ST4000 Wheel Pilot Rudder Sensor

[FullCircle]

Just to chill the atmo round here, here is this evenings clarion call....

I am fitting out Full Circle, and ST4000 is now cut into the binnacle pod. Now, I have NMEA Wind, GPS, Plotter, Speed, Depth, and will connect all through the single NMEA input and a bloody expensive Raymarine Seatalk convertor (2 inputs from NMEA, see?) part number E85001.
I have a twin rudder Jeanneau Sun Odyssey 35, chain driven.
Now, the question is, does the optional Rudder Position sensor have any value to my setup?
Does it do something that I can't fathom?
Can one or more of the brethren cast some light on my dull existence?

In other words is it 135 quids worth of nothing much? (Actually self answering question - as anything that only costs 135 quid with Raymarine can't amount to much!)

Thang Yoop!!!!


Jim
Scribbling wiring diagrams.......

 

[jimi]

I'd try it without and see if it works .. if you have probs then post again re drive settings

 

[FullCircle]

Thanks Jimi, but having no knowledge to benchmark it against, how will I know if I need one?
Only had an old Compass Rose AH800 Tillerpilot before. /forums/images/graemlins/blush.gif


Jim

 

[Anwen]

I got told that the ST4000 performed a lot better with the rudder sensor fitted to the system, but because they are an optional extra, and don't come as standard in the box, I decided not to fit one, and see how I got on. I had the wind, speed and depth from Seatalk, and the GPS input from the 435 plotter into the NMEA port on the back of the ST4000 controller. I put the compass under the chart table, as this was the nearest I could get to the recommended position.

So far, I have had reasonable results whilst motoring, but it doesn't do too well under sail. I am still playing with the set up, but if I can't get it tuned in any better, then I may add the rudder sensor.

So, it might be an option to see how it goes, and add the rudder sensor if the system doesn't perform well.

 

[jimi]

from my experience the key is to get the drive settings right .. I spent a frustrating couple of years (yes really!) and know several other people with the same experience .. and it really came down to a simple setting change (marked in my log book on the boat so not available here) ..

 

[chrisc]

I would think the sensor is no use on your boat,it is all down to getting the settings right. Also watch the compass is correct ,i put our compass under the saloon table,set it all up and then later decided it had all gone to [censored] because of steel kitchen equipment in the drawer in the saloon table.

 

[davidwf]

Ref compass, mine was fine as fitted by factory on a Dufour 34 until I put the liferaft in its designated well, the CO2 bottle supprise suprise caused the compass to go well out of spec for deviation.

Never really got the pilot running as I wanted even after resiting compass and had I kept the boat I would have fitted a rudder sensor.

 

[Black_Pearl]

Fitting the rudder feedback sensor to our ST4000 made a massive difference
to our Mitchell 31 motor boat (no more hunting or over steer)

We do have a fair bit of play in our steering 1.5" or so

On a wheel drive system with little play it is not necessary,
as previously mentioned try it first, all set up & finely tuned - a fair amount of experimentation needed, then if the pilot oversteers fit one

 

[yachtbits]

Rudder sensor will make a difference.

Without it the pilot does not know where the rudder is or how quickly it is moving, so has to wait for the boat to respond before it knows what to do next. End result is oversteering. Most noticable when surfing downwind with a following sea.

Naturally, it will help if the compass is swung correctly and the rest of the setup is close.

We've got them on the website if you want one!
http://www.yachtbits.com/raymarine/autopilot_and_instrument_transducers.php

Kev