OpenMarine
Question about Rudder Sense - Printable Version

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+--- Thread: Question about Rudder Sense (/showthread.php?tid=4053)



Question about Rudder Sense - vadrian - 2022-05-18

My existing autopilot has an RF-100 (on an Robertson AP-200) rudder sense unit that I wish to use for my PyPilot setup.  Recently, I went out to figure out what signal it sends.  Here's what I found.

There are three pins: Gnd, +12v, and a signal.  The signal ranges from:
+3.48v @ rudder center
+1.50v @ full starboard
+5.10v @ full port

Will this work as-is on the motor.ino sketch (adc pin 4)? I.e. will the calibration figure out how to transform that signal into something usable?

On a side note, I'm not sure how my existing AP determines rudder stop -- I don't think there are special switches for that.  I can install a couple of micro switches, but with the rudder feedback unit, is that strictly necessary?  (I'm just trying to figure out where I'd put the little microswitches for this application).

Regards,
Adrian.


RE: Question about Rudder Sense - seandepagnier - 2022-05-18

5.1v is too high, it must be < 5v. I suggest using resistors to limit it.

With the rudder feedback, you wouldn't need micro switches, but you do need to calibrate the rudder feedback.