ST2000 tiller pilot

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Misterbreeze

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My ST2000 won't stay on auto, keeps going to standby after a short while, sometimes just a few seconds. Awkward when you're on the bow sorting the anchor out! Any suggestions?
 
Wiring looks ok but found a very small drop in voltage across the socket & plug, 0.1v which I didn't think would be enough to cause an issue but maybe does when a load is applied. Wired directly to a healthy battery at home there's no problem (good news) so the likelihood is a dodgy plug or socket although no corrosion visible on either, maybe just worn. It's not interfaced with anything else so should be an easy fix. I'll let you know....
 
Misterbreeze said:
Wiring looks ok but found a very small drop in voltage across the socket & plug, 0.1v which I didn't think would be enough to cause an issue but maybe does when a load is applied. Wired directly to a healthy battery at home there's no problem (good news) so the likelihood is a dodgy plug or socket although no corrosion visible on either, maybe just worn. It's not interfaced with anything else so should be an easy fix. I'll let you know....
Click to expand...
Try wiggling the plug. It only takes a split second drop.
 
Also check for corrosion on the fuse (if not a Circuit Breaker). If an old boat then suggest check for undersized power cabling to it. The power requirements for an old original installed tiller pilot could have less than a replacement more powerful ST2000.
 
Well, it's looking very much like the battery's on its way out. Fitted new Bulgin plug & socket and no better, so started checking voltages along the circuit again. With engine running it's better but still occasionally cuts out so I measured the voltage across the plug & socket. This dropped by 2v when the TP motor was working and sometimes caused it to fail, but not always. So having checked the cabling was ok I turned to the battery - 14.2v when charging but after resting for an hour it was down to 11.5v (engine batt dropped to 12.9v over same period which I believe is within limits).

Also now suspect is the 1-2-both switch as I noticed the cabin lights glow dimly even when the battery is off, but engine battery still on.....or it could be almost anything elsewhere in the rats nest of cabling on a 40 year old boat. Ho hum....
 
Misterbreeze said:
Well, it's looking very much like the battery's on its way out. Fitted new Bulgin plug & socket and no better, so started checking voltages along the circuit again. With engine running it's better but still occasionally cuts out so I measured the voltage across the plug & socket. This dropped by 2v when the TP motor was working and sometimes caused it to fail, but not always. So having checked the cabling was ok I turned to the battery - 14.2v when charging but after resting for an hour it was down to 11.5v (engine batt dropped to 12.9v over same period which I believe is within limits).

Also now suspect is the 1-2-both switch as I noticed the cabin lights glow dimly even when the battery is off, but engine battery still on.....or it could be almost anything elsewhere in the rats nest of cabling on a 40 year old boat. Ho hum....
Click to expand...
....and that was exactly the same PD route and outcome I had.. damn battery looked fine when it had just charged, but voltage dropped like a stone when I turned my back on it and was testing the autopilot..
 
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