[CA] [CA11] Type 2 Rotary Drive Current/Amps

[Chuck - Raymarine - Moderator]

Welcome to the Raymarine Forum skibum,

Unfortunately, the drive unit's rated power consumption is only one of the factors taken into consideration in specifying an ACU. When the drive unit is switching polarities, which it does constantly when the autopilot is operating in Auto or Track mode, it will create a current spike which can be 5-6 times that of 7 amps which you have stated. Over time these current spikes would cause damage to the drive FETs of an undersized ACU. ACU failures resulting from use of a drive unit requiring a larger ACU would void the ACU's warranty. Additionally, the inability of an undersized ACU to accommodate may cause voltage drops within the autopilot, causing it to drop to Standby from Auto or Track modes without triggering any error alarms.