Robinb
New Member
Hi there. The Control Unit Neco autopilot on the boat im buying has failed. Neco are out of business a long time. Does anyone know if a control Unit from another auto pilot like Garmin etc might work?
Control Unit for Neco autopilot
- Thread starter Robinb
- Start date
tillergirl
Well-Known Member
Ah, welcome . I 'inherited' a Neco and I had a problem with both the Drive Unit and the Control Unit. Daniele Fua from Italy is the world expert and with his guidance I replaced the two Relays (quite cheaply sourced from Texas and very easy to replace). I then followed all his guidance notes to identify a small wiring issue and then that the PCB in the Control Unit needed attention - capacitors had dried because of age. Daniele had told me I needed to find an 'old fashioned radio engineer'. I failed to do that but I found a company that repairs PCBs and they did that. Everything works fine. A very good bit of kit.
Others have mated the Drive Unit to 'modern' stuff - Nigel aka Tradeswind did that using a Simrad I think (I have Nigel's old spare Control Unit) and in conjunction with Daniele there are some notes on how to do the 'connections'
You have a choice spending the cost of the 'modern' stuff - not cheap v the reliability of the repairs (a quarter of the cost and could be cheaper). I only had the chance of putting the repairs into commission half way through last season but it seemed very strong and reliable.
Have you a copy of the manual - which includes the wiring diagrams? Let me know an email via PM and I can send you a copy.
Others have mated the Drive Unit to 'modern' stuff - Nigel aka Tradeswind did that using a Simrad I think (I have Nigel's old spare Control Unit) and in conjunction with Daniele there are some notes on how to do the 'connections'
You have a choice spending the cost of the 'modern' stuff - not cheap v the reliability of the repairs (a quarter of the cost and could be cheaper). I only had the chance of putting the repairs into commission half way through last season but it seemed very strong and reliable.
Have you a copy of the manual - which includes the wiring diagrams? Let me know an email via PM and I can send you a copy.
Tradewinds
Well-Known Member
It would seem there is now a simpler wiring solution to using the original Neco drive unit with a Raymarine ACU400 unit rather than a Simrad.
BlowingoldBoots had it done by Hudson Marine.
See this post in this thread
NECO Autopilot Update . The link to Hudson Marine is there.
There's also a link from me where you can download DanieleFua's (and mine) notes on how to do the conversion using B&G/Simrad equipment. I'm very pleased with my set up.
BlowingoldBoots had it done by Hudson Marine.
See this post in this thread
NECO Autopilot Update . The link to Hudson Marine is there.
There's also a link from me where you can download DanieleFua's (and mine) notes on how to do the conversion using B&G/Simrad equipment. I'm very pleased with my set up.
Shuggy
Well-Known Member
Here's my thread on the same issue from just over a year ago:
Slightly complex autopilot question
I installed a Simrad/B&G autopilot set-up and had the Neco drive unit converted by Greenham Regis.
Slightly complex autopilot question
I installed a Simrad/B&G autopilot set-up and had the Neco drive unit converted by Greenham Regis.
tillergirl
Well-Known Member
I had asked Onwa and they told me that their Auto Pilot would mate:
Onwa KAP 866 Auto Pilot - Aves Marine
Have you tested your Drive Unit?
Onwa KAP 866 Auto Pilot - Aves Marine
Have you tested your Drive Unit?
Tradewinds
Well-Known Member
This wiring diagram for an Raymarine ACU is from the Nauticat Owners FB page - so you can see what would be involved.
I'd go to Greenham R or Hudson if you're nervous about doing the work yourself.
I'd go to Greenham R or Hudson if you're nervous about doing the work yourself.
D
Deleted member 36384
Guest
This is how my Neco Motor is wired to ray marine ACU 400.
I have the control head from NECO. Mine did work but needed to be set up with adjustments made in the motor. Send a PM to me if you are interested.
I have the control head from NECO. Mine did work but needed to be set up with adjustments made in the motor. Send a PM to me if you are interested.
