Auto Pilot Rudder Control Self Test

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J

John Ehricht

Our Auto Pilot ST4000+ always did something(self Test?) in standby as soon as it was powered up and seems to work O.K. We have rudder control so we see where the rudder is on the display. About a month ago, we startd to experience a problem when underway and engaging the auto pilot. The wheel would turn the boat all the way to the port side and then all the way to the starboard side and then back and forth. I contacted Raymarine and described the issue to them. They said it sounded like something was wrong with the rudder control and suggested that I disconnect the wires to the ST4000+ from the rudder control. After I did this, it seemed that the problem was solved except that there was no display for the rudder control. So, I reconnected the wire to the rudder control and turned the power on. Now the screen showed the position of the rudder and there were no problems. We took the boat out and gave it quick 40 degree changes in course (push the 10 button four time) and it performed very well(better than before). The boat tracked, we did the swing test and it had the correct heading. It seems better than it was before the problem. However, now there is no self test(activity in standby when first powered up). Raymarine says with rudder control we don't need a self test for the unit to determine where the rudder is. Do any of you have the type of autopilot with rudder control? If so, does your's do the self test?
 
G

Gary

Yes it does

I have a two year old ST4000+ with the rudder sensor I installed on my H320. YES, it turns the wheel to starboard maybe a quarter turn, everytime you turn it on. Always has, and has always worked flawlessly. Gary
 
G

Gary

More..

According to the manual: CAUTION: Wheel drive systems One second after power-on the wheel pilot will drive to starboard for three seconds. This is to allow even wear on the drive belt. So, Nothing to do with the rudder sensor. Do you have the manual? It was downloadable from the Raymarine web site when I got mine. Gary
 
Feb 27, 2004
142
Hunter 29.5 Lake Travis, TX
Ditto...

Same as Gary. We have the rudder sensor and I am not aware of any self test other than the belt position change at start up. If this isn't happening you may have a problem. I'm not sure tech support is as good as it used to be because I'm trying fix a problem with my wind system and I'm about to return the head control for a third replacement in as many weeks. Every time I ask the same question I get a different answer.
 
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