Auto Pilot Relay Question

[Sun Dragon]

Hi,

I have a Robertson/Simrad AP45 pilot currently using mechanical relays to
control the steering pumps. Pumps are 240 VAC not sure of the HP or current,
probably 2 or 5 HP motors.

Is there any reason I can't replace the noisy troublesome mechanical relays
with a solid state relay such as a Teledyne like this:

http://www.mouser.com/catalog/629/1447.pdf

Thanks,

Capt. Vin

 

[Lynn Coffelt]

Hi,

I have a Robertson/Simrad AP45 pilot currently using mechanical relays to
control the steering pumps. Pumps are 240 VAC not sure of the HP or current,
probably 2 or 5 HP motors.

Is there any reason I can't replace the noisy troublesome mechanical relays
with a solid state relay such as a Teledyne like this:

http://www.mouser.com/catalog/629/1447.pdf

Thanks,

Capt. Vin

Sure. Works great. Just be sure you get some rated for the starting
current spike of your motor(s?). It seems to me like the control voltage
output from the basic AP45 pilot house control was 12 volts DC, and if I
remember correctly (long, long time ago) the voltage went "high" to start
the motor controller. (lots of pilots would "sink" a motor controller's port
or starboard control voltage, so beware!)
Good practice when dealing with the autopilot's input control voltage
to these high voltage solid state relays is to use an opto-isolator device
to reduce the possibility of a voltage spike frying the autopilot. Expensive
like you can't believe.

Old Chief Lynn

 

[You]

Hi,

I have a Robertson/Simrad AP45 pilot currently using mechanical relays to
control the steering pumps. Pumps are 240 VAC not sure of the HP or current,
probably 2 or 5 HP motors.

Is there any reason I can't replace the noisy troublesome mechanical relays
with a solid state relay such as a Teledyne like this:

http://www.mouser.com/catalog/629/1447.pdf

Thanks,

Capt. Vin

one would "Think" that any smart Hydrolic Engineer would have designed
a Steering System that used a single pump, running all the time, and
do the "Steering" by using a Vickers type "Solenoid Shuttle Valve" to
supply the Port & Starboard Hydrolic Oil Movement Control. No big
voltages except the Motor Contactor, which is (On/Off), and the Solenoid
Shuttle Valve Coils draw only a couple of amps at 12/24/32 VDc. Easily
switched with SemiConductors.

 

[You]

Right. And what would the constant unnecessary current draw of the pump be?
It would drain your battery in no time.

Meindert

Meindert, did you READ the guys Post???? He is running 240Vac Pumps.....
Just where are the "Batteries" that are feeding "These" 240Vac Pumps
in a system????? Anyone running 240Vac Pump Motors off Batteries,
NEEDS to have his Head Examined........

 

[Sun Dragon]

Let me clarify one thing, I being the dumbass that I am, ommited the fact
that the relays would switch the shuttle solenoids! my mistake

Vin