EV100 strange problem

[Daverw]

Over this weekend had a strange fault with the control off our Raymarine auto pilot tiller ram, when switched on and control in manual on the P70 head unit it will only drive in on either manual drive button. Pull the ram out and it will repeatedly do the same. Checked power out to ram and it does not reverse polarity. Checked cable ok, then after some time it just starts working as normal. It’s now done this twice over th3 last few days just as we getting ready to set off. Don’t like the self fixing when nothing seems to be wrong.

battery voltage 13.2v at all test points so really confused.

anyone any ideas?

system 3 years old and always work perfectly, going to call raymarine anyway

 

[Boathook]

Over this weekend had a strange fault with the control off our Raymarine auto pilot tiller ram, when switched on and control in manual on the P70 head unit it will only drive in on either manual drive button. Pull the ram out and it will repeatedly do the same. Checked power out to ram and it does not reverse polarity. Checked cable ok, then after some time it just starts working as normal. It’s now done this twice over th3 last few days just as we getting ready to set off. Don’t like the self fixing when nothing seems to be wrong.

battery voltage 13.2v at all test points so really confused.

anyone any ideas?

system 3 years old and always work perfectly, going to call raymarine anyway

Have to follow this thread as I'm about to upgrade my raymarine smart pilot electronics to the EV-1 and ACU-100 plus p70s controller.

 

[Daverw]

Up until now after 3 years it’s works brilliantly apart from this issue that started of Thursday, when it started again on both trips worked flawlessly for each 4 hour trip

 

[Concerto]

You may have had a problem if the boat went off course due to a mainsheet dislodging the ram in a gybe. That happened to me and I had to recalibrate my EV100 tiller.

 

[Daverw]

The issue only arises when I get the boat ready and are checking all out before we cast lines. Both times it just starts working a few minutes before, we tend to remove shore power and switch on all instruments about 30minutes for we leave pontoon.

I first thought that it maybe a low power issue but the last time had covers off and power was at 13.2v to AC100 unit, voltage out was 7.9v and not switching for reversing ram. Starting to think it may be a board issue issue with output relay which I assume is solid state. Got to get serial number and then call raymarine service dept

 

[Baddox]

I don’t know the system but wonder if it is linked to a flux-gate compass. If it is, has anything metallic been placed or removed from the compass area and the drive is confused?

 

[Daverw]

This cannot be the issue as the problem occurs in standby mode when just driving the ram in and out and not to a course. The drive controller is supposed to swap the drive polarity to drive the ram the other direction and it does not do this and then suddenly starts doing this, it then works for hours perfectly.

 

[BabaYaga]

it will only drive in on either manual drive button. Pull the ram out and it will repeatedly do the same.

Not quite clear to me exactly what the symptoms are. When in stand by mode, pushing buttons +1 or +10 should drive the ram in one direction ( e. g. expanding), pushing -1 or -10 should drive it in the other direction (contracting).
Are you saying that pushing any of these four buttons will only result in the ram contracting?
Also, when you say it will start working as normal after some time – is this as normal in stand by or in auto mode?

 

[Daverw]

Yes, it moves only inward with any of the four buttons pressed in standby mode, both times I’ve tried it for about 10 minutes, pulling the ram out each time and trying both the +1 or +10 and the -1 or -10 buttons. it then starts working as should. When it’s not working the voltage at the Ram plug/ socket reads - voltage in both directions which would mean it’s not the Ram but the controller.
when it starts working normally it’s in all modes and does not stop working Until next time used after power off, we don’t power off until back on berth.

 

[BabaYaga]

I agree that some fault in the polarity switching operation of the ACU-100 appears to be the most likely explanation. The low voltage reading (7.9v) mentioned in post #5 sounds odd to me. Another possibility might be moisture ingress into the control head p70, causing it to send the wrong command when buttons are pressed.

 

[Daverw]

Well an update,
Had another look today and same issue, checked all connections etc and no problems found, took the ACU100 out and as local raymarine dealer was closed today thought I would try Raymarine technical and have a chat.

Glad I did as within 5 minutes of discussion and explaining the issue the possible cause was identified.

it appears the cause was my error, I normally switch on the autopilot when out on the river and heading straight out. what I had been doing recently was switching on at the berth without tiller centred, because I have fitted a rudder position sensor the ACU was seeing a very off centre tiller and trying to correct, if I had not a rudder position sensor it would not have tried and just moved the ram as requested.

To test this I positioned the tiller within 10 degrees of centre line on each side repeatedly set and unset and all was perfect.

thanks for Raymarine and their tech guy fully understanding how the ACU works.

 

[chris-s]

@Daverw Good to hear you found the issue. We are thinking about adding one of these units to our tiller steered boat, it would all need to be above deck and we would like to include a rudder position sensor but haven’t yet worked out a neat way of doing this. How is yours fitted?

 

[Daverw]

I spent quite some time looking at how to fit the rudder ref unit.
the final solution that has now worked for 4 years, I looked at links above deck but this was messy and really wanted it out of the way.

the rudder shaft as it comes through the deck as a 3” round base which forms the tiller bracket. I fitted a thin stainless cable to the locking pin at the back. This wraps around 3/4 of the diameter to a small bracket that holds a ptfe sleeve, this leads the wire inside the boat to the rudder ref arm. This is held in correct position by bungee cord. As you rotate the tiller it pulls the rudder ref in relation to the tiller turning. The rudder ref is about 800mm from the tiller stock.
I’ve tried to find some photos but have not got any and will not be at the boat again for 3 weeks