Drive Unit Mounting and Wiring Considerations
• If a compatible drive unit is not already installed on your boat, the drive unit is sold separately, and must be
installed by an experienced professional in order to correctly steer your boat.
• The drive unit must be installed before the ECU is permanently mounted.
• The cables connected to the drive unit cannot be extended.
• If you are connecting to an existing drive unit (not sold by Garmin), a drive unit power cable (sold separately)
must be used to adapt your drive unit for use with the autopilot system (
Connecting to an Existing Drive Unit,
).
◦
The drive unit power cable cannot be extended.
• If you are connecting to a solenoid drive unit, a solenoid power cable (sold separately) must be used to adapt
your solenoid drive unit for use with the autopilot system (
Connecting to a Solenoid Drive Unit, page 13
).
◦
The solenoid power cable cannot be extended.
• If you are connecting to a drive unit not sold by Garmin, you must also install a rudder feedback sensor, such
as the Garmin GRF
™
10, or connect to an existing rudder-feedback sensor using a rudder feedback cable (sold
separately).
NOTE: The Reactor 40 Mechanical autopilot is compatible with a typical three-terminal, potentiometer-type
rudder feedback sensor only. The system does not work with a frequency-based rudder feedback sensor.
Shadow Drive Sensor Mounting Considerations
NOTE: The Shadow Drive sensor is a device you install in the hydraulic steering lines of your boat. It detects
when you manually take control of the helm and suspends autopilot control of the boat. It is an optional
accessory that can be used only on a boat with a hydraulic steering system.
• The Shadow Drive sensor must be mounted horizontally and as level as possible, with cable ties firmly
securing it in place.
• The Shadow Drive sensor must be mounted at least 305 mm (12 in.) away from magnetic materials or
devices, such as speakers or electric motors.
• The Shadow Drive sensor should be mounted closer to the helm than to the pump.
• The Shadow Drive sensor should be mounted lower than the lowest helm, but higher than the pump.
• The Shadow Drive sensor must not be connected directly to the fitting at the back of the helm. There must be
a length of hose between the fitting at the helm and the Shadow Drive sensor.
• The Shadow Drive sensor must not be connected directly to a hydraulic T-connector in the hydraulic line.
There must be a length of hose between a T-connector and the Shadow Drive sensor.
• In a single-helm installation, there must not be a T-connector between the helm and the Shadow Drive sensor.
• In a dual-helm installation, the Shadow Drive sensor should be installed between the pump and the hydraulic
T-connector that leads to the upper and lower helm, closer to the T-connector than to the pump.
• The Shadow Drive sensor must be installed in either the starboard steering line or the port steering line.
The Shadow Drive sensor must not be installed in either the return line or the high-pressure line, if applicable.
Alarm Mounting and Connection Considerations
• The alarm should be mounted near the primary helm station.
• The alarm can be mounted under the dashboard.
• If needed, the alarm wires can be extended with 28 AWG (0.08 mm
2
) wire.
NMEA 2000 Connection Considerations
• The CCU and the helm control must connect to a NMEA 2000 network.
• If your boat does not already have a NMEA 2000 network, one can be built using the included NMEA 2000
cables and connectors (
Building a Basic NMEA 2000 Network for the Autopilot System, page 17
).
• To use the advanced features of the autopilot, optional NMEA 2000 devices, such as a wind sensor, a
water-speed sensor, or a GPS device, can be connected to the NMEA 2000 network.
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