Raymarine ST30 speed controlhead

[GBurton]

Thanks for all the help finding out what instruments I have
I have ascertained that the speed controlhead is a ST30.
I connected it up on the bench and the display came to life but the speed readout is "hunting". I do not have the little speed transducer hooked to it so I'm hoping someone will tell me that this is what the instrument will do if the transducer is not hooked up and all is well.

Yes, I have read the manual.

[Giulietta]

Originally Posted by GBurton

Thanks for all the help finding out what instruments I have
I have ascertained that the speed controlhead is a ST30.
I connected it up on the bench and the display came to life but the speed readout is "hunting". I do not have the little speed transducer hooked to it so I'm hoping someone will tell me that this is what the instrument will do if the transducer is not hooked up and all is well.

Yes, I have read the manual.

It's a speed instrument...it measures a small signal sent by the rotating wheel in the transducer..the paddle has magnets inside...so as it rotates, the 4 or 5 or 6 paddles create a magnetic flickering...the instrument coverts the magnetic flickering of the paddle wheel sent either as either millivotage or milliamps..not sure...and the system counts the number of RPM's. The RPM is then based on a basic function generator thru a simple logic single chain loop convert RPM into desired value, Feet/second, Miles/hour, knots, KM/hr..etc...

If its not connected you gett lines ------ or nothing or error..as the signal is sent but has no return....

Basically the gauge is a frequency gauge, so without the whell rotating and inducing a flickering nothing will be read..nada zilch..

For your answer I will charge you $5.00

[GBurton]

Please read the question again.

The sensor has 3 wires so it may not be a simple discrete input. It could be an analog signal ie 0-10 volt or 4-20ma.....this is what I'm trying to find out.

[chucklesR]

The transducer is a simple plug in on that, try it out and spin the paddle.
Then again, you didn't picture a transducer so I deduce you don't have one and maybe the previous owner had not gotten around to the through hull either. That means you are lucky and get to pick which part of the boat gets wet on a regular basis.

That being the case any NMEA 0183 compatible unit will work and can be wired in. It's only 3 wires, the wiring in the manual conveniently leaves out which is which (got bored at lunch time and read it).
In order to get all your displays working and talking and in particular to get the true and apparent wind to calculate properly you will need the speed log running in conjunction (talking to) your windex.

Good luck.

[GBurton]

Cheers Chuckles - transducer is not handy (its at the boat)

[Idiens]

If you get anything on the log screen without the sensor attached, its a hopeful sign, but no guarantee the thing will actually work properly.

[chucklesR]

Originally Posted by GBurton

Please read the question again.

The sensor has 3 wires so it may not be a simple discrete input. It could be an analog signal ie 0-10 volt or 4-20ma.....this is what I'm trying to find out.

GB,
somehow you bring out the wrath in people.
Your initial question did not mention 3 wires or any feed at all.
I mentioned them in my post, and also intimated that the manual doesn't mention the color coding clearly.
I would suggest you expirement by getting a transducer, wiring it and spinning the wheel -
or
here's and idea
post a thread with ST-30 speed log wiring help as the subject; then double read your question to make sure you provide all relevant data.

Me, I'm done helping you until you play by the rules everyone else plays by.

[GBurton]

Yeah - thanks Idiens I realise that. I'm hoping someone has run into this exact scanerio with this controlhead

Originally Posted by Idiens

If you get anything on the log screen without the sensor attached, its a hopeful sign, but no guarantee the thing will actually work properly.

[chucklesR]

Shoot it 5v at 5ma and see what you get. If it breaks it wasn't working anyway

[GBurton]

I do seem to bring out the worst in some people. Strange.....although usually they are very self important people.

Originally Posted by chucklesR

GB,
somehow you bring out the wrath in people.
Your initial question did not mention 3 wires or any feed at all.
I mentioned them in my post, and also intimated that the manual doesn't mention the color coding clearly.
I would suggest you expirement by getting a transducer, wiring it and spinning the wheel -
or
here's and idea
post a thread with ST-30 speed log wiring help as the subject; then double read your question to make sure you provide all relevant data.

Me, I'm done helping you until you play by the rules everyone else plays by.