ST 4000 Auto Pilot

[John Burns]

I have an ST 4000+ Raymarine Auto Helm

It continually makes a left hand turn

I have checked all connections to the unit and run the compass deviation/calibration

All checks out, boat still circles left

Any ideas ?

 

[n624ma]

More Info Please

Does it turn as soon as it is engaged or does it make random left turns?

If it is random. it is probably the compass sensor and may be the result of the flexible cable inside loosing contact.

Does the autopilot heading jump around while you are on a steady course?

 

[John Burns]

St4000+

In answer to your question, as soon as the auto pilot is engaged it starts making a left hand turn

It continues until I put it into Standby

Quite frankly I never let it make a 360, I always go to standby after 30 seconds or so

At first I thought it might be a bad ground, but all the other RayMarine instruments are working fine and they are all interconnected

I should mention the auto-pilot is not hooked up to a GPS, I simply use it to hold a course

Any suggestions would be appreciated

 

[n624ma]

ST 4000 Turns Left

With the unit in Standby and Heading displayed, does the Autopilot display smoothly follow the boats direction of movement?

For example if you are traveling in a northerly direction and turn to starboard does the readout show and increasing heading number (even if it does not match the actual heading)?

 

[John Burns]

St4000+

In answer to your question, does the auto Helm actually show the direction the boat is heading? I believe it does, but will have to take it out tomorrow to verify. I have been playing with this thing for a week and if it didn't I think I would have seen that since I have tried many times to get it to hold a course.

Can't go out today I am committed to the Admiral activities. But that will be one of the 1st things I will check tomorrow

What would it indicate if it doesn't? Then of course the next question is, what should I look at if it does?

My plan would be to isolate to a component and just order that component from RayMarine

By the way, I have supplied them with similiar info on their customer support line and I suspect it will take a couple of days to get some similiar help from them

Any help you can give will give me a jump on fixing this issue

I plan on sailing to Hilton Head in three weeks and want to get this resolved before I go

Thanks for your help

 

[seadaddler]

Talk to them

Have you tried talking to them at the boat with the problem,I had called them from my boat on a different piece of equipment and they walked me through all the different checks to find what the problem was,they will walk you through setting it up.
Nick

 

[John Burns]

St 4000

I did not know they will do that

Will call them Monday from the boat

Thanks

John

 

[petersea]

There is a yellow and a gray wire on the back of the controll unit that send signal to go port or starboard, check to see that they are not crossed or maybe only one is connected. Maybe not but can't hurt to check....

 

[petersea]

Another though if you do replace the control unit you may want to up grade to the 5000 or newer control head. The st4000 seams to be very problematic unit.

 

[Dennis W.]

Constant turn Check

If you have the rudder position indicator connected check port/starboard connection as follows. At dock not moving wheel centered push auto button with a/p engaged to wheel. Next step push 10* port or starbord and watch rudder postion indicator. did wheel and indicator move in proper direction? If not reverse wires on control head and retry. Reversed connection will cause a constant turn hunting for the desired course, going past and continuing to hunt.