CPT AUTOPILOT CPT, Installation Manual

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PAGE 24 OF 26
TROUBLESHOOTING
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If the light on the control box does not turn red or green when the autopilot is turned on (Rudder dial turned to 5),
the autopilot is not getting power. Make sure the red wire is connected to 12 volts positive and the black wire is
connected to battery negative. If you have poor wiring, bad connections, or small gauge wires the voltage may read
12 volts but there will not be enough current for the motor to operate. In these cases a voltmeter will show the
voltage dropping when the motor attempts to run.
•
Check the electrical connection by testing for motor torque and voltage drop: With the belt off and clutch engaged,
set the rudder control to 10 and push a 10-degree button. Grip the clutch disk with your hand; the motor should
show good torque and be difficult to slow. If the clutch is easily stopped there is voltage drop in the electrical
connection and the pilot will not operate properly. The supply voltage level must be measured when the motor is
operating to test the connections.
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If the drive pulley is not turning in the proper direction: follow the instructions for changing the motor rotation on
page 20.
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If the drive pulley does not turn at all: be sure the clutch is engaged, check for proper wiring and that the red wire
connects to +12V. If the power wires are connected incorrectly there will be no response from the control box
controls or small drive pulley and the pilot will not operate.
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After 1 minute of warming up, if the pilot makes corrections once per second in the same direction while stationary:
1. Flip the toggle to Standby and then back to Hold Heading.
2. Keep the control box steady and observe the drive gear.
3. If the autopilot makes corrections once per second in the same direction, flip the toggle to Standby, wait 30
seconds, and then flip toggle back to Hold Heading.
4. If the autopilot continues to make corrections at least once per second in the same direction as before, this is an
indication that:
·
the pilot was not allowed adequate warm-up time, or
·
the boat’s heading is changing, or
·
there is magnetic interference, or
·
the magnetic reference was not set
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Magnetic interference: Try moving the control box further from the motor box, ship’s compass or other magnetic
influence, try holding it high above the pedestal, or to a cockpit seat or other area temporarily to test the pilot and
find a suitable location. Mild interference may only become evident on some boat headings during sea trial. If
another location for the control box needs to be found, forward an installation photo and contact CPT for advice.
HOW TO CHECK FOR MAGNETIC INTERFERENCE
The CPT heading sensor is built into the control box so the control box mounting area must be free from magnetic
influences. The helm area of most boats will be free of magnetic fields, but this should be checked. Use a hand-held
compass, preferably a needle-bearing hiking compass, to check for magnetic fields near your pedestal. (Using magnets to
see if they stick to something magnetic is not useful here at all.) Stereo speakers, dive knives, and winch handles should
not be located near the control box, as well as high current cables, radar or LCD screens and electronic devices such as
phones and tablets. Stainless fittings that are not 316 stainless or have welds can be magnetic. Pedestal guardrails made
from dodger/bimini fittings are often magnetic.
There is a short video on our website that demonstrates how to check for magnetic interference:
www.cptautopilot.com/magnetic_interference_check.php
A handheld compass that uses a needle (a simple hiking compass) is usually more accurate and easier to use than one that
uses a floating card. A marine handheld compass with a floating card is harder to read in this situation and not
recommended. A cell phone compass app may be used, and the rectangular phone shape can make it easier to hold the
phone square but there are some limitations: