Help with autopilot

[MikePA]

I installed a EV-150 auto pilot and it works really well at cruise speed keeping a heading but becomes absolutely useless at trolling speeds. It behaves like it has no idea what it is doing, and makes useless, small engine orientation adjustments. Anyone run into this before or have any ideas?

 

[Unreel]

Not familiar with that one but on my lowrance I had to adjust the feedback and responsiveness to react alot faster when you start varying of course. There should be some settings like that on yours.

 

[MikePA]

Not familiar with that one but on my lowrance I had to adjust the feedback and responsiveness to react alot faster when you start varying of course. There should be some settings like that on yours.

There is 3 different settings, cruise, performance etc.. tried them all and it doesn't seem to change anything.

 

[zurk]

autopilots work in different modes.
for cruise the normal mode - bearing to destination - will work.
for trolling try heading hold - its more resilient to changing seas (slow speed).
you might also want to adjust damping controls for heading hold (more damping for larger corrections).

 

[MikePA]

autopilots work in different modes.
for cruise the normal mode - bearing to destination - will work.
for trolling try heading hold - its more resilient to changing seas (slow speed).
you might also want to adjust damping controls for heading hold (more damping for larger corrections).

I have been on heading hold when at trolling speed. What would "damping controls" be listed under? It's like the unit doesn't understand the speed had changed and tries to make very small corrections which would be appropriate if you're doing 30mph, but is useless when doing 2 mph. It is receiving speed info from my axiom MFD.

 

[zurk]

on mine i access SET-UP/ AUTOPILOT CALIBRATION/ VESSEL SETTINGS/ CALIBRATION LOCK, turn Calibration lock OFF and then return to AUTOPILOT CALIBRATION/ DRIVE SETTINGS and you will find RUDDER DAMPING
mine is also raymarine so it should be similar.

 

[MikePA]

on mine i access SET-UP/ AUTOPILOT CALIBRATION/ VESSEL SETTINGS/ CALIBRATION LOCK, turn Calibration lock OFF and then return to AUTOPILOT CALIBRATION/ DRIVE SETTINGS and you will find RUDDER DAMPING
mine is also raymarine so it should be similar.

Does yours have a rudder reference sensor? I'm not seeing that option.

 

[salmonkiller01]

I should be at my boat tomorrow and will check setting. Mine is great at a troll unless I drop below 1mph.

 

[MikePA]

I should be at my boat tomorrow and will check setting. Mine is great at a troll unless I drop below 1mph.

I went out tonight and did a factory reset then recommissioned it, it worked really well.. still took a little bit for it to recalibrate itself when going going from cruise to troll. Would appreciate to hear what settings you use though!

 

[salmonkiller01]

I went out tonight and did a factory reset then recommissioned it, it worked really well.. still took a little bit for it to recalibrate itself when going going from cruise to troll. Would appreciate to hear what settings you use though!

Pretty sure I just did what you did was happy and left it alone

 

[zurk]

yep i have a simrad rps.