My Autohelm ST50 doesn't register Depth!
Simon Jones
depth sounders.
I am not getting a reading from mine, the depth field on the display
constantly flashes which according to the manual means that there is
a cable fault. If I use a meter, should I be able to put a voltage
across the transducer and get a reading?
Before I replace parts, I would like to get an idea of which part is at
fault! Your experiences with such equipment would be much appreciated.
If you see my little blue Beneteau aground in the Solent, you'll know
why!
Tim Weiner
Depthsounder problems are usually caused by one of two things: a bad
transducer or a problem with the instrument. While this is really
obvious it deserves a little discussion.
The transducer is a crystal which sends out a signal at a specific
frequency, most likely 200khz. My experience with them is that they work
or do not work. They do not experience a lot of "little" problems that
can be fixed, with the possible exception of getting painted or fouled, etc.
The display looks for a signal coming in at 200khz. What can happen is
your display can get "out of tune." What this means is that it is
looking for a signal of 195khz and not finding it, because there is no
such signal! Remember, your transducer is putting out 200khz. What I
usually tell people to help them understand this is that it is a lot like
a portable radio that is tuned to 96.9 FM when you want to listen to 97.1
FM. Sometimes you can hear it but most of the time it's static. This is
the most likely cause of your depth woes. In our shop I would say 75% of
the repairs on depthsounders are calibration-related.
I would recommend sending your display to Autohelm and asking them to
calibrate it and test it. When you get it back, plug it in and see if
your depth readings return. If not, you may have to buy a new transducer.
Please email if you have any other questions.
Timothy Weiner
Director
Signet Marine Electronics
Torrance, California
(310) 320-4349
--
/-------------------\
| wei...@netcom.com |
\-------------------/
Barnescc
was curious if you have had problems reading the display at night with the
backlight. Mine has progressively gotten dimmer, such that it is unusable
at night. I haven't contacted Autohelp yet, but was curious if this was a
generic problem, or just my bad luck. I wonder how good these units are
in general with your problem and mine also...
J. Michael Logsdon
>
>In article <weinerD6...@netcom.com>, wei...@netcom.com (Tim
Weiner) says:
>>
>>Depthsounder problems are usually caused by one of two things: a bad
>>transducer or a problem with the instrument.
>>I would recommend sending your display to Autohelm and asking them to
>>calibrate it and test it. When you get it back, plug it in and see
if
>>your depth readings return. If not, you may have to buy a new
transducer.
>>
>
>Another Autohelm ST50 (Tridata) depth sounder 'feature' that I
experience
>is false-shallow readings when in very deep water. Works ok with a
>strong echo within its range (<500'), but beyond that it starts
>registering .5 - 10' erroneously. Obviously, this can cause some
concern
>if one isn't completely certain of ones' position on the chart, and
>renders the alarm function useless to warn of real shoaling, because
>it's going off all the time and has to be disabled.
>
I have a full load of Autohelm ST-50 instruments. My Tridata gives me
false readings when the depth is over 500 feet, but in the middle of
Lake Huron I am pretty confident about knowing where obstructions might
be. I am very confident with my the Tridata in the Georgian Bay, where
depths change from +100 to +3 feet in an instant, even on my sailboat.
Mike Logsdon ml...@ix.netcom.com Cleveland
Alex Bobotek
>>Another Autohelm ST50 (Tridata) depth sounder 'feature' that I
>experience
>>is false-shallow readings when in very deep water. Works ok with a
>>strong echo within its range (<500'), but beyond that it starts
>>registering .5 - 10' erroneously. Obviously, this can cause some
>concern
>false readings when the depth is over 500 feet, but in the middle of
>Lake Huron I am pretty confident about knowing where obstructions might
>be.
The above does not necessarily reflect the position of the
MITRE Corporation.
USnail: email: voice:
------- ------ ------
Alex Bobotek abob...@mitre.org (703) 883-5960
The MITRE Corporation
M/S W521 fax:
7525 Colshire Dr. (703) 883-6817
McLean, VA 22102
PGP Public Key available on request
Tom
>
>Depthsounder problems are usually caused by one of two things: a bad
>transducer or a problem with the instrument.
...>
>I would recommend sending your display to Autohelm and asking them to
>calibrate it and test it. When you get it back, plug it in and see if
>your depth readings return. If not, you may have to buy a new transducer.
>
Another Autohelm ST50 (Tridata) depth sounder 'feature' that I experience
is false-shallow readings when in very deep water. Works ok with a
strong echo within its range (<500'), but beyond that it starts
registering .5 - 10' erroneously. Obviously, this can cause some concern
if one isn't completely certain of ones' position on the chart, and
renders the alarm function useless to warn of real shoaling, because
it's going off all the time and has to be disabled.
Could this be solved by recalibrating something? BTW, my old boat had a
Signet 172 (with the "forward" looking depth-trend alarm I liked), but
it did almost the same thing in very deep water.
What's up?
J. Michael Logsdon
also gives false readings. Whenever I am closely following a vessel
under power the turbulence (air bubbles?) in the water also gives false
readings.
In <3n13sj$f...@linus.mitre.org> Alex Bobotek <abob...@mitre.org>
writes:
>
>Might the "false echos" be fish?
>
>
>
>>>Another Autohelm ST50 (Tridata) depth sounder 'feature' that I
>>experience
>>>is false-shallow readings when in very deep water. Works ok with a
>>>strong echo within its range (<500'), but beyond that it starts
>>>registering .5 - 10' erroneously. Obviously, this can cause some
>>concern
>
nettec...@googlemail.com
probably this will help.
My ST50 had a faulty inductance (the ferrite core was crumbled).
I replaced the part and it was working again.
Best regards
tec
Tim
> On Tuesday, April 11, 1995 9:00:00 AM UTC+2, Simon Jones wrote:
> > Does anyone have any experience regarding the installation/repairing of
> > depth sounders.
>
> > I am not getting a reading from mine, the depth field on the display
> > constantly flashes which according to the manual means that there is
> > a cable fault. If I use a meter, should I be able to put a voltage
> > across the transducer and get a reading?
>
> > Before I replace parts, I would like to get an idea of which part is at
> > fault! Your experiences with such equipment would be much appreciated.
>
> > If you see my little blue Beneteau aground in the Solent, you'll know
> > why!
>
> Hi,
>
> probably this will help.
> My ST50 had a faulty inductance (the ferrite core was crumbled).
>
> I replaced the part and it was working again.
>
> Best regards
> tec
one.
Thank you
zeilb...@gmail.com
h.b....@hotmail.com
Wayne.B
>When turned on my autohelm st50 it just flashing on and off with bleeping sound. Anybody noise this problem. Thanks
>h.b....@hotmail.com
I had a problem like that with our auto pilot recently - was able to
stop the beeping by turning off the power - beeping stopped
immediate;y.
Then I replaced the hydraulic linear actuator.
John H.
>h.b....@hotmail.com
Hope Wayne's answer solves the problem. Are you from Holland by any chance?
Wayne.B
wrote:
Stopping the beeping is the easy part, getting it working again is a
little harder. :-)