Re: Stus-List NMEA 0183 - Do I really need an Opto-Islator? now WP30
Thanks for the info. My ComNav has a separate fluxgate compass, and the controller is a large black box under the nav table. I assume the original drive motor failed, and the Raymarine unit replaced it. The drive motor/ring/belt appears to be the weak link, but I have taken it apart and adjusted the belt tension, along with reinforcing the cracked housing with epoxy, so it might work better now. The autopilot controller has low and high speed modes, but both seem to wander quite a bit under rolly seas when motoring. Perhaps calibration would help a bit, I don't know. I will test it out next week to see if adjusting the belt helps at all when wheel forces are higher than normal. -- Shawn Wright shawngwri...@gmail.com S/V Callisto, 1974 C 35 https://www.facebook.com/SVCallisto On Sat, Oct 5, 2019 at 8:53 AM Dennis C. via CnC-List wrote: > The Navico WP30 hasn't been made in 15 years or so. It is/was an > excellent wheel pilot for boats under 15,000 lbs or so. Wish they still > made them. > > The big advantage of the WP30 is that it is a self contained unit. The > compass was built into the unit mounted on the pedestal. It did not > require an external compass. In its simplest form, all you had to do was > supply 12 vdc power and press one button and it was steering to course. > Add NMEA 0183 input and it steers to wind and waypoint. > > https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=DOopONhR-uQ > > In my opinion, the algorithms it used to steer were superior to other > wheel pilots. It compensated well for sea state, etc. and did not require > rudder position indicator data. > > I've logged many, many miles on Touche' with the WP30 and still love it. > So much so that I bought a second unit off eBay for a spare. > > Used it this week in steer to course, steer to waypoint and steer to wind > mode. Worked great. > > Dennis C. > Touche' 35-1 #83 > Mandeville, LA > > On Sat, Oct 5, 2019 at 9:34 AM Shawn Wright via CnC-List < > cnc-list@cnc-list.com> wrote: > >> Interesting idea. I was also an IT guy (retired), but prefer to keep >> things simple and manageable. >> >> I'm not familiar with the WP30 (is there an earlier thread on this?), but >> I also have an older autopilot controller, a ComNav 1420, currently driving >> a Raymarine wheel pilot motor. I don't have any other electronics (have >> used Navionics so far), but will need to get radar and a chartplotter soon >> for a planned trip to Haida Gwai and around Vancouver Island. I don't use >> the AP much, usually in calm weather motoring only, as the drive motor/belt >> system is pretty weak. The ComNav 1420 does support NEMA 0183, so it might >> be worth keeping. >> >> What I'd really like to find is a more open system like Maretron with a >> SI-Tex TCP/IP radar, but I understand those radomes are no longer made. I'm >> not a fan of spending $$$ on vendor locked in electronics with a limited >> lifespan. This SV Delos video on YT shows a very nice system that allows >> for managing all functions from a tablet or PC, which appeals to me, but I >> haven't located a source for a network radar at a reasonable cost yet: >> https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=FJUSrbKS1-A >> -- >> Shawn Wright >> shawngwri...