I just stepped my mast today. Two of my Autohelm ST4000 instruments are not working properly. All visible connections have been checked. The Wind instrument reads in the "apparent" setting, but when I switch to "true", I have two - - marks on the display. There is no power getting to the knotmeter, as the display won't show anything. Connections appear solid. Any ideas ?
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Ron - what are your instruments
The -- indicates you are not getting STW which is "speed thru water" over the NMEA bus. I had the same thing installing a Garmin GPS and was able to get it after telling the GPS to watch for it. Is your knot meter hooked up to the NMEA bus or are you using SeaTalk? Also have someone spin the paddle wheel to see if you are getting data at the speed indicator. Jim S/V Java
The -- indicates you are not getting STW which is "speed thru water" over the NMEA bus. I had the same thing installing a Garmin GPS and was able to get it after telling the GPS to watch for it. Is your knot meter hooked up to the NMEA bus or are you using SeaTalk? Also have someone spin the paddle wheel to see if you are getting data at the speed indicator. Jim S/V Java
Ron's Readings
Ron, I can understand liking everything working and perfect, but look at it for what it is... Can you sail without these devices? Well, YES. I like Auto-Helm electronics, but in my experience few anemoneters are accurate nor stay in good repair for long; a conspiracy with in colusion with electroinc repair guys...? The log readout will not give you accurate speed, but the GPS gives accurate SOG. The wind speed is not that hard to judge, watch the water, in fact top racers can judge speed by the bow & stern wake and 'feel' of the yacht. The more fancy dancy equipment you have, the less feeling and oneness you'll have with the sea.
Ron, I can understand liking everything working and perfect, but look at it for what it is... Can you sail without these devices? Well, YES. I like Auto-Helm electronics, but in my experience few anemoneters are accurate nor stay in good repair for long; a conspiracy with in colusion with electroinc repair guys...? The log readout will not give you accurate speed, but the GPS gives accurate SOG. The wind speed is not that hard to judge, watch the water, in fact top racers can judge speed by the bow & stern wake and 'feel' of the yacht. The more fancy dancy equipment you have, the less feeling and oneness you'll have with the sea.
Jim
Jim, Sea Talk is connecting them. The knot meter has no display and I am assuming because there is no power. All was fine when I disconnected them last fall and took them home for the winter.
Jim, Sea Talk is connecting them. The knot meter has no display and I am assuming because there is no power. All was fine when I disconnected them last fall and took them home for the winter.
But Cap'n Ron.....!
then I'd have to go learn how to actually sail and would not get to do all that maintance. I live for maintenance, maintenance is my one true joy on my boat. With that said, "--" on the wind speed when in "true" mode means you do not have a boat speed referance. Either GPS or knotmeter is not hooked into the buss. This kinda answers the second question since if the knot meter is not operating we have found the problem with the wind speed. Go get that analog volt meter and see if the power and ground are actually connected. It could be that you have good connections at the instriment but there is a connector in the line somewhere that is broken/disconnected/coroded. To test measure between the +12 volt and the ground terminal at the instrimemt. Basicly replace the instriment with the volt meter. You may not have to disconnect the instriment to do it either. You should read battery voltage. If you get batt voltage then the instriment has a problem if you don't then the problem is the wiring.
then I'd have to go learn how to actually sail and would not get to do all that maintance. I live for maintenance, maintenance is my one true joy on my boat. With that said, "--" on the wind speed when in "true" mode means you do not have a boat speed referance. Either GPS or knotmeter is not hooked into the buss. This kinda answers the second question since if the knot meter is not operating we have found the problem with the wind speed. Go get that analog volt meter and see if the power and ground are actually connected. It could be that you have good connections at the instriment but there is a connector in the line somewhere that is broken/disconnected/coroded. To test measure between the +12 volt and the ground terminal at the instrimemt. Basicly replace the instriment with the volt meter. You may not have to disconnect the instriment to do it either. You should read battery voltage. If you get batt voltage then the instriment has a problem if you don't then the problem is the wiring.
