Simrad AP28 Technical Information

www.simrad-yachting.com A brand by Navico - Leader in Marine ElectronicsOperator manualSimrad AP28 AutopilotEnglish Sw.1.3

8 | Operation Operational modes The AP28 system is capable of the following primary steering modes: STBY (power steering), AUTO, NoDrift, NAV, WIND a

98 | Setup at installation About By selecting the About menu item, an information window will display autopilot model, serial number, software versio

Alarm system | 99 4 Alarm system 4.1 Alarm indication The alarm system in the AP28 autopilot is activated if any alarm settings are exceeded. Refer t

100 | Alarm system 4.2 Acknowledging an alarm An alarm is acknowledged by pressing any key. This will remove the alarm notification (text, light and

Alarm system | 101 Alarm ID Alarm 10 Shallow water 11 Deep water 12 Anchor alarm 13 Wind shift 14 True wind speed too high 15 True wind speed too

102 | Alarm system Blank page

Troubleshooting | 103 5 Troubleshooting An autopilot is a complex system. Its performance depends on a proper installation and a successful seatrial.

104 | Troubleshooting 5.3 Resets Autopilot reset An Autopilot Reset is part of the final test at the factory, which will reset the memories to facto

Troubleshooting | 105 To confirm the Global reset press the softkey. The display will prompt you to repeat the interface setup. Autopilot failures

106 | Troubleshooting Display readout Probable fault Recommended action Shallow water The depth is inside the set limit or outside the range Depth

Troubleshooting | 107 Display readout Probable fault Recommended action Rudder test failed Following conditions may exist: Rudder feedback failure A

Operation | 9 • Product name • Serial number • Software version • Release date Software version and release date are examples only. After appro

108 | Troubleshooting Display readout Probable fault Recommended action Bypass/clutch overload Clutch/bypass current exceeds 3.3 Amps (overload or s

Maintenance | 109 6 Maintenance 6.1 General The AP28 units are “repair by replacement” units, and the operator is therefore required to perform only

110 | Maintenance 6.5 Compass If the compass is exposed to the weather, make a visual inspection at 2-3 months intervals, and at the start of each se

Optional equipment | 111 7 Optional equipment 7.1 R3000X Remote Control (NFU) R3000X is a small handheld remote control with two keys for power steer

112 | Optional equipment 7.2 S35 Steering Lever (NFU) S35 has spring loaded return to mid-position. A push button with light indicator is used for

Optional equipment | 113 Zero point setting Unless you need a rudder angle display when leaving the dock, just steer the boat manually on a straight

114 | Optional equipment Blank page

Glossary | 115 8 Glossary Apparent wind – The speed and direction from which the wind appears to blow with reference to the bow when the boat is movi

116 | Glossary Magnetic bearing – Bearing relative to magnetic north; compass bearing corrected for deviation. Magnetic deviation – A local magnetic

Glossary | 117 SimNet Class 1 products – Simrad products that are SimNet controllers, i.e. they have an appropriate display and routines that can set

10 | Operation b The Up/Down softkeys to increase/decrease the light level by one step c The Day/Night softkey to toggle between day and

Glossary | 118 Blank page

Index | 119 9 Index A about AP28, 98 alarm codes, 101 indication, 99 listing, 105 shallow water, 50 wind shift, 51 apparent wind, 59, 115 apparent wi

120 | Index motor output, 92 multiple station, 43 N nav change limit, 33, 73 navigating, 32 NFU Steering lever, 112 NoDrift, 30 P parameter selection

AP28 manual EN, Doc.no.20222527, Rev.C

Operation | 11 Follow-Up steering (FU) Not applicable for Virtual feedback configuration (page 74). In the Follow-Up steering mode the course knob m

12 | Operation No rudder angle bargraph When the autopilot is operating on Virtual Rudder Feedback (VRF), the rudder angle bargraph is empty in Sta

Operation | 13 The AP28 will keep the boat on the set course until a new mode is selected or a new course is set with the course knob or the PORT or

