ST60 Wind transducer repair

[Gypsy]

Perhaps my recent repair success will help someone with the same problem.

Last season my 3y/o ST60 masthead wind transducer (A22012) failed. Wind speed OK, wind direction only working for 180deg. As the original was purchased in UK and the failure occurred whilst cruising in Italy I bought a replacement in Italy for Eu330, ouch. I kept the old unit hoping to repair it and keep as spare. No time for repairs whilst cruising during the season so carried it back to Sydney. Whilst away most people I spoke to suggested factory repair was probably the only hope but Sydney is a long way from the factory. As my early working life was fixing fairly complex electronic kit I was keen to have a go.

It turns out the transducers have only Hall-effect semiconductors and diodes on a small PCB – very simple. I found one of the Hall-effect devices was the faulty culprit, but how to get spares. The good news is I identified them and found they are available from RadioSpares (UK but there is a major depot in Perth, WAust) RS part# 650-548.

Anybody who may have a similar half dead unit may have similar success. You need to have reasonable soldering skills to remove/replace the H/E device, but that’s about all. I took the opportunity to rinse and lubricate the bearings at the same time.

Now I have a spare so I know my replacement will never let me down.
Ray

 

[jerryat]

Hi Gypsy,

Many thanks for that! I have a (new) ST60 suite of instruments, but on most systems it does seem that the masthead transducers are the first to go.

Was dismantling the unit to get at the electronics difficult? Obviously I haven't needed to try yet!

Cheers Jerry

 

[FWB]

Note that the Newer ST60 instruments have a redesigned transducer, so may not have the same bits in it. As an aside latest ST60 now ST60+ slightly different shaped bezals and changed internal lighting colour.

 

[Gypsy]

Hi Dylan
You are right to be cautious about assumptions across models but I think you will find the new masthead units are electrically the same as they have to be "plug-n-play" into older ST60 instruments. The relacement I installed was the new model 22078 and although the cup and vane design is a bit different it just plugged in and worked after a re-calibaration.
Ray

 

[FWB]

Yes I have replaced mine with the new transducer, I'm surprised yours failed so quickly I thought that they had only been out about a year. Wasnt yours still under warranty? The ST60 wind is prone to memory loss---ie Cal flashes when you first switch on, have you found a cure for this also?

 

[Gypsy]

My original was 3y/o when it failed. After looking closely at the H-E device I suspect it had a manufacturing failure where one of the legs was soldered/welded.
Happily I have not had any other problems with my ST60 set which is wind, log, depth and 6000+ autopilot.
Ray

 

[zia]

Hi Ray - I know that this is an old post but i hope you can give me a bit of advice. I am thinking about replacing my old trandsucer ST60 with the new one -22078. do i have to replace the whole cable? Or can i just plug that sucker in and let it rip!! thanks for any info. all the best - joe - www.zialater.com

 

[Gypsy]

Hi Joe

For me it was a straight "plug and play". The new transducer plugs straight in to the socket at the mast head. Calibration as per the manual is required. Mine is still operating well.

Rgds