SX-5 Autopilot "No Pilot" error help

[sailingdoc]

I have a Raymarine SX-5 autopilot computer with a ST6001 control head. Had everything working fine until some broader electrical problems on the boat. Turned out to be some bad house batteries. Replaced batteries and got everything working but now have a "No Pilot" message on the control head of the autopilot.

I've tried checking the wiring, restarting, and whatever I can think of but I can't seem to get it working again.

Any thoughts?

Thanks!

[Sailmonkey]

Is there power to the course computer?


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[Neptune's Gear]

Its telling you what is wrong - the head unit cant see the course computer, so check power to both devices - AND internal fuses on the course computer, if that is all OK, then the cable between the two is suspect, or either of the two devices is faulty....

Good Luck!

[sailingdoc]

Thanks. Power for the control head is coming from the course computer through the sea talk cable so power must not be the problem.

I suppose that there could be a problem with the yellow wire in the Seatalk cable.

Any way to determine if problem is controller or computer?


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[Neptune's Gear]

Sorry, don't have a circuit diagram for that handy, but check for internal fuses in the course computer first, then check continuity of the cables pin by pin...


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[aucoingc]

Here is a suggestion: unplug and check continuity on each and every nmea connection until you find the one that is shutting down the entire SeaTallk system. Once it is isolated and taken out of e system, Auto-Pilot will come back on. Don't touch the backbone "Blue Line" connections. For my boat, it was an AIS Tranceiver.

[sailingdoc]

No luck yet. Only connections to course computer is compass, ST6002, motor, and power.

Power seems fine. Seatalk cable also seems good. Voltage on the yellow connector is ~11.5 V. All fuses check ok.

Still no luck. Trying to figure out whether it is the ST6002 or the computer.

Any final thoughts?


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[aucoingc]

Disconnect blue backbone line to see if you can shut down "no pilot" light. Reconnect. Check fuses in SX-5. Completely disconnect compass. Reconnect. Completely disconnect motor tie in. Reconnect. Check(again probably) the connections to the GPS head. Disconnect. Reconnect. Of course, every time you disconnect...go look at your chart!

[aucoingc]

How did it go Sailingdoc? Get it sorted?

[sailingdoc]

Not sorted out yet. I don't see a blue backbone line for this model system.

Cable seems ok. Have tried disconnecting and reconnecting. Trying to figure out if control head or computer need to be replaced.


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[aucoingc]

One of those lines is carrying the signal "no pilot" to your chart plotter. Whatever line that is functions as the backbone line to the system. Other input lines carrying the signal from a device can freeze the whole system. If you can't isolate a bad device then I concur it is likely the SX-5 computer. Should be fairly simple to pull and send to Raymarine to analyze.