RayMarine EV-100 Autopilot Installation

Hoping this all works when I finally turn it all on. Suppose to be in the 40's (temps) this weekend here. Maybe iceout will happen early this year! :-)

Some more question and answer on Raymarines tech forum:

p70R software update

Posted by Colby on March 4, 2015 at 11:48am in Autopilots
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I recently purchased and installed the Raymarine EV-100 Autopilot system on my outboard powered boat with hydraulic steering. The documentation suggests updating the software. Through the Seatalk system, I have also connected my Garmin GPSMAP 840xs. How do I update the p70R software as I see no means for inserting any data cards or flash drives into the p70R control head. Thanks.

Reply by Moderator - Raymarine, US 1 hour ago

Welcome to the Raymarine Technical Forum Colby,

Raymarine products featuring a SeaTalkng/NMEA 2000 interface are not designed to be updated using third party marine electronics or computers which have been interfaced to the SeaTalkng/NMEA 2000 backbone. The Evolution autopilot components are exclusively designed to be updated via a Raymarine MFD which has also been interfaced as a spur to the SeaTalkng/NMEA 2000 backbone. Should your vessel not feature a Raymarine MFD, then the following methods of updating the software within the Evolution autopilot components may be exercised:

bring the Evolution autopilot components (ACU, p70/p70R, and EV-x Sensor Core) to the Raymarine dealer from whom they were purchased ... recommend contacting the dealer before removing any equipment from the boat
contact a certified Raymarine installer to visit the vessel
send the Evolution autopilot components to Raymarine's Product Repair Center
 
Hello Colby,

That situation is lousy - the situation being that Raymarine offers NO WAY to update the AP software without a connected Raymarine chartplotter or MFD.

This situation becomes important when you read the support forum...like you quote above...and one of the MOST COMMON "solutions" offered by Raymarine Tech support is to "update the software." Yikes...that's not possible for many of us with Ray APs.

Like you, I do not own a Raymarine MFD nor do I really want one. I'm happy with my present Garmin and Simrad units.

Looking online I see that SImrad offers an AP for "cable steered" boats...I now wonder if that is a viable choice along with the Ray unit. I'm referring to the Simrad AP24 Helm Drive Kit (http://www.defender.com/product.jsp?pat ... id=2537025). This is flaunting my ignorance...does the Simrad AP24 Kit functions the same as the Raymarine Wheel pilot kit? Somehow I thought the Ray was the ONLY powerboat wheel pilot available (except for 'octopus' units which I've read many poor reviews on).

I ask since it seems more likely that I will own a Simrad MFD than a Ray. Indeed, I already have the Simrad.

Anyway, I'm happy with my Ray APs...the EV200 on my current R21EC and the older gen on my previous CC23. I HOPE I never need to "update the software!"

dave
 
A little more from that conversation:

Reply by Colby 4 hours ago
None of these options would be ideal. It is my hope then that the EV-100 is sold as a ready to install, ready to go unit without updating.

Reply by William Coohon 3 hours ago
On the box the equipement came in is a label with software version. Latest p70R software is 2.17 dated Aug 2014. Depending on how long your box sat on the store's shelf before you bought it, it may be okay.

Reply by Colby 2 seconds ago
The software version shows as 2.12. I guess it would be good to know what was changed with the updated software versions.

Here is the link if anyone else wants to follow it:
http://raymarine.ning.com/forum/topics/ ... _com_forum
 
I did find the listing of what the software update changed. (And it's just the next update from what my unit should have, according to the box sticker.) Still going to be at least a month before I can get the boat in any water around here, so I may talk to Raymarine about sending the unit in for the latest software....

.17 Aug 2014

Supports the selection of the Speed Input Source in Autopilot Calibration (Auto/STW/SOG/Cruise Speed)
Corrects intermittent drop out of SOG displayed in Data Boxes.
Pilot now interacts correctly with MFD in Track mode. Now reacts correctly to an Advance Waypoint command.
Title of the first page in Dockside Wizard has been changed from Dockside Calibration to Dockside Wizard.
Corrections & Enhancements to the MDS (Multiple data Selection) functionality.
Language Translations updated for new features.
Corrects truncated Text In Dockside Wizard For Russian, Greek and Korean Languages.
Restart compass is now removed from menu after Compass Lock is enabled.
Corrects an issue where the p70 can show NO PILOT after an MFD upgrade.
 
Or "invest" in a in the cheapest RayMarine MFD which has a card slot, so you can update the soft ware. Maybe you would like a down scan? I was just at a boat show--and comparing the type of person at the Ray Marine vs the Lowrance/Simrad. Lowrance/Simrad won hands down.

