32 | Type 150/400 Autopilot System: Installation Guide |
9.1 Connecting SeaTalk equipment
You can use SeaTalk to connect the autopilot system to:
•additional SeaTalk control units: you can use any control units to operate the autopilot and view autopilot information
•SeaTalk equipment (such as wind, navigation, radar and GPS):
•the autopilot system can use information from this equipment to enhance course keeping and provide additional features (such as waypoint navigation)
•you can also display information from the SeaTalk equipment on the autopilot control unit
Possible systems
When connecting SeaTalk equipment, you have a range of options depending on whether you want to:
•provide an ‘isolated’ control unit (for systems with more than one control unit – see next page)
•provide power separately to the course computer and main SeaTalk bus
The following illustrations show some typical ways to connect simple SeaTalk systems.
CAUTION:
If your autopilot system includes more than one control unit, we strongly recommend connecting the main control unit to one course computer SeaTalk port and the additional control unit(s) to the other SeaTalk port. This will mean that if either SeaTalk system fails, you will still have one operational control unit.
Single control unit, single power supply
The simplest type of system has the course computer providing power to a single SeaTalk system that includes a single control unit and several instruments.
Step 9
