Raymarine ST6001 Heading Problem

[xstucker]

I have had a new ST6001 Autopilot with Rate Gyro installed and there seems to be a strange problem. When I switch it on, it shows spourious heading information for the first 15 minutes or so. The Heading gradually decreases then increases, then settles on an approximately correct heading. Having been through this, the pilot works well in all modes. Raymarine have repaired and tested it (even though it's new) and it still happens.

Does anyone else have this happen, and ideally does anyone know the cause?

 

[spannerman]

Have you done a compass swing to calibrate the compass to the boat? Its in the commissioning guide page 27-28.

 

[xstucker]

A couple of compass swings, before and after the Raymarine 'repair'. Also calibrated it for all compass points and when operating the system is fantastic. It just seems to be getting some strange heading info for the first 10 to 15 mins after switching on.

 

[branko]

I have similar problem but need 2 to 3 min to =COG and HDG. If I put pilot to AUTO inside those 2 min it turn boat for 30 deg left or right. After that period everything works fine.

 

[GeorgeP]

I had a similar problem with mine that turned out to be a manufacturing error - one of the transistors was in the wrong way round. This took a while to fail and Raymarine were informing their dealers in June.

 

[Oldhand]

"Rate enhanced" fluxgate compasses do need a settling down period after switch on, not just for the fluxgate to settle but for the solid state rate sensors to reach stable conditons. However, your settling time seems very excessive as do your heading swings during this period. Assuming Raymarine's service people have thoroughly checked it out, you perhaps need to look for an onboard source of the problem. Is there, for example, anything which is powered up at much the same time which is close enough, or its wiring close enough to the heading sensor to cause a varying magnetic field?

 

[jonjo]

My 6001 autohelm brain is in the repair shop at present.

I do not recall the 15 minute warm up behaviour you have seen when my unit was working but an occasional slow heading circuit around the a whole 360 degrees was one characteristic of the wonky phase.

As I investigated my autohelm problem I heard from different independent pro sources that 04/05 vintage autohelm 6000's have had a high failure rate.

Raymarine will provide a list of expected resistances between the compass unit signal wires. I wonder if these have out of bound values during your warm up problems?

A useful get you home tip for Autohelm/G varient owners, Raymarine advised that a faulty unit can sometimes be restored to a working state by disconnecting the gyro unit (big silver thing) on the main circuit board. This is a 10 second job once the main circuit board has been removed.

 

[db9987]

If you're also using a Raymarine plotter, make sure the "Bridge NMEA" setting is turned off - it made the compass wander on my boat.

 

[TiggerToo]

I must say it does dissuade me from considering buying a new raymarine autopilot!

 

[2nd Wind]

Experienced similar late 2004, fluxgate heading wandering randomly and causing failure of autohelm. It turned out to be the solid state gyro unit on the course computer main circuit board. Unplugging the gyro sorted the problem temporarily until new unit supplied. The boat wandered a little bit but that didn't matter too much mid atlantic!

 

[xstucker]

This sounds very promising. I have been sent a 'loan' unit by Raymarine, and I am hoping to fit it tomorrow. I will try removing the Gyro beforehand to see what happens. Thanks, Simon

 

[xstucker]

Yes I am, so I will check this setting out. Thanks, Simon

 

[xstucker]

I have had the same problem twice. Once with a near catastrophic outcome. Raymarine said it was caused by a component being placed on the circuit board the wrong way round and it has not happened since they fixed that, so it may be woth you contacting them. Simon

 

[xstucker]

When I had it repaired by Raymarine a few weeks ago they said that this was a problem with mine and fixed it. As I bought the unit in May, it was just before they told dealers. Simon

 

[mldpt]

I have had the same problems with my 6001 with my S1 G smart pilot, for over a year now it has been wonderful. A couple of weeks ago I took friends out for a weekend sailing and the heading was constantly changing so was not able to use autopilot. I sent the S1 G and fluxgate to Raymarine they found the Giro to be faulty charged me £82 and posted it back to me in just a few days great service, I have set it up again and all was well but then the 6001 buttons started to play up then it refused to comunicate with the S1G fortunatly I can control the autopilot from my C120 plotter by sellecting GO TO cursor then pressing track and it stears straight there, but not being able to hit the auto button and change course is very frustrating. Odd thing is it seems ok for an hour or so then it starts beeping and saying no data and the buttons have no responce.
regards Mike