D
Deleted member 36384
Guest
Inside of Motor post modification: -
Regarding the motor. It is old and while Hudson Marine tested it, I do not expect it to last any significant time. I would not trust it on a long voyage. Other forums have commented on reliability and failure of the motor under prolonged use after conversation. If changing for blue water use, long distance sailing, I would change out the Neco motor, in my case for a Jaffa rotary unit, as that would best suit my steering arrangement. However, for pottering about in a coastal environment, reliability is not such a big issue.
Regarding the motor. It is old and while Hudson Marine tested it, I do not expect it to last any significant time. I would not trust it on a long voyage. Other forums have commented on reliability and failure of the motor under prolonged use after conversation. If changing for blue water use, long distance sailing, I would change out the Neco motor, in my case for a Jaffa rotary unit, as that would best suit my steering arrangement. However, for pottering about in a coastal environment, reliability is not such a big issue.
Tradewinds
Well-Known Member
Very interesting. Certainly pretty stripped out!Inside of Motor post modification: -
Regarding the motor. It is old and while Hudson Marine tested it, I do not expect it to last any significant time. I would not trust it on a long voyage. Other forums have commented on reliability and failure of the motor under prolonged use after conversation. If changing for blue water use, long distance sailing, I would change out the Neco motor, in my case for a Jaffa rotary unit, as that would best suit my steering arrangement. However, for pottering about in a coastal environment, reliability is not such a big issue.
KompetentKrew
Well-Known Member
Greenham Regis (in Shamrock Quay, Southampton or Chichester) will modify a Neco motor so it can be used with a modern autopilot control unit, such as Raymarine,
I found them very helpful, but ended up buying a different boat instead.
I found them very helpful, but ended up buying a different boat instead.
tillergirl
Well-Known Member
Robin: a question. I note you are buying the boat and have been told the Control Unit has failed. Do you know that the problem i.e. the Control Unit has definitely failed? It could be another problem. There are some tests to isolate the problem; it might be something simple likely the relays.
Robinb
New Member
Wow!!! Thats fantastic, thank you very much! You are a star....
Wow....thats brilliant...Thank you so much. Will get diagrams off you. Robin
Robinb
New Member
Thanks you very much! You are very kind. Robin
Robinb
New Member
Thank you loads....trying to assimilate all these fantastic information pieces! Robin
Robinb
New Member
Thank you so much. Robin
Robinb
New Member
Im told that every thing else works except the Control Unit. He put one in from ebay a few years ago but it failed again. Robin
geem
Well-Known Member
We inherited a Neco rotary drive with a Raymarine control unit. It worked fine for a couple of years but eventually the motor failed. I couldn't get it repaired so replaced the Neco drive with a Raymarine rotary drive. The power consumption of the Raymarine drive is about 50% of the old Neco unit
tillergirl
Well-Known Member
I have sent you a PM and I am waiting for Talktalk to repair their email service - tis broke since 8pm! I will send you the manual as an attachment - actually I'll send it as a Dropbox link.
In likelihood the PCB needs some new capacitors but it could be other issues as I have described in the PM. Geem is right, the Drive Unit will consume a few amps. Tis old technology and is beefy.
PS. Dropbox link should be there now.
In likelihood the PCB needs some new capacitors but it could be other issues as I have described in the PM. Geem is right, the Drive Unit will consume a few amps. Tis old technology and is beefy.
PS. Dropbox link should be there now.
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Deleted member 36384
Guest
Apparently some of the electronic components in the Neco systems suffer from age related chemical breakdown and are irreplaceable with modern technology. It was mentioned on this forum but I can't find the reference.
tillergirl
Well-Known Member
The capacitors suffer age related breakdown - i.e. dry out or leak. All of the capacitors are available - for pence. The Selsyn is said to be pretty difficult to replace but I don't think that suffers the similar chemical breakdown. I think it may be a sort of potentiometer.