RayMarine EV-100 Autopilot Installation

colbysmith

colbysmith

Active member
Continued from an earlier thread leading into the purchase of this autopilot: http://www.c-brats.com/viewtopic.php?p=274946#274946

After a lot of research and consideration, I decided to purchase the Raymarine EV-100 Power Autopilot for my boat. I'll post here information for any others looking to install this or a similar unit.

First the boat specs.

CD-22 Cruiser
Mercury 115 HP EFI 4-Stroke
Hydraulic Steering, SeaStar Helm HH5271, Ram HC5345

I purchased the EV-100 from Hodges Marine for $1210 and the Female Drop cable to connect this autopilot to my Garmin GPSMAP 840xs for $31.
The cable p/n is Manufacturer Part Number: A06045

I purchased a SeaStar Outboard Auto Pilot Add Kit from iBoats on sale for $88. P/N HF 5501. I'll add to this forum as I install this autopilot. (May be a month or so, until the weather warms up and I get to it!) Colby
 
One of the first things I'll need to do is move some things around I think. The "electrical panel" behind the helm is quite the mess.

DSCF0005.jpg


And the helm itself doesn't have much room left either.

DSCF0002.jpg

So my plans are to move the Trim Tabs control to under the helm seat, and the control switches to the side panel by the remote (throttle.) I'm also planning on installing the autopilot control unitbox and hydraulic pump in the compartment under the helm seat as well. I'll place the autopilot control screen to the left of the engine gauges and move the spotlight controls to another location. Probably move the anchor windless switch to over by the throttle also. I'll remove the two smaller electrical buses and replace them with one larger one, thus cleaning up some of the wiring as well. Colby

Regarding my trim tabs control, has anyone else installed this somewhere else besides behind the helm bulkhead?
 
Some more helpful data.

From SeaStar systems in regards to splicing into my current hydraulic steering hose. (I did order this kit as part of my autopilot installation. I was asking about splicing into the original steering line closer to where I plan on placing the autopilot's pump.)
----------------------

I recommend that you order add an autopilot fitting kit HF5501 from any marine parts dealer. This kit will come with T-fittings to install into the helm pump as well as a straight fitting for the return line on the helm pump. The kit also includes 25' of nylon tubing that can be used to plumb the a/p pump into the system.

Do NOT cut your existing steering lines.

You will install as follows;

- Remove existing fittings from your helm pump and install them into your autopilot pump

- Install T-fittings into the rear of your helm pump

- Install straight fitting into the lower port marked with the letter R in your helm pump

- Run the nylon tubing included in the kit between the helm and the autopilot

- Run your existing lines into the open end of the T-Fitting that is installed in your helm pump

Thanks
Marc
SeaStar Technical Support
 
Colby;
I have had an EV 100 for a couple of years, it works well.
I suggest you buy the kit recommended by the raymarine service person, it will save you a lot of time and frustration. I would also suggest you place all the components on the bulkhead where the helm is located. Make sure all your electrical and fluid connections are properly installed and secured. Thre might be instances when you will need to check for leaks and/or faulty wire joints.
Enjoy
Pedro
 
Pedromo":18nky421 said:
Colby;
I have had an EV 100 for a couple of years, it works well.
I suggest you buy the kit recommended by the raymarine service person, it will save you a lot of time and frustration. I would also suggest you place all the components on the bulkhead where the helm is located. Make sure all your electrical and fluid connections are properly installed and secured. Thre might be instances when you will need to check for leaks and/or faulty wire joints.
Enjoy
Pedro
Click to expand...

Thanks Pedro,
I did also order the installation kit, when I ordered the autopilot. I really don't have any room left on the back of my helm bulkhead, as one of the photo's above show. My plans for now are to remove the two electrical buses and replace with one larger bus. Also move the trim tab control box over to under the helm seat, along with moving the trim tab switches to nearby the throttle quandrant (just to the right of the helm seat.) Also planning on mounting all the autopilot hardware under the helm seat, except for the control panel (screen) which I will put on the helm bulkhead in front of me, close to where the trim tab switches are now. (The other option, would be to put the autopilot hardware under the berth, as I have removed the foam and installed a hatch, so that area would be accessible.) I had hoped to splice into my steering hose near the helm seat, but looks like with the kit I will need to put the Tee's at the helm pump (back of steering wheel). The kit comes with 25' of hose, so I should have plenty to make that 5 or 6' run, but that just means all that more hoses/wires coming from behind the helm. I think with replacing the fuse panels with a larger panel and moving the trim tab control box, should clean that space up nicely. There will still be a lot of wires and hoses back there though. Colby
 
I slightly glazed over with the last couple of posts (not your fault - just that I'm onto a different detail-filled RV project at the moment), but are you thinking of mounting the pump behind the helm (well, really "ahead of," but you know what I mean)?

