B&G WS310 Wind Instrument Problems

[Schwarz633]

I've had my Tartan 33R for a little over a year now and the wind instrumentation has worked well until it quit during my last sail a few days ago. At the dock today I turned on the instrumentation and the wind data was back .... for a very short time.

As I understand it, the WS310 masthead transducer sends NEMA0183 data down the mast cable where's it's then connected to an interface cable. My interface cable is marked 032-25127-02, but I believe another number for it may be 000-14389-001. The interface cable has an integral electronics module which converts the data to NMEA2000. The N2K end of the interface cable is connected to a dual port tee. The other port is connected to the knot/depth transducer, which is working just fine. I inspected all of the connections and even replaced the tee. This spring I refreshed the entire NEMA2000 network with mostly new cables. I have a B&G Vulcan 7.

The mast cable has what appear to be some proprietary connectors, so it not's possible to check the NMEA0183 data lines with an LED. As best I can tell, the Vulcan 7 isn't seeing the interface cable on the N2K network, other than some artifacts from when it was working. After poking around in the source settings in the Vulcan 7 for a while, there's certainly some things that I don't fully understand. I've ordered a NavDoctor to help me analyze the N2K network activity. The path of least resistance at this point is to replace the interface cable, I've got one on order. I could be wrong, but I'm going on the theory that if the masthead transducer had failed, the interface cable should still be active on the N2K network and Vulcan 7, albeit with no wind data.

Any suggestions will be appreciated.

 

[dlochner]

Before spending money, go into the System/Network settings on the Vulcan. I can't remember exactly the menu item, but it will say something like "Sources". Click on that and you will get a list of all the devices the Vulcan sees. There should also be a refresh or search again option. Click on that and the Vulcan will rescan the network for devices. Doing this can often restore lost devices.

 

[Schwarz633]

Before spending money, go into the System/Network settings on the Vulcan. I can't remember exactly the menu item, but it will say something like "Sources". Click on that and you will get a list of all the devices the Vulcan sees. There should also be a refresh or search again option. Click on that and the Vulcan will rescan the network for devices. Doing this can often restore lost devices.

I spent a fair amount of time in the Vulcan "sources" section, and it's just not very intuitive. I didn't find anything as simple as a list of active N2K devices. You get a huge list of possible devices and have to drill into each item to see if there's an active device. I think the refresh/search function may be called auto scan, or something like that, and I did try it a couple of times. I'm used to spending money on the boat and the NAVDoctor looks like it will be a useful gadget.

 

[Davidasailor26]

I spent a fair amount of time in the Vulcan "sources" section, and it's just not very intuitive. I didn't find anything as simple as a list of active N2K devices. You get a huge list of possible devices and have to drill into each item to see if there's an active device. I think the refresh/search function may be called auto scan, or something like that, and I did try it a couple of times. I'm used to spending money on the boat and the NAVDoctor looks like it will be a useful gadget.

There should be a different option from the Networking menu for a Device List. That’s the list of everything on the network. Tapping on each item should give an option to see the data coming from that device.

 

[Schwarz633]

There should be a different option from the Networking menu for a Device List. That’s the list of everything on the network. Tapping on each item should give an option to see the data coming from that device.

I will check that out when I'm at the boat on Monday.

 

[Joe]

Just passing on my N2k experience here... the B&G wind transducer installation was specific about connecting it to the very end of the cable, in place of the terminal plug. The wind transducer only sends data, while the other connected devices on my system send AND receive (no depth or speedo on the network). Honestly don't know how relevant that is, but it could be as simple as that. Hope you get it figured out, good luck.

 

[colemj]

Just passing on my N2k experience here... the B&G wind transducer installation was specific about connecting it to the very end of the cable, in place of the terminal plug.

Previous versions of B&G wind transducers produced N2K data, so the network backbone had to be run up the mast with the wind transducer on the end of it. The transducer had a built-in terminator for this.

Newer versions of the wind tranducer produce 0183 data instead of N2K. These use a thin cable into the boat, where a 0183-2000 converter is used to put the data on the N2K network. It is now just a regular drop cable onto the N2K backbone like everything else.

Mark

 

[Schwarz633]

Newer versions of the wind tranducer produce 0183 data instead of N2K. These use a thin cable into the boat, where a 0183-2000 converter is used to put the data on the N2K network. It is now just a regular drop cable onto the N2K backbone like everything else.

Mark

This is what I have.