@gmail.com >> S/V Callisto, 1974 C 35 >> https://www.facebook.com/SVCallisto >> >> >> On Fri, Oct 4, 2019 at 9:16 PM Francois Rivard via CnC-List < >> cnc-list@cnc-list.com> wrote: >> >>> Hi Bill, >>> >>> There are a few ways to skin that cat. I'm also an IT guy, we live for >>> workarounds :-) >>> >>> Skin the cat #1 To Navico's point: It would probably be somewhat of a >>> feat to get the Zeus2 to recognize a 20 + year old WP 30 as a bonafide >>> NMEA2000 modern day autopilot. Someone could spend months researching >>> , write some fancy code to fool the Zeus, build that into an Arduino board, >>> plug it in between, spend quite a few $$$ on ancillary stuff, and fool with >>> it for untold hours to make it work. --- > not my speed. >>> >>> Skin the cat #2: Spend about $2,800 - $3,200 to get a proper controller >>> CPU / hydraulic or $$ mechanical under the deck steering quadrant driving >>> system, build the fiberglass mounts needed, drop the rudder to fit, etc, >>> etc. For all that you get to use the cool Zeus autopilot functions / >>> screens and have a robust blue water ready autopilot system. Most likely >>> the thing to do for serious offshore work / not necessary for land locked >>> Lake Lanier Georgia. >>> >>> Skin the cat # 3: Play it safe and spend 200 bucks / buy the Actisense >>> NMEA Buffer SBF-3-BAS to make sure you don't fry your 1,000 bucks + >>> chartplotter, ( >>> http://www.allgadgets.co.uk/marine/pc/Actisense-NMEA-Buffer-NBF-3-BAS-p532.htm) >>> and hook-up the Autopilot to use it's own Steer to wind function or follow >>> waypoints dictated by your routes in Zeus. >>> >>> You don't necessarily have to use the Zeus autopilot functions. Using >>> the video / NMEA0183 cable connected to Zeus and running it as designed it >>> will
Re: Stus-List NMEA 0183 - Do I really need an Opto-Islator? now WP30
very good units On Sat, Oct 5, 2019 at 12:53 PM Dennis C. via CnC-List < cnc-list@cnc-list.com> wrote: > The Navico WP30 hasn't been made in 15 years or so. It is/was an > excellent wheel pilot for boats under 15,000 lbs or so. Wish they still > made them. > > The big advantage of the WP30 is that it is a self contained unit. The > compass was built into the unit mounted on the pedestal. It did not > require an external compass. In its simplest form, all you had to do was > supply 12 vdc power and press one button and it was steering to course. > Add NMEA 0183 input and it steers to wind and waypoint. > > https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=DOopONhR-uQ > > In my opinion, the algorithms it used to steer were superior to other > wheel pilots. It compensated well for sea state, etc. and did not require > rudder position indicator data. > > I've logged many, many miles on Touche' with the WP30 and still love it. > So much so that I bought a second unit off eBay for a spare. > > Used it this week in steer to course, steer to waypoint and steer to wind > mode. Worked great. > > Dennis C. > Touche' 35-1 #83 > Mandeville, LA > > On Sat, Oct 5, 2019 at 9:34 AM Shawn Wright via CnC-List < > cnc-list@cnc-list.com> wrote: > >> Interesting idea. I was also an IT guy (retired), but prefer to keep >> things simple and manageable. >> >> I'm not familiar with the WP30 (is there an earlier thread on this?), but >> I also have an older autopilot controller, a ComNav 1420, currently driving >> a Raymarine wheel pilot motor. I don't have any other electronics (have >> used Navionics so far), but will need to get radar and a chartplotter soon >> for a planned trip to Haida Gwai and around Vancouver Island. I don't use >> the AP much, usually in calm weather motoring only, as the drive motor/belt >> system is pretty weak. The ComNav 1420 does support NEMA 0183, so it might >> be worth keeping. >> >> What I'd really like to find is a more open system like Maretron with a >> SI-Tex TCP/IP radar, but I understand those radomes are no longer made. I'm >> not a fan of spending $$$ on vendor locked in electronics with a limited >> lifespan. This SV Delos video on YT shows a very nice system that allows >> for managing all functions from a tablet or PC, which appeals to me, but I >> haven't located a source for a network radar at a reasonable cost yet: >> https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=FJUSrbKS1-A >> -- >> Shawn Wright >> shawngwri...