Rudder Indicator

[muckypup]

Currently my rudder indicator is hard over to one side and doesn't work. How do these things work? and what should I start looking for?

The sensor is connected to the steel bar which connects the rudders together (don't know what it's called) though some sort of elbow joint to the sensor (pot?). By the looks of how the sensor is mounted it may be original. Wires come out of the sensor and head off forwards.

This is as far as I have got with my investigations.

Is there any way to test the gauge to make sure this part is working?

Steve

 

[John_d_Smith]

Mine's got a similar pot and setup, but it's part of the feed back to the auto pilot. I don't know how into electronics you are but it forms part of a balanced circuit with a centre zero meter. If you know someone with a bit of electronics knowledge it should be easy enough to sort out,

 

[ps1]

If it is a VDO setup, let me know and I'll PM you some info.

 

[muckypup]

I can't remember offhand - Off to to do the antifoul on her bum tomorrow so I will have a look then.

Steve

 

[steverow]

This is the rudder reference unit.
It is part of the autopilot setup.
The AP takes it's steering reference from it so it knows how far to pump the rudders over.
They dont go faulty very often as they are a very simple sealed potentiometer arrangement.
There is a calibration for it as part of the AP install setup.

I should wait until you get into the water before you start messing with all that stuff,as you need to start a setup/calibration procedure, starting with the fluxgate first which can only be done in the water.

You say it's hard over..is that physically hard over, or showing hard over on the helm unit rudder display?

What make is it, and what is the course computer model No??


Steve.

 

[muckypup]

The autopilot is a belt around the steering wheel job (autohelm 3000).

The rudder indicator is a completely separate gauge (The autopilot has no display). The gauge never moves (hard over to one side) from when the batteries are turned off to when the engines are running. It's almost as if there is no power to it.

Steve

 

[andyball]

what make is it?

we have twin Vetus indicators & both inside & out sometimes stick on hard over - a firm tap on the gauge face brings them back to life & they work perfectly.

otherwise it's identify the system & try to find test procedure for the sender - but before that you can check power to the instrument, incl. the negative supply (if the + & - aren't very obviously connected to known good supply points- then rig something temporary to be sure ) & continuity from the sensor wires at the instrument to the ones at the sender (disconnect both ends when you do this).

beyond that - cd be a short to earth in the wiring (check when you do the continuity) or wrongly installed in the first place .... never make assumptions when checking electrical faults.

If you get a make/model I can possibly help more specifically.

 

[hlb]

It's stuck over to one side because there is no power to it. Check the terminalls on the unit, they corode away. I got away with soldering them back on, but eventually had to have a new one. About 45 I think. Anyway, theres no lectrickery for some reason.

 

[steverow]

Does your autopilot have an NMEA in/out or even a seatalk connection, or is it an earlier stand-alone model ??.
It's a little unusual to have a wheel pilot on a 37ft mobo...most would be hydraulic installations with a type 1 or 2 pump.
Dunno about your rudder guage, could be the guage stuck, could be no power, could be a shot transducer.
Check it with a meter is the only solution.

Steve.

 

[PAULSTEWART]

Mine only works when "Console instruments" is switched on, on the main fuse/switchboard. (you may already know this???) but it was 1st thing I thought of....
P.S. mines a P35.

 

[muckypup]

'tis a VDO gauge. It has a pic of a ships steering wheel on it with the usual red/green arrows.

I need to open the access panel to the helm and have a look at the connections. I will see if I can get the chance tomorrow.

Steve

 

[muckypup]

Harlequin has custom wiring. If the engine battery isolator switches are turned on and the keys are in the ignition and turned to on then the gauges should work.

I shall have to dust off me multimeter and see what I can find out. I hoping as hlb says, it's just a dodgy connection that needs tightening.

Steve

 

[ps1]

Wiring diagram for rudder indicator here .

 

[muckypup]

Thanks - Can't read it all though... seems like docs created with Quark express don't like being read with Acrobat 6. I can see portions of the document (The sensor looks like the one I have installed). Can't see a wiring diagram though.

Steve

 

[andyball]

there is a sort of connection diagram in the pdf - but shows little you wouldn't guess from looking at the back of the gauge.

a pos, neg + 2 (probably shielded) cables that go to the sensor. All looks very very similar to Vetus badged ones - likely vdo made them for Vetus (better than the Italian "Vaguelia" dials that my other vetus instruments have inside).

 

[muckypup]

It does aparently have an NMEA connection (have to verify). It's not the best autopilot system but it seems to work and will have to do until I can afford to upgrade.

Can you put hydraulic autopilot on non-hydraulic steering?

S.

 

[muckypup]

Re: Rudder Indicator - Problem Found!!

Took the back off the helm today - The reason why it isn't working is that the sensor isn't connected. Doh!

The power for the illumination is connected. It's not just fallen off either as there isn't a spare cable hanging around. I'm going to have to trace it from the locker though the engine room and see when it ends up.

Steve