B&G T2 autopilot ram

[mrangry]

I have purchased a used b&g T2 autopilot ram and trying to bench test it prior to fitting and connection to the b&g NAC 3 course computer.

Am I correct in thinking that the two heavy cables (black and red) are for power to the hydraulic pump and the other two (brown and blue) lighter cables are switched to control direction of the ram?

 

[PaulRainbow]

It's not a constant running pump, so no. The red and black will power the pump/ram, red to + and black to - and it will extend, cross them and it retracts. The brown and blue wires are for the clutch, you need to supply power to the clutch to engage the ram, disengage it for manual steering. The NAC 3 will do all of that for you.

 

[mrangry]

It's not a constant running pump, so no. The red and black will power the pump/ram, red to + and black to - and it will extend, cross them and it retracts. The brown and blue wires are for the clutch, you need to supply power to the clutch to engage the ram, disengage it for manual steering. The NAC 3 will do all of that for you.

Thanks Paul. I am at home in the garage and just wanted to test the drive prior to taking it down to the boat and finding it doesn't work.

Am I right in thinking then that each of the two thinner wires (blue and brown) going to the clutch will receive a positive feed (not at the same time) to determine the direction of the ram movement? Do they share an earth with the pump supply?

I have powered up the pump and it does run, just not powered either of the two clutch wires until i can confirm how it operates

 

[PaulRainbow]

Thanks Paul. I am at home in the garage and just wanted to test the drive prior to taking it down to the boat and finding it doesn't work.

Am I right in thinking then that each of the two thinner wires (blue and brown) going to the clutch will receive a positive feed (not at the same time) to determine the direction of the ram movement? Do they share an earth with the pump supply?

I have powered up the pump and it does run, just not powered either of the two clutch wires until i can confirm how it operates

Nope, not what i said in post 2.

When the clutch is disengaged the ram can be pushed in and out manually, by your manual steering, if you run the pump with the clutch disengaged it will run, but it won't do anything. Same deal as your car, you can start the engine and engage a gear, but you go nowhere until you engage the clutch. When you engage the AP the the NAC 3 will engage the clutch and at the same time, provide power to the pump to operate the ram.

To manually test it on the bench you need to engage the clutch by providing power to the brown and blue wires (i guess mains colours apply, brown for positive and blue for negative), then connect the red and black with to power, red to + and black to - and it will extend, cross them (not the clutch wires, leave them as is) and it retracts.

 

[mrangry]

Nope, not what i said in post 2.

When the clutch is disengaged the ram can be pushed in and out manually, by you manual steering, if you run the pump with the clutch disengaged it will run, but it won't do anything. Same deal as your car, you can start the engine and engage a gear, but youn go nowhere until you engage the clutch. When you engage the AP the the NAC 3 will engage and at the same time, provide power to the pump to operate the ram.

To manually test it on the bench you need to engage the clutch by providing power to the brown and blue wires (i guess mains colours apply, brown for positive and blue for negative), then connect the red and black with to power, red to + and black to - and it will extend, cross them (not the clutch wires, leave them as is) and it retracts.

Ah ok great, so it will be the red and black wires that a change in polarity will decide direction

 

[mrangry]

Just a quick update incase ever any use to anyone. I tested the ram and it works fine but a little noisy. I stripped the motor and found that one of the case magnets had become detached and was rubbing on the armature body. Glued back on and working a lot quieter now.