Autohelm ST50 Wind help needed

[Rich Stidger]

My Autohelm ST50 wind has died. I suspected that it was the masthead transducer because the wind speed display was 0.0 but the direction display worked. In the past I have had connection problems that presented the same display and I have been able to clean and/or re-seat the transducer to restore the proper operation.

However, now that technique gives no joy. The instrument quit suddenly- working one minute and not the next. After a trip up the mast and cleaning and re-seating the connector, now I have a display that is all dashes- sometimes. With all dashes, no display of speed or direction works.

So my questions are:

1. Is there a "hidden" diagnostic mode for this instrument?

2. Given the "- - -" display, does this mean an open connection, and if so does anyone know which wire(s) are open?

3. Does anyone have a ST50 masthead transducer for sale or as a spare that they would either sell or loan me to assist in trouble-shooting?

4. For those of you who have experienced a ST50 wind failure, if this transducer is indeed DEAD, what are my options?

5. Does anyone have a wiring schematic for the cable and the transducer so that I could bench test the transducer over this winter? I need to know the electrical characteristics of the transducer for the five connection pins.

I am currently on a Maine cruise and my wifi is intermittent so my replies will be according to my connections.

TIA for any advice or assistance.

Rich

 

[Bill Roosa]

diagnosis

the dashes mean that there is no signal for the had to process. Suspect the problem is not the head but the transducer/wiring.
Did you check the transducer wire connections to the head?
My recollection is the wind meter produces an AC frequency signal proportional t the wind speed. the wind direction is an optical counter (like an old ball mouse) that sends a two sets of digital voltage shifts for each xx degees of angle change. Two shifts are needed to determine the direction of change.

fwiw

 

[Steve Dion]

Rich:

There is a ST50 Wind display on ebay for cheap if you are interested.

http://cgi.ebay.com/ebaymotors/Raym...at_Parts_Accessories_Gear&hash=item3360a200a3

 

[Rich Stidger]

the dashes mean that there is no signal for the had to process. Suspect the problem is not the head but the transducer/wiring.
Did you check the transducer wire connections to the head?
My recollection is the wind meter produces an AC frequency signal proportional t the wind speed. the wind direction is an optical counter (like an old ball mouse) that sends a two sets of digital voltage shifts for each xx degees of angle change. Two shifts are needed to determine the direction of change.

Bill-

I agree the dashes probably mean that there is no signal from the transducer. Before I reseated the transducer my display was "0.0". So in my attempt to fix the problem I have caused a bad connection to the transducer.

I didn't check the transducer connections to the head because I really believed that the problem was the transducer gone to a bad connection, and I have no idea what signals I should look for from the transducer if I measure at the display head.

I don't understand the digital voltage shifts you speak of- can you clarify? Also do you have the pin-out assignments of the transducer and the display head?

 

[Rich Stidger]

Rich:

There is a ST50 Wind display on ebay for cheap if you are interested.

Thanks, Steve, but I already saw it. I really think my issue is the transducer or possibly the wiring between the transducer and the display head.

 

[Monty Miller]

Here are the voltage readings from the Raymarine site. There should be a junction box somewhere near where the cable exits the mast in the cabin. There is a replacement transducer for the mast head unit with soldered connections. I think I got mine several years ago from WM but maybe this site can get one. Hope this helps.

Red to Screen: 8V
Blue to Screen: Variable 2 to 6V
Green to Screen: Variable 2 to 6V
Yellow to Screen: Variable 0 to 8V

http://raymarine.custhelp.com/cgi-b...nMuc2VhcmNoX25sJnBfcGFnZT0x&p_li=&p_topview=1

 

[Rich Stidger]

Monty,
Thank you very much for the info and link. With the intermittent wifi signals I have while on my cruise, I had not yet tried Raymarine for any info.

Now I just need to get another masthead transducer...I think.....

 

[hutch5151]

Normally, the problems at the ST 50 masthead are with the pin connections between the masthead arm and the connector block. Check them carefully. I have a masthead connection block and cable for the ST-50 that you can have just for shipping costs if that is the problem. If the pins on the transducer assembly are broken, you will probably need a new Raymarine arm that will still fit the old connection.

 

[Bryce22345]

Rich
I have a couple of st 50 masthead transducers here. not at all sure of how functional they are, but would be happy to send them too you. last time I checked, Terry, the tech at Eastern yatch sales in Hingham MA had the circuit boards that fit inside the transducer. he can be reached at 781-749-8600. seems the circuit cards were in the $50 price range.

 

[Rich Stidger]

Hutch & Bryce,

I am definitely interested in the part you have. Please hold them for me pending my T/S results. I will get back to you an let you know if I do or do not need them within two weeks.

Thanks very much for your offers!!

 

[Rick D]

My Experience

I fought with my ST50 wind transducer for a year. The pins were not making a good contact and I got dashes. Got them cleaned up and it worked for a while, then failed again. I ultimately was stuck when the rigger broke a pin. I repaired it but it was unreliable.

From memory, Raymarine said an ST60 transducer would work with an ST50 head but that the speed would not and the direction would have to be calibrated. After the night lighting also went on the blink, I replaced all the ST50's with ST60+ units.

Altho it's another story I already mentioned on another thread, it was a mistake IMHO. I should have gone to a NEMA 2000 system like Furuno.