Autohelm ST3000 problems

[madabouttheboat]

I have an Autohelm ST3000 on my recent purchase. It has the square control as per the picture below together with a belt driven motor/clutch/wheel drive. It powers up, and if I put it on Auto it seems to work fine in as much as it will turn the wheel as per my inputs to the +10 or -10 buttons but… The heading displayed is miles off, like 100° or more out, and if you put it on auto when motoring is seems to hold course for a short while then just goes off the rails and tries to send the boat off on a completely different course.

The previous owner tells me that it’s always been like this (he owned it for a year or so). He said that he tried the going round in circles thing to calibrate it and it made no difference. Of course, he could have been doing it wrong. I haven’t tried it yet as I haven’t found what the correct procedure is.

So, any suggestions. Particularly as to why the heading may be out and what the correct calibration procedure is? Of course, I have no manuals and the Raymarine website isn’t any help with kit this old.

Thanks all

 

[PaulRainbow]

Google is your friend ; https://busse-yachtshop.de/pdf/rayST3000_wheel.pdf

If the heading is off it either needs calibrating or the internal compass is faulty.

 

[madabouttheboat]

Google is your friend ; https://busse-yachtshop.de/pdf/rayST3000_wheel.pdf

If the heading is off it either needs calibrating or the internal compass is faulty.

Thanks

I did try a google but must have missed that. I want to try and calibrate it and see if it makes any difference. I notice form that manual that there is also a heading alignment option, which may be useful.

 

[Neeves]

If it has an internal compass - is there something that is impacting the compass, like another electronic device, that is located nearby/adjacent.

Your kit is much newer than ours!

Our AP had a completely independent compass with instruction to locate the compass well away from other electronic devices (maybe why it came with a long cable and shows how lucky you are with modern kit.

I vaguely recall someone with a similar fault that might have been attributed to another device located too close to the compass. But Paul is the expert - ignore me,

Jonathan

 

[madabouttheboat]

If it has an internal compass - is there something that is impacting the compass, like another electronic device, that is located nearby/adjacent.

Your kit is much newer than ours!

Our AP had a completely independent compass with instruction to locate the compass well away from other electronic devices (maybe why it came with a long cable and shows how lucky you are with modern kit.

I vaguely recall someone with a similar fault that might have been attributed to another device located too close to the compass. But Paul is the expert - ignore me,

Jonathan

It’s a good call. The previous owner did redesign the dash and now I’m wondering if he hadn’t caused the problem with the location of various things. Defo something to look into.

 

[PaulRainbow]

If it has an internal compass - is there something that is impacting the compass, like another electronic device, that is located nearby/adjacent.

Your kit is much newer than ours!

Our AP had a completely independent compass with instruction to locate the compass well away from other electronic devices (maybe why it came with a long cable and shows how lucky you are with modern kit.

I vaguely recall someone with a similar fault that might have been attributed to another device located too close to the compass. But Paul is the expert - ignore me,

Jonathan

You have that backwards Jonathan. The OP's autopilot is a very old model. Later ones have a separate compass, the latest ones have a heading sensor, that also gives, roll, pitch etc. Being separate makes it easier to locate the compass in an ideal spot.

 

[madabouttheboat]

Just to resurrect this old thread. It seems like the internal compass is faulty. The heading doesn't really change as the boat changes direction. I get maybe a degree or two change on the display despite a turn of 180°. Calibration does nothing to help.

So, a question to those in the know @PaulRainbow is there another Raymarine head unit that will work in place of the ST3000? I don't mind having a separate compass if that's what's required.

Help please.

Thanks

 

[PaulRainbow]

Just to resurrect this old thread. It seems like the internal compass is faulty. The heading doesn't really change as the boat changes direction. I get maybe a degree or two change on the display despite a turn of 180°. Calibration does nothing to help.

So, a question to those in the know @PaulRainbow is there another Raymarine head unit that will work in place of the ST3000? I don't mind having a separate compass if that's what's required.

Help please.

Thanks

I think the ST4000 (pre-+) should work in place of the ST3000, it also has the internal compass. You could also fit the ST4000+ but you would need the external compass too.

 

[madabouttheboat]

I think the ST4000 (pre-+) should work in place of the ST3000, it also has the internal compass. You could also fit the ST4000+ but you would need the external compass too.

Thank you Paul

Now, finding one. That could be difficult!

 

[PabloPicasso]

Just to resurrect this old thread. It seems like the internal compass is faulty. The heading doesn't really change as the boat changes direction. I get maybe a degree or two change on the display despite a turn of 180°. Calibration does nothing to help.

So, a question to those in the know @PaulRainbow is there another Raymarine head unit that will work in place of the ST3000? I don't mind having a separate compass if that's what's required.

Help please.

Thanks

I just had a similar problem. See my fluxgate thread.https://forums.ybw.com/threads/fluxgate-compass.611257/


Turned out to be a broken wire at the course computer connector block.

 

[owen]

compass have you considered replacing the compass. I have had similar problems .

 

[madabouttheboat]

compass have you considered replacing the compass. I have had similar problems .

The compass is internal on these. I’m not sure how easy, or even possible, it is to change it.

 

[madabouttheboat]

I just had a similar problem. See my fluxgate thread.https://forums.ybw.com/threads/fluxgate-compass.611257/


Turned out to be a broken wire at the course computer connector block.

These don’t have a separate course computer. It’s an all in one unit.