Question for the Autopilot & Electronics Gurus

[Liquid Asset]

I had a voltage spike from an alternator and it sent my voltage somewhere above 60 volts (that was where my meter stoppes reading). It basically blew the fuse on any piece of 32v electronics that was on at the time and it also blew out any 32v lightbulbs that were on. I have had the alternator repaired and replaced the fuses in everything that needed it.

The lingering problem i have is that now the autopilot turns on, but gives 2 errors. one is that the voltage is incorect and the manual says replace a board, and the other is that the rudder feedback is not working. Neither of these problems were in existance before the votage spike. The autopilot is a Robertson AP300X. I am not sure if there is a repair that I can do myself, or a quick fix. Also, where is this board that I need to replace? Plus, do yall know anywhere I can get Robertson Autopilot parts online?

Thanks.

 

[Captned]

Hey Pat,

Try Ebay. I replaced my head last year with one I found on there... Good luck.

Captned
78 46 CON

 

[yachtsmanbill]

The rudder angle feed back is a rheostat that probably had a burn through. That should be easy enough to check with an Ohm meter. My 300 apx control box is conveniently BURIED under 1000 feet of wire in the flybridge. ws

 

[yachtsmanbill]

Just for reference. ws

 

[yachtsmanbill]

I get a display that says "compass error". I havent even looked into that one yet! ws

 

[Canuck Dennis]

I have had that happen twice to me, mine is 32v dc and it blew the resistors which convert it down to 12 v.

Check for a fuse also inside the "junction" box where all the wires go into, it is usually remote mounted somewhere.

I ended up feeding 12 v dc direct to the terminal point to avoid the resistor issue, was no problem

Simrad in WA have parts for sure, you can call their 800 tech support line and they will help out.

I then put a diode on the output of the circuit breaker feeding the junction box which will blow if voltage goes over 40 v dc, the internal one in the box seems inoperative.