14 | Operation parameters control the response of the boat at different speeds or wind directions. The two parameter sets can be automatically or man

Operation | 15 So if you loose too much speed e.g. when tacking, the parameters will change to HI to gain sufficient rudder response. This should be

16 | Operation MENU Adjustment of HI and LO values can be performed even with the boat out of the water. Range Change per step Default 1-9 1 4 Win

Operation | 17 MENU Range Change per step Default 1-9 1 4 Selection of HI/LO parameters MENU The “Manual select” item has three alternatives: Au

18 | Operation The sub-headline in the display shows the active parameter set and how it is selected. Pattern steering (power boats) The autopilot

Operation | 19 C-turn The autopilot provides a continuous turn feature when in AUTO mode. This may be used for circling fish or a particular object o

20 | Operation MENU Turn parameter Range Change per step Default Units Rate of turn 10 - 600 5 90 °/min Spiral-turn The spiral-turn feature may

Operation | 21 Press either the or key to select the direction in which to make the spiral-turn and start. During the turn the “change in radius”

22 | Operation Zigzag-turns To enter zigzag-turn mode: TURN The course change can be set before the turn is initiated (2-70°). Press either the or

Operation | 23 Main courseCourse change 40°Initial course change 20°Leg distance Turn parameter Range Change per step Default Course change 4° - 1

24 | Operation You can also at any time change the distance of the leg until the boat makes a new 90° turn. MENU Turn parameter Range Change per st

Operation | 25 Lazy S-turn To enter Lazy S-turn mode: TURN The course change can be adjusted before the turn is initiated (2-80°). Press either th

26 | Operation Adjust course change and radius as follows: MENU Course changeHigher radiusLower radiusMain courseMain courseInitial course change

Operation | 27 Depth Contour Tracking, DCTTM With input from an echo sounder, the autopilot can be set to steer the boat to a set depth. This is very

AP28 Operator manual Simrad AP28 Autopilot English Sw.1.3 Document no: 20222527 Revision: C Date: January 2010 The original language for this do

28 | Operation Steer the boat to the depth you want to track and in the direction of the depth contour (main course). When the wanted depth is shown

Operation | 29 Contour Cross Angle (CCA) With this parameter you can make the boat lazy s across your reference depth. With the CCA set to zero there

30 | Operation Tacking in Auto mode (sailboat) The tack function is only available when the system is set up for SAIL boat type in the installation s

Operation | 31 Unlike when in Auto mode the autopilot will steer the course unaffected by wind and current when the NoDrift mode is engaged. The cour

32 | Operation keep the boat on the track line and direct the AP28 to the destination waypoint. If the AP28 is connected to a navigation receiver th

Operation | 33 If only one waypoint has been entered the bearing will be from the present position to the destination waypoint. • NAV mode • Co

34 | Operation Alert screen Press the softkey to verify course change larger than 10°. If no verification is made, the AP28 will continue on the

Operation | 35 Example: With the speed of 20 knots you should use a waypoint circle with radius 0.09 nm. The distance between any waypoints in a ro

36 | Operation WIND • Wind (vane) mode • Set wind angle: 008 degrees from starboard • Measured wind angle: 008°A (apparent) or T (true) • Cours

Operation | 37 Tacking in Wind mode Tacking in WIND mode as compared to AUTO mode can be performed when sailing with apparent or true wind as the ref

2 | AP28 Manual About this manual Rev. A 28.11.07 First issue Rev. B 25.03.08 Follow up steering included. Updated according to autopilot softwa

38 | Operation Gybing Gybing is possible when the true wind angle is larger than 120°. TURN The time to make a gybe is determined by the speed of t

Operation | 39 gets opposite to the set wind angle. More rudder will be commanded to prevent an unwanted gybe. The tack and gybe prevent functions a

40 | Operation Operating in WINDNAV mode Refer to Figure 1-2 which shows a scenario with a sailboat that enters WindNAV mode to sail the most efficie

