Fluxgate location

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Beechjetdriver

Beechjetdriver

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Nov 17, 2008
49
Hunter 38 St. Petersburg
Hunter 38 Fluxgate location

Any 38 owners know where Hunter installed the fluxgate compass? I've got a Raymarine C-80 heading problem I'm trying to troubleshoot, and can't remember where they put the fluxgate.
 
Beechjetdriver

Beechjetdriver

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Nov 17, 2008
49
Hunter 38 St. Petersburg
Hunter Customer Service

Eddie Breeden of Hunter Customer Service emailed me a PDF showing all the autopilot component locations on the Hunter 38.

Thanks again, Eddie.

I was going to attach it here, but the file size exceeds forum allowable limits.

If anyone else needs it, PM me with your email address and I'll send it to you.
 
Ed Schenck

Ed Schenck

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Jun 2, 2004
5,802
Hunter 37-cutter, '79 41 23' 30"N 82 33' 20"W--------Huron, OH
The PDF should be in "Hunter Owner Modifications" under the "Boat Info" tab soon It is awaiting approval by the management, aka Phil. I'll post the link here as soon as I see it.
 
Ron McCoy

Ron McCoy

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Oct 10, 2008
277
Catalina 445 Yorktown
I wouldn't think that Hunter installs the Raymarine systems at the factory. I think you'll find that your dealer did it when it was originally outfitted or maybe the PO. Regardless, the Raymarine "Smart Pilot" is probably located near the helm in one of the lazzarettes. The smart pilot is a gray plastic box about the size of a cigar box and feeds the C80 and other instruments. Lots of wiring connected below the box. Find the wire for the compass and follow the wire to the fluxgate itself. Some Raymarine dealers install the fluxgate as far forward in one of the cockpit lazzarettes or down lower. Sometimes I've seen them under the aft bunk along the centerline of the boat.
 
seadaddler

seadaddler

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Dec 19, 2006
5,832
Hunter 36 Punta Gorda
Ditto

As already mentioned my auto was installed when new by dealer,in my 07 H-36 is under rear berth center low bulkhead,try looking for computer rear out side bulkhead in a stern locker and follow wire.
Nick
 

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Gordon Taylor

Gordon Taylor

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Apr 6, 2007
54
Hunter 38 Owen Sound, Ontario
We had fluxgate heading problems in our 2005 Hunter 38. The fluxgate sensor was mounted on a bulkhead under the floorboards in the main cabin near the hot water tank. There's a setting for "swinging the compass" which involves driving the boat around in circles. I do not remember the exact specs but Raymarine allowed a max deviation of say 6 degrees and ours was 18 degrees as delivered from the dealer. We moved the fluxgate compass forward to the bulkhead under the mast/ door to forecabin (there was lots of extra wire to do this), went through the compass swinging routine again and deviation was just 3 degrees. Have had no problems with running on a compass heading since. Our Raymarine computer is behind the DC switch panel.
 
Beechjetdriver

Beechjetdriver

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Nov 17, 2008
49
Hunter 38 St. Petersburg
Ron McCoy said:
I wouldn't think that Hunter installs the Raymarine systems at the factory. I think you'll find that your dealer did it when it was originally outfitted or maybe the PO. Regardless, the Raymarine "Smart Pilot" is probably located near the helm in one of the lazzarettes. The smart pilot is a gray plastic box about the size of a cigar box and feeds the C80 and other instruments. Lots of wiring connected below the box. Find the wire for the compass and follow the wire to the fluxgate itself. Some Raymarine dealers install the fluxgate as far forward in one of the cockpit lazzarettes or down lower. Sometimes I've seen them under the aft bunk along the centerline of the boat.
Click to expand
If you look at the boat info tab under owner modifications, then Hunter 38, you'll find the PDF that Eddie Breeden of Hunter Customer Service sent me showing where they installed the autopilot components on the 38.

Evidently they do not do all the installs, as others have posted here, but mine was installed IAW the PDF.

Gordon, when our boat was delivered, the deviation was within specs, but Raymarine suggests I may need to re-swing the compass. Sounds like you have found a better location for the fluxgate compass. I'll check it out; not sure if they gave me as much cabling as you had.
 
Gordon Taylor

Gordon Taylor

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Apr 6, 2007
54
Hunter 38 Owen Sound, Ontario
Flux gate location

Thanks for adding the pdf from Hunter to the web site!

Our fluxgate was originally mounted as in the pdf but in retrospect probably was our addition of 2 extra 6v house batteries that caused the magnetic interference. Friends have had problems caused by storing their frying pan too close to the fluxgate, so it's worth checking the deviation from time to time.

Also a bit off post.... but after looking at the pdf..... If you are under the cockpit floor it's worth checking that the engine controls are not rubbing on the steering link as our was. Cables have to make quite a tight turn on exiting the pedestal and ours had broken the cable tie retainer.
 

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dcfinley

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Oct 7, 2009
15
Hunter 376 Drayden, MD
What are the symptoms that led you to focus on the fluxgate compass? My Raymarine autopilot starts off trying to correct to selected heading but quickly goes unstable, snaking left and right until it is making wide heading swings. I have performed the deviation swing a couple of times, adjusted the gain on the controller, etc, no luck.

I suspect the fluxgate compass but dont know how to troubleshoot. It is mounted under the salon floor, a couple of feet in front of the engine and a couple of feet to left of the air conditioner installed under the stbd setee. Is this sufficient distance? I would have thought the P.O. of 10 years would have done something if the installation was bad.
 
Beechjetdriver

Beechjetdriver

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Nov 17, 2008
49
Hunter 38 St. Petersburg
finleydc said:
What are the symptoms that led you to focus on the fluxgate compass? My Raymarine autopilot starts off trying to correct to selected heading but quickly goes unstable, snaking left and right until it is making wide heading swings. I have performed the deviation swing a couple of times, adjusted the gain on the controller, etc, no luck.

I suspect the fluxgate compass but dont know how to troubleshoot. It is mounted under the salon floor, a couple of feet in front of the engine and a couple of feet to left of the air conditioner installed under the stbd setee. Is this sufficient distance? I would have thought the P.O. of 10 years would have done something if the installation was bad.
Click to expand
When I realized the heading data shown on my C-80 was offset 93 degrees from the mag compass, I suspected a problem with my fluxgate compass. It's either bad, or requires a re-swing. Next step is to perform a compass swing IAW Raymarine's autopilot commissioning guide, but I need a calm wind and sea day for that.
 
D

DanG

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Jun 29, 2009
14
Tartan 33R Mexico
If you suspect the fluxgate, here is how to test it.



Multi-meter should be set to:
Resistance scale; 200 ohm scale

Disconnect the fluxgate from the system.
Connect multi-meter as follows

Red to Green 4 ohms
Red to Yellow 4 ohms
Green to Yellow 8 ohms
Screen to Blue 8 ohms

All other combinations Open Circuit


You are looking for a short or open. A + or - 2 Ohm reading is allowed.
 
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