Instruction manual

WP32 Wheelpilot

E04596

4.2 Calibration mode

The Gain and Seastate settings can be adjusted while the

Wheelpilot is in either Standby or Autopilot mode.

Press and hold the TACK key, then press NAV (Fig 4.3) -

TACK

STBY

NAV

TACK

STBY

AUTO

TACK

NAV

The Starboard LED will illuminate to indicate that Gain adjust-

ment is selected. To toggle between Gain and Seastate adjust-

ment, press TACK – the Port LED will illuminate for Seastate.

4.3 Adjusting Gain

The Wheelpilot will apply adjustments to the helm in order to

compensate for heading variations, the amount of movement

being proportional to the heading error detected by the com-

pass unit. The amount of movement is set by the Gain (some-

times referred to as the rudder ratio).

The Gain setting can be likened to driving a motor vehicle – at

high speeds, very little wheel movement is necessary to steer

the vehicle (LOW Gain). When driving at slow speeds, more

wheel movement is necessary (HIGH Gain).

Fig 4.4 shows the effect of setting the Gain too low (A) – the

vessel takes a long time to return to the correct heading.

B shows the ideal setting, where errors are quickly corrected.

C illustrates the effects of setting the Gain too high, which

causes the vessel to oscillate around the correct heading.

Excessive Gain (D) creates a tendency to instability of course,

leading to increasing error.

ABCD

Fig 4.4 - Effects of Gain setting

Fig 4.3 - Entering Calibration mode