Sea Talk connection
Jim, if you are Sea Talk connected, you should get power to the knotmetter as well since you are getting power to the wind instrument. Pull your Sea Talk cable out and inspect the connectors. You may have a bit of corrosion there. If so, clean delicately and re-install, then as Jim suggests have someone spin the paddle wheel (if you ST-4000 is not too old, you can pull if off even if in the water as there is a check valve preventing major gushes of water). good luck
Jim, if you are Sea Talk connected, you should get power to the knotmetter as well since you are getting power to the wind instrument. Pull your Sea Talk cable out and inspect the connectors. You may have a bit of corrosion there. If so, clean delicately and re-install, then as Jim suggests have someone spin the paddle wheel (if you ST-4000 is not too old, you can pull if off even if in the water as there is a check valve preventing major gushes of water). good luck
Cap'n Ron
My Autohelm electronics have worked well since 1994. This is the first glitch. Where I sail, we have plenty of bluffs and a low mountain range. Sailing close to shore the wind may not be on the water, but will be high in the sails....a job for the instrument. I had neck problems for years from hyperextending it all day checking my Windex. Since using the wind instrument, my neck problems have disappeared. I also find that in gusty conditions, when sailing down wind, I can use my wind instrument to help prevent jibing. If I really want to get in touch with the elements, I take my windsurfer out for a spin
)
My Autohelm electronics have worked well since 1994. This is the first glitch. Where I sail, we have plenty of bluffs and a low mountain range. Sailing close to shore the wind may not be on the water, but will be high in the sails....a job for the instrument. I had neck problems for years from hyperextending it all day checking my Windex. Since using the wind instrument, my neck problems have disappeared. I also find that in gusty conditions, when sailing down wind, I can use my wind instrument to help prevent jibing. If I really want to get in touch with the elements, I take my windsurfer out for a spin
)
Always find something after the post
http://www.thomasknauf.de/seatalk.htm This link gives a detailed information about the seatalk interface. One thing in the previous post I made. I'm not getting NMEA directly from seatalk but from the NMEA interface on the back of the Autopilot. There is a input and output connector. Hope this didn't confuse you as it has me. Time for more sundowners.... Jim S/V Java
http://www.thomasknauf.de/seatalk.htm This link gives a detailed information about the seatalk interface. One thing in the previous post I made. I'm not getting NMEA directly from seatalk but from the NMEA interface on the back of the Autopilot. There is a input and output connector. Hope this didn't confuse you as it has me. Time for more sundowners.... Jim S/V Java
Thanks all
Thanks for the photos and explanations. I am heading off to the boat now and will send an update tonight.
Thanks for the photos and explanations. I am heading off to the boat now and will send an update tonight.
Reasonable point for pointing or running
Ron, I can relate, surgery on shoulder, a herniated disc in the back, we don't move that well with that kinda stuff goin on... I do like a windvane, I can hit it with my headlamp even at night as they have a reflector on the underside too. Reflective tell-tales on the shrouds are a boon. Don't know, but it is usually corrosion, and when you do trouble shoot it, after the repair, run a small bead of silicon round the outside of the rubber where it plugs in as it sill still be easily pulled apart, but you will not have to do so oft if you can keep out the salt and sea.
Ron, I can relate, surgery on shoulder, a herniated disc in the back, we don't move that well with that kinda stuff goin on... I do like a windvane, I can hit it with my headlamp even at night as they have a reflector on the underside too. Reflective tell-tales on the shrouds are a boon. Don't know, but it is usually corrosion, and when you do trouble shoot it, after the repair, run a small bead of silicon round the outside of the rubber where it plugs in as it sill still be easily pulled apart, but you will not have to do so oft if you can keep out the salt and sea.
Ron's update
I used a meter to confirm power is going to the knot meter. There is no display or indication that it is getting power. I have rechecked all the connection points. I proably will not get back to the boat until Monday to search out further.
I used a meter to confirm power is going to the knot meter. There is no display or indication that it is getting power. I have rechecked all the connection points. I proably will not get back to the boat until Monday to search out further.
Brian D
Hey Brian. I am self-employed (semi-retired) and get to go the boat mid-week once in awhile. After a long winter the boat finally got launched. I'll trade you my four months of sailing for your location)
Hey Brian. I am self-employed (semi-retired) and get to go the boat mid-week once in awhile. After a long winter the boat finally got launched. I'll trade you my four months of sailing for your location
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