I hope someone on the list can help me. I have a 1986 Hunter 34', with an after market ST4000+ installed on the port side perpendicular the wheel. My problem is that the ST4000+ doesn't work properly, and I was told that the problem might be in the Flux-gate compass, but I cannot locate it anywhere, in every nook and cranny, and it seems that I've looked everywhere possible, including the storage locker behind the wheel, down in the area in the cockpit on the starboard side where the batteries are located, and just about every area inside the boat where I can get to. Since it's after market, it seems that it would be within easy reach, but believe me it is not. Does anyone know where it might be located where I may not have looked? Thanks, Dick Shay
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G
Gene
Did you
Did you try to follow the wiring from the unit. That's how I finaly found mine. It was on the bulkhead above the fuel tank. What problems are you having ?
Did you try to follow the wiring from the unit. That's how I finaly found mine. It was on the bulkhead above the fuel tank. What problems are you having ?
Can you follow the cables?
There should be at least 3 cables connected: power, motor and compass (there might be a connection to a GPS also). Also, the compass might not be installed anywhere in the stern of the boat - it should be as far as possible from sources of interference, mostly ferrous metal, and as close as possible to the roll, pitch and yaw center of the boat. Sometimes people install the compass in the mid-section, or even all the way in the bow. It could, literally, be anywhere in the boat. I would suggest expanding your search. Pull off the control head and identify the cable to the fluxgate compass - if I recall, it should be black, 2 conductor, 16 or 18 awg. Check the marking on the cable. Then find where the wiring runs are on the boat - behind the electrical panel at the nav station, through the bilge, in the overhead, etc. - and look for that cable. Of course, there IS one other possible explanation - there IS NO fluxgate compass. Good luck! Cheers, Bob s/v X SAIL R 8
There should be at least 3 cables connected: power, motor and compass (there might be a connection to a GPS also). Also, the compass might not be installed anywhere in the stern of the boat - it should be as far as possible from sources of interference, mostly ferrous metal, and as close as possible to the roll, pitch and yaw center of the boat. Sometimes people install the compass in the mid-section, or even all the way in the bow. It could, literally, be anywhere in the boat. I would suggest expanding your search. Pull off the control head and identify the cable to the fluxgate compass - if I recall, it should be black, 2 conductor, 16 or 18 awg. Check the marking on the cable. Then find where the wiring runs are on the boat - behind the electrical panel at the nav station, through the bilge, in the overhead, etc. - and look for that cable. Of course, there IS one other possible explanation - there IS NO fluxgate compass. Good luck! Cheers, Bob s/v X SAIL R 8
Do you have a rudder position sensor?
If that's hooked up backwards, the a/p will go crazy trying to hold a course, although I don't remember if the symptoms were exactly what you describe. When I installd mine, I got those 2 wires backwards and the first sea trial was a lot of fun. ;D BTW, the fluxgate compass cable has 5 wires in it, not the 2 I reported. If you don't have the owner's manual, you can find it at the link below. Cheers, Bob s/v X SAIL R 8
If that's hooked up backwards, the a/p will go crazy trying to hold a course, although I don't remember if the symptoms were exactly what you describe. When I installd mine, I got those 2 wires backwards and the first sea trial was a lot of fun. ;D BTW, the fluxgate compass cable has 5 wires in it, not the 2 I reported. If you don't have the owner's manual, you can find it at the link below. Cheers, Bob s/v X SAIL R 8
P
Patrick
Mine is down by the stuffing box
I have a H33.5, the flux gate is way down on a stringer near the stuffing box and the fuel line as it comes from the back of the boat to the racor. Its a little black thing, round in shape as I recall.
I have a H33.5, the flux gate is way down on a stringer near the stuffing box and the fuel line as it comes from the back of the boat to the racor. Its a little black thing, round in shape as I recall.
B
Bob
autohelm
Are you sure it is ST4000+ and not just Autohelm 4000? If it is one of the arlier models the fluxgate compass is located inside the unit that connects to the cockpit bulkhead and then has two wires to the motor on the pedestal. Easy way to check is if there are only four wires at the connection to the bulkhead, two go to the electrical panel/battery for power and the other two go to the motor. No additional wires means the fluxgate compass has to be self contained in the unit.
Are you sure it is ST4000+ and not just Autohelm 4000? If it is one of the arlier models the fluxgate compass is located inside the unit that connects to the cockpit bulkhead and then has two wires to the motor on the pedestal. Easy way to check is if there are only four wires at the connection to the bulkhead, two go to the electrical panel/battery for power and the other two go to the motor. No additional wires means the fluxgate compass has to be self contained in the unit.
Gain setting?
I have a st 4000 on our 2003 H33. Now I'm no expert by a long shot but it could be the RUDDER GAIN in the calibration settings is set too high. In theback of the owner's manual it tells how to reset it. If I remember correctly if it's set too low the boat will turn too slowly on to the new course and if it's too high it will overcorrect and overshoot. So go the settings a monkey around. Sorry but my manual is on the boat. Let us know what happens. Brad
I have a st 4000 on our 2003 H33. Now I'm no expert by a long shot but it could be the RUDDER GAIN in the calibration settings is set too high. In theback of the owner's manual it tells how to reset it. If I remember correctly if it's set too low the boat will turn too slowly on to the new course and if it's too high it will overcorrect and overshoot. So go the settings a monkey around. Sorry but my manual is on the boat. Let us know what happens. Brad
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