Author Topic: Autohelm 3000  (Read 8021 times)

Rusty Pelican

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Autohelm 3000
« on: August 22, 2016, 08:54:57 AM »
I have an old Autohelm 3000 that sort of forgets where it's going.
Raymarine well not repair this unit
I have heard that this is a common problem with the control unit.
Does anyone know where this can be repaired?
I like the thing, and also don't want the trouble of installing a new unit.

Thanks

BobG

Dolce_Vita

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Re: Autohelm 3000
« Reply #1 on: August 22, 2016, 12:18:47 PM »
It's possible that your Autohelm is fine, and it's just reacting to voltage sags, surges or spikes on the +12V power.  Boat 12 power systems are notorious for being extremely noisy.  My Raymarine wheelpilot will reset to standby whenever I start the engine.  This is because the starter motor pulls an extreme load and causes the voltage to momentarily sag low enough to cause the autopilot to drop out.  (The cure for this, by the way, is a dedicated start battery...its on my "to do" list...).

Other sources can also produce sags and surges on the power bus, though not as extreme as the starter.  Keying the VHF for transmit, running the windlass, or running anything with a motor, such as a blower, fan, or refrigeration, can all put varying amounts of "noise" on the 12V power buss.

A simple test to see if this is your problem would be to temporarily run the Autohelm off of a small dedicated 12v battery.  A little gel cell, such as those used in lawnmowers or home alarm systems, would be ideal.  It can supply enough current to run the Autohelm for a while, and is safe to handle, with no danger of acid spillage.

If this cures the problem, a permanent solution would be to install an "LC low-pass noise filter" on the power lead to the Autohelm.  There's a useful discussion on a DIY solution in stackexchange:
http://electronics.stackexchange.com/questions/71698/diy-protection-for-12v-electronics-wired-directly-to-a-marine-12v-battery-system
@(^.^)@  Ed
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with rebuilt Atomic-4

Rusty Pelican

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Re: Autohelm 3000
« Reply #2 on: August 22, 2016, 04:24:14 PM »
Great ideas Ed.
I will try tomorrow and check back with you.
Hopping for the best!

Thanks

BobG

Rusty Pelican

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Re: Autohelm 3000
« Reply #3 on: August 25, 2016, 10:26:52 AM »
Ed
Your advice was correct. Here is the time line
We had a nice sail from Scituate Ma to Provincetown Ma. After spending 5 days in P-Town we had to motor back. I have a big solar panel, no refrigeration so we had no need to start the engine to charge the batteries 
Unknown to me somewhere along our vacation a polyprop 1/2 line escaped to the engine room and jacked the alternator belt off.
My volt meter is analog, and I was thinking that the meter was broken. I replaced it 10 or so years ago.
I went to the boat to trouble shoot the autohelm, fired up the Volvo put my multimeter on and it was reading 11.2V.
Found the belt undamaged, took 2 hrs to reattach. Otto Von Helm is fine.
Feel sort of stupid; it's possible my wife is right!

Thanks

BobG

Dolce_Vita

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Re: Autohelm 3000
« Reply #4 on: August 25, 2016, 11:09:59 AM »
Glad you found the problem and the fix turned out to be simple!

Now, go sailing! :)
@(^.^)@  Ed
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Rusty Pelican

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Re: Autohelm 3000
« Reply #5 on: August 25, 2016, 12:15:23 PM »
Ed
 The three day Schooner Festival @ Gloucester Ma next trip
http://gloucesterschoonerfestival.net/