Autopilot AP3003 gold Navicontrol
Instruction manual for use and installation -
rel. 1.21 / 02.08
page 13
Geographical course
If the system is equipped with a GPS or a chart-plotter correctly installed and
interfaced with the autopilot, it is possible to change any followed magnetic
course (
AUTO
mode) in a geographical course and any leeway or drift will be
automatically corrected (
AUTO-TRACK
mode). You only need to press the
key
TRACK
in order to execute this operation.
At that moment, the autopilot will enter the
AUTO-TRACK
mode which allows
to change the magnetic course in geographical course by taking as a starting
point, the position which the vessel had at the time of pressing the key.
In order to modify the course, it is necessary to reset auto-mode by pressing
AUTO
, set the new course and then press the
TRACK
key once again.
Tack change
Particularly indicated in sailing vessels, the tack change is the operation which
allows the changing of tacks. This function can be carried out automatically
only during the
AUTO
mode.
The tack change is activated by pressing and releasing simultaneously the
keys
and
: if you press again, within 5 seconds, the direction arrow key,
the autopilot will execute the course change which correspond to the opposite
tack. During these 5 seconds, it is possible to modify the degree quantity of
the turning angle by turning the knob.
The tack change is always carried out by facing the direction of the wind.
Instrumental navigation with GPS
If provided with a GPS or a chart-plotter correctly installed and interfaced with
the autopilot, it is possible to set a course on these equipments to be followed
automatically with the autopilot.
In fact, you only need to insert one or more waypoints (see GPS or chart-
plotter manuals) and to set the autopilot in
NAV
mode (by pressing the
NAV
key). From this moment, the autopilot will be controlled by the satellite
instrument and it will execute automatically any possible selected course
changes.
Obviously, in this kind of functioning, the course to be followed is controlled by
the satellite instrument and so it can’t be modified by the autopilot. For this
reason, the knob and the arrow keys (
and
) are deactivated.
The autopilot can be connected to a maximum of two satellite instruments
(e.g. main-deck and flying-bridge). It is possible to select which of the two
must be followed by simply the key
NAV
until visualizing the number of the
plotter to be followed: of course,
NAV1
refers to the plotter connected to the
input number 1 and
NAV2
to the input number 2 (see Processor Box, TB1
connector).
Pay attention: if the input NAV2 has been settled for the wind direction sensor
(
WIND
mode), it is not possible to interface the second GPS / chart-plotter to
the autopilot.
