Which autopilot brain do I have?

[prv]

Might seem like a silly question, but I'm not going to be at the boat for a few days so I can't just read what's written on it.

It's a Raymarine wheelpilot, and I had assumed it was an SPX5 as currently listed on their site. Certainly looks a lot like it, same shaped box etc. The connection area looks like the one for the SPX 5 - see this manual ( http://www.raymarine.eu/WorkArea/DownloadAsset.aspx?id=1529 ), page 19 of the PDF which is labelled as page 11. Mine has the same overall layout, the same tabs for attaching cable ties, the same fuses in the same positions. However, there are a couple of differences - mine has a set of terminals for a rate gyro, currently unused, and it also, crucially, has connections for a clutch.

On my long-term list is replacing the rattly wheelpilot bodgery with a proper below-decks drive unit - also useful as emergency steering when you have long twisty runs of steering cable as I do. I was annoyedly resigned to having to replace the whole lot as the SPX5 will not work with a linear drive - but if whatever I have will operate a clutch, then perhaps it will.

Anyone with knowledge of the Raymarine range able to guess what it might be?

EDIT: Figured it out - no further assistance required

Cheers,

Pete

 

[nigelmercier]

My totally different computer looks similar, without the SeaTalkng connectors.

 

[Jabs]

And my SPX5 has a linear drive.

More investigation clearly required.

Best of luck.

Tony.

 

[RupertW]

And my SPX5 has a linear drive.

More investigation clearly required.

Best of luck.

Tony.

+1

 

[prv]

And my SPX5 has a linear drive.

That's interesting. So it has clutch terminals to disconnect the drive when in standby?

Sounds like Raymarine have sold several models under the same name

Pete

 

[prv]

My totally different computer looks similar, without the SeaTalkng connectors.

Hmm, don't remember if mine had Seatalk NG. Quite possibly not, need to find space for the rate gyro terminals somewhere.

Don't suppose you know what yours is called?

Pete

 

[Jabs]

That's interesting. So it has clutch terminals to disconnect the drive when in standby?

Sounds like Raymarine have sold several models under the same name

Pete

No!

It is coupled to a simple linear actuator which locks when not moving under command.

It needs to be physically lifted clear.

It's like an Autohelm but with a control head and a computer.

 

[prv]

No!

It is coupled to a simple linear actuator which locks when not moving under command.

It needs to be physically lifted clear.

Ah. I think Raymarine call that a tiller drive rather than a linear drive - though of course it is a drive and it is linear. "Linear drive" in Raymarine-speak means something mounted below decks on the steering quadrant, which is clutched in and out electrically by the course computer.

Pete

 

[prv]

OK, somehow my googling after writing this post has been much more successful than my googling before.

It seems I probably have an "S1" course computer, good news is that it will operate a linear drive.

It has no built-in rate gyro, or external one connected, and that's something I'd like. As much to stabilise the radar as the steering. Hopefully the relevant unit is still available.

Cheers,

Pete

 

[Tranona]

Think you will find it will operate other drives such as the Octopus or one of the Lewmar drives, either the motor type under the chain drive pedestal (if you have one) or the type that operate on the quadrant through a drag link. You may need to add a relay.

 

[prv]

Think you will find it will operate other drives such as the Octopus or one of the Lewmar drives, either the motor type under the chain drive pedestal (if you have one) or the type that operate on the quadrant through a drag link. You may need to add a relay.

Yep, I think it would. The output is just a clutch supply (12v when in auto mode) and a motor supply (drives either way as required), no proprietary signals involved.

Last time I looked at drives from other than the usual suspects (and I think it was Octopus I looked at) they were more expensive than Raymarine.

I would definitely want something that operated on the quadrant (or even a separate tiller clamped onto the stock). As I said in my first post, part of the reason I don't like the wheelpilot is that it would be useless in the event of a cable snapping or becoming derailed. An emergency tiller is all very well, but it takes a while to drag out and fit and it's a hell of a lot easier to just press "Auto" if the steering ever goes slack.

Pete