@gmail.com >> S/V Callisto, 1974 C 35 >> https://www.facebook.com/SVCallisto >> >> >> On Fri, Oct 4, 2019 at 9:16 PM Francois Rivard via CnC-List < >> cnc-list@cnc-list.com> wrote: >> >>> Hi Bill, >>> >>> There are a few ways to skin that cat. I'm also an IT guy, we live for >>> workarounds :-) >>> >>> Skin the cat #1 To Navico's point: It would probably be somewhat of a >>> feat to get the Zeus2 to recognize a 20 + year old WP 30 as a bonafide >>> NMEA2000 modern day autopilot. Someone could spend months researching >>> , write some fancy code to fool the Zeus, build that into an Arduino board, >>> plug it in between, spend quite a few $$$ on ancillary stuff, and fool with >>> it for untold hours to make it work. --- > not my speed. >>> >>> Skin the cat #2: Spend about $2,800 - $3,200 to get a proper controller >>> CPU / hydraulic or $$ mechanical under the deck steering quadrant driving >>> system, build the fiberglass mounts needed, drop the rudder to fit, etc, >>> etc. For all that you get to use the cool Zeus autopilot functions / >>> screens and have a robust blue water ready autopilot system. Most likely >>> the thing to do for serious offshore work / not necessary for land locked >>> Lake Lanier Georgia. >>> >>> Skin the cat # 3: Play it safe and spend 200 bucks / buy the Actisense >>> NMEA Buffer SBF-3-BAS to make sure you don't fry your 1,000 bucks + >>> chartplotter, ( >>> http://www.allgadgets.co.uk/marine/pc/Actisense-NMEA-Buffer-NBF-3-BAS-p532.htm) >>> and hook-up the Autopilot to use it's own Steer to wind function or follow >>> waypoints dictated by your routes in Zeus. >>> >>> You don't necessarily have to use the Zeus autopilot functions. Using >>> the video / NMEA0183 cable connected to Zeus and running it as designed it >>> will broadcast all the necessary wind / depth / speed / heading / cross >>> track / waypoint information to NMEA0183. The old WP30 is actually >>> designed to listen to that broadcast info and react accordingly (It's >>> supposed to do it quite well). You just make sure your Zeus is on and >>> configured to broadcast then you hold the "Standby" WP30 button for a few >>> seconds, and click both left and right arrows (On the WP 30 controller) at >>> the same time. Done! Now the WP30 is a slave tho whatever Zeus is >>> broadcasting and everything is working as designed by Navico 20+ years >>> ago. >>> >>> Option #3 Works for me. >>> >>> Best of luck with the project. >>> >>> Francois Rivard >>> 1990 34+ "Take Five" >>> Lake Lanier, GA >>> >>>
Re: Stus-List NMEA 0183 - Do I really need an Opto-Islator? now WP30
The Navico WP30 hasn't been made in 15 years or so. It is/was an excellent wheel pilot for boats under 15,000 lbs or so. Wish they still made them. The big advantage of the WP30 is that it is a self contained unit. The compass was built into the unit mounted on the pedestal. It did not require an external compass. In its simplest form, all you had to do was supply 12 vdc power and press one button and it was steering to course. Add NMEA 0183 input and it steers to wind and waypoint. https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=DOopONhR-uQ In my opinion, the algorithms it used to steer were superior to other wheel pilots. It compensated well for sea state, etc. and did not require rudder position indicator data. I've logged many, many miles on Touche' with the WP30 and still love it. So much so that I bought a second unit off eBay for a spare. Used it this week in steer to course, steer to waypoint and steer to wind mode. Worked great. Dennis C. Touche' 35-1 #83 Mandeville, LA On Sat, Oct 5, 2019 at 9:34 AM Shawn Wright via CnC-List < cnc-list@cnc-list.com> wrote: > Interesting idea. I was also an IT guy (retired), but prefer to keep > things simple and manageable. > > I'm not