Installation of Raymarine Fluxgate Compass

[hjackson123]

I just purchased a new boat and had a dealer install a Raymarine E-120 with radar, fish finder and chart plotter. I also purchased a fluxgate compass to allow the radar to overlay the charts a Navionics Platinum chart. The radar seems to work fine. However, the boat icon moves backwards and all data is reversed by 180 degrees. I contacted Raymaine but they could not help. I noticed that the fluxgate compass is mounted on a locker wall with the bubble pointing towards the bow of the boat. I though maby this was the problem. However, Raymaine indicted that as long as the arrow on the compass is point up it doesn't matter about the compass mounted direction. The dealer has no idea what the problem is. Does anyone know how to solve this problem. The E-120 has version 3.0 software.

Thanks,

Herb

 

[john_morris_uk]

When I installed a Raymarine Fluxgate Compass with our autopilot, I had to initialise the compass through a 'dealer setup' or 'owners setup' menu on the autopilot. This included driving in circles slowly to allow the compass to work out its own deviation curve etc.

Assuming that you have checked the wiring and all the wires are exactly where they are supposed to go, then there should be a setup menu somewhere to sort things out. I would double check the wiring first, and then look for the setup and initialisation menu.

Sorry to be the bearer of bad news, but your radar overlay will not work very well with only the compass. Your dealer should have explained that you need a rate gyro as well. This gives much more accurate MARPA plotting and radar overlay working.

 

[BAtoo]

Quote "Sorry to be the bearer of bad news, but your radar overlay will not work very well with only the compass. Your dealer should have explained that you need a rate gyro as well. This gives much more accurate MARPA plotting and radar overlay working." Quote

I think this should be "it will work better with a rate gyro" - it will be OK without one.

We had Raymarine w MARPA in the last boat without rate gyro & it was useable most of the time; obviously worse in rougher weather as the MAPA readout fluctuates more.

 

[john_morris_uk]

"will not work very well" = "would work better"?

I agree that it will function - it just won't be very accurate all of the time on its MARPA calculations.

 

[nickfabbri]

I had a very long discussion with a Simrad dealer before we purchased our compass. And he assured me that the major difference was due to rates of update. In the case of the Simrad fluxgate compass it updates more than fast enough to allow radar overlay. I wouldn't worry too much about the rate gyro version. Yes there will be a slight decrease in efficiency but with modern electronics it will not be noticeable.

 

[john_morris_uk]

I've used both - and it is noticably better with a rate gyro on the Raymarine system. Its why we had an autopilot with the rate gyro option ready for when we upgrade our radar. The only trouble is the old radar works perfectly well, and I've no desire to splash out on a new system just to get MARPA.

 

[Bloater]

Don't panic all is well. I had exactly the same senario when I had my fluxgate compass installed.

The fluxgate only has to be mounted on a vertical surface the rest is calibrated very easily via the software.

My plotter was showing my boat moving backwards and the heading was 180deg out too.

There is a method detailed in the autopilot handbook that tells you how to accomplish this. If I can remember correctly you simply tell the system to take the COG as your heading and it automaticaly does the rest for you. (You don't go round in circles - that is to calibrate the compass for deviation).

I am sorry that I can't remember the exact keys you press on the autopilot set up screens but it is in the booklet.

Edited to say... that you need to look at the Raymarine 'Smartpilot Series Commissioning Guide' Page 30 to do this.

 

[asj1]

I agree , when I bought my boat I had the same problem, but careful reading of the manual and fiddling with the system eventually sorted it out. Strangely enough the system wasn't new the previous owner had obviously lived with it for 3 years!

regards

 

[LadyInBed]

"I am sorry that I can't remember the exact keys you press on the autopilot"

I seem to remember for my st5000+ it is:
Standby for 2 secs = user setup
Standby for 15 secs = dealer setup

 

[captcarl]

My boat position indicator on the chart plotter is spinning around. I guess this is the Fluxgate doing this. Is there a test I can do to prove this or I do I just buy a new fluxgate... This is all RayMarine equipment. carl

 

[BrianH]

Three years ago I fitted the Raymarine S1 Autopilot that included a Raymarine fluxgate compass in the kit, which I fitted facing aft on the main bulkhead next to the autopilot computer. However, when the system was first switched on and the Controller display activated, I was surprised to see the ship's reciprocal bearing showing on the Standby course. Realising that the documentation showed all the proposed mounting positions as being on forward-facing, vertical surfaces, I confidently expected the extensive calibration options would allow a 180 degree (modulo 360) adjustment; but no, the multiple possibilities did not cover that contingency. I thought this strange, a fluxgate compass delivers a digital value, feeding a processor - a simple algorithm could be incorporated. Perhaps I missed a possible procedure but I did search the menu structure - which may have changed by now. Your software may well allow for that.

