B&G AWA all over the place-seeking advice

[TJ D]

Hi All,

My Hydra 2000 wind data is giving me fits. The AWA is changing all the time. It'll be right for 1-30 minutes or so, and then will suddenly, and randomly be 10-60 degrees off. I'll calibrate it and it'll be right for a while, and then it all begins again.

It's mostly a nuisance, but this is obviously preventing us from using wind angle for steering on the pilot. I want to get it straightened out.

The MHU and mast cable have been recently replaced. It made no difference.

Anybody have any idea what could be doing this?

Thanks, guys.

TJ

[44'cruisingcat]

Have you recently installed a software update?

Navico software updates are becoming notorious.

[TJ D]

Nope, no updates. I don't think that the H2000 has any updates available in any case.

I sort of suspect that there's a problem in the wind board in the CPU, but I'm hoping that's not it. This has been happening for quite a long time now, but the error range is steadily increasing. It's a bummer. I'm really hoping that we don't have to replace the system yet.

Thanks, TJ

[UNCIVILIZED]

Is your masthead sensor on a super, super long, super tall wand, so that it's well above & ahead of the masthead? Since if not you'll be getting all kinds of crap upwash, backwash, etc. off of various sails. And the upwash direction & speed will vary from wind angle to wind angle, different wind speeds, & different sail combinations.

The other option that runs through my head is either unshielded EM somewhere, either affecting a sensor, or the data in a cable between the sensor & your CPU.

There are 101 other options, but it's beer o'clock here, so... Start simple, by testing your sensors at their sources. Then their connections, & the viability of their cables. As a short anywhere in there throws off everything. And if all of that's fine, start de-building, & rebuilding the bits at your nav station (the brains of the thing).

You can also send various components to B&G for testing as of last check. It'd help to rule out issues with any particular part, or confirm it's infirmity.

BTW, what does the AWA do when you drive in a straight line, directly upwind, on a windless or constant wind type day?

PS: I see time in a climbing harness in your future. Well, unless you hire me to work some half-black magic on things

[TJ D]

Well, gosh, I think that flying you to Europe might be out of the budget.

We don't have the tall wand, but this problem happens in the marina too, when I can plainly see which way the unit is pointing. So, that's not it.

As I mentioned, I replaced the MHU and the cable recently. The problem had been occurring prior to this replacement.

I reckon I need to check the cable between the MHU junction box and the CPU, and if that doesn't work, it's time to send the CPU in for testing.

I'd been hoping in vain for something a little simpler. Oh well, time to start digging.

Thanks, TJ

[GordMay]

B&G Handbook (pages 18 - 20 etc) ➥ http://www.chicagomarineelectronics....ok_HB_0918.pdf