X5 wheel pilot installation????'s

[irwin325cc]

Those of you that installed an X5, how did you mount your control head? The instructions said it needs to be a certain distance from the ships compass so the pedistal should be out of the question but isnt that where they are normally put?
I am finally getting back to the boat after working my rear off for the last two months paying for new suit of sails, wheelpilot, and much more I need to get all this stuff installed so I can play come this weekend. Any other advice would be greatly appriciated on the X5 wheel pilot installation(does not have the rudder positioning sensor).

[norsearayder]

if the x5 does a hard port or starboard while going thru the learning phase reverse the 2 power leads and yes i did mount 32 inch from compass

[RickWestlake]

I mounted my control head belowdecks, above the port quarter-berth. It wasn't too difficult to snake the cable through the deck-liner to a point where I could lead it into the pedestal base.

My flux-gate compass is above the starboard "quarter-berth" area - which I use as a "below-decks lazarette," because it's awkward to get in and out of there for sleeping arrangements.

When I did the dock-trial test on my X5, the motor-control cables were in reverse ... there's a good reason it's the first test in the commissioning process! Test that before you even start the engine. It takes a moment to correct it, but you can't do anything with the autopilot till it IS correct.

[Faster]

Originally Posted by irwin325cc

Those of you that installed an X5, how did you mount your control head?.

If by control head you mean the display unit - that can and should mount at the binnacle or perhaps the side of the cockpit, handy to the helm. Obviously a binnacle mounted one is fairly near the compass - no problems on our boat or any other I've been on that has been set up this way.

If you mean the course computer, it is usually mounted below decks somehwere not too hard to get at if you ever need to. We too put ours at the foot of our aft berth - short cable runs to the helm and the batteries.

[CapnRon47]

I also mounted the S-1 Autopilot computer at the foot of the port aft quarter berth.


I had to epoxy a thin marine plywood strip to the backside of the fiberglass that makes up the cockpit and then screwed the computer to this. It is mounted up high, accessible but not likely to be disturbed. Obviously, I have not organized the wires yet, but I wanted to make sure everything was working before cutting them to length.



I mounted the controller display unit at the wheel in a Edson Pedestal mount. It was recommended to be some distance from the compass, but I have had no difficulties with it at this location. You can see the Raymarine cover to the left of the compass.



I recommend making a good RF ground as I had some strange things happen to my instruments when I did not have the computer grounded to the RF plug. I don't know if this is an issue with the X-5, but it is with my S-1.

cheers.

[irwin325cc]

Faster, yes I did mean the control head. The mounting diagram said to put it a certain distance away(dont have it in front of me). But I figured it was raymarine just covering there rears.
Capt.Ron, where did you find your mount for the peistal or binnacle as it doesnt look like I should mount it without some sort of weather tight box. I havent looked online, as I want it done in the next couple days Worst Marine may yet be my only answer.

[tackdriver]

Hi all,
I have some more news about this product, and I need some advice on my plan to rig up a linear drive to the X-5 controller.

First, the X-5 product. I have had two wheel drive units fail, and it seems I am not Robinson Crusoe. West Marine up and down the country has X-5 system packs with the wheel drive missing, because they've been replacing them faster than they can get supply of spares. Raymarine don't have any spares either, until "December". One helpful person at West Marine has said she believes that a "tweaked" unit will be available when new stock is available. So I don't need to warn you not to buy one, you probably won't be able to, I certainly can't find one in stock anywhere. Perhaps they will release a new wheel drive in December. The power boat version has been recalled as the clutch can fail and leave you hard over with with no control of the boat.

Secondly, I have a cunning plan to replace the wheel drive with a linear mechanical drive, but there are a couple of challenges. The X-5 outputs 6 Volts to the motor leads. The polarity is swapped for steering each direction.
For the linear drive I need 12 V for the drive and a clutch input. The X-5 does not support the clutch input, so I thought I'd just put this on a manual switch next to the autopilot control. I don't know if any damage would be done to the unit if it got supply to the drive without the clutch engaged, but I'm guessing not. To get the 6v up to 12v I'll need some sort of solenoid with a 6v switching voltage and a 12v switched voltage, somewhat like an anchor windlass solenoid, but it will need a bunch of diodes to cope with the current reversal business. So three questions - does this seem/not seem feasible to anyone. Secondly, can anyone recommend a solenoid solution that will work with this setup? Lastly is my assumption about the clutch function correct?

Cheers
JMB

[doncindy]

I am preparing to purchase a X-5 wheel pilot. Has Raymarine updated the drive or are they still selling the poor reliability units? Any news would be appreciated.

Thanks,

Don

[tdw]

Originally Posted by Faster

If by control head you mean the display unit - that can and should mount at the binnacle or perhaps the side of the cockpit, handy to the helm. Obviously a binnacle mounted one is fairly near the compass - no problems on our boat or any other I've been on that has been set up this way.

If you mean the course computer, it is usually mounted below decks somehwere not too hard to get at if you ever need to. We too put ours at the foot of our aft berth - short cable runs to the helm and the batteries.

Fast,
See my previous post. You still happy with this arrangement ? Instructions say controller (not the course computer but the controller itself) should be no closer than 800mm (2'6") from the compass (steering compass, not the fluxgate).

[Faster]

Originally Posted by tdw

Fast,
See my previous post. You still happy with this arrangement ? Instructions say controller (not the course computer but the controller itself) should be no closer than 800mm (2'6") from the compass (steering compass, not the fluxgate).

Mine is working OK and is definitely within 800mm of the binnacle compass.. I'd guess the issue is more how it will affect the compass than the other way round??? I have had some glitches (detailed in a PM) but for our purposes it seems OK.