four bleeps means....?

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oldvarnish

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I've got an ST6000 autopilot and every so often it gives four quick bleeps and then drops into Standby - usually when motoring.
There's no pattern to it that I can detect: it can go for many hours, or it might do it twice in twenty minutes.
Can't find anything in the manual. Any ideas?
 
Ours does the same. Purely random,motoring or sailing- five times in quick succession or once in a blue moon-checked the voltage several times immediatly it has kicked out and it appears to be OK- its always between 12.4 and 14.3 by our Link. It has improved since I cleaned the commutator in the ram drive motor and tweaked the brush springs a bit-they were fouling the brush holder sides. It is interesting to note that Raymarine staff at boat shows are VERY reluctant to discuss this and cannot offer any assistance with diagnosis.........................
 
It could be the clutch...

We had a problem with drive stopped alarm going off.... Found out that when I engaged the autopilot I could still turn the tiller... IE... the autopilot was not actually taking over control of the rudder even though it thought it was... The drive stops when the course computer works out that it is telling the ruder to move, but the rudder sensor is not detecting a change in rudder angle..

The local RM agent said it is a common issue,,, simply clean up and lubricate the moving parts..

In the end my problem turned out to be a dodgy connector on the clutch wire!!
 
Pye_End said:
Voltage due to a dicky connection?
Click to expand...

I had that on a previous boat with an ST4000. Drove me crazy till I read Robin Knox Johnston's book where he described the same problem (more serious on an Open 60 with a lot of sail up than on my boat). It was traced by an Australian engineer who simply doubled the size of the supply cable - no more problems.

But I don't think that's the problem here. Then, it gave one bleep and disengaged. This time it is four bleeps and plenty of voltage across it.
 
Tomahawk said:
It could be the clutch...

simply clean up and lubricate the moving parts..

In the end my problem turned out to be a dodgy connector on the clutch wire!!
Click to expand...

That's useful. DId it give one bleep when disengaging, or four?
Do you mean all the moving parts outside of the unit itself, or do you need to open it up?
 
Mine tends to do this when the flux gate compass is ready or in need of a calibration. When was the last time you did your 360 degree slow turn auto calibration. I need to do mine about every 2 years. Wouldn't know why you get it when motoring only, but again it could be something magnetic causing it.
 
Condensation on the inline connector directly behind the instrument head. ( From experience )start there and work through cleaning any non shiny contact pins along the other plugs.
I would guess that the unit is tripping out each time the alternator kicks in or out when motoring?
One very good indicator of dodgy low volts is the note and volume of those pips whenever you press a button.. If they are appreciably lower with the engine off, less of the battery's at-rest volts are getting through. Whereas when charging there are 14plus volts to start with so losses are less significant..-and a higher louder pitch on the instrument head.( there will always be some tonal difference, the trick is to know/learn what is an acceptable range and what is not).
Bit long winded but, worth sorting
 
From Raymarine FAQ (but it doesn't mention any beeps):

ST6000 autopilot goes to standby unexpectedly

My ST6000 series autopilot sometimes goes from "auto" or "Track" to "standby". There is no warning or alarm. The only indication of a problem is when the boat veers off course. I have an integrated system with ST60 depth, ST60 speed and ST50 wind, and RL70CRC with RL70C as a repeater. The boat is a 1997 Moody 40 sailing boat.

Typically, when the autopilot reverts unexpectedly to STANDBY, there is a problem with the power supply to the autopilot. This could be low volts, electrical 'noise' on the power supply, a poor connection or a faulty drive motor.

First check the battery's are holding a charge and that, when the drive unit is operating, there is still a good 12 - 12.5 volts measured at the point where the power supply connects to the Autopilot or course computer. When the drive motor operates, it will take some current, if there is a poor connection or the battery's will not hold a charge, this will cause the voltage to drop, leading to the reset of the computer and return of the unit to STANDBY.

If a drop in voltage is measured, check the connections between the batteries and the autopilot or course computer. Remake any that show signs of corrosion or appear suspicious. Check the condition of any switches and fuses - dirty contacts will also drop the voltage and cause the autopilot to revert to STANDBY.

If the voltage is OK, another possibility is electrical 'noise'. This could take the form of other equipment onboard switching on and off, items such as bilge pumps, refrigerator, electric motors, electric winches, furling gear, SSB, engine alternator, etc.. To eliminate this possibility, systematically turn on and off the other equipment to determine which, if any, affect the autopilot.