The Lowrance Outboard Pilot $999 apparently is available, but … awaiting a software so it will work with Gen III MDF. The Lowrance also will work with a cable steered helm--but I believe it includes a new steering unit, so it is a bit more expensive. It will be interesting to see how well this new Lowrance pilot works. They give a 5 year warrantee (qualified--replacement for 1 year, repair for 4 more) But It uses the Point one sensor, apparently not a 9 axis sensor, as some of the other new pilots like RayMarine EV100.
 
Bob, you may be on to something there with the suggestion of buying a cheap Raymarine MFD to use for the software updates. I just think it's rediculous that they require their own MFD units to update an autopilot that is suppose to work with other systems.... But I may look around and see if I can find something cheap new or used that could be used just for the updating of autopilot software.
 
So here's where I'm at. Got everything in and hooked up. Now the problems.

1. Via NMEA 2000 while both my Garmins (840 & 541) see the RayMarine ev-100 components and each other, the Raymarine p70r only sees one of my Garmins, the older 541. Also gives a msg unable to select data source when I try to assign either of the Garmins for gps data.

2. I can hear hydraulic pump working, but steering ram isn't moving.
 
Don't know for sure in this instance, but RayMarine "Sea Talk" often is not read properly by other instruments on NMEA 2000.

As for the pump;, I would only attempt to activate it when on the water, when your are starting to do the set up/calibration. Is there a plumbing issue?--one of the outputs going to the "return" Hyraulic fluid is basically not compressible..so either something moves, or a bypass system is working.
 
Colby;
The EV pump does not take its direction from a flux gate or earth magnetic field, but from the Gyros feeding information to the controller. When the boat is in the water you will find the rudder/motor will function in direct relation to the motion at the time, and in accordance to mode in which you have set it.
I dont know anything about the interface issues.
 
colbysmith":1m2ifswx said:
So here's where I'm at. Got everything in and hooked up. Now the problems.

1. Via NMEA 2000 while both my Garmins (840 & 541) see the RayMarine ev-100 components and each other, the Raymarine p70r only sees one of my Garmins, the older 541. Also gives a msg unable to select data source when I try to assign either of the Garmins for gps data.

2. I can hear hydraulic pump working, but steering ram isn't moving.
Click to expand...

Hello Colby,

Good work so far!

Now to work out the 'bugs.'

With N2K network powered 'on' try doing a reset through the Ray p70r. Perhaps this will help it 'see' BOTH garmins on the network. If not, the UNPLUG the one it does see and force it to find the 840.

I believe you are FINE doing the 'dockside' calibration on the trailer. That's the one where it turns the motor right, for instance, and you verify it turned it in the proper direction.

If pump runs and NO MOVEMENT of engine, could there be air in the system?

/david
 
Thanks all. First the pump. Again, I can hear it run. I will try to bleed the system again, as all "plumbing" is hooked up correctly. I still have normal steering, just not getting any movement when the pump is running. There are suppose to be check valves in the helm and pump, so that shouldn't be a problem either. I will try loosening the fittings on the back on the T at the helm pump, where the AP pump hydraulic lines attach, and see if I do in fact still have air in those lines. The p70r appears to show the "rudder" is moving by the lighting of LED's. But this must just be an internal equation, because nothing is moving!

As for the p70r recognizing my Garmin GPSMAP 840, I have "unplugged" (by turning unit off; perhaps I need to physically unplug the NMEA 2000 line) the GPSMAP 541, turned the NMEA2000 system and the p70r off and back on, but still does not recognize the 840. I am wondering if I need the latest update to the p70r, for it to recognize the 840, but I was told by RayMarine earlier that their unit would "talk" with the Garmin... Otherwise, everything on the NMEA 2000 system, is recognized by everything else. It's just the p70r not recognizing the 840, even the 840 recognizes it tho.
 
Well, if the pump is running and nothing moves that's interesting and not comforting. Dumb question: have you checked that the plumbing is correct, all line are going where they are supposed to? I also assume that all you had to do is tee into the existing steering lines. I did that at the steering wheel ports.

First, the motor runs when the controller commands it, not any sensors or external input. The controller takes all those external signals and develops an error signal, which then powers the pump. The pump is a simple DC motor driving a constant volume pump. So, when there's a port error signal, the motor drives one way and when the error signal is starboard, the DC voltage polarity is reversed and the pump goes the other.

That said, if the pump is running, and I assume you can hear it run, one of 3 things is happening: the pump is defective and isn't moving fluid, it's pumping air, or the flow is going somewhere other than to the steering ram. As you mentioned, cracking a fitting will tell you if fluid is getting there.

So, when I installed the pump on Journey On, I had a heck of a time bleeding the hydraulic lines. Turning the steering wheel to pump fluid through doesn't cut it, because the velocity is too low to expel the air when the lines aren't perfectly horizontal. The first time, I had the factory use the Seastar pressure bleeder and got a good bleed. Last year, I bought a cheap pressure bleeder (Motive Products Power Brake Bleeder $35,) and used that via the steering pump fill port. Worked as well as the factory bleeder. Note that the autopilot pump is somewhat self bleeding as the center port, which returns the ram's retracting side fluid to the reservoir in the hand steering pump will feed any air coming back from the ram to the reservoir.

