EV-100 Installation

[colbournee]

I am in the process of commissioning my EV-100 autopilot. I have several questions number one is:

Do I need speed and GPS heading sensors? I read on the forum that the system is heavily dependent on this data. I have neither, I was under the impression that I could use this system as an independent unit to hold a straight course until I purchase additional equipment. At this point that's all I wanted.

During the dockside setup, all electronics seems to be working, all components are discovered on the network with up to date software. I do not have a rudder reference sensor.

Going through the commissioning manual (Document 82285-5), that's the small document I downloaded.

Section 1. System powered up and down OK

section 2, I selected Power as the vessel type (32 Bayliner)

Section 3.1, I selected Drive type 1 (I have a 0.5 drive motor but its not listed on the menu????)

Section 3.3, I left the rudder limit to 30 degree default

Section 3.4, I just hit save since I do not know it at this point.

Section 3.5, The rudder moved to port and Starboard but only slightly, it did not move the full distance, I said yes to both questions in this section anyway since it did not say how much movement I should expect.

Section 4, Adjusting the hard over time, here is where I am lost and got totally unsatisfactory results.

I placed the rudder to full port in standby mode then in auto mode changed the course by 90 degrees (p70Rs) as per instructions, the rudder began to move to starboard very slowly and intermittently (like small incremental motion) not a continuous motion. Basically stop and go. In about 11 seconds it moved about 1/3 to starboard then stopped. I changed course a bit more in the same direction but no movement. I was expecting it to move the rudder continuously to full starboard and that would be my hard over time.

Section 5, Compass linearization I did not attempt this since I was not satisfied with the dockside commissioning. That is, I have not entered the hard over time and I read the warning about impacting the rudder end stops.

Please advise on how to proceed.

[Chuck - Raymarine - Moderator]

Welcome to the Raymarine Forum colbournee,

Please respond with the version of software installed within each of the following Evolution software components (MENU->SET-UP->DIAGNOSTICS->ABOUT SYSTEM)
- EV-1 Course Computer
- ACU100 Actuator Unit
- p70/p70S Autopilot Control Head

Please additionally indicate whether you have installed a rudder reference transducer.

[colbournee]

First I have no rudder reference sensor.
My boat is a Bayliner 1987 Bayliner 3270 twin rudders.
No GPS or speed data connected.

I have software versions: EV-1 Sensor V2.17
ACU100 V2.17
P70Rs V3.07

Since my first post I set the rudder angle to 30 degrees default value and the hard over time to the default value of 10 degrees and went on an 8 hour cruise. At first the pilot behaved badly but by the end of the day it was maintaining a course of plus or minus 3 degrees in cruise mode with perfect sea conditions. I have had several trips since then and the system is working well.

I never did an hard over so I do not know if the 10 seconds setting is correct.

The only thing now is the maximum deviation is not determined it still says '--' after several cruises.

The P70 is displaying 'detecting magnetics' with a little red led. I moved the EV-1 to a different location but got the same result.

The Heading displayed by the P70 is a couple degrees off from my magnetic compass, I thought that was acceptable.

[colbournee]

OK I just read your post on EV data required to troubleshoot. So it looks like with a speed through the water data source it will never be able to determine the deviation and will always display '--'

I have a first generation Lowrance HDS 7 with NMEA 183 bare wires and a NMEA-2000 network port connector. Can I interface this unit with the seatalkng to provide speed input. What do I need in terms of connectors?

[Chuck - Raymarine - Moderator]

colbournee,

The powered and properly terminated SeaTalkng backbone to which the Evolution autopilot components have been interfaced as spurs will need to be extended to include an additional spur socket to accommodate the Lowrance HDS 7. Please click here to view a FAQ addressing how to interface a third party product having a NMEA 2000 communications interface as a spur to a NMEA 2000 backbone which has been constructed from SeaTalkng networking components.