[C320-list] ST 4000 autohelm problem

[crashley at gte.net]

Gene,

When my ST4000 autopilot first powers up it attempts to rotate the wheel a 
1/4 turn or so. I think this is some sort of self test or indication that 
the unit is on. Could be related.

CRA
Rosebud #882


----- Original Message ----- 
From: "Gene Musante" <gmusante at msn.com>
To: "Catalina, 320 intl" <c320-list at catalina320.org>
Sent: Saturday, May 17, 2008 4:04 AM
Subject: [C320-list] ST 4000 autohelm problem


Hi,

I mounted up my boat's wheel for the season and connected the servo motor to 
it's electrical connection on the pedistal.  When I switched the power on, 
my power kept switching off and on at about a 1 second frequency on the 
autohelm display and my tri-data display.  My GPS, which is connected to the 
same power feed was having the same problem.  I disconnected the servo motor 
electrical connector, and the power came on and stayed on.

My hunch is that the servo motor may be defective, but it was working fine 
in the fall before I dismounted the wheel, which I store inside the boat.  I 
am going to dismount the wheel and re-assemble the whole works to see if 
this could have been caused by a mechanical problem.  I forgot that the 
wheel lock was on when I first switched on the power which may have caused 
the problem initially.

Has anybody seen this problem on their boat?Gene Musante  617-755-0680 
gmusante at msn.comAFFINITY Hull #68