Raymarine do an upgrade for the auto pilot now which involves taking your big grey box in and they will download the upgrade.

 

[steve28]

do you know what the upgrade does ?

 

[SolentPhill]

not 100% its something to do with known issues with the new heads and the computer, it has been doing a few ceratin things like following a certain degree off course turning when its not supposed to. you can have a new part its the size of a match box and the upgrade. it makes it faster on reactions and a few other goodies, but where as the old model would head to your waypoint if you press - + 10 it would before still go to the same place now it goes past the waypoint hence the need to download the upgrade