Raymarine X5 issues

[Jimm]

Looking for anyone who has had issues with X5 calibration.
Installed the wheel pilot 2yrs ago. This season the calibration frequently fails. I have to run through a sea trial to recover. Most recently, the calibration went 100 degrees out just minutes after a sea trial calibration re-set it.
Preparing to send unit to Raymarine, but first would like to know of others' experience with this issue......

 

[Maine Sail]

Looking for anyone who has had issues with X5 calibration.
Installed the wheel pilot 2yrs ago. This season the calibration frequently fails. I have to run through a sea trial to recover. Most recently, the calibration went 100 degrees out just minutes after a sea trial calibration re-set it.
Preparing to send unit to Raymarine, but first would like to know of others' experience with this issue......

Check for ferrous metal/magnetic interference causing items near your fluxgate. One of the most common trouble shoots on AP's I have to do. I hate to hand someone a $125.00 bill to pull a frying pan or tool bag away from a compass but that is the biggest issue I see.. Start there then test the fluxgate..

 

[alexco38]

I had similar problem before. Found my tool bag was too close (about 2 feet ish). Moved it and problem solved. Cordless drill was the worst.

Also make sure the orientation is correct, i.e. facing forward near the center of the boat as low as possible. If not there is a setting you have to change. It's in the book.

Don't forget the zig-zag self learn trial. Well worth it.

 

[Jimm]

Check for ferrous metal/magnetic interference causing items near your fluxgate. One of the most common trouble shoots on AP's I have to do. I hate to hand someone a $125.00 bill to pull a frying pan or tool bag away from a compass but that is the biggest issue I see.. Start there then test the fluxgate..

Thanks! should have said that has been checked. Compass is well isolated.......

 

[Jimm]

I had similar problem before. Found my tool bag was too close (about 2 feet ish). Moved it and problem solved. Cordless drill was the worst.

Also make sure the orientation is correct, i.e. facing forward near the center of the boat as low as possible. If not there is a setting you have to change. It's in the book.

Don't forget the zig-zag self learn trial. Well worth it.

Thanks - the compass is on the bulkhead, inside the hanging locker - nothing but clothes hanging near it. Have run through the full calibration process now 4 times this season.

 

[Terry in Naples]

I had 2issues this year. First the motor was bad and was replaced free. Then I had calibration issues too. Was 80"to 100 degrees off. Re calibrated and reset the compass alignment . Still off . Next day found flashlight next to compass. Moved it and all was fixed.

 

[kloudie1]

Metal clothes hangers?
Do check those nasty connectors on the unit where the compass plugs in and where the power plugs in.

 

[Jimm]

No hangers But given the responses, I'll go back over the locker and 'enviorns' again to be sure .......

 

[alexco38]

You said hanging locker?

The manual recommend mid-ship, as low and center as possible. The flux gate has to sense the center of the turn.

Is the locker on the side?

One dumb question: Did you save the setting? (I missed that a few times) I got confused by the English language used by engineers.

 

[Jimm]

You said hanging locker?

The manual recommend mid-ship, as low and center as possible. The flux gate has to sense the center of the turn.

Is the locker on the side?

One dumb question: Did you save the setting? (I missed that a few times) I got confused by the English language used by engineers.

Compass is placed close to the center line just fwd of the keel, about as close to the center of the boat as possible. It is about 2 feet off the sole - installed by a competent electronics tech. (About 2/3 way up near the mid-ship line on the starboard side). Nothing metalic is close to the locker when the boat is moving and instruments on.
Each seatrial followed the manual and the unit worked fine for a time after each. Either I'm missing some interference or there is a problem internal to the X5 apart from the compass.
Tech will evaluate next week.........

 

[jviss]

Check the compass unit

A friend of mine had a Raymarine fluxgate compass that had a broken gimbal. It did really weird things, and drove him crazy 'til they replaced it.

Might want to take it apart and take a look (I don't know if that's easily done).

 

[orion]

I have the same issue. The x5 was purchased in 2008. Last Fall it had the same issues you describe. This Spring it worked fine and then last week it went totally crazy as you describe 100 degrees off. There was no change in anything near it. I checked the compass and it passed. I then took the course computer to New England Electronics in Norwalk and even they could not figure out the problem. They have sent it Raymarine for an evaluation. It would seem that there is a componet that was poorly designed.

 

[fox islander]

...doesnt the Raymarine manual suggest keeping the compass cable isolated also. Any chance your cable is crossing paths with other cables beneath the floor deck? My compass is in the same location as yours...finishing the install today...hopefully commissioning this weekend.

 

[Jimm]

...doesnt the Raymarine manual suggest keeping the compass cable isolated also. Any chance your cable is crossing paths with other cables beneath the floor deck? My compass is in the same location as yours...finishing the install today...hopefully commissioning this weekend.

Would have considered this if the problem began with the installation, but all worked fine for over a year. I'll report back when we isolate the problem.

 

[Jimm]

. I'll report back when we isolate the problem.

well, seems it was an ipod dock sitting on top of the hanging locker about a foot from the compass. When I moved the ipod dock the heading on the X5 swung 60 degrees slowly while sitting in the slip. Moved the offending unit, will re-calibrate and verify.