If none of the above, there may be a fault with the drive motor causing it to take too much current or to 'spark'. This should be checked by an approved Raymarine agent.
 
ksutton said:
Mine tends to do this when the flux gate compass is ready or in need of a calibration. When was the last time you did your 360 degree slow turn auto calibration. I need to do mine about every 2 years. Wouldn't know why you get it when motoring only, but again it could be something magnetic causing it.
Click to expand...
Interesting. Ashamed to say I've never calibrated to flux gate. I'll give it a try.
(PS Only happens when motoring cos that's the only time I use it)
 
Troubadour said:
From Raymarine FAQ (but it doesn't mention any beeps):

ST6000 autopilot goes to standby unexpectedly

My ST6000 series autopilot sometimes goes from "auto" or "Track" to "standby". There is no warning or alarm. The only indication of a problem is when the boat veers off course. I have an integrated system with ST60 depth, ST60 speed and ST50 wind, and RL70CRC with RL70C as a repeater. The boat is a 1997 Moody 40 sailing boat.

Typically, when the autopilot reverts unexpectedly to STANDBY, there is a problem with the power supply to the autopilot. This could be low volts, electrical 'noise' on the power supply, a poor connection or a faulty drive motor.

First check the battery's are holding a charge and that, when the drive unit is operating, there is still a good 12 - 12.5 volts measured at the point where the power supply connects to the Autopilot or course computer. When the drive motor operates, it will take some current, if there is a poor connection or the battery's will not hold a charge, this will cause the voltage to drop, leading to the reset of the computer and return of the unit to STANDBY.

If a drop in voltage is measured, check the connections between the batteries and the autopilot or course computer. Remake any that show signs of corrosion or appear suspicious. Check the condition of any switches and fuses - dirty contacts will also drop the voltage and cause the autopilot to revert to STANDBY.

If the voltage is OK, another possibility is electrical 'noise'. This could take the form of other equipment onboard switching on and off, items such as bilge pumps, refrigerator, electric motors, electric winches, furling gear, SSB, engine alternator, etc.. To eliminate this possibility, systematically turn on and off the other equipment to determine which, if any, affect the autopilot.

If none of the above, there may be a fault with the drive motor causing it to take too much current or to 'spark'. This should be checked by an approved Raymarine agent.
Click to expand...


Very, very useful. Thanks
 
I have a 91 vintage ST6000. I have a similar but slightly different problem.

Symptoms
Always when Motoring
One beep and it alters cause to port by a couple of degrees, and steadies on a new course. It then does it again spasmodically.
I note that when it does the bleep, a message - standby I think - flashes momentarily on the screen.

Last year it did not do it at all - some 150 hours of motoring.

In an around Portsmouth and Brest (Military Radar??), does it almost to order. In the middle of the Ionian - does it very very rarely. We motored through a thunderstorm recently and it went beserk.

Edit - it's not connected to the GPS, so cannot be tracking error

So could it be related to an external radio interference?
As its always when motoring I would reckon it was not a voltage problem as the batteries are at least at 14.2V or above.
 
Have you also seen this thread?
http://www.ybw.com/forums/showthread.php?t=319608&highlight=raymarine

Particularly this from AngusMcDoon:

"Originally Posted by rotrax
Our Raymarine autopilot exibits similar traits from time to time. After talking to Raymarine at a show three years ago, they had never heard of this fault.

Oh yes they have, but won't admit to it. Seatalk messages contain little error checking data (unlike NMEA). All Seatalk connected equipment does funny things now and then, like units on instruments changing, maximum values going to huge numbers and autopilots losing the plot. Any interference is likely to cause this randomly, like mobile phone signals. There's not much to be done about it."

Adding this to Raymarine's FAQ answer, it all seems to point to poor immunity to interference.
 
Troubadour said:
Have you also seen this thread?
http://www.ybw.com/forums/showthread.php?t=319608&highlight=raymarine

Particularly this from AngusMcDoon:

"Originally Posted by rotrax
Our Raymarine autopilot exibits similar traits from time to time. After talking to Raymarine at a show three years ago, they had never heard of this fault.

Oh yes they have, but won't admit to it. Seatalk messages contain little error checking data (unlike NMEA). All Seatalk connected equipment does funny things now and then, like units on instruments changing, maximum values going to huge numbers and autopilots losing the plot. Any interference is likely to cause this randomly, like mobile phone signals. There's not much to be done about it."

Adding this to Raymarine's FAQ answer, it all seems to point to poor immunity to interference.
Click to expand...

That would equate with our experience - Always happens in a busy port area, but very very rare in the middle of no where. Except with a Thunderstorm in the middle of nowhere!

Might be a good reason to buy someone elses equipment - Faruno for example - when I replace.
 
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