Autohelm wind instruments, help, info/manual required please

Even Chance

Even Chance

Well-Known Member
Joined
15 Jun 2010
Messages
628
Location
Caithness
Visit site
I have just obtained an old set of these instruments, and would like to get it all working. I dont have the cabling that went with them, just the masthead unit and the display.

The display looks like this:-
https://www.google.co.uk/search?hl=...ne-st50-wind-instrument-unit-PAA64401;450;600

I dont know what the connections are. The back of the unit has one cable with a screen, a red cable and a yellow cable. I presume this is the power cable?

There are two other cables, one with a 3 pin connector, and the other with a 5 pin connector. I take it the 5 pin cable is the one I need, as the masthead unit needs 5 cores.
I hooked it all up as I reckon it should be, and the display just reads CL, and the buttons dont do anything. I was told the gear was working when it was removed. The guy threw away the cabling and connectors.

Is there a manual downloadable for this? I cant find one so far, maybe someone here is kind enough to help me please?
 
Looks like you have got the Raymarine ST50 instruments. The Code Lock is a security device to prevent use if instruments are stolen. normally set up so has to be inputted when instruments are turned on. It can be disabled but, Catch 22, you need the 4 digit Codelock number to access the instrument to set up the disabling function.

Whilst Raymarine no longer support this range they may be able to suggest a way of solving the problem:

http://www.raymarine.com/view/?id=1154

Alternatively get in touch with a Raymarine supplier as they may have a way of accessing the instrument get it working - this can't be the first time this has happened.

Hope this helps

Dave
 
You can download a manual for the ST50 Plus (marginally different I believe - I think ST50 is apparent wind only, plus has true wind also, but not certain) but not the basic ST50 wind from https://flir.box.com/s/w7dp1h5hwi1f3fmda4x1/1/402191779

It seems that the code can only be entered via another instrument with a digital keypad connected to the wind by SeaTalk bus. I'm afraid unless you have the other instruments and the code from your source you will be reliant on help from Raymarine.
 
Last edited:
Ive emailed raymarine, but im not holding out for an answer any time soon.

Looks like the unit is useless to me unless someone can help to break this code without the other instruments.
The masthead unit is the same as my ST 60 I currently have, so may be used as spares if nothing else I suppose.

Very depressing when theres a good working unit there. Im gutted...
 
In desperation you could try the old stories of deleting codes in devices by putting in the deep freeze overnight.
I don't know if it ever works on anything or if it's pure urban myth! Never tried it.
 
Last edited:
I can only presume the code is 0000, as is stated by Raymarine. I will see if the guy still has the other instruments, and try plugging in in to them to reset the code. Is there a procedure to follow to do this and turn off the code, therefore allowing standalone operation?

PS- what the feck is a YAPP?
 
Even Chance said:
Is there a procedure to follow to do this and turn off the code, therefore allowing standalone operation?

PS- what the feck is a YAPP?
Click to expand...

I think it's in the manual, if not see here: http://www.ybw.com/forums/showthread.php?327122-Codelocked-instruments-plea!-Old-ST50

A YAPP is "Yet Another Pointless Project", a name on this forum for home-brew microcontroller-based instruments, coined by the original producer: AngusMcDoon. Most projects have been far from pointless, and there are a growing number of contributors.
 
Even Chance said:
I can only presume the code is 0000, as is stated by Raymarine. I will see if the guy still has the other instruments, and try plugging in in to them to reset the code. Is there a procedure to follow to do this and turn off the code, therefore allowing standalone operation?

PS- what the feck is a YAPP?
Click to expand...

The default code when the instruments were new may well have been 0000 but on mine the code had been set like a PIN by the previous owner. Fortunately he gave me that code and I disabled it as it was a PITA to enter it each time the instruments were turned on.
 
davewarburton said:
I disabled it as it was a PITA to enter it each time the instruments were turned on.
Click to expand...

Mm - I've not seen any mention of this feature in the manuals for newer models of Raymarine instrument. I think it was something they tried out on the ST50 range (probably inspired by similar codes appearing on car radios at the time) and found it to be more trouble than it was worth.

Pete
 
Its still causing trouble as well! I was delighted to recieve these, as they would do the job on the Stella very nicely instead of my own designed windspeed unit that runs a push-bike computer.
 
Even Chance said:
I dont know what the connections are. The back of the unit has one cable with a screen, a red cable and a yellow cable. I presume this is the power cable?

There are two other cables, one with a 3 pin connector, and the other with a 5 pin connector.
Click to expand...

The unit would originally have had two 3 pin connectors (one male, one female iirc) which are power and data (red +12v, yellow data, screen ground) and used to chain other instruments. One has obviously been chopped off. The 5 pin connector will be for the masthead unit.

Raymarine dealers have a device which looks like a yellow ST50 which can be attached to the seatalk bus to zero any codelock configuration. As Codelock was designed to prevent people flogging stolen instruments (and make them less attractive to steal) I wouldn't blame a Raymarine dealer who doesn't know you being a bit iffy about helping out with a locked instrument bought from ebay. That being said it's a 2 minute job to zap the codelock with the yellow thingy.
 
Ive been contacted by Raymarine, so top marks to them for at least getting back to me.
They can reset the unit, but Im yet to find out a cost for this.

I will also see the guy that gave me the unit (for free) at the weekend and see if we can connect it back up and turn the codelock off. He is a local, and a good friend of mine so its not exactly "the bought a dodgy unit from E-Bay scenario".

The guy in the local chandlery repairs marine electronics and can possibly find the code-breaker yellow ST50 as well. I also know him well (its a small place up here!).

Thanks to everyone that has tried to help me out. I will update this if and when I can get it rectified. At least I have a few leads to follow.
 
Raymarine have come back with a cost to de-code the display unit of £84.

I personally wouldn't pay that for a brand new wind instrument, so theres no chance of that going ahead! lol

My ST60 wind thats on the E-Boat also cost nothing, as it had fallen from another friends masthead and required repairing. Easy! Worked reasonably ok, but would not read the speed correctly sometimes. Runs perfect now that I got rid of all the connectors and hard-wired everything with soldered joints and heatshrink.

Still two leads to follow on the ST50 code-break, watch this space...
 
Even Chance said:
Ive emailed raymarine, but im not holding out for an answer any time soon.

Looks like the unit is useless to me unless someone can help to break this code without the other instruments.
The masthead unit is the same as my ST 60 I currently have, so may be used as spares if nothing else I suppose.

Very depressing when theres a good working unit there. Im gutted...
Click to expand...

You could try Tinley Elecronics in Lymington, or Hudson Marine at Mercury marina on the Hamble. Both have given me excellent service on issues I've had with Raymarine/Autohelm stuff.
 
Caladh said:
You could try Tinley Elecronics in Lymington, or Hudson Marine at Mercury marina on the Hamble. Both have given me excellent service on issues I've had with Raymarine/Autohelm stuff.
Click to expand...

Hudson do (or did) have the device in question, but they're an awfully long way from Caithness
 
Last edited:
You must log in or register to reply here.

Share this page

Top