 

[colemj]

Like mentioned, you need to look in the "Device List" submenu of the "System>Network" menu. It should show the B&G converter there. If it does not, then the converter is likely bad.

This happened to us last week. We don't have the B&G transducer or converter, but have a similar NMEA0183 transducer that has a separate 0183-2000 converter inside the boat. The converter failed, and it was no longer detected as a device on the network. A new converter is detected even without the wind transducer connected.

BTW, all of the diagnostic capabilities of the NavDoctor exist in your B&G instruments. If you don't understand what is happening now, the NavDoctor isn't going to make that any clearer. It isn't a "plug in and tell me what is wrong" device at all. But it does present the data on a computer/phone/tablet instead of being tied to the plotter for them. It is your call whether that is worth $500.

Mark

 

[Schwarz633]

Like mentioned, you need to look in the "Device List" submenu of the "System>Network" menu. It should show the B&G converter there. If it does not, then the converter is likely bad.

This happened to us last week. We don't have the B&G transducer or converter, but have a similar NMEA0183 transducer that has a separate 0183-2000 converter inside the boat. The converter failed, and it was no longer detected as a device on the network. A new converter is detected even without the wind transducer connected.

BTW, all of the diagnostic capabilities of the NavDoctor exist in your B&G instruments. If you don't understand what is happening now, the NavDoctor isn't going to make that any clearer. It isn't a "plug in and tell me what is wrong" device at all. But it does present the data on a computer/phone/tablet instead of being tied to the plotter for them. It is your call whether that is worth $500.

Mark

If I had been aware that the V7 had those capabilities, I probably wouldn't have ordered the NAVDoctor. I guess I need to spend some more time poking around in the V7 menus. It was $350 at BOE, still a lot, but I like gadgets and don't have a problem spending money on tools.

 

[LLoyd B]

BOE ?

 

[Schwarz633]

BOE ?

Buy Marine Electronics and Boat Outfitting Online - BOEMarine.com

 

[colemj]

If I had been aware that the V7 had those capabilities, I probably wouldn't have ordered the NAVDoctor. I guess I need to spend some more time poking around in the V7 menus. It was $350 at BOE, still a lot, but I like gadgets and don't have a problem spending money on tools.

I made an assumption that the V7 has the same basic software here that the Zeus, Triton, and Simrad AP controllers have. I've never used a V7, so it is possible they removed these diagnostics from it.

The NavDoctor will give you a nicer, and a remote, interface for viewing. But you will need to understand what the data means.

Mark

 

[colemj]

I've bought several things from BOE and it was always a good transaction with best prices for those specific items. They are a small company just on the Eastern end of the Chesapeake Bay Bridge.

Mark

 

[LLoyd B]

My Google is too far West it seems to get confused when the Bank of England is mentioned

 

[Schwarz633]

I finally figured out how to get to “settings/network/devices” on the V7. The WS310 is reporting OK, just no data. That leads me to believe the 0183/N2K interface cable is alive, at least on the N2K side. It’s either got to be the mast cable, masthead connectors, or the masthead transducer. I’ve got an interface cable coming, but I suspect that a trip to the top is going to be required. Is there any service out there that can repair the WS310 transducer? It would appear that they fail frequently.

 

[dlochner]

I finally figured out how to get to “settings/network/devices” on the V7. The WS310 is reporting OK, just no data. That leads me to believe the 0183/N2K interface cable is alive, at least on the N2K side. It’s either got to be the mast cable, masthead connectors, or the masthead transducer. I’ve got an interface cable coming, but I suspect that a trip to the top is going to be required. Is there any service out there that can repair the WS310 transducer? It would appear that they fail frequently.

If it is the transducers, it is an easy repair if you can get the part. Assuming no physical damage to the vane or cups, disable the unit by unscrewing the top (vane) side of the body and the lower (cups) side and slide the circuit board out. Put the new circuit board in and reassemble.

Seacoast Marine Electronics does repair sensors. Peter, the owner, is an interesting guy who knows his stuff.

Home

www.seacoastmarineelectronics.com

 

[Schwarz633]

I received the new interface cable today. Before I installed it, I powered up the instruments with the old cable still installed and I had wind speed/direction for about 10 seconds after the V7 booted up. Then it disappeared. I tried the new cable, but still no data, and the WS310 still showing up in the device list. Same as with the old cable. Certainly seems like a trip to the top and a $346 PCB are in my future.