Garmin Reactor 40 - use with non Garmin Pump

[jrudge]

I have bought a few bits that give me a

Garmin GHC 50 Display

Garmin CCU

Garmin ECU 10

I currently have a Raymarine system with a " Raymarine" pump likely made by someone else.

The ECU 10 connects to the pump - but only a Garmin pump. This has a Green connector with 2 wires to the pump - Plus and minus.

There is another unit that looks the same for connection to non Garmin pumps but the drive output is a different colour ( Blue) and it has 4 connections - 2 for motor and 2 for clutch. To my knowledge I dont have a clutch

You cant buy the different ECU from Garmin - they only sell the whole lot - and on eBay are expensive ( I paid not much for a new ECU10).

I spoke with Garmin Support ( who told me I had the wrong bit) but I suggested to them that presumably the unit applies a positive voltage to make the pump go one way and a negative to make it go the other - so other than the fact they dont sell a cable is here any reason it would not work ?

He went away for a bit and said - in theory you are right.

There also sell a standard cable to allow used of a resistive rudder sensor so that but seems covered.

Now I dont know he spoke to, but I wondered on experiance on here.

Specifically

1 Has any one done this ( likely not!)

2. Can anyone confirm that the Garmin pump works by having a positive voltage to make it do one way and a negative to make it go the other ?

3 .Any particular reason why this wont work ?

Logic tells me it will, but logic also tells me that if gamin had the option of making only one ECU they would have done that also.

Garmin pumps are nothing special other than they have an integrated position sensor.

Any guidance appreciated.

 

[vas]

not done it, I have a fully garmin a/p system ECU10, CCU et al. if it's a lot of faffing about, maybe worth getting a 2lt Garmin pump and be done with? I know not the cheap way of doing things but you could then sell the raymarine stuff alltogher as a kit on ebay?
fwiw I have the small 1.2lt pump but I guess at 58ft you'll probably need the big one.
@PaulRainbow should be able to advice I think

cheers

 

[PaulRainbow]

I have bought a few bits that give me a

Garmin GHC 50 Display

Garmin CCU

Garmin ECU 10

I currently have a Raymarine system with a " Raymarine" pump likely made by someone else.

Important question, exactly which Raymarine pump ?

Some have a bypass valve that uses the clutch connection, if you have this, you can't use the ECU12.

The ECU 10 connects to the pump - but only a Garmin pump. This has a Green connector with 2 wires to the pump - Plus and minus.

There is another unit that looks the same for connection to non Garmin pumps but the drive output is a different colour ( Blue) and it has 4 connections - 2 for motor and 2 for clutch. To my knowledge I dont have a clutch

You can buy drive and rudder feedback cables for the other ECU, as that's designed for retrofit.

You cant buy the different ECU from Garmin - they only sell the whole lot - and on eBay are expensive ( I paid not much for a new ECU10).

I spoke with Garmin Support ( who told me I had the wrong bit) but I suggested to them that presumably the unit applies a positive voltage to make the pump go one way and a negative to make it go the other - so other than the fact they dont sell a cable is here any reason it would not work ?

Never tried fitting this combination, but i think it should work. You'll need the interconnect cable to go between the ECU and CCU, that's available. Power cable is straightforward and the rudder feedback cable is also available. The reason they don't sell the drive cable is because it's part of the drive and it shouldn't be extended (so no extension cable).

He went away for a bit and said - in theory you are right.

There also sell a standard cable to allow used of a resistive rudder sensor so that but seems covered.

Now I dont know he spoke to, but I wondered on experiance on here.

Specifically

1 Has any one done this ( likely not!)

No, although i've fitted the "other" ECU where the cables are available, never used the clutch connection though.

2. Can anyone confirm that the Garmin pump works by having a positive voltage to make it do one way and a negative to make it go the other ?

The standard pumps are just reversible, controlled by the ECU.

3 .Any particular reason why this wont work ?

None that i can think of, but bear in mind i've not actually fitted this combination.

Logic tells me it will, but logic also tells me that if gamin had the option of making only one ECU they would have done that also.

The "other" ECU has the clutch output, so can be used with the Raymarine hydraulic drives and other mechanical drives. The ECU10 is aimed at Garmin drives, but i can't see why they couldn't use the other ECU and ignore the clutch connection. I have the other ECU on my boat with a Hynautic drive, no clutch connection.

Garmin pumps are nothing special other than they have an integrated position sensor.

Correct, they connect to the drive port for drive power and the feedback port for rudder feedback.

The drive connection looks the same as the power connection, if so, a power cable could be used, Dremmel a groove in the plug, or remove the register in the ECU socket.

 

[jrudge]

Thank you for your reply.

I will report in due course !

I am on the boat next week and I should be able to install after a fashion and see what it does.

I am on my phone but can add a photo of the Raymarine pump shortly.

 

[jrudge]

I believe this is the pump - until someone tells me it is not !

 

[Gustywinds]

I think you need this cable ECU/power unit connection cable and follow this guide https://static.garmin.com/pumac/Reactor_40_Mechanical_Wiring_Reference_EN-US.pdf
I have just done this although your pump looks a little bit different to mine (it has a clutch). The ECU reverses polarity to change direction

Edit: Just checked and my ECU is GHP12 not 10 and the pump connector is blue, not green

 

[PaulRainbow]

I think you need this cable ECU/power unit connection cable and follow this guide https://static.garmin.com/pumac/Reactor_40_Mechanical_Wiring_Reference_EN-US.pdf
I have just done this although your pump looks a little bit different to mine (it has a clutch). The ECU reverses polarity to change direction

Edit: Just checked and my ECU is GHP12 not 10 and the pump connector is blue, not green

Sorry, but none of that is applicable to the ECU 10.

