Navicontrol AP3003 gold Reference manual

Autopilot AP3003 gold Navicontrol
Instruction manual for use and installation - rel. 1.21 / 02.08 page 1
INSTRUCTION MANUAL
FOR
USE & INSTALLATION
NAVICONTROL s.r.l.
Via dei Comparini, 39/24 - 55049 VIAREGGIO (LU) - ITALY
tel. [phone] fax. [phone]
www.navicontrol.com [email protected]

Autopilot AP3003 gold Navicontrol
Instruction manual for use and installation - rel. 1.21 / 02.08 page 2
Contents
FOREWORD ........................................................................................................... 3
WARRANTY ............................................................................................................ 4
THE AP3003 GOLD AUTOPILOT .............................................................................. 5
DECLARATION OF COMPLIANCE TO THE EEC 89/336 DIRECTIVE ..................................... 6
USER’S MANUAL...................................................................................................... 7
IMPORTANT WARNINGS ....................................................................................... 8
MULTISENSOR TECHNOLOGY....................................................................................... 9
PRELIMINARY OPERATIONS AND START OF NAVIGATION. ............................ 10
Starting ............................................................................................................... 10
Display and keyboard illumination....................................................................... 10
Setting of the operating parameters.................................................................... 10
Setting of the route and automatic navigation..................................................... 12
SIGNALED ALARMS.................................................................................................... 16
INSTALLATION MANUAL....................................................................................... 17
INSTALLATION PROCEDURES ........................................................................... 18
Control Unit......................................................................................................... 18
Control Unit (as OPTIONAL remote control)....................................................... 18
Processor Box AP gold....................................................................................... 19
Fluxgate Compass FGX90/3, FGX90N............................................................... 19
Rudder Angle Transducer FB30, FB31............................................................... 19
Electrohydraulic Unit........................................................................................... 20
PRELIMINARY TEST............................................................................................. 21
Rudder Feedback FB30, FB31 ........................................................................... 21
Rudder Indicator AR32, AR33, AR34.................................................................. 21
Fluxgate Compass FGX90/3, FGX90N............................................................... 21
Electrohydraulic Unit........................................................................................... 21
GPS and/or Chart-Plotter.................................................................................... 22
Wind Direction Sensor........................................................................................ 22
Automatic compensation of the compass FGX90/3, FGX90N ............................ 22
Operating parameters pre-set............................................................................. 23
SOFTWARE INSTALLATION PROCEDURE......................................................... 24
TECHNICAL SPECIFICATION ................................................................................ 27

Autopilot AP3003 gold Navicontrol
Instruction manual for use and installation - rel. 1.21 / 02.08 page 3
FOREWORD
Thank you for purchasing a NAVICONTROL product and congratulations for your
excellent choice.
You have now become the owner of a powerful and versatile electronic instrument
which will make your moments of relax or work, at sea, more pleasant and secure.
You will be pleasantly surprised when you realize how easy and logical this system is
to use, though technologically sophisticated.
No particular technical or nautical know-how is required for its correct use,
nevertheless reading this manual with some attention will allow you to quickly learn
and become confident in using it at its best.

Autopilot AP3003 gold Navicontrol
Instruction manual for use and installation - rel. 1.21 / 02.08 page 4
WARRANTY
The company Navicontrol s.r.l., located in Viareggio - via dei Comparini, 39/24
(hereinafter named Navicontrol), will guarantee the following:
1. Navicontrol products are guaranteed free from faults concerning materials and
production. Therefore, any product showing a malfunction deriving from faulty
manufacture or defective materials will be promptly replaced.
2. Warranty is limited to possible faults found within the first 24 months of purchase
and installation.
3. Repair under guarantee will be carried out, free of charge, on faulty products
which will be directly sent to Navicontrol. Any shipping, customs, packing and
insurance costs are to Purchaser’s account.
4. Warranty does not cover damage or malfunctioning deriving from improper use,
installation or manipulation as well as deterioration due to normal use.
5. Navicontrol will not accept responsibilities on its products other than those
mentioned above. It is also understood that Navicontrol will in no case be
considered responsible for any kind of direct or indirect damage that may occur to
people, animals or things due to the use of its products.
6. Any repair carried out by personnel unauthorized by Navicontrol will determine
the immediate cancellation of warranty cover.
7. The use of Navicontrol products or services implies the complete acceptation of
the present sale-conditions on behalf of the purchaser and of the user.