Operation | 41 Figure 1-2

42 | Operation 1.10 Data pages A number of data pages can be displayed if the information is available on SimNet (see page 103). When one of the main

Operation | 43 Available data pages 1.11 Multiple station system In normal operation control is accessible from every control unit connected to th

44 | Operation Blank page

Main menu | 45 2 Main menu In the Main menu you will find items for operation, setup and installation of the autopilot. The Service menu item present

46 | Main menu The main menu is activated by a press on the MENU key. The main menu items give further access to sub menus and parameter settings. Pa

Main menu | 47 Disabling pages Continue to select pages and repeat the procedure if more pages are to be disabled. Press and hold the Left key to

AP28 Manual | 3 Content 1 Operation... 5 1.1 Overview ...

48 | Main menu Restore all pages To restore all disabled data pages, select Restore data pages: 2.2 Trip log The trip log display shows: a. tota

Main menu | 49 - Language selection - Setting the units of measure - Adjusting the seastate filter - Changing the sailing parameters In this sec

50 | Main menu water. If none of these are available, the AWF will use a boat speed that is 1.5 times the Transition Speed. Setting Range Change p

Main menu | 51 Wind shift (Only available in Wind/WindNAV mode) The wind shift alarm monitors the wind angle. The reference angle is set when the ala

52 | Main menu The data types and their respective data sources used in the products are listed on the source page in the products. If no selection

Main menu | 53 Manual source selection Data sources can also be selected manually. All devices providing data of the given type will be listed in a d

54 | Main menu Enter the Calibrate and Offset menu. (Ref. Installation/Calibration). Proceed to display a list of available sources for the given

Main menu | 55 Setting Range Change per step Default Light level Off – 9 1 3 Light color White/red - White (Day) Red (Night) Invert display Y

56 | Main menu Units of measure Parameter Options Default Boat speed − kn − km/h − mph kn Wind speed − kn − m/s − mph kn Distance − nm

Main menu | 57 Seastate filter The Seastate filter is used to reduce rudder activity and autopilot sensitivity in rough weather. OFF: Seastate fil

4 | AP28 Manual 4.2 Acknowledging an alarm ... 100 4.3 Viewing active alarms... 100 4.4 Alarm codes ...

58 | Main menu Sailing ‘Sailing’ is only available in the menu if ‘Boat type’ is set to ‘Sail’ in the Installation menu (see page 65). The ‘Sailin

Main menu | 59 Wind function With ‘Wind function’ set to ‘Auto’, the autopilot will automatically select between apparent and true wind steering. ‘Au

60 | Main menu ‘XTE’ will be displayed below the mode index when layline steering is active (page 40). Range Default On - Off On Course Adjust Whe

Main menu | 61 On the active control unit a icon will alternate with the mode index. The "locked" control units in the system will

62 | Main menu Blank page

Setup at installation | 63 3 Setup at installation 3.1 First time turn on Before attempting to turn on the AP28 and perform an Installation Setup, th

64 | Setup at installation 3.2 Installation Menu The installation settings must be performed as part of the commissioning of the AP28 system. Failur

Setup at installation | 65 Commissioning Dockside settings If the autopilot has no rudder feedback unit installed refer to Virtual Rudder

66 | Setup at installation Select appropriate Boat type by using the Up and Down keys. Confirm by pressing the softkey. Rudder feedback calibratio

Setup at installation | 67 MENU Confirm Rudder feedback calibration to starboard by pressing the MENU key. Manually turn the helm/wheel to

Operation | 5 1 Operation An autopilot is a very useful navigational aid, but DOES NOT under any circumstances replace a human navigator Do not use

68 | Setup at installation Special test of LF3000/LFI3000 Mk2 feedback 1 Align engines to center position; “zero rudder”. 2 Rev engines to 3-4000 r

Setup at installation | 69 The drive engage/bypass clutch output follows the same voltage as set for the drive unit. It is not possible to select a