familiar with the WP30 (is there an earlier thread on this?), but > I also have an older autopilot controller, a ComNav 1420, currently driving > a Raymarine wheel pilot motor. I don't have any other electronics (have > used Navionics so far), but will need to get radar and a chartplotter soon > for a planned trip to Haida Gwai and around Vancouver Island. I don't use > the AP much, usually in calm weather motoring only, as the drive motor/belt > system is pretty weak. The ComNav 1420 does support NEMA 0183, so it might > be worth keeping. > > What I'd really like to find is a more open system like Maretron with a > SI-Tex TCP/IP radar, but I understand those radomes are no longer made. I'm > not a fan of spending $$$ on vendor locked in electronics with a limited > lifespan. This SV Delos video on YT shows a very nice system that allows > for managing all functions from a tablet or PC, which appeals to me, but I > haven't located a source for a network radar at a reasonable cost yet: > https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=FJUSrbKS1-A > -- > Shawn Wright > shawngwri...@gmail.com > S/V Callisto, 1974 C 35 > https://www.facebook.com/SVCallisto > > > On Fri, Oct 4, 2019 at 9:16 PM Francois Rivard via CnC-List < > cnc-list@cnc-list.com> wrote: > >> Hi Bill, >> >> There are a few ways to skin that cat. I'm also an IT guy, we live for >> workarounds :-) >> >> Skin the cat #1 To Navico's point: It would probably be somewhat of a >> feat to get the Zeus2 to recognize a 20 + year old WP 30 as a bonafide >> NMEA2000 modern day autopilot. Someone could spend months researching >> , write some fancy code to fool the Zeus, build that into an Arduino board, >> plug it in between, spend quite a few $$$ on ancillary stuff, and fool with >> it for untold hours to make it work. --- > not my speed. >> >> Skin the cat #2: Spend about $2,800 - $3,200 to get a proper controller >> CPU / hydraulic or $$ mechanical under the deck steering quadrant driving >> system, build the fiberglass mounts needed, drop the rudder to fit, etc, >> etc. For all that you get to use the cool Zeus autopilot functions / >> screens and have a robust blue water ready autopilot system. Most likely >> the thing to do for serious offshore work / not necessary for land locked >> Lake Lanier Georgia. >> >> Skin the cat # 3: Play it safe and spend 200 bucks / buy the Actisense >> NMEA Buffer SBF-3-BAS to make sure you don't fry your 1,000 bucks + >> chartplotter, ( >> http://www.allgadgets.co.uk/marine/pc/Actisense-NMEA-Buffer-NBF-3-BAS-p532.htm) >> and hook-up the Autopilot to use it's own Steer to wind function or follow >> waypoints dictated by your routes in Zeus. >> >> You don't necessarily have to use the Zeus autopilot functions. Using the >> video / NMEA0183 cable connected to Zeus and running it as designed it will >> broadcast all the necessary wind / depth / speed / heading / cross track >> / waypoint information to NMEA0183. The old WP30 is actually designed to >> listen to that broadcast info and react accordingly (It's supposed to do it >> quite well). You just make sure your Zeus is on and configured to >> broadcast then you hold the "Standby" WP30 button for a few seconds, and >> click both left and right arrows (On the WP 30 controller) at the same >> time. Done! Now the WP30 is a slave tho whatever Zeus is broadcasting and >> everything is working as designed by Navico 20+ years ago. >> >> Option #3 Works for me. >> >> Best of luck with the project. >> >> Francois Rivard >> 1990 34+ "Take Five" >> Lake Lanier, GA >> >> >> >> >> ___ >> >> Thanks everyone for supporting this list with your contributions. Each >> and every one is greatly appreciated. If you want to support the list - >> use PayPal to send
Re: Stus-List NMEA 0183 - Do I really need an Opto-Islator?
