I recently replaced my batteries on my 99 Hunter 310 with two 'Stowaway' dual-purpose batteries. Things were great for about a month, but recently, I've started having issues with my Autohelm ST4000 autopilot. It goes something like this. When I engage the autopilot it reboots. This never happens when the engine is running, only on batteries. Either one or both. It appears that the re-cycle is initiated when the helm motor tries to engage. I am theorizing that there's a brief but deep voltage or amperage drop when the motor trys to move the helm. That suggests that something is wrong with the motor, or the batteries. It's to the point now where I can't use the autopilot when I'm on batteries. It seems to be worse the longer I've been on batteries. Anyone else encounter similar behavior? Other than stabbing in the dark and replacing the batteries again, I have only identified two possible solutions: 1) call Autohelm/Raytheon support, and try to determine whether the autopilot itself is at fault (i.e. is there an internal voltage regulator that's faulty, or the motor is drawing too much power). This will probably result in an inconclusive call, and sending it in for an inconclusive repair. 2) put some sort of voltage regulator in between the autopilot and the DC power source. This will be a little unusual, and a bit of a hack, but it may solve the immediate problem, if indeed it is an issue with the batteries. Cheers, Larry "Flat Broke" Grapevine, TX
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Steve
Wiring?
If you feel your batteries are OK, I would suspect the wiring has corroded or the connections are not tight. The discription you gave leads me to believe that you are not supplying enough current to the motor when it starts up. A regulator won't help if that is the case. Check the wires and connections first, then look for problems with the battery, and then the unit. (Always check first the last thing that changed.) Good luck.
If you feel your batteries are OK, I would suspect the wiring has corroded or the connections are not tight. The discription you gave leads me to believe that you are not supplying enough current to the motor when it starts up. A regulator won't help if that is the case. Check the wires and connections first, then look for problems with the battery, and then the unit. (Always check first the last thing that changed.) Good luck.
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Miles
Agree with wiring...
I'd check the wiring closely, especially terminal ends on the batteries. Even a little corrosion can cause all sorts of wierd transient problems. Do you ever have problems with other high draw electrical items? The starter or invertor? As I recall the ST4000 draws about 5 amps when actually turning the helm. This shouldn't be a big problem for most batteries even when they are pretty well discharged. The motor MIGHT be bad but I'd sure check the simple stuff first... When the Autopilot reboots do your gauges (wind, depth, etc.) also reset or is it only the autopilot that seems to be affected?
I'd check the wiring closely, especially terminal ends on the batteries. Even a little corrosion can cause all sorts of wierd transient problems. Do you ever have problems with other high draw electrical items? The starter or invertor? As I recall the ST4000 draws about 5 amps when actually turning the helm. This shouldn't be a big problem for most batteries even when they are pretty well discharged. The motor MIGHT be bad but I'd sure check the simple stuff first... When the Autopilot reboots do your gauges (wind, depth, etc.) also reset or is it only the autopilot that seems to be affected?
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Larry B
follow-up
I visually inspected the wiring at the control head, it seemed ok, but I'll double-check it. I'll have to open up the panel in the stateroom to get at the breaker. I've been dreading doing that. The connections into the control head seem firm and clean, and they used the factory-supplied cable. I have already cleaned the battery terminals and cables. The cable ends are a little corroded and I suspect that they might be part of the problem. I cleaned them with battery-terminal cleaner and a wire brush. The wire brush approach didn't really clean them well enough. The terminals are very clean. Any ideas on how to REALLY clean the cable-ends? Some sort of acid? A file? Grinding tool? I didn't notice the other guages rebooting and the sterio didn't skip when I engaged it, which tends to suggest a wiring problem, now that you point it out. I'll double-check next time I'm out. I have a volt-ohm meter that I'm going to bring with me next time I'm out (probably Wed.) and try to get some sort of confirmation on the voltage drop. For what it's worth, since I replaced the batteries I have not had a problem cranking the engine off either battery, even after several hours out on the water with everything (including the refrigerator) turned on. With the previous batteries, I didn't have as many problems with the autopilot (would occasionally get low battery warnings - but they were real) but often had to use the backup battery to crank the engine. Hence the replacements. Both were shot. Cheers, Larry
I visually inspected the wiring at the control head, it seemed ok, but I'll double-check it. I'll have to open up the panel in the stateroom to get at the breaker. I've been dreading doing that. The connections into the control head seem firm and clean, and they used the factory-supplied cable. I have already cleaned the battery terminals and cables. The cable ends are a little corroded and I suspect that they might be part of the problem. I cleaned them with battery-terminal cleaner and a wire brush. The wire brush approach didn't really clean them well enough. The terminals are very clean. Any ideas on how to REALLY clean the cable-ends? Some sort of acid? A file? Grinding tool? I didn't notice the other guages rebooting and the sterio didn't skip when I engaged it, which tends to suggest a wiring problem, now that you point it out. I'll double-check next time I'm out. I have a volt-ohm meter that I'm going to bring with me next time I'm out (probably Wed.) and try to get some sort of confirmation on the voltage drop. For what it's worth, since I replaced the batteries I have not had a problem cranking the engine off either battery, even after several hours out on the water with everything (including the refrigerator) turned on. With the previous batteries, I didn't have as many problems with the autopilot (would occasionally get low battery warnings - but they were real) but often had to use the backup battery to crank the engine. Hence the replacements. Both were shot. Cheers, Larry
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Miles
Try sandpaper...
I've found that coarse grit sand paper does a pretty good job of getting the corrosion off the ends. Those little wire brushes look like a good idea but don't really work all that well. Don't forget the battery posts too... Good luck! FWIW, I've got an ST4000 on my '98 340 and have never had any "battery low" problems with it. Now that #$%@ clutch lever is another matter...
I've found that coarse grit sand paper does a pretty good job of getting the corrosion off the ends. Those little wire brushes look like a good idea but don't really work all that well. Don't forget the battery posts too... Good luck! FWIW, I've got an ST4000 on my '98 340 and have never had any "battery low" problems with it. Now that #$%@ clutch lever is another matter...
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Dakota Jim Russell
email Raymarine
I emailed Ray Marine when I was having the unit go left when it should have gone right. got an email back telling me how to reverse the operation. Hence I would email them ASAP as a cheap solution. As for the clutch lever, check as there is a little small set screw on it that may allow you to adjust the lever sufficiently to allow the nob to keep it from engaging. Let me know if that works. Thanks. Jim
I emailed Ray Marine when I was having the unit go left when it should have gone right. got an email back telling me how to reverse the operation. Hence I would email them ASAP as a cheap solution. As for the clutch lever, check as there is a little small set screw on it that may allow you to adjust the lever sufficiently to allow the nob to keep it from engaging. Let me know if that works. Thanks. Jim
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Bill Murray
CHeck the loading
If nothing seems wrong as you've investigated, I'd try it with a differant power source (maybe a 12 volt source powered by shore power) and see if the problem still occcurs. This might be caused by an excessive load on the ST4000 motor. These things do get thebelts and drive gears out of line once in a while which makes them jam when you engage the clutch lever.
If nothing seems wrong as you've investigated, I'd try it with a differant power source (maybe a 12 volt source powered by shore power) and see if the problem still occcurs. This might be caused by an excessive load on the ST4000 motor. These things do get thebelts and drive gears out of line once in a while which makes them jam when you engage the clutch lever.
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