Autopilot AP3003 gold Navicontrol
Instruction manual for use and installation - rel. 1.21 / 02.08 page 5
THE AP3003 gold AUTOPILOT
The AP3003 gold autopilot belongs to the latest generation in marine equipment
where advanced research, sophisticated electronic technology and special care in
quality standard, blend together so as to ensure a highly efficient, reliable, versatile
and extendible product at a competitive cost.
It is however important to bear in mind the autopilot is made for seafaring and, due to
rudder physical and mechanical limits, therefore cannot counteract a sharp variation
of bow (such a sudden wave that may hit the vessel), but can only dampen the effect.
Steering parameters which vary within a wide range, make the autopilot easily
suitable to all kind of vessel.
The main processing unit (framed in the Processor Box) brings the necessary
corrections to the position of the rudder automatically, in order to guaranteeing the
best maintenance of course.
The precision of routing is granted by a provided magnetic compass and can be
integrated with external instruments (such a gyrocompass, turn rate sensor, GPS).
The control unit is provided with a large backlite LCD, easy-to-read in any light
conditions (even at night).
In greater crafts provided with upper decks, it is possible to control the system thanks
to the remote stations installed in different areas of the vessel.
Having purchased the AP3003 gold autopilot, you have acquired an autopilot which
will prove itself an extremely helpful instrument for travelling.

Autopilot AP3003 gold Navicontrol
Instruction manual for use and installation - rel. 1.21 / 02.08 page 6
DICHIARAZIONE DI CONFORMITÀ
EC STATEMENT OF COMPLIANCE
Fabbricante: NAVICONTROL S.r.l.
Manufacturer: Via dei Comparini, 39/24
55049 Viareggio (LU)
Italy
Prodotto: AP3003 GOLD / AP801
Eut: AP303 GOLD / AP401
AP103 GOLD / AP201
with FB30, FGX90/N, PB 80/250/350
TELECOMANDO PORTATILE RS32
TELECOMANDO REMOTO RC34
TELECOMANDO REMOTO ART35
INDICATORE ANGOLO TIMONE AR32
INDICATORE ANGOLO TIMONE AR33
INDICATORE ANGOLO TIMONE AR34
SENSORE MAGNETICO FGX60/3
GYRONAV SENSOR
Norme Applicate:CEI EN 60945 (2003/11)
Apparecchiature e sistemi di navigazione
Applied Standards:marittima e di radiocomunicazione - Prescrizioni generali -
Metodi di prova e risultati delle prove richieste
Maritime navigation and radiocommunication equipment and
systems - General requirements - Methods of testing and
required test results
Con la presente si dichiara che il prodotto specificato è conforme alle normative sopra
riportate e soddisfa i requisiti essenziali richiesti dalle Direttive: 2004/108/CE (Direttiva
EMC).
Manufacturer declare under our own responsibility that the product meets the requirements
set by the standard above mentioned and by the Directive 2004/108/EC
Viareggio, 31/03/2009
L’Amministratore Delegato / The Managing Director
Alessandro Lazzeri

Autopilot AP3003 gold Navicontrol
Instruction manual for use and installation - rel. 1.21 / 02.08 page 7
USER’S MANUAL

Autopilot AP3003 gold Navicontrol
Instruction manual for use and installation - rel. 1.21 / 02.08 page 8
IMPORTANT WARNINGS
Seafaring experience is made exclusively at sea and not on land. So when you go
out at sea, please do remember to take this manual with you and you will quickly
learn to use the autopilot in the simplest and most logical way: actually using it.
To ensure your own and your passenger’s safety, we recommend do not exploit your
autopilot on occasions such as:
1. while maneuvering in particular shallow waters or over dangerous seabeds
2. while entering or exiting harbour, mooring and setting sail
3. in heavy traffic areas, near to breakwaters, canals and any kind of obstacle.
While your autopilot is operative on AUTO, NAV or WIND, be sure you do not
abandon deck.
While learning, make sure you practice in open sea, far from shallow water, vessels
or other obstacles.