I ended up having to reposition the compass unit on the forward part of the moulded cockpit steering seat position

 

[pvb]

[ QUOTE ]
My boat position indicator on the chart plotter is spinning around. I guess this is the Fluxgate doing this. Is there a test I can do to prove this or I do I just buy a new fluxgate... This is all RayMarine equipment. carl

[/ QUOTE ]Welcome to the forums. If you read this Raymarine help topic you'll find it gives a reason for this. Also, this help topic tells you how to check a fluxgate.

 

[pvb]

[ QUOTE ]
Perhaps I missed a possible procedure but I did search the menu structure - which may have changed by now. Your software may well allow for that.

I ended up having to reposition the compass unit on the forward part of the moulded cockpit steering seat position

[/ QUOTE ]The fluxgate can be positioned facing in any direction, as long as it's on a vertical surface. The heading calibration procedure is described in the commissioning manual - you wouldn't necessarily find it in the menu without reading the manual.

 

[BrianH]

[ QUOTE ]
The heading calibration procedure is described in the commissioning manual - you wouldn't necessarily find it in the menu without reading the manual.

[/ QUOTE ]

At the time I did read the manual but expected to adjust such a major error before the sea trials - up to when there being nothing applicable. Even now, re-reading the manual, I can only see the following Dealer Calibration Mode adjustments as being possibly relevant and originally inferred to apply only to deviation adjustment:<ul type="square">"Aligning the compass heading
1. Once the deviation is displayed, press disp to move to the Heading Alignment page (ALIGN HDG).
2. Manually steer the boat on a steady course at a speed which enables you to hold that course.
3. If you have a GPS connected to your SmartPilot:
• increase the boat speed to more than 3 knots
• press auto: the SmartPilot will then set the heading to agree with the COG (course over ground) heading received from the GPS
• as many factors can cause a difference between heading and COG (such as tides and leeway affecting the boat) you must then fine-tune the head-ing alignment so it matches the boat’s steering compass or a known transit bearing
4. Use -1, +1, -10 and +10 keys or the rotary control to adjust the displayed heading until it matches boat’s steering compass or a known transit bearing.
5. Press and hold standby for 2 seconds to exit Seatrial Calibration and save the new compass settings."
[/list]
Perhaps there is something else buried in the complex set of calibration possibilities that I, ardent anti-RTFM, am still myopic to. Having the "non-G" model where automatic compensations were not possible may have inhibited a simple resolution.

 

[pvb]

[ QUOTE ]
Even now, re-reading the manual, I can only see the following Dealer Calibration Mode adjustments as being possibly relevant and originally inferred to apply only to deviation adjustment....

[/ QUOTE ]The bit you've quoted is from the Seatrial Calibration section, and describes how to align the fluxgate to the boat's steering compass. I think your own diagnosis of "ardent anti-RTFM" is probably the cause of your problem! /forums/images/graemlins/grin.gif

 

[whipper_snapper]

Which reminds me.

I have just repositioned my Raymarine fluxgate compass. It is now very close to the batteries - inches away - and has a fishfinder transducer cable running very close to it.

I have not yet had a chance to connect up the rest of the autopilot. Does anyone know if I can expect problems with this location ? Keeping it low and central and away from engine and main compass limit the options.


Thanks

 

[peterb]

[ QUOTE ]
My boat position indicator on the chart plotter is spinning around. I guess this is the Fluxgate doing this. Is there a test I can do to prove this or I do I just buy a new fluxgate... This is all RayMarine equipment. carl

[/ QUOTE ]

Is this spinning round while the boat is stationary? If so, then it's probably due to the GPS. Each time it's read it gives a slightly different position (maybe only by a metre or so). The plotter interprets this as the boat moving in a new direction, and moves the boat indicator. If it's just this, then it's nothing to worry about; once the boat is really moving then the indicator will steady down and read correctly.

It gets worse if you have set the plotter so that the boat is off centre. If you do that, then the whole picture will dance about. If the GPS shows you as moving east then the picture will show you off-centre to the west; a few moments later the GPS will show you as moving west and the picture moves to show you off-centre to the east. Again, it resolves itself once the boat is moving, but if it annoys you then just remove the offset.

 

[Anonymous]

You've had some great and well informed input .... I will only add:-

1. Mrs L keeps putting our hiking boots in the space by the fluxgate and they have steel clips. Everything goes silly when I engage the nav, so I go onto manual and remember "Mrs L!!....Where did you put our boots, dear? We seem to be going round in circles". Even the smallest bits of magnetic iron will pull the fluxgate enormously -- probably the same is true of electric cables.

2. Use with MARPA without a rate 'gyro' -- we have an early monochrome CRT radar from Raymarine with the original HSB but it does have MARPA. It works without the gyro but it isn't ideal. However, when you get the hang of it, it's fine and (even) Mrs L can manage it on a watch. It's just not very accurate but it has never failed to trigger an alarm on a projected dangerous target, not once in tens of thousands of nm with the radar mostly on.