Interesting idea. I was also an IT guy (retired), but prefer to keep things simple and manageable. I'm not familiar with the WP30 (is there an earlier thread on this?), but I also have an older autopilot controller, a ComNav 1420, currently driving a Raymarine wheel pilot motor. I don't have any other electronics (have used Navionics so far), but will need to get radar and a chartplotter soon for a planned trip to Haida Gwai and around Vancouver Island. I don't use the AP much, usually in calm weather motoring only, as the drive motor/belt system is pretty weak. The ComNav 1420 does support NEMA 0183, so it might be worth keeping. What I'd really like to find is a more open system like Maretron with a SI-Tex TCP/IP radar, but I understand those radomes are no longer made. I'm not a fan of spending $$$ on vendor locked in electronics with a limited lifespan. This SV Delos video on YT shows a very nice system that allows for managing all functions from a tablet or PC, which appeals to me, but I haven't located a source for a network radar at a reasonable cost yet: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=FJUSrbKS1-A -- Shawn Wright shawngwri...@gmail.com S/V Callisto, 1974 C 35 https://www.facebook.com/SVCallisto On Fri, Oct 4, 2019 at 9:16 PM Francois Rivard via CnC-List < cnc-list@cnc-list.com> wrote: > Hi Bill, > > There are a few ways to skin that cat. I'm also an IT guy, we live for > workarounds :-) > > Skin the cat #1 To Navico's point: It would probably be somewhat of a > feat to get the Zeus2 to recognize a 20 + year old WP 30 as a bonafide > NMEA2000 modern day autopilot. Someone could spend months researching > , write some fancy code to fool the Zeus, build that into an Arduino board, > plug it in between, spend quite a few $$$ on ancillary stuff, and fool with > it for untold hours to make it work. --- > not my speed. > > Skin the cat #2: Spend about $2,800 - $3,200 to get a proper controller > CPU / hydraulic or $$ mechanical under the deck steering quadrant driving > system, build the fiberglass mounts needed, drop the rudder to fit, etc, > etc. For all that you get to use the cool Zeus autopilot functions / > screens and have a robust blue water ready autopilot system. Most likely > the thing to do for serious offshore work / not necessary for land locked > Lake Lanier Georgia. > > Skin the cat # 3: Play it safe and spend 200 bucks / buy the Actisense > NMEA Buffer SBF-3-BAS to make sure you don't fry your 1,000 bucks + > chartplotter, ( > http://www.allgadgets.co.uk/marine/pc/Actisense-NMEA-Buffer-NBF-3-BAS-p532.htm) > and hook-up the Autopilot to use it's own Steer to wind function or follow > waypoints dictated by your routes in Zeus. > > You don't necessarily have to use the Zeus autopilot functions. Using the > video / NMEA0183 cable connected to Zeus and running it as designed it will > broadcast all the necessary wind / depth / speed / heading / cross track > / waypoint information to NMEA0183. The old WP30 is actually designed to > listen to that broadcast info and react accordingly (It's supposed to do it > quite well). You just make sure your Zeus is on and configured to > broadcast then you hold the "Standby" WP30 button for a few seconds, and > click both left and right arrows (On the WP 30 controller) at the same > time. Done! Now the WP30 is a slave tho whatever Zeus is broadcasting and > everything is working as designed by Navico 20+ years ago. > > Option #3 Works for me. > > Best of luck with the project. > > Francois Rivard > 1990 34+ "Take Five" > Lake Lanier, GA > > > > > ___ > > Thanks everyone for supporting this list with your contributions. Each > and every one is greatly appreciated. If you want to support the list - > use PayPal to send contribution -- https://www.paypal.me/stumurray > > ___ Thanks everyone for supporting this list with your contributions. Each and every one is greatly appreciated. If you want to support the list - use PayPal to send contribution -- https://www.paypal.me/stumurray
Stus-List NMEA 0183 - Do I really need an Opto-Islator?