Autopilot AP3003 gold Navicontrol
Instruction manual for use and installation - rel. 1.21 / 02.08 page 9
Multisensor Technology
The entire autopilots ready to this kind of technology are able to get the maximum
result from the three different heading sensors: fluxgate compass (FGX90, FGX60),
GYRONAV rate sensor stabilizer, GPS receiver.
The Multisensor Technology can be enabled in the entire Navicontrol Gold series
autopilots only if:
1) the software release is 1.18 or higher
2) the Gyronav sensor is correctly installed and enabled
3) the “MULTISENSOR” function (installation menu) is enabled.
This system manages the choice of the main sensor, time by time, basing it upon a
reliability matter (fluxgate compass at low speed, GPS sensor at medium and high
speed). The Gyronav stabilizer is always active.
Obviously, if a black-out of the GPS receiver occurs, the autopilot holds the setted
course by using the fluxgate compass as back-up.
The main sensor is displayed by showing the respective icons:
main sensor: fluxgate compass
main sensor: GPS
Pay attention:
The changeover between fluxgate compass and GPS is done at a speed of about 4
knots. If your fluxgate compass is interfered or not correctly aligned, you may see a
rapid change of the visualized heading in the proximity of that speed. This kind of
situation is normal and hazard-free: in fact, the changeover between the two sensors
happens only when the autopilot is not engaged (STANDBY mode).
Obviously, if you don’t want to use the Multisensor Technology feature, you may
leave the “MULTISENSOR” function (install menu) setted to OFF.

Autopilot AP3003 gold Navicontrol
Instruction manual for use and installation - rel. 1.21 / 02.08 page 10
PRELIMINARY OPERATIONS AND START OF NAVIGATION.
Starting
Switch on the control panel and wait until the autopilot has performed the
autodiagnostic test and visualizes the software identification codes.
At this stage, the system is in STANDBY so ready to be set.
Warning:
The first time that you use the autopilot, verify that the bearing of the compass
shown by the display corresponds to the value determined by the vessel
compass. In case of significant differences call a technician for a proper
setting.
Furthermore, it is normal that in a system provided with the analogue rudder
angle indicators, the values shown by the Control Unit may slightly differ from
the one visualized by the instrument itself.
Display and keyboard illumination
Press the ☼(light bulb) key in order to adjust the level of backlight of the
display and keyboard: the autopilot has an 8 level of brightness.
Setting of the operating parameters
Enter the menu of operating parameters (YAW, RUDD, C.RUDD and T.RATE)
by pressing the SET key. In order to change the values, press and release the
SET key until the name of the parameter flashes, then select by pressing the
arrow keys and .
You exit the menu by pressing the set key or after few seconds of keyboard
inactivity.
Obviously, the parameters are related to the operating program in that
moment.
PROG
This autopilot conceived for greater working crafts as well as steering
difficulties, allows memorizing up to 3 different programs according to the use
of it.
In fact it is possible to memorize the four main operating parameters (YAW,
RUDD, C.RUDD, T.RATE) in three different packages (named PROGRAM 1,
2, 3) which can be selected by pressing the key PROG. In order to avoid any
accidental change of program, the selection of it may be done only by pressing
continuously the key PROG for at least one second.
In this way, once all the values have been set, it is possible to use the
autopilot in different conditions by selecting the preset program (avoiding, in
this way, to be set every time).