Help needed autopilot linear drive

[borvaprops]

Hello everyone and happy new year. I have a bellow deck AP (Robertson AP200DL) installed on my boat. The linear actuator is one that I never seen before, can anyone help me identify the brand and model? I'm trying to figure out if I can drive this old actuator with a PyPilot.

Thanks in advance and happy sailing.

[Sailmonkey]

No idea what it is, but all you’ve got to do to drive it is see how many wires it uses (typically 4, 2clutch, 2 drive) and how it changes direction. Beyond that, measure the current it consumes.

Don’t I see a sticker on top of the unit?

[borvaprops]

Thanks sailmonkey, yes sticker is there but faded away. Cheers

[borvaprops]

Finally got around to open the unit, found a sticker inside in good shape Whitlock linear drive 4 wires

[seandepagnier]

You need to be able to move the rudder in both directions by reversing polarity to the wires.



1) power the lower current windings using the clutch output (wasteful)
2) use a bridge rectifier for 2 of the windings and not for the other two. This will make the motor reverse direction with reversed polarity. Depending on the motor you can do either series or parallel of the windings then.
3) Look for a motor with fixed magnets. These are usually significantly more efficient.