Rudder Position Sensor-Raymarine to Simrad

[Matt Johnson]

I bought a Raymarine rudder position sensor to connect to my autopilot, but never installed. I'm now switching to all Simrad gear and think I know the answer to my questions, but will ask anyway.

Does anyone know if the Raymarine rudder sensor will work with the Simrad system? Both sensors are a two wire connection, but I'm not sure if they put out the same info to the computers. I contacted Simard about connecting the Raymarine to their AC12 computer, but the tech was not able to tell me anything.

Either way I need to install the sensor, but I just don't feel like taking the loss on selling the new Raymarine unit.

Thanks,

Matt

[colemj]

No, the Raymarine sensor will not work with Simrad. At least that is what Simrad told me about connecting a Raymarine linear drive to an AC42 - I need the Simrad sensor.

If you bought all Simrad gear, doesn't it have a Simrad rudder sensor?

Mark

[Matt Johnson]

Originally Posted by colemj

No, the Raymarine sensor will not work with Simrad. At least that is what Simrad told me about connecting a Raymarine linear drive to an AC42 - I need the Simrad sensor.

If you bought all Simrad gear, doesn't it have a Simrad rudder sensor?

Mark

Nope... I went the cheap route and pieced it all together. I didn't need a head unit as I'm using the NSS7 chartplotter for this, and the only way is to buy each item separately. I guess I'll just put the Raymarine item on eBay and buy a new rudder sensor.

Thanks,

Matt

[colemj]

Actually, I agree with you that it is only two wires and most likely is just a simple resistance measurement with no absolute meaning - only relative meaning when you set it up and move the rudder from stop to stop. So why not give it a try before you sell it? You won't hurt the AC12, just be ready to turn it off if it doesn't understand the rudder stop positions.

I was buying all new stuff, so just got the Simrad sensor without question.

Mark

[Richard Harper]

The Raymarine sensor I have has 3 wires plus a shield. It has a variable resistor. The red wire is +5v, the green wire is ground and the blue wire indicates rudder position with a voltage between 2 and 3 volts.
I just finished rebuilding it after a lightning strike blew it up. Cheaper than buying a new one.

[goboatingnow]

The Raymarine sensor is a simple potential divider with three wires. Any rudder reference with a similar configuration will actually do, The total resistance should be similar or higher thens Rays to ensure power dissipation in the rudder sensor driver circuit and the rudder resister network is kept under control.

Dave

[evm1024]

Just measured my Ray position sensor.

It appears to be 2 resistors plus a linear pot.

Red---1.75K fixed---1.7k pot---1.75 k fixed---green
Blue-------------------^


Who knows if this line art will show up. The blue is the wiper.

Regards

[Dockhead]

Any definitive answer to this question?

[brianb00]

Hi, I was recently on the Garmin website looking at their AP unit. WIthin a few minutes in the AP area, I found a nice compatibility diagram that showed the electrical diagram of most rudder sensors and included a table of connections and how to interconnect with the Garmin AP.
Good luck.

[joboostindie]

Originally Posted by evm1024

Just measured my Ray position sensor.

It appears to be 2 resistors plus a linear pot.

Red---1.75K fixed---1.7k pot---1.75 k fixed---green
Blue-------------------^


Who knows if this line art will show up. The blue is the wiper.

Regards

But how has the shield-wire to be connected?

[evm1024]

Originally Posted by joboostindie

But how has the shield-wire to be connected?

The shield wire is grounded. The 2 signal wires are all inside of the shield (only grounded on the Core pack side.)

Here is a schematic from a spx-5 if it helps.

Regards