Autopilot compatibility (B&G/Raymarine)

[lustyd]

Hi all, I'm struggling to find useful info on compatibility of B&G autopilots. On the website their image shows drive units supported include some third party units but I can't find a list any where. I currently have a perfectly working Raymarine ST5000* with hydraulic ram attached to rod steering system at the rudder end. To avoid installation faff it would be nice if this could just be wired into a new B&G system rather than messing with bolts and quadrants. The rudder indicator will certainly need changing but looks basically identical so I'm hoping that will end up as a straight swap.

*getting rid of this due to the requirement for the display and all of the cabling, I'm moving to an MFD in the cockpit on N2k network and removing the individual instruments

 

[PaulRainbow]

If you fit a complete B&G core pack, the current drive should work with it OK. The AP ACU just supplies power to the drive, it doesn't communicate with it, so it has no way of knowing what's at the other end of the cable. It simply powers the drive, one way or the other, depending on which way i needs to steer. It does need feedback from the rudder sensor, not all will interchange. With some makes/models of AP note that not all features and setup procedures are available from the chart plotter, some may require the installation of the AP control unit.

 

[lustyd]

Thanks Paul that's really helpful. I don't have a huge problem with fitting the control unit somewhere. My usage of APs is very basic so generally just use the arrow buttons and will probably fit the small B&G panel at the helm next to the plotter with the triton2 somewhere out of the way if it's necessary alongside the Vulcan and Zeus. That said by the time I get at the rudder sensor I might find it's not too big of a job to replace the drive unit too, but that feels like engineering rather than instrument changes to me
Having said that I'll be probably doing the whole boat next year so might just get a specialist to do it all for me, I can't imagine labour adding a huge percentage to the total here!

 

[prv]

The Raymarine rudder sensor is just a potentiometer. I've no idea if the B&G one is too, but if it has the same three wires you could try putting a multimeter across it and seeing if you measure the same resistance at the same position. Installing the sensor is easier than fitting the ram, but if they turn out to be basically the same unit with a different logo on, why bother?

Pete

 

[lustyd]

Thanks Pete, I'd assumed that sensor would be N2k these days so will look into that too. Anything to reduce the effort of fitting will be useful. The sensor won't really change the cost drastically but looks a little faffy to fit when there's already a working one in place. That said, having traced a VHF fault to the coax being made of oxidised powder rather than metal last weekend there's definitely something to be said for new bits on a boat!

 

[prv]

Thanks Pete, I'd assumed that sensor would be N2k these days

As I say, no idea what B&G are doing, but Raymarine's is just a standard 3-wire pot in a plastic housing, with a spring to bias it to one side in order to minimise backlash.

Pete

 

[lustyd]

Just checked and it is N2k after all looking at the site. Good call on checking though, just wish B&G info was easier to consume on their site

 

[Buck Turgidson]

Simple install
Commissioning

 

[ithet]

Just checked and it is N2k after all looking at the site. Good call on checking though, just wish B&G info was easier to consume on their site

Simple install
Commissioning

From that installation guide looks like either a unit feeding into the N2k network, or a resistive sensor connected directly to the NAC-2 computer.

 

[lustyd]

haha good point, I checked their new rudder sensor rather than the computer...doh!

 

[PaulRainbow]

haha good point, I checked their new rudder sensor rather than the computer...doh!

As per post #4, it'll most likely work. Suck it and see. Also agree with post #4 regarding changing the drive, no pint if it works OK.

you say hydraulic, i take it that's a hydraulic linear drive ?

 

[lustyd]

Yes definitely linear drive it looks identical to the b&g and probably is. Ill trace the various cables next time I'm down but sounds like most of it will work fine so thanks to all!