Simrad NAC-D Quick start guide

ENGLISH
NAC™ -D
Commissioning Manual
www.simrad-yachting.com

Preface
Disclaimer
As Navico is continuously improving this product, we retain the
right to make changes to the product at any time which may not be
reflected in this version of the manual. Please contact your nearest
distributor if you require any further assistance.
It is the owner’s sole responsibility to install and use the equipment
in a manner that will not cause accidents, personal injury or
property damage. The user of this product is solely responsible for
observing maritime safety practices.
NAVICO HOLDING AS AND ITS SUBSIDIARIES, BRANCHES AND
AFFILIATES DISCLAIM ALL LIABILITY FOR ANY USE OF THIS PRODUCT
IN A WAY THAT MAY CAUSE ACCIDENTS, DAMAGE OR THAT MAY
VIOLATE THE LAW.
This manual represents the product as at the time of printing.
Navico Holding AS and its subsidiaries, branches and affiliates
reserve the right to make changes to specifications without notice.
Governing language
This statement, any instruction manuals, user guides and other
information relating to the product (Documentation) may be
translated to, or has been translated from, another language
(Translation). In the event of any conflict between any Translation of
the Documentation, the English language version of the
Documentation will be the official version of the Documentation.
Trademarks
®Reg. U.S. Pat. & Tm. Off, and ™ common law marks. Visit
www.navico.com/intellectual-property to review the global
trademark rights and accreditations for Navico Holding AS and
other entities.
•Navico®is a registered trademark of Navico Holding AS.
•SIMRAD®is a trademark of Kongsberg Maritime AS, Licensed to
Navico Holding AS.
•NMEA®and NMEA 2000®are registered trademarks of the
National Marine Electronics Association.
•NAC™
•AP™
Preface | NAC™ -D Commissioning manual 3

Copyright
Copyright © 2020 Navico Holding AS.
Warranty
The warranty card is supplied as a separate document. In case of any
queries, refer to the brand website of your unit or system:
www.simrad-yachting.com
4Preface | NAC™ -D Commissioning manual

Compliance statements
Declarations
The relevant declarations of conformity are available at:
www.simrad-yachting.com
Europe
Navico declare under our sole responsibility that the product
conforms with the requirements of:
•CE under EMC Directive 2014/30/EU
United States of America
Warning: The user is cautioned that any changes or
modifications not expressly approved by the party
responsible for compliance could void the user’s
authority to operate the equipment.
Australia and New Zealand
Navico declare under our sole responsibility that the product
conforms with the requirements of:
•level 2 devices of the Radiocommunications (Electromagnetic
Compatibility) standard 2017
Trademarks
®Reg. U.S. Pat. & Tm. Off, and ™ common law marks. Visit
www.navico.com/intellectual-property to review the global
trademark rights and accreditations for Navico Holding AS and
other entities.
•Navico®is a registered trademark of Navico Holding AS.
•SIMRAD®is a trademark of Kongsberg Maritime AS, Licensed to
Navico Holding AS.
•NMEA®and NMEA 2000®are registered trademarks of the
National Marine Electronics Association.
Preface | NAC™ -D Commissioning manual 5

•NAC™
•AP™
About this manual
Images used in this manual might not exactly match the screen on
your unit.
Important text conventions
Important text that requires special attention from the reader is
emphasized as follows:
ÚNote: Used to draw the reader’s attention to a comment or
some important information.
Warning: Used when it is necessary to warn
personnel that they should proceed carefully to
prevent risk of injury and/or damage to equipment/
personnel.
Translated manuals
Available translated versions of this manual can be found on the
following website:
•www.simrad-yachting.com
6Preface | NAC™ -D Commissioning manual

Contents
9 Introduction
9NAC-D autopilot computer
9Autopilot controllers
9Autopilot computer setup
12 Dockside setup
12 Data source selection
12 Override function
13 Boat characteristics
14 Drive configuration
15 Rudder setup
16 Sea trial
16 Compass setup
17 Transition speed
18 Set turn rate
18 Tuning the autopilot
23 User settings
23 Steering profile settings
24 Turn pattern settings
28 Installation verification
28 Checklist
28 Boat specific settings
31 Maintenance
31 Preventive maintenance
31 Checking the connectors
31 Software update
31 Resetting the autopilot computer
Contents | NAC™ -D Commissioning manual 7

8Contents | NAC™ -D Commissioning manual

Introduction
NAC-D autopilot computer
NAC-D is the Autopilot computer to supported EVC steering
systems.
Autopilot controllers
The NAC can be controlled by various Simrad control units. This can
be dedicated autopilot controllers, Multifunction displays (MFDs)
and autopilot remote controllers used in combination with
instrument systems, or any combination of the above.
Autopilot functions
The autopilot computer supports a large range of automatic
steering modes. Not all autopilot controllers have access to all
options. E.g. autopilot systems including only an autopilot remote
controller (without display) do not have access to turn patterns.
The user interface
The autopilot functions are presented slightly different on the
different displays.
This manual shows screen examples from both MFDs and AP48.
Autopilot computer setup
When the autopilot installation is completed, the setup of the
autopilot computer must be performed. Failure in setting up the
autopilot correctly may prohibit the autopilot from functioning
properly.
The setup of the autopilot computer is divided in two main steps:
•Installation settings
-Including dockside and seatrial commissioning. See "Dockside
setup" on page 12 and "Sea trial" on page 16
•User adjustment of autopilot settings
- Manual fine-tuning for various operational conditions and user
preferences. See "User settings" on page 23
1
Introduction | NAC™ -D Commissioning manual 9

