Raymarine ST60+ failure diagnostics wrong, or at least misleading.

[GILow]

Hi all,

A word of caution about the fault diagnostics supplied by Raymarine for their masthead wind sensors.

They list a series of voltage tests across various wire pairs, and based on the results will tell you if you have a problem with the masthead sender or the cockpit display.

I ran the tests and they were entirely consistent with a failed masthead sender. This seemed reasonable as the device was over 15 years old. So I bought a new sender at great expense (yes, I know there are repair services available online but they are less easy to access internationally and I figured I would have the old sender repaired and keep it as a spare).

Anyway, it turns out the problem was not with the sender but some problem in the wiring in the mast.

The wiring would have been a LOT cheaper to replace.

So, if you want to use the Raymarine voltage test, I strongly recommend you bring the sender down to deck level and test it with a know piece of wire. It might save you a lot of money.

Matt

[Pete7]

That piece of wire isn't exactly cheap either, but I hear what you say. Still at least you now have a spare wind sensor, always useful. I have spare one in the shed needing a rebuild at the moment. The locking collar to the mast mount widget broke after hitting a tree with the masthead

Pete

[GILow]

Originally Posted by Pete7

That piece of wire isn't exactly cheap either, but I hear what you say. Still at least you now have a spare wind sensor, always useful. I have spare one in the shed needing a rebuild at the moment. The locking collar to the mast mount widget broke after hitting a tree with the masthead



Pete

Ummmm.... a tree?

Tall tree.

[Pete7]

Mast height is 43ft, but that wasn't the problem. Those Populars and a large oak tree in the back ground were the problem because I was concentrating on not hitting the other yachts as we wound our way up the channel. Oh and its a bit shallow too, this is bilge keel country were fins fear to tread

Pete

[captmikem]

I have a brandy new raymarine ST60 cable , still on the roll, with masthead connector on it if you are interested.

M

[GILow]

Originally Posted by Pete7

Mast height is 43ft, but that wasn't the problem. Those Populars and a large oak tree in the back ground were the problem because I was concentrating on not hitting the other yachts as we wound our way up the channel. Oh and its a bit shallow too, this is bilge keel country were fins fear to tread



Pete

Yep, having recently spent the night at a 45 degree angle, you are right, I’m not brave enough to venture in there.

But still, knocking out the sensor on a tree has to be a pretty rare event.

[GILow]

Originally Posted by captmikem

I have a brandy new raymarine ST60 cable , still on the roll, with masthead connector on it if you are interested.



M

All good, thank you, the new sensor came with the same roll and connector.

But.... how much for the dog?

[captmikem]

Originally Posted by GILow

All good, thank you, the new sensor came with the same roll and connector.

But.... how much for the dog?

Priceless.. got a couple of cats I would let go pretty cheap though.

M

[GILow]

Originally Posted by captmikem

Priceless.. got a couple of cats I would let go pretty cheap though.



M

Nah... I’m a monohull guy.

[sailjumanji]

Hey if you are going to list the dog, rules say you have to show an asking price! Joking of course. Its a good looking dog though. I see your parts advertising ploy. Must have been a career in marketing!

[sailjumanji]

I always carried a spare wind wand as my wife couldn't look at the masthead wind vane due to neck issues. If you had one last 15 years that is a good run. We now have B&G wind wand on the new boat, and first one crapped out in 13 months.

[jacktheflyer]

Have had a very similar experience. Was up and down the mast I think 12 times that day. Second time I was i bit wiser and brought the unit down to test it on the instrument. Conclude that there is no substitute for a spare masthead unit.

[Frankly]

A good reminder that if you are making the measurements from the instrument end, then the cable/ connector is part of the system under test.


My ST60 wind sensor survived the eye of Hurricane Michael (160 MPH). Still working correctly, but I do have a spare handy.


Frankly

[GILow]

Originally Posted by Frankly

A good reminder that if you are making the measurements from the instrument end, then the cable/ connector is part of the system under test.





My ST60 wind sensor survived the eye of Hurricane Michael (160 MPH). Still working correctly, but I do have a spare handy.





Frankly

Yes, I think that’s the main lesson.

I was fooled by the language of the Raymarine test procedure and I should have known better.