Al Dickson
Well-Known Member
I have a Raymarine RL80 c which has been working fine then suddenly the boat icon apears to be oriented 180 degrees out - has anyone else experienced this - help !
Chart plotter help - Boat Icon pointing wrong way
- Thread starter Al Dickson
- Start date
volvopaul
Well-Known Member
I have 2 on my boat, does it have a compass input? maybe thats failed, never heard of that one before, have you changed heading or chart format from course/north/head up mode, id check default settings first.
Solitaire
Well-Known Member
Do you have auto pilot? Could be that the fluxgate has failed.
sarabande
Well-Known Member
Has the sensor been moved ?
Does the boat move astern on the screen when it's going ahead in real life ?
Does the boat move astern on the screen when it's going ahead in real life ?
Al Dickson
Well-Known Member
Raymarine prob
Thanks for the replies
It seemed to happen after I installed a new C map - I tried putting the old one (for a differrent sea area) back in but that made no differrence. Yes its linked to a Raymarine Autopilot.
I dont rely on these things heavily for CTS etc but I do use it for position - both the chart and the radar are oriented correctly (I normally use North Up) and it leaves the correct track when we get underway - just that we seem to be reversing all the time !!
Im just a bit concerned at 7 years old its probably about to expire just as we head off up north for our summer cruise
Thanks for the replies
It seemed to happen after I installed a new C map - I tried putting the old one (for a differrent sea area) back in but that made no differrence. Yes its linked to a Raymarine Autopilot.
I dont rely on these things heavily for CTS etc but I do use it for position - both the chart and the radar are oriented correctly (I normally use North Up) and it leaves the correct track when we get underway - just that we seem to be reversing all the time !!
Im just a bit concerned at 7 years old its probably about to expire just as we head off up north for our summer cruise
Al Dickson
Well-Known Member
Yes it does - there are two black sensors that go thru the hull in the engine bay, one has an arrow pointing forwards - I was in the bilge two days ago doing a bit of cleaning in that area so I checked to see if I had moved something but they both seem very tight - is it possible that I might just have disturbed the black wires that connect into them ?
Solitaire
Well-Known Member
As you discovered it's not the chart chip. I suggest it is the fluxgate - ours went earlier this year and was doing similar things - new one fixed it. Also had a client with the same problem, again a new fluxgate fixed the problem. Difference, ours was probably original and about 7 years old old, the other was brand new fitting to a new boat.
Al Dickson
Well-Known Member
OK that sounds worth a try - I take it if the fluxgate is away that will mean the only heading worth trusting is my magnetic compass ?
Solitaire
Well-Known Member
That be right. Can you pull up a COG vector line? That will be a good guide as it is not reliant on the fluxgate heading. It should be much closer to your compass heading and worth comparing. This will also the give you a better handle on the fluxgate failure.
Al Dickson
Well-Known Member
Yes I can do that it looks about right - im back ashore now but we are leaving tomorrow and should have an easy run up to Ardrishaig so that will give me time to hunt the fluxgate out - just in case I have left the Seamagnet near it or something stupid
Thanks for your pointers Solitaire
Vara
Well-Known Member
more research needed, but I don't think the fluxgate affects the orientation of the boat symbol.
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RCGrootveld
Active Member
I had the same problem with my R C80 Plotter connected to SG II G cc.
Had a lot of contact with R UK and R dealer NL. Reboot of the entire system, checked the wiring, several calibration tours, cc checked by NL R dealer incl. sw reload.
All without result....
Early this season I had the thougt of " I've nothing to loose " and on a nice, windstill day I climbed on the roof (displ ship) and, against all R instructions, opened the flux gate sensor (mounted in the mast). Carefully dis-assembled it and disconnected the flatcable connecting the gyro ball with the housing, cleaned the contacts with a little alcohol and assembled the hole thing.
Up to now, this seems to have solved the problem. All errors between HDG and COG I've noticed could be explained by local conditions (X-wind, current etc).
Next two weeks we'll go out on the rivers, so fingers crossed.....
Had a lot of contact with R UK and R dealer NL. Reboot of the entire system, checked the wiring, several calibration tours, cc checked by NL R dealer incl. sw reload.
All without result....
Early this season I had the thougt of " I've nothing to loose " and on a nice, windstill day I climbed on the roof (displ ship) and, against all R instructions, opened the flux gate sensor (mounted in the mast). Carefully dis-assembled it and disconnected the flatcable connecting the gyro ball with the housing, cleaned the contacts with a little alcohol and assembled the hole thing.
Up to now, this seems to have solved the problem. All errors between HDG and COG I've noticed could be explained by local conditions (X-wind, current etc).
Next two weeks we'll go out on the rivers, so fingers crossed.....
Jonmendez
Well-Known Member
Boat Image
We had a similar issue a while back - traced it to the fluxgate had lost its position in reference to the chart, we went into auto pilot set up, re swung the compass and then had to drive in a straight line to linearise the heading (from the GPS) with the compass, its best to do this where there is little outside influences. Now all is fine. Ring Raymarine helpdesk they are very good and can talk you through it if you don't have the book.
We had a similar issue a while back - traced it to the fluxgate had lost its position in reference to the chart, we went into auto pilot set up, re swung the compass and then had to drive in a straight line to linearise the heading (from the GPS) with the compass, its best to do this where there is little outside influences. Now all is fine. Ring Raymarine helpdesk they are very good and can talk you through it if you don't have the book.
PaulGooch
Well-Known Member
Easy test is to disconnect the heading sensor. Without it, you'll still get COG and have a reasonably accurate North up or Course up orientation from the GPS data.
I think you'll find the sensor through the hull is the depth transducer.
I think you'll find the sensor through the hull is the depth transducer.
DaveSteward
Active Member
I have had this problem. It could be the fluxgate, and if you do a search on the raymarine website you will find instructions on how to test the fluxgate with a multimeter.
It can also be the compass circuit on the autopilot computer. What sort of heading info is showing on your autopilot? Is it correct?
If the the heading info on the plotter and autopilot are similar, and both wrong, then almost certainly the problem is with the output info from the autopilot.
I had to send my autopilot computer to Raymarine to be repaired.
Hope this helps.
David
It can also be the compass circuit on the autopilot computer. What sort of heading info is showing on your autopilot? Is it correct?
If the the heading info on the plotter and autopilot are similar, and both wrong, then almost certainly the problem is with the output info from the autopilot.
I had to send my autopilot computer to Raymarine to be repaired.
Hope this helps.
David
adrianb
Well-Known Member
I had this. Twice.
Once through the Alderney Race.
I went into the autopilot setup, did a couple of very slow circles( a detailed "how to") is in the manual - and all sorted.
Raymarine are very good, as others have said. I'd call them about the issue, and the responses you've had here.
Once through the Alderney Race.
I went into the autopilot setup, did a couple of very slow circles( a detailed "how to") is in the manual - and all sorted.
Raymarine are very good, as others have said. I'd call them about the issue, and the responses you've had here.