ÚNote: Dockside settings can only be accessed when the
autopilot is in Standby mode.
ÚNote: Some systems require a dedicated physical standby key
to perform installation procedures. This key can be a key on the
autopilot controller, on an autopilot remote controller, or it can
be a separate standby key.
Warning: When the autopilot is delivered from
factory and any time after an autopilot reset has been
performed, the installation settings are all reset to
factory preset (default) values. A notification will be
displayed, and a complete setup has to be made.
Failure to do so correctly may prohibit the autopilot
from functioning properly!
10 Introduction | NAC™ -D Commissioning manual

Installation setup workflow
Introduction | NAC™ -D Commissioning manual 11

Dockside setup
Data source selection
Before commencing with autopilot computer setup the data
sources must be available and configured.
Data sources selection is required on initial start-up of the system, if
any part of the network has been changed or replaced, or if an
alternative source is made available for a given data type and this
source has not been selected automatically.
You can let the system automatically select your sources, or set up
each source manually. Refer to documentation for the autopilot
controller or for the display unit for details about how to perform
the data source selection.
Override function
The SteadySteer feature allows you to control how the autopilot
system reacts to manual steering.
When enabled:
•Manual steering overrides the active mode.
•If Auto mode or NoDrift mode was active before going into
manual steering, they will automatically re-engage when the
vessel has stabilized on a new course.
•If NAV mode was active before going into manual steering a
dialog will be shown.
-Confirm course change to reactivate NAV mode.
- Cancel the course change to activate Auto mode on the new
heading.
- If no action is taken the autopilot will go into Standby mode.
•For any other modes, the autopilot goes into Standby mode.
When disabled:
•Manual steering overrides the active mode.
•Independent of modes, the autopilot goes into Standby mode.
2
12 Dockside setup | NAC™ -D Commissioning manual

Autopilot installation dialog, MFDs
Autopilot installation dialog, AP48
Boat characteristics
Boat type
Affects steering parameters as well as available autopilot features.
The following options are available:
•Displacement
•Planing
Boat length
Used by the autopilot system to calculate steering parameters.
Cruising speed
Used if no speed info is available. It is used by the autopilot system
to calculate steering parameters.
Dockside setup | NAC™ -D Commissioning manual 13

Drive configuration
The drive configuration controls how the autopilot computer
operates the steering system.
Refer to your drive unit documentation for relevant specifications.
Minimum rudder
Some boats may have a tendency to not respond to small rudder
commands around the “course keeping” position because of a small
rudder, whirls/disturbance of the water-stream passing the rudder,
or it is a single nozzle water jet boat. By increasing the Minimum
rudder parameter you may improve the course keeping
performance on some boats. However, this will increase the rudder
activity.
ÚNote: Only set a value for minimum rudder if it proves to give a
better course keeping performance in calm sea. It should be set
after the autopilot steering parameters have been optimised/
tuned.
14 Dockside setup | NAC™ -D Commissioning manual

Rudder setup
Selecting rudder source
Rudder source selection, MFDs
Rudder source selection, AP48
Dockside setup | NAC™ -D Commissioning manual 15

Sea trial
A seatrial can only be performed after the dockside settings are
completed.
ÚNote: The seatrial must always be performed in calm
conditions, in open waters and at a safe distance from other
traffic.
Compass setup
To achieve the best possible performance, the compass should be
calibrated, and any offsets should be compensated for.
The setup needs to be done from an appropriate display unit.
Depending on the unit, access to the compass setup is available
from the compass’s device dialog, or from a dedicated Calibration
option in the unit’s Settings menu.
Device dialog, MFDs
3
16 Sea trial | NAC™ -D Commissioning manual

Calibration option, AP48
ÚNote: The setup of the compass should be done in calm sea
conditions and with minimal wind and current to obtain good
results. Ensure that there is enough open water around the
vessel to make a full turn.
Refer to your heading sensor's documentation for further details for
your unit.
Transition speed
ÚNote: Only available if the boat type is set to Planing.
The transition speed is the speed at which the system automatically
changes between Low speed and High speed profiles.
The profiles are used to accommodate the boats' tendency to
exhibit different steering characteristics at different speeds. You may
also have different preferences about the steering performance of
your boat required at low and high speeds.
It is recommended that you set a value that represents the speed
where the boat's steering characteristics change. For instance the
planing threshold (recommended), or at the speed you want the
autopilot to change behavior.
There is a 2 knots hysteresis to prevent oscillation of high/low
settings when the vessel is travelling at or near the transition speed.
Example
The transition speed is set to 9 knots.
•The system changes from Low profile to High profile when the
speed increases to 10 knots (= Transition speed plus 1 knot)
Sea trial