 

[PaulRainbow]

View attachment 183481

I believe this is the pump - until someone tells me it is not !

It is the pump, looks like a standard pump, so doesn't need the clutch output from the ECU.

FYI, the GHP12 ECU is available separately, but it's not cheap. Garmin part number 0101105330

 

[Gustywinds]

Sorry, but none of that is applicable to the ECU 10.

Yes, I realised that once I checked the manual for mine.
BTW, thanks for the previous help on this. I installed at Dunkerque and it worked fine straight away. Only slight hiccup was removing the setup for the old gear in the plotter. Haven’t done the automatic calibration as when we were on big canal there were a lot of commercial barges but it’s good enough. Next project is getting the engine info up.

 

[PaulRainbow]

Yes, I realised that once I checked the manual for mine.
BTW, thanks for the previous help on this. I installed at Dunkerque and it worked fine straight away. Only slight hiccup was removing the setup for the old gear in the plotter. Haven’t done the automatic calibration as when we were on big canal there were a lot of commercial barges but it’s good enough. Next project is getting the engine info up.

Good to hear it all worked for you.

 

[jrudge]

I also beleive I need an NMEA compass. At present the compass comes via the auto helm. I have 183 to 2000 converter so can I leave the old autohelm running for compass until I know it works and put an NMEA 200 on it ?

 

[PaulRainbow]

I also beleive I need an NMEA compass. At present the compass comes via the auto helm. I have 183 to 2000 converter so can I leave the old autohelm running for compass until I know it works and put an NMEA 200 on it ?

No, the CCU is the compass. I'd disconnect the old one, so it doesn't clash (depending on where it's connected.)

 

[jrudge]

I first assumed the ccu was the compass and then the more I read doubts set in !

Thank you.

 

[PaulRainbow]

The drive connection looks the same as the power connection, if so, a power cable could be used, Dremmel a groove in the plug, or remove the register in the ECU socket.

Just looked at a new ECU10 i have here and the power socket is indeed the same as the drive socket, apart from the register, a Dremmel should sort that.

 

[jrudge]

So my cunning plan has hit a road block.

The garmin pump has a built in position sensor.

The ecu10 box sensor plug does not fit the sensor plug they sell to allow a non garmin rudder sensor.

Opening up the box shows the back of the sensor plug and it seems clear this is a coded electronic connection not a variable resistor.

So it would seem I have no choice but to buy the more expensive box or abandon this idea !

Unless of course anyone has any bright ideas !

 

[vas]

So it would seem I have no choice but to buy the more expensive box or abandon this idea !

Unless of course anyone has any bright ideas !

second option is buy the even more expensive garmin pump (but you probably knew that already J.)

@PaulRainbow is probably your man, just worried that you set the whole thing up with the other ECU and realise it doesn't work as well as a fully garmined a/p boat... Maybe I'm overthinking of all this!

 

[PaulRainbow]

This obviously isn't a combination i have tried, but i did similar a couple of years back and ended up with the ECU 10, which i changed for the retrofit ECU for my last boat. Don't remember exactly how that all came about, but would have been the same as the OP, a collection of parts picked up from somewhere, probably Ebay.

When i bought my current boat i still had the ECU 10 and a Reactor 40, but ignored the ECU 10 and picked up the retrofit ECU and a GHC 20, plus power, drive and feedback cables. I fitted these to the boat, leaving the existing feedback sensor and Hynautic pump in place and everything works fine.

I've done a bit of digging and it seems you cannot connect the rudder feedback sensor to the ECU 10 , as it's designed to be used with the Garmin 1.2L, 2.0L, or 2.1L pumps, which use the pump flow sensor for feedback. I think it might work with a Smartpump, but even that depends on the exact version of ECU10.

The above is a bit of a minefield and i wouldn't step into it, i most certainly would not pay Smartpump prices. Given everything in this thread i'd bite the bullet and get the retrofit ECU.

Retrofit ECU, Reactor 40, GHC20/50, after-market pump and rudder feedback and connecting cables does work.

 

[jrudge]

Sorry for my slow reply. Sadly I think you are right.

The other option is do noting as the Raymarine one works ans I was doing it as I could ! It would give me auto route following which is no huge deal.

I will keep an eye out for a cheaper retrofit unit. Knew they are £600. If anyone needs an ecu10 ......

I did have the opportunity to buy a Garmin 010-00705-63 Hydraulic Pump at a fair price but that requires you have a vented steering system which I don't think I have.

 

[PaulRainbow]

Sorry for my slow reply. Sadly I think you are right.

The other option is do noting as the Raymarine one works ans I was doing it as I could ! It would give me auto route following which is no huge deal.

I will keep an eye out for a cheaper retrofit unit. Knew they are £600. If anyone needs an ecu10 ......

If any ones needs 2, i have one as well

I did have the opportunity to buy a Garmin 010-00705-63 Hydraulic Pump at a fair price but that requires you have a vented steering system which I don't think I have.

I'm not a fan of the Garmin pumps. They are pricey and i don't like the rudder feedback system, i'd personally prefer something that is actually registering the rudder position, rather than guessing by using the flow sensor. If i was fitting new, i'd go for a Hynautic pump and a redder feedback sensor.