Tiller pilot power requirement.

[Kintail]

I would like to install a tiller pilot on my Hurley 22. At present I only operate my radio and Chartplotter and an very occasional light from my battery which is trickle charged from a 2.4 watt solar panel with the battery never needing charged. What sort of drainage does a TP put on a battery and would I need to upgrade my solar panel?

Thanks

 

[VicS]

Look at the Raymarine and Simrad websites and you will find tech specs which include figures for current draw.

You will also be able to find manuals, that contain the information, for old models if you are think about buying a second hand older model.

The problem is of course that they take a relatively small background current but a much larger one while actually operating the tiller So the overall average depends very much on the sea sate and the type of boat.

I'd expect a fin keeled boat to be more steady and place less demand on the tiller pilot than the bilge keeled one.

My ancient Autohelm saws back and forth almost continuously on my bilge keeler.

An identical Autohelm on a Co26, I once sailed, hardly did anything just sat there quietly!

FWIW my battery charging is from a 5watt solar panel plus a tiny bit extra from the outboard.

 

[Kintail]

Should have mentioned my Hurley 22 is bilge keeled.

 

[Tranona]

As Vic says, consumption is entirely dependent on how much work you ask it to do. If the boat is well balanced and you can trim the sails so that the helm is neutral or little bit of weather helm it may do little. If, however the boat needs constant corrections, and particularly if there is a sea running it will be working all the time. The specs will give you maximum draw, but you will only really find out through practice. Suggest you would benefit from more than a trickle charge anyway.

 

[LittleSister]

I used to have a Hurley 22 (long fin), dependent on outboard 'lighting coil' for charging (i.e. in reality dependent on me taking the battery home to charge, and finding somewhere to charge it up for me when on longer cruises).

The autohelm was my main user of battery power. Also used nav and anchor lights at night (this was before LEDs and cheap solar power).

Of course 'it all depends', but my guess is unless you only use your autohelm occasionally, e.g. when putting sails up or putting kettle on, rather then fairly continuously on journeys, you will deplete your battery faster than your solar charging can keep up, on a day to day basis.

 

[BruceDanforth]

I would like to install a tiller pilot on my Hurley 22. At present I only operate my radio and Chartplotter and an very occasional light from my battery which is trickle charged from a 2.4 watt solar panel with the battery never needing charged. What sort of drainage does a TP put on a battery and would I need to upgrade my solar panel?

Thanks

I have the same boat and although I can't tell you about exact drainage it will depend on how well you have trimmed your sails. Drop the main down the track a bit to get rid of the bulk of the weather helm for a start and you should be able to get the boat almost sailing herself, then put the autopilot on. Also reef early. It depends on the sea state too though and where the waves are coming from. The autopilot tends to hunt about a bit with waves on the stern quarter. I have a 12w solar panel and a charging coil on the outboard and the setup seems happy to run for a weekend and to have fully recharged usually during the week for the next time.