70 | Setup at installation Clutch: This is the default setting and it allows you to steer the boat with the helm or wheel when in STBY mode. The ‘Dri

Setup at installation | 71 Depth calibration This adjustment only applies to “smart” depth transducers that outputs depth on NMEA2000 format. The d

72 | Setup at installation The symbol in front of the depth reading will change to indicate that the depth is measured from: the keel or the water

Setup at installation | 73 Minimum wind angle Wind steering is only available if ‘Boat type’ is set to ‘Sail’ in the Installation menu. The ‘Minimu

74 | Setup at installation The ‘Nav change limit’ screen can also be reached from the Nav mode main screen by pressing the MENU key followed by the

Setup at installation | 75 Select “Dockside” menu and press the softkey to confirm. Boat type When the autopilot is configured for Virtua

76 | Setup at installation Rudder test To perform the Virtual Feedback rudder test you must be able to view the movement of the engines/drives (“rudd

Setup at installation | 77 Proceed as per display instructions and immediately release the key when the rudder reaches the port hard over position

6 | Operation Key Description PWR Power ON-OFF / Light key STBY Standby key Engage Standby mode AUTO Auto key Engage Auto mode NO-DRIFT NoDrift key

78 | Setup at installation Seatrial settings The Seatrial menu presents settings and automatic calibrations to be performed during seatrial. The sea

Setup at installation | 79 Compass calibration Before the compass calibration is started, make sure that there is enough open water around the vesse

80 | Setup at installation The FC40 and RC42 compasses will store the calibration and offset data in their own memory. During the calibration, the c

Setup at installation | 81 Mounting Offset After compass calibration, the difference between the compass lubber line and the boat’s center line shoul

82 | Setup at installation Wind Calibration This calibration only applies if you have a wind transducer directly connected to SimNet (IS12TW) or a w

Setup at installation | 83 Calibrate by Speed Over Ground With a GPS connected to the system, the speed through water (SPD) can be calibrated equal t

84 | Setup at installation 1 Speed through water from the speed log source 2 Speed Over Ground (SOG) from the GPS/chart plotter See also page 13.

Setup at installation | 85 The parameter values calculated during Autotune becomes the HI parameters. The LO parameters are automatically set to 66%

86 | Setup at installation Automatic steering The Automatic steering menu contains steering parameters for course steering, wind steering and nav ste

Setup at installation | 87 The ‘Manual tuning’ screen can also be reached from the Auto mode main screen by pressing the MENU key followed by the A

Operation | 7 Port key Adjust the commanded course or wind angle 1 or 10 degrees Enable port power steering Action according to the softkey symbol

88 | Setup at installation Rudder sets the rudder gain which is the ratio between the commanded angle and the heading error. • Too little Rudder a

Setup at installation | 89 Autotrim standard value is 40 seconds which should work well on most boats. Rule of thumb: Set to same value

90 | Setup at installation Range Change per step Default Units OFF - 5 0.1 OFF ° Final seatrial After having completed all settings in the Ins

Setup at installation | 91 get a smoother steering. Alternatively on a sailboat you may want to have a higher rudder speed when running • The motor

92 | Setup at installation Calibration The Calibration is another entry to procedures for calibrating the compass, rudder feedback, depth, apparent w

Setup at installation | 93 If the auto-setting does not perform properly due to high inertia from the wheel or a loose steering gear, it can be adjus

94 | Setup at installation SimNet configuration SimNet units can be assigned in groups and given an instance number for identification. SimNet Grou

Setup at installation | 95 - Simrad: Default group for AP28 - None: Not assigned to a group - 1 – 6: Group numbers The figures below illustrate

96 | Setup at installation Instance number The instance number is used to identify multiple units of the same model when connected to a SimNet or NME

Setup at installation | 97 Confirm Demo mode by pressing the softkey. If the unit is turned off while in demo mode, the demo mode will still be act