Autopilot Controller v3

The brains of the autopilot, including the motor controller, are contained in this box. It has everything the autopilot needs: a high-quality 9-degree motion sensor with compass, Wi-Fi, Bluetooth, NMEA input, and a wireless receiver. All you need to do is connect it to your battery and the motor that controls your rudder.

€249.00

This autopilot is very robust and built in a waterproof housing capable of running motors up to 80 Amps at 12 or 24 volts.

• Heading input selection
  • Internal compass
  • True Wind Angle
  • Apparent Wind Angle
  • NMEA2000 compass + Rate of Turn*
  • NMEA0183 or NMEA2000 GPS*
  • Phone Compass
  • Phone GPS
• Wireless remote support (see remote product)
• High precision 9DOF motion chip with compass, accelerometer, and gyroscopes.
• NMEA 0183 support. Wired and via Wi-Fi
  • GPS*
  • Rudder sensor*
• NMEA 2000 support (hardware present, software support later)
  • Compass data as input or output
  • Rudder feedback sensor as input or output
  • Operation via chartplotter
• Rudder feedback support for 3-wire resistance-based units like Raymarine

Firmware is updated via your phone app.
The best 9-axis compass available on the market (ICM20948). It features an accelerometer, gyroscope, and magnetic field sensor on 3 axes.

Clutch operation for hydraulic drives.

This unit can operate all existing wheel drives, hydraulic pumps, and under-deck solutions by Raymarine, Navico, Garmin, Autohelm, and others.

Installation
To install the autopilot, you only need to connect 4 wires and place the box with its back against a wall. Wire RED to the battery positive terminal and BLACK to the battery negative terminal. Keep the wires to the motor and battery as short as possible and use cables thick enough to handle the current of your motor. I recommend 4mm² / 12 AWG wires.

The blue and orange cables should be connected to your motor. If more than 2 wires come out of your motor/actuator, the 2 thickest wires are usually directly attached to the motor. Connect those, and test if the rudder moves right when pressing the +1 or +10 button. If the rudder moves the wrong way, simply switch the wires. Alternatively, you can reverse the motor direction in the app.

Box placement
Place the unit with one side pointing upwards, not angled more than 25 degrees. The compass will work in any orientation. Make sure it is not close to metal or wires carrying high current. Place the unit 1 cm away for each Amp that a nearby cable carries. The compass works on steel ships, but does not give an accurate reading because of magnetic field deviation. Since the box is waterproof, it can be mounted on deck, away from metal or wires. Dimensions: 193 × 92 × 64 mm (L × W × H).

You can always contact me or consult the Facebook group.

*Hardware present, software implementation will follow.

Disclaimer
The autopilot is intended as a steering aid, and you should always remain at the helm. The autopilot is not aware of its surroundings and relies on sensitive instruments that may be subject to interference. The seller is not responsible for any damage, loss, or accidents resulting from the use of the autopilot. Use of the autopilot is entirely at the buyer’s own risk. It is the buyer’s responsibility to ensure that the device is suitable and safe for use on their specific boat and in their particular boating conditions.

Actuators
Any brushed DC motor can be used. When buying a linear actuator, one with end-limit switches is advised. If the helm reaches its end and the motor continues to push, this causes heat and can eventually lead to damage. The autopilot on a straight course should not hit the end of the steering. There is built-in protection that ensures the motor does not run for more than 5 seconds at full speed in a single direction to prevent overheating.

Autopilot tuning
Because this autopilot supports a wide variety of motors and types of boats, you need to tune the parameters inside the app.

Documents

Installation instructions