Next, the hand pump check valves may be bad. I assume you can check that by turning the steering wheel, listening for the click that tells if those valves are working as well as seeing if the motor turns. Of course if there's air in the lines, the motor doesn't turn either, but then the reservoir would be empty.

Last, cracking a pump fitting when the pump is running will tell you if the pump is working.

Good luck. And I assume you know all this, I just thought I'd share some of my pain.

Boris
 
Boris, you are right about bleeding. It's a bitch! I think that was my problem. I suspect I still have a little air in the line, but I do have the steering ram moving some now when the pump is running. I ended up loosening the lines at the pump, then using the steering helm to pump fluid back to it. I couldn't do much that way though as I ran out of the SeaStar hydraulic fluid. Geeze, that stuff is like $36/quart now. I finally found some Aeroshell #41 fluid that ran $40/gallon. So I'll do some more bleeding of the system tomorrow. Hopefully that'll take care of the pump stuff. Still problem with getting the p70r to recognize the GPSMAP 840 though. I have a bad feeling that's going to require a software update on the Ray Marine...

When I go to System Setup, Data Sources, GPS Position, I get "Source selection not possible. Consult manual for more info." I haven't gotten in the manual yet, so guess that's next.
 
My p70R recognized my GArmin 740 AND the Simrad NSS I recently added. I installed mine in June 2014 and have NOT updated any software.

Keep trying. It seems strange it won't 'see' your 840 on the network.

Does the 840 "see" any of the RAymarine AP components on the n2K network? There's a screen where it shows everything it sees. If nothing is showing on the 840 then maybe it's not connecting to the network which would explain why the p70R doesn't "see" the 840. Double check the cables, connections, etc.

/david
 
That stuff is aviation hydraulic fluid and at one time Seastar mentioned it. They now use a colorless fluid, but it's the same stuff. Mil-H-5606 is the older one, still used by Seastar. Mil-H-83282 is the synthetic, non-flammable version. Both should be available on the internet for ~$15/gal.

Boris
 
For those others who are reading, as Colby found out, you can get the proper hydraulic fluid from any fixed base operator at an airport.

Suitable are: Chevron® Aviation Hydraulic Fluid A, Esso® Univis N15 or J13, Mobil® Aero HFA, Petro Canada Harmony HV115 (in Canada only), Shell® Aero Fluid #41, Texaco® HO15 and other fluids meeting MIL SPEC H-5606-G. We got some for $10 a gallon out of barrel at an airport.

The EV pump does not take its direction from a flux gate or earth magnetic field, but from the Gyros feeding information to the controller. When the boat is in the water you will find the rudder/motor will function in direct relation to the motion at the time, and in accordance to mode in which you have set it.
Click to expand...

Although the 9 axis sensor is used for the steering function, there has to be either a fluxgate or GPS heading input to give the basic course as a basic function of the auto pilot.

RayMarine states the sensor gives:

9-axis precision monitoring of pitch, roll, yaw and heading

Although we don't know what specific 9 axis sensors is used they all have the following:

9-axis sensor, consisting of a triaxial 12bit acceleration sensor, a triaxial 16bit, ±2000°/s gyroscope and a tria- xial geomagnetic sensor.

We also know that this sensor is sensitive to ferrous metals.

There should be some function in the autopilot menu of "steer port" and the motor moves so that the boat turns to port, and "steer starboard", the the motor moves to steer the boat to starboard. This power steering function is available on most pilots, and should be used to diagnose if the pump plumbing as well as wiring is correct.
 
Once I got enough of the air out of the hydraulic lines between the hydraulic pump and the system, I was able to run through the "dockside setup". The system runs the motor moving the steering ram, and you just indicate if it moved to port or starboard. I got all that taken care of, but then going back to do the "hardover" time, I had a problem with the ram just continuing to go one way. I suspect still some air in the system (I'll work on tomorrow), or I went to far with the dial. :-) I'll keep working on bleeding the system and also guess I'll start perusing the large operation manual on the p70r to see if I can get it talking with my GPSMAP 840.
 
Think I got all the air out of the lines now, and pump seems to work fine. Still no answers on getting the p70R to communicate with my Garmin GPSMAP 840. It "sees" the 541, but not able to select any "sources" for GPS info. I've read completely thru the 104 page operating manual, with no information or solutions. Have an email into Raymarine and if I don't hear back from that by Monday, I'll give them a call. I suspect they will tell me to update the software, which means pulling the control head and sending it back to them to do so.... :-(
 
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