Hi Bill, There are a few ways to skin that cat. I'm also an IT guy, we live for workarounds :-) Skin the cat #1 To Navico's point: It would probably be somewhat of a feat to get the Zeus2 to recognize a 20 + year old WP 30 as a bonafide NMEA2000 modern day autopilot. Someone could spend months researching , write some fancy code to fool the Zeus, build that into an Arduino board, plug it in between, spend quite a few $$$ on ancillary stuff, and fool with it for untold hours to make it work. --- > not my speed. Skin the cat #2: Spend about $2,800 - $3,200 to get a proper controller CPU / hydraulic or $$ mechanical under the deck steering quadrant driving system, build the fiberglass mounts needed, drop the rudder to fit, etc, etc. For all that you get to use the cool Zeus autopilot functions / screens and have a robust blue water ready autopilot system. Most likely the thing to do for serious offshore work / not necessary for land locked Lake Lanier Georgia. Skin the cat # 3: Play it safe and spend 200 bucks / buy the Actisense NMEA Buffer SBF-3-BAS to make sure you don't fry your 1,000 bucks + chartplotter, ( http://www.allgadgets.co.uk/marine/pc/Actisense-NMEA-Buffer-NBF-3-BAS-p532.htm) and hook-up the Autopilot to use it's own Steer to wind function or follow waypoints dictated by your routes in Zeus. You don't necessarily have to use the Zeus autopilot functions. Using the video / NMEA0183 cable connected to Zeus and running it as designed it will broadcast all the necessary wind / depth / speed / heading / cross track / waypoint information to NMEA0183. The old WP30 is actually designed to listen to that broadcast info and react accordingly (It's supposed to do it quite well). You just make sure your Zeus is on and configured to broadcast then you hold the "Standby" WP30 button for a few seconds, and click both left and right arrows (On the WP 30 controller) at the same time. Done! Now the WP30 is a slave tho whatever Zeus is broadcasting and everything is working as designed by Navico 20+ years ago. Option #3 Works for me. Best of luck with the project. Francois Rivard 1990 34+ "Take Five" Lake Lanier, GA ___ Thanks everyone for supporting this list with your contributions. Each and every one is greatly appreciated. If you want to support the list - use PayPal to send contribution -- https://www.paypal.me/stumurray
Re: Stus-List NMEA 0183 - Do I really need an Opto-Islator?
I am going through similar anguish Francois, B told me I couldn’t connect an older AutoPilot to the Zeus, but being a sailor, I am willing to spend $$ to save nickels. I am trying to connect a Simrad J300X , and fortunately I have an IT wizard in my back yard, literally, JR Farrar who also is on this list. We attached a Actisense NGW-1, (which converts NMEA0183 to 2000) to the Simrad, and magically I Now have a Rudder Sensor showing on the Zeus, which pleases me to no end. Actisense does say that you need one of these converters for each NMEA 0183 thingy you are trying to convert, so I am going to find out if I can connect another one to some other terminals on the Simrad to get the autopilot itself to show up. I believe if you have an Autopilot that is recognized, you will have a tool bar on the left side of the Zeus that you can swipe over to show autopilot control, like the bar on the right hand side of the screen. Also wondering if buying the autopilot controller might create magic on the screen. https://www.defender.com/product.jsp?path=-1|2331321|2028687|2028714 <https://www.defender.com/product.jsp?path=-1|2331321|2028687|2028714=3470315> =3470315 Eventually, after much thrashing and head banging, we will probably both end up with new B autopilots, because that is how these diabolical electronics companies get us. Bill Coleman Erie PA From: CnC-List [mailto:cnc-list-boun...@cnc-list.com] On Behalf Of Francois Rivard via CnC-List Sent: Friday, October 04, 2019 10:26 AM To: cnc-list@cnc-list.com Cc: Francois Rivard Subject: Stus-List NMEA 0183 - Do I really need an Opto-Islator? Good am all, I'm finally about to replace my old broken Navico wheel pilot with a similar one I found used cheap. I would like to network it with my B Zeus2 charplotter to allow the "Steer to wind" feature. - The Wheel pilot needs the old NMEA 0183 network connection and fortunately the Zeus2 has a built-in feature to output NMEA 0183 in addition to the new NMEA 2000 standard. Question is: Do I Really need to put an opto isolator between the two? I've heard scary stories about ground loops destroying equipment. NMEA 0183 has a + and - side / the wrong return current could go into the networked device and ruin it. The instruments and auto pilot are on separate circuits but on the same common ground bus behind the switch panel. I'm worried that the 25 year old power wire going to the autopilot could somehow be a bit more resistive / something goes wrong with the replacement auto pilot and ruin my expensive chartplotter. Anyone has experience with that? - Francois Rivard 1990 34+ "Take Five" Lake Lanier, GA ___ Thanks everyone for supporting this list with your contributions. Each and every one is greatly appreciated. If you want to support the list - use PayPal to send contribution -- https://www.paypal.me/stumurray
Re: Stus-List NMEA 0183 - Do I really need an Opto-Islator?
