ST60 wind problem

[Catalina36]

Worked for years, I replaced the masthead unit two years ago, worked fine until recently then the arrow points to top dead centre and the speed is just dashes or occasionally zeroes. Couldn't work out whether the problem was masthead (a pain), display head or cable in between. Last week dismantled the Navpod and briefly it worked properly, then stopped, so the problem seemed to be at deck level.

Today, it came to life at random but displayed 50 knots and 20 degrees off port bow. Tapping "Display" took it though Force 9 and 48.5 max. Obviously plumbing its memory. That says to me not a duff NMEA connection but a problem in the display head chip. Any ideas out there?

 

[RichardS]

Check the output from the masthead cable with a multimeter where it terminates at the bottom of the mast. Full instructions are on the Raymarine website.

Richard

 

[Catalina36]

Check the output from the masthead cable with a multimeter where it terminates at the bottom of the mast. Full instructions are on the Raymarine website.

Richard

Thanks Richard, that'll narrow it down.

 

[AngusMcDoon]

Worked for years, I replaced the masthead unit two years ago, worked fine until recently then the arrow points to top dead centre and the speed is just dashes or occasionally zeroes. Couldn't work out whether the problem was masthead (a pain), display head or cable in between. Last week dismantled the Navpod and briefly it worked properly, then stopped, so the problem seemed to be at deck level.

Today, it came to life at random but displayed 50 knots and 20 degrees off port bow. Tapping "Display" took it though Force 9 and 48.5 max. Obviously plumbing its memory. That says to me not a duff NMEA connection but a problem in the display head chip. Any ideas out there?

Randomness like you describe is nearly always a poor connection somewhere between the MHU and the display head.

 

[Catalina36]

Randomness like you describe is nearly always a poor connection somewhere between the MHU and the display head.

Cheers Angus, I'm going to dismantle the Navpod to get at the wiring behind the head. I'm hoping it'll be at that end rather than up the mast!

 

[AngusMcDoon]

Cheers Angus, I'm going to dismantle the Navpod to get at the wiring behind the head. I'm hoping it'll be at that end rather than up the mast!

Deck connector if you have one is a likely culprit as they are never very good.

 

[Catalina36]

Deck connector if you have one is a likely culprit as they are never very good.

Thanks Angus. It's a keel-stepped mast so the cable emerges in the saloon and the connector box is on the bulkhead. Should be dry but I'll be checking it with a multimeter in line with Richard's suggestion.

 

[Lightwave395]

I think I have a similar problem, in my case I'm thinking it's the display as the Raymarine voltage test indicates the wind speed voltage fluctuation into the display is doing it's thing but windspeed displays the 3 dashes

 

[Lightwave395]

It would appear that in my case it's probably the transducer, as of this morning the voltage across the yellow and screen is 7v +

 

[Catalina36]

It would appear that in my case it's probably the transducer, as of this morning the voltage across the yellow and screen is 7v +

Having spent some time yesterday reading previous similar threads I'm coming to terms with having to go up the mast and try and clean up contacts there.

 

[Lightwave395]

Sadly me too...

 

[AngusMcDoon]

Thanks Angus. It's a keel-stepped mast so the cable emerges in the saloon and the connector box is on the bulkhead. Should be dry but I'll be checking it with a multimeter in line with Richard's suggestion.

Don't rely on a good multi-meter reading as they can sometimes give a false indication that the connection is ok, especially on power lines. Take each connection apart and clean it.

 

[Catalina36]

Don't rely on a good multi-meter reading as they can sometimes give a false indication that the connection is ok, especially on power lines. Take each connection apart and clean it.

Thanks, will do.

 

[wiggy]

I had pretty ,ugh exactly the same problem, turned out to be the connection between MHU and socket, a good aquert of contact cleaner sorted it out. I sent my daughter up the mast!

 

[Catalina36]

I had pretty ,ugh exactly the same problem, turned out to be the connection between MHU and socket, a good aquert of contact cleaner sorted it out. I sent my daughter up the mast!

Cheers Wiggy, at least it gives me an indication that it's worth the effort of going up there! I've got an electric hoist to get me up there but there's still that feeling that you need four arms and you're about to drop something precious.