Have you considered mounting the pump in the starboard lazarette? Credit for that idea goes to Les at EQ (back when I was thinking about the Raymarine S1000 - but I didn't really like that one so decided to wait for something like the EV-100 to come to market). I think he originally mounted them there to get the noise out of the cabin, but it also makes for less stuff behind the helm. There are certain Tees and etc. that you would add to the hydraulic steering to connect up the pump in the lazarette (don't remember the details at the moment, and plus I haven't actually done it yet; but this is my plan for when I do add an autopilot).
 
Hi Sunbeam,
I'm thinking of mounting the pump either underneath the helm seat, or under the berth against the helm bulkhead. There is no room in the aft lazerettes as that is where my batteries are. (Although it makes a lot more sense.) Also, the installation Kit I got from SeaStar fits on the back of the helm pump, altho I could probably make those tees work at the ram. Autopilot and installation kit should be here in the next few days. Once I get it, take a look at it, I can start thinking up a few more thoughts. Still pretty cold here too, so really won't be doing any installation for at least another month. (Unless I break out the heater to work on the boat....) But thinking about it, maybe the pump would fit in with the battery. Would make much more sense to be back there. Colby
 
I remember folks complaining about the noise from the pump before we did our install. We installed ours under the helm seat and don't notice the noise. This might not apply to the EV-100, but if the pump wasn't even in the cabin - that might be a bonus.
 
I put the pump in the starboard lazarette. Crowded in there with VSR switch and one battery and cables etc. It was a tight fit. I have three group 24 batteries but6 two are on the port side. One for house, deep cycle, two dual purpose for the engines. To fit the pump in the lazatette I switched the battery on that side to a smaller, automotive tpe battery. Still a group 24. The dual purpose battery was just too tall to install and remove with the pump in place. The new battery is same footprint but shorter so it fits thru the hatch. The three hydraulic lines run from the helm to the pump. Two of those go into tees installed directly on the pump. From those tees two lines go to the ram. So maybe if you go to a smaller battery it will work.

Regards,
Mark
 
Thanks Mark. Sounds like we have the same set up in the lazarettes. If the pump is small enuf, there may be room back there. SeaStar says the tees (in their kit, HH 5501) should go into the helm. I think part of the problem is the hose they provide in the kit isn't real flexible, and they don't want it used at the ram. (Although I would think it would be easy enuf to get two short flexible hydraulic hoses made up.) I'm still waiting for an answer from RayMarine if the pump can be mounted closer to the helm, as one of the installation manuals I downloaded suggest the pump should be mounted close to the ram. Of course it also says it should be higher than the ram and helm, but any location other than the Lazarette is going to put it lower.... As of right now, I think I prefer the mounting under the helm seat, or under the berth on the helm bulkhead. This will be a dry area also, another recommendation for the pump. I don't believe noise will be an issue. Colby
 
I wonder why Sea Star says to install the pump near the helm (easy to tie into?) Many of the larger boat pumps are installed as near as possible to the ram. Thus the Lazarette would make a lot of sense.,

Your helm only seems to have the two lines (typical of Sea and Bay Star). Many of the large helm sets have the return line (as the pump has).
 
I think you read something wrong Bob. :-) RayMarine says to mount the pump near the ram. SeaStar doesn't say where to mount the pump. They do say to tee into the helm. And I suspect that is because with that particular kit, I think the hose is not real flexible and their concern about rams that move. At least that's why they have inboard and outboard hoses that are different. There are only two lines at the helm. However, if you look closely, there are two more ports that are plugged. SeaStar says to use the bottom port for the reservoir line directly to the pump. As I read thru many of the autopilot forums here, it seems like many autopilot pumps have been mounted in the cabin. I still have a lot of decisions to make about location, before I actually install the pump. And I hope to continue hearing from everyone about where they have located theirs! :-) Colby
 
I was able to install the pump , its plumbing and the electrical breaker in the Starboard lazzarette. Hydraulic lines actually fit quite nicelly. The third hydraulic line is a low pressure return line. By the way, the compression fittings supplied with the kit are very good, just make sure you tighten them properly.
 
Pedromo, I must have misunderstood your first post here. I thought you said you would recommend the components be installed at the helm bulkhead. Or was that all the components except for the pump? I'll have to take a close look at my starboard lazzarette once the temps here warm up some. (This weekend we have windchill warnings of minus 20-30... :( As of now, I'm looking at either there; under the helm seat; or under the berth. The package of stuff just came today, so at least I can start looking at the components and checking some of the fittings out with the pump. Colby
 
Colby, Its' your boat so you can do what you want to do, but if it was me, I'd start with:
1. Move the coffee cup from in front of the port a pottie :lol: to save on the confusion that might cause :lol: :oops:
2. I would want the Trim Tab switches to be where I could see them. (from your first post here --
"So my plans are to move the Trim Tabs control to under the helm seat,"
Click to expand...