Francois, Doesn't answer your specific inquiry but I had issues getting my Navico WP30 to interface with my Nexus Classic system even though the instrument server output NMEA 0183 data. Not sure whether it was a data protocol or a voltage issue. They simply would not talk to each other. The WP30 would not do steer to wind. I had steer to waypoint by interfacing the WP30 to my GPS. After years of frustration I bought a used Noland NMEA multiplexer off eBay. I feed the multiplexer from the Nexus server and the WP30 now has all functionality; steer to course, steer to wind, steer to waypoint, etc. Further, my GPS now shows wind data on the navigation display. Like you, I bought a used WP30 off eBay so I now have a spare. Side note: The only oddity I've noticed is the WP30 now does NOT deactivate navigation mode (steer to waypoint) when the GPS signals waypoint arrival alarm. The boat calmly changes course and heads to the next waypoint. Before, when the GPS signaled arrival at a waypoint, the WP30 deactivated steer to waypoint mode and defaulted to steer to course mode. This is so the WP30 would not initiate a wild and crazy turn for the next waypoint. The multiplexer has a USB port. I looked at the data and have no clue why the arrival alarm code does not make it through the multiplexer. Dennis C. Touche' 35-1 #83 Mandeville, LA On Fri, Oct 4, 2019 at 9:26 AM Francois Rivard via CnC-List < cnc-list@cnc-list.com> wrote: > Good am all, > > I'm finally about to replace my old broken Navico wheel pilot with a > similar one I found used cheap. > > I would like to network it with my B Zeus2 charplotter to allow the > "Steer to wind" feature. > > - The Wheel pilot needs the old NMEA 0183 network connection and > fortunately the Zeus2 has a built-in feature to output NMEA 0183 in > addition to the new NMEA 2000 standard. > > Question is: Do I Really need to put an opto isolator between the two? > I've heard scary stories about ground loops destroying equipment. NMEA > 0183 has a + and - side / the wrong return current could go into the > networked device and ruin it. > > The instruments and auto pilot are on separate circuits but on the same > common ground bus behind the switch panel. > > I'm worried that the 25 year old power wire going to the autopilot could > somehow be a bit more resistive / something goes wrong with the > replacement auto pilot and ruin my expensive chartplotter. > > Anyone has experience with that? > > - Francois Rivard > 1990 34+ "Take Five" > Lake Lanier, GA > ___ > > Thanks everyone for supporting this list with your contributions. Each > and every one is greatly appreciated. If you want to support the list - > use PayPal to send contribution -- https://www.paypal.me/stumurray > > ___ Thanks everyone for supporting this list with your contributions. Each and every one is greatly appreciated. If you want to support the list - use PayPal to send contribution -- https://www.paypal.me/stumurray
Stus-List NMEA 0183 - Do I really need an Opto-Islator?
Good am all, I'm finally about to replace my old broken Navico wheel pilot with a similar one I found used cheap. I would like to network it with my B Zeus2 charplotter to allow the "Steer to wind" feature. - The Wheel pilot needs the old NMEA 0183 network connection and fortunately the Zeus2 has a built-in feature to output NMEA 0183 in addition to the new NMEA 2000 standard. Question is: Do I Really need to put an opto isolator between the two? I've heard scary stories about ground loops destroying equipment. NMEA 0183 has a + and - side / the wrong return current could go into the networked device and ruin it. The instruments and auto pilot are on separate circuits but on the same common ground bus behind the switch panel. I'm worried that the 25 year old power wire going to the autopilot could somehow be a bit more resistive / something goes wrong with the replacement auto pilot and ruin my expensive chartplotter. Anyone has experience with that? - Francois Rivard 1990 34+ "Take Five" Lake Lanier, GA ___ Thanks everyone for supporting this list with your contributions. Each and every one is greatly appreciated. If you want to support the list - use PayPal to send contribution -- https://www.paypal.me/stumurray
