Display Function - Marine Autopilots, Engine Controls and Instruments

Rudder Angle Sensor
Installation
Standard version for mounting on
the cylinder piston rod
The rudder angle
sensor must pick up
the rudder movement
without any
play.
Piston Rod of hydraulic
cylinder
ATTENTION: The hook length must be
adjusted so as not to interfere with the cylinder,
when the piston is fully retracted!
To adjust the hook length, proceed as follows:
1. Remove the lid on top of the Sensor
2. Unscrew the hook
3. Adjust the hook length and tighten the
hook screws
4. Close the lid
The hook must be bent so as to guarantee
a firm grip of the piston rod, even when it is
moving vertically! There must be absolutely
no play.
WARNING: make sure the hook does not
interfere with the rudder arm at full rudder
deflection!!!
The sensor is supplied with a hook. The
hook is properly bent for a piston rod of 16
mm (5/8") diameter.
A hole (6,5 mm / 2/8" diameter and 10 mm
/ 3/8" deep) should be drilled along the axis of
the bolt. A second hole with a 3 mm (1/8")
thread is required to fix the shaft of the potentiometer
in the bolt. For different conditions,
the wire hook may be bent as required.
If the linear drive unit has been supplied by
TECNAUTIC, the bolt with properly drilled
holes is provided by the factory.
Checking the Sensor after the installation
and setup procedure has
been completed
Do not proceed with this test before completing
the initial installation and setup (p.22)!
Switch on the SERVO mode, if an
electronic steering wheel is installed and turn
the wheel to the middle position.
Or, if there is no electronic steering wheel
available, have the boat moored firmly, so as
not to change its heading. Place the rudder
amidships and engage the autopilot HDG
mode. Verify the displayed heading to be stable,
before engaging the autopilot.
The rudder should be steady at this stage.
Now try to apply very light sideways force
with your finger tip onto the hook of the rudder
angle sensor. If there is play, the rudder will
move. Eliminate the play!
Play leads to rudder oscillations and inaccurate
steering.
Conventional Rudder Sensor Installation
In case of an existing rudder actuator, it
might be easier, to install the sensor in a conventional
way. Tecnautic recommends its
"sealed rudder sensor"
(part nr. 23 00 03) for
that purpose.
There is no requirement
on the orientation of the sensor.
The sensor arm A and the effective
arm B at the rudder must be of equal length.
Only with stern drives A can be bigger than B,
to achieve larger rudder deflections.
Symmetric conditions are required in the
case of two independent rudders or stern
drives.
NOTE: there must be a 90 degrees angle
between the arm and the connecting rod,
when the rudder is centered.
A
Make sure: A = B
Rudder Centered:
B
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