Silly Raymarine Smartpilot query-perhaps

[catalac08]

Hi
Just taken the plunge and bought a new SPX wheelpilot (surprisingly best price was from Amazon) and initially browsing through the installation and commissioning instructions I note that the control head should not be within 2ft 6ins of a steering compass, which on a little boat pretty well means that the steering compass at the helm has to be relocated or retired. As the fluxgate compass display on the 6000+ control head is on all the time whether the wheelpilot is in operation or on standby does this not mean that you can just use this as a digital/fluxgate steering compass and do without a traditional bulkhead steering compass.? Any advice on this

 

[pvb]

Yes, you can use the fluxgate, the only problem being that in the event of it failing you don't have a compass, so keep the old compass just in case.

Maybe I'm wrong, but I get the feeling most people today use GPS/plotter to determine their course, so the "traditional" compass methods are perhaps not used very much.

 

[davidwf]

The recommemdation is to stop the Display causing excessive deviation to the steering compass. I have a ST70 ap control head and an ST70 display within 6" of the compass which was swung by a compass adjuster last year. It has very little deviation (1 or 2 degress at worst)not sure if the adjuster added magnets etc but I have waved a powered up head near the compass and it did not affect the compass.

 

[Boathook]

I fitted a spx-5 to my 9m Catalac with no apparent problem to the steering compass fitted above the wheel as per this picture. I also fitted the rudder reference unit at the same time. The boat seems to steer a good course and the unit also seems to be still learning.

 

[catalac08]

I fitted a spx-5 to my 9m Catalac with no apparent problem to the steering compass fitted above the wheel as per this picture. I also fitted the rudder reference unit at the same time. The boat seems to steer a good course and the unit also seems to be still learning.

Thanks for the picture Interesting how you have done it with the processor unit on the shelf near the compass. I was not thinking of getting a rudder reference unit-I thought this sort of intelligent brain could manage prety well without a RRU, am I missing something here?

 

[Boathook]

Thanks for the picture Interesting how you have done it with the processor unit on the shelf near the compass. I was not thinking of getting a rudder reference unit-I thought this sort of intelligent brain could manage prety well without a RRU, am I missing something here?

The control unit is the grey one to the left of the wheel. The black box by the compass is the control unit for the bow thruster. I can't say that I would not purchase the rudder reference unit as I have not yet tried operating system without it. All the knowlgeable people that I have spoken to all say that the unit does improve the control.

 

[mjcoon]

The recommemdation is to stop the Display causing excessive deviation to the steering compass. I have a ST70 ap control head and an ST70 display within 6" of the compass which was swung by a compass adjuster last year. It has very little deviation (1 or 2 degress at worst)not sure if the adjuster added magnets etc but I have waved a powered up head near the compass and it did not affect the compass.

I thought that the problem was the other way round; a magnetic compass has a magnet swinging round which disturbs the Earth's magnetic field and thus makes the fluxgate read wrong. Never use two magnetic compasses near each other.

Mike.

 

[davidwf]

I thought that the problem was the other way round; a magnetic compass has a magnet swinging round which disturbs the Earth's magnetic field and thus makes the fluxgate read wrong. Never use two magnetic compasses near each other.

Mike.

The SPX fluxgate compass is separate from the control head, I agree if you fitted it next to steering compass they would screw each other up. I was commenting on the control head only, not core pack or fluxgate which should be well away from the steering compass.

 

[Tranona]

The biggest problem is the drive motor on the wheel drive. The shielding of the motor is poor and it needs to be mounted as far as possible from a magnetic compass. Pass the moter by the compass to get the full effect!

 

[Blue Fox]

I have a strong magnetic effect by the drive on my compass. Learned to live with it, although the deviation is high (up to 20 degrees).
You can't use the fluxgate read out, because (anyway on my SP) it freezes the set course if you turn the unit on. In reality you always sail a bit off that course.
chris