3. I would consider moving the speaker away from the electronics (Just my issues about magnetism and navigational equipment.)

It sounds like you are planning on moving a considerable amount of equipment. Would it work to just move the switch panel down some, and put the AP panel where your current switch plate is? I use my AP (EV-100) a lot and it is something you will want to have ready access and visibility to, easily.

Buy the way, Your wire "nest" behind the helm panel looks like it is related to mine :roll: :thdown

Harvey
SleepyC :moon

HH_Cal_09_07_Jul.thumb.jpg
 
Hey Harvey,
No Coffee Cup. That's the drying chemical stuff. And it's too damn cold out there right now to even think about peeing out there right now! :-)
I think I'd be fine with the trim tab switch over by the remote (throttle). I pretty much just use it by feel now anyway, and it does kind of make more sense to have it over by the throttles. I want to move the control box over to under the helm seat anyway, so then all the wiring will be close together. (Other than running the power harness from the fuse panel.) Once it warms up a bit, I'll take the Autopilot control panel out there and take a look at where it might best fit in. May just end up moving the spot light controls, and let it fit there, but otherwise that area with the trim tab switch is a pretty good spot as well. The anchor windless is the other switch panel there, and that too would work just as well over by the throttle. But again, it probably all depends on the best spot to put the A/p control panel. The stereo/speakers were already in the boat when I purchased it. Not my ideal location, but they'd leave a pretty big hole (bigger than the other items) to move it. But that's a possibility. Plenty of room in front of the port seat, where the radio and other speaker are already located. Moving the stuff isn't the hard part. Filling in the holes will be. I think I'll be able to clean the wiring up quite a bit by just installing the bigger buss and removing the two I currently have. And then rerunning some of them around the main switch panel. I'm really trying to decide what to do with the hydraulic pump right now. I'm leaning towards just mounting it under the berth, and plumbing it into the helm with T's, as the SeaStar kit recommends. Guess I need to talk to RayMarine to see what they say. Colby
 
On it's way Pedromo! Harvey, it just hit me, you must have the EV-100 also. How is your's mounted? That is, where are all your system boxes and pump located? Any pictures you could link me too, or send me? Since I have the stuff here now, I'm trying to layout a plan of where to mount everything. I've got some ideas, maybe good and maybe not so good. As soon as it warms up a little bit from this cold week, I may even just throw a heater in the boat to start doing some of the rewiring behind the helm that I want to get done. Summer just can't get here soon enough! Colby
 
Colby,

I do have the EV-100 and I love it. The control panel is mounted on my dash, beside the Stbd Tach. ( As you may already know, I have twins -- Yami 40's so there is a tach on each side of the Panel. Port is the trim tab control just inboard of the tach, and on Stbd side, inboard of the tach is the AP control. Windlass control is under the wheel hub. My switch panel is to the right and lower than the AP control panel.

As to the other components, The pump is on the aft cabin wall, under the counter, near floor level. I do hear it working, but it is not bothersome to me. I do hear it cycling but it is not terrible, (coming from a guy who spent years working in ER and ICU and hearing alarms going 12 hours a day.)

The steering system is Baystar, and it works. I am not much mechanical so the hooking up part was done before I got it and the upgrade was done at Rodgers Marine in Portland Ore. They did a great job and it all works great. I wish I knew more about it, but the fluid stays up and it doesn't leak. I know that isn't as much help as you wanted to know but that's my story.

BTW, the coffee cup was a guess --- I was wrong :oops:

Harvey
SleepyC :moon

IMG_4111.sized.jpg
 
Thanks Harvey for that photo and info. I may have to look at relocating my windlass switch to where you have yours. I have nothing in that area right now, and that may be a good spot. I'll have to check and see where my knees go as I crawl into the seat. :-) I have a few more gauges to contend with. (Motor trim angle, water pressure, Tach, and one other that I can't remember right now. So for me it seems like the best mounting spot for the p70R control panel is going to be on Port side of the helm either where my spotlight control currently sits, or where the trim tabs control and/or windless control sit. Do you know, and I'm assuming you have the smaller .5 L pump as well, did that get plumbed, or tee'd, into the ram or into the helm pump? I'm still waiting to hear back from Ray Marine, but I don't really know if it makes a difference. Seems to me it will be pressurizing the system where ever it is tee'd in. The SeaStar kit I have for adding a second helm or autopilot has hardware for teeing in at the helm, thus I would mount the pump farther forward in the boat. That brings all the wiring for it closer to the other components as well. I'm really not worried about the noise. At least I'll know it's working! ;-) Colby
 
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