I have just finished installing the SCX20. Install and setup went fine. The heading from the SCX20 is displayed on the TZT2BB monitor and looks to be working fine. My question is how do I feed the heading data from the SCX20 to my Furuno 500 series autopilots. The AP is still receiving heading from a PG500. The autopilots are connected to the NMEA2000 network through IFNMEA2K2. Advice appreciated.
How to use SCX20 as heading source for AP 511
- Thread starter donpjr
- Start date
The right way to do it would be to get another IF-NMEA2k2 installed on the 2000 bus and set it to high-speed heading mode. I would remove the older PG500 and wire the 0183 data from the converter where the PG500 was and change the baud rate appropriately. This will provide the pilot very fast and high quality heading. You will need to change the heading source under "Sea Trial" to "OTHER" instead of PG500. You can't use the existing converter because with normal mode the heading data is coming too slow. You can't change it because you need that existing one to provide the steering instructions to the pilot.
Thanks Johnny. I understand your comments generally, however a bit over my head, so may need a technician to help. However for completion of information how would you convert this current setup considering the availability of the SCX20. I have three PG500 heading sensors on the boat.. Two feed the two autopilots so only one of these is in use at any one time. The other feeds heading data to Furuno AIS FA150. My original decision to install the SCX20 was driven by heading error that cropped up when the PG500 rack was repositioned by about a foot horizontally and something caused 15 to 30 degree heading error. This issue is fixed with the SCX as it looks like my charts will align and hopefully radar overlay will look good as well. Is the benefit to the AP function significant with the SCX20? ie. is it worth following through on your suggestion considering the full setup I have described here? Thanks.
Trying to keep three fluxgate compasses halfway in sync seems like a nightmare waiting to happen. Having two pilots, I have seen but never should they both be "On" at the same time. It sounds very complex. I would recommend opening a support case with Tech support and provide existing drawings of the system.
As a follow up to other readers; it was discovered that you can NOT use the IF-NMEA2k2 to feed heading into the NavPilot 500 series, due to other sentences that are provided by the converter causing the pilot to complain. If using a NMEA converter for heading into the NAVpilot 500 please use a device like Actisense that you can turn off all other sentences than basic heading.
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