Lewmar Integra Autopilot Drive (rudder sensor)

[jonmagowan@gmail.com]

Bavaria 33 Cruiser 2013.

Autopilot Garmin 40 Reactor (brand new)

Lewmar Integra Autopilot Drive Sprocket Version (original). Motor, gears and clutch seem to be working fine.

Error message, as below…..

“Autopilot rudder miscalibration detected. Recalibrate the rudder”


My brand new Garmin autopilot is not working. It looks like it’s not getting correct position feedback from the rudder. I re-calibrated the rudder as per Garmin instructions but the fault persists. I’m trying to ascertain where the system gets the rudder position from. I contacted Lewmar and they say that they supply the motor, gears and clutch and the rest of the drive unit is nothing to do with them. My Garmin guy (who fitted the system) says there is no rudder feedback as part of the Reactor components.

I’ve contacted Garmin and SVB and am awaiting a reply from both of them. Does anybody else have any experience of this system and fault ?

Impavidus (YouTube) implied that there is a position sensor as an integral part of the drive unit (some sort of rotational potentiometer).

Any guidance gratefully received. Very expensive autopilot system totally useless at the moment and, as I’m sure you all appreciate, it really curtails the sailing experience!

[Yngmar]

If your drive unit is not from Garmin (which have the feedback sensor integrated), then you need to add the GRF 10 rudder angle sensor.

Garmin clearly says so: https://support.garmin.com/en-US/?faq=xWPnZYcgFY13z34jiPsX97

[jonmagowan@gmail.com]

Thank you. Yes, you are quite correct.
However, the system actually works most of the time. Also the autopilot accepted a rudder recalibration and consistently indicates the rudder position on the helm control (GHC 50).
For these reasons I’m sure that there is already a rudder feedback sensor in the system. I’ve had a look and I can’t see anything obvious (such as the Garmin device already mentioned).
This makes me think there is a sensor built into the drive unit.
Can anyone shed light on this situation ?

[Yngmar]

Just look at the wires coming out of your drive unit. Most have one pair for the motor and one pair for the clutch. If there's no other wires, there's no position sensor.

[jonmagowan@gmail.com]

Actually that’s a great idea. Thank you, I shall have a look tomorrow.