8 cable connections, 9 grounding and rfi – Simrad AP25 User Manual

Page 72

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Simrad AP25 Autopilot

70

20221495F

3.8

Cable connections

Use only shielded cables. This includes Mains input, drive units
and if necessary for the extension of the RF300 Rudder
Feedback cable. The clutch/bypass cable and the solenoid cable
should be 1,5 mm

2

(AWG14). Signal cables should be 0.5 mm

2

(AWG20) twisted pairs.
The mains supply cable and the drive unit motor cable should
have sufficient wire gauge. This will minimize voltage drop and
allow the drive unit to operate at full power.
Refer to the table below for recommended cable sizes.

Cable length

Drive Unit Voltage

1. Breaker panel to autopilot computer.

12 V

24 V

2. Autopilot computer to Drive Unit motor
(Length refers to each of the two cables)

AWG

mm

2

AWG

mm

2

Up to 3 m (10 ft.)

12

2,5

12

2,5

Up to 6 m (20 ft.)

10

4

10

2,5

Up to 10 m (32 ft.)

8

6

10

4

Up to 16 m (52 ft.)

6

10

8

6

3.9

Grounding and RFI

The autopilot system has excellent RFI protection and all units
use the autopilot computer as a common ground/shield
connection. The autopilot computer should therefore have a
proper ground connection to the hull/bonding system.
Robnet2 cables and other signal cables (compass, feedback,
NMEA) should not be run in parallel with other cables carrying
RF or high current, such as VHF and SSB transmitters, battery
chargers/ generators, winches and thrusters.
Remove the bottom cover to get access to the plug-in terminals.
Strip about 1 cm (0.4") of the cable's insulation and pull the
screen backwards to cover the insulation. Position the straps as
shown and tighten well to make sure the screen has good
contact.
Provide sufficient wire length so that the plug-in terminals can
be easily connected/disconnected.
Pull out each terminal before connecting the wires. Remove all
strands before putting on the terminal cover.

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