Using B & G sensors with other autopilot "brains"

[Moontide]

Think I might have fried the ACP 1 brain for my B&G instruments. It is a "Network" system (installed late 90's) and includes depth, speed, wind strength, wind direction and the autopilot function. Still looking for a replacement for the ACP but having trouble due to it having been discontinued quite a while ago.

Question is - If I install a different brand of autopilot, will the other instruments integrate or will I have to replace everything?

Of course this happened in Mexico so a bit more complicated to get gear than in the states.

Thanks for any input you have.

Bill

[LeaseOnLife]

I don't know how to re-use your old instruments with other autopilots, but:

The ACPs show up on ebay from time to time. If you can only get a "hydra" version it needs to be converted to "Network". I did it the other way around, on my ACP there were two solder jumpers to be changed and I needed a new eeprom.

Myles can possibly help you with that:
Myles Marine Electronics, Inc. - An Authorized Service Dealer for Brookes & Gatehouse

Dirk

[colemj]

Bill,

The B&G network instruments output NMEA0183, so you should be able to integrate their data with any autopilot that uses NMEA0183 as input.

It won't be plug and play - you will need to look in the manual for the 0183 wiring directions. The Network instruments themselves can stay networked through their daisy chain - and you only need to pull the output off of one for the AP.

Mark

[Moontide]

Dirk - thanks for the lead to Myles.