Raymarine Rudder Position Sensor

A

Ammonite

Well-Known Member
Joined
7 Feb 2007
Messages
1,180
Visit site
I have intermitent fault with the raymarine autopilot where the rudder will ocassionally go hard over. Most of the time it works as expected. Is this likely to be a problem with the rudder position potentiometer which sounds relatively easy to fix judging by other threads or something else. Thanks
 
I don't think that the system actually needs the sensor to work. You could simply pull off the ball joint so it stays in one place and see if it makes any difference to your system. A poor connection somewhere else is certainly a possibility.

Richard
 
Thanks. Just to clarrify. When you say that the sensor isn't needed does this mean that you can safely remove / disconnect it and the autopilot will work but presumably not quite as well, but that if it is connected it becomes an integral part of the system and an intermitent fault would result in the behaviour Im seeing, assuming it is the sensor at fault rather than a poor connection elsewhere?

I was under the impression (rightly or wrongly) that the sensor does more than just providing a readout of where the rudder is?
 
Last edited:
Boathook said:
The sensor is just to give feedback to the control unit so that it knows what angle the rudders are at, etc. The sensor unit is normally an extra to a standard system.
Click to expand...
I get this but do you know what it does with the feedback? ie. just dumbly display it or use it to enhance the standard algorithm in which case a faulty unit could cause the problem im experiencing?
 
I believe that the sensor is simply used to enhance the display so you know that the autopilot is actually working correctly. As I said, if you disconnect it you should find that your system behaves exactly as it did before. You will then know that the problem lies elsewhere.

Richard
 
I hope that it uses the data to enhance performance. I never tried mine without the sensor. If i had the same problem I would try disconnecting the sensor as its only a couple of wires to disconnect at the processor end.
 
not Raymarine, but my Garmin a/p also works fine without the rudder sensor. Saw no difference between before and after fitting one other than now having a display of rudder position in the a/p head (which is nice, but nothing to be excited about tbh...)
 
did you notice the display of rudder position changing before a/p going hard over to one end? that would point to it being used more seriously by the a/p
 
Sadly not. It was the delivery skipper who reported the problem but if the rudder sensor doesnt enhance the algorithm it can't be this that is causing the problem. It would be great to confirm what its intended function is!
 
Chaktoura said:
Sadly not. It was the delivery skipper who reported the problem but if the rudder sensor doesnt enhance the algorithm it can't be this that is causing the problem. It would be great to confirm what its intended function is!
Click to expand...
Think it might be to stop the AP ram driving against the rudder stops.
 
According to my Evoloution EV-1 and ACU installation manual the rudder reference sensor is “highly” recommended. It does just provide rudder angle information. In strong cross currents, without it the auto helm will consistently steer up current. I guess, in manual mode you find the offset needed to counter the strong current, then enter that, activate auto helm, and rudder sensor data then tells the ACU that this is the new relative midships position to use, but there is reduced turn angle one way. Also Power Steer Mode (remote control) requires the rudder sensor to be fitted.
 
You must log in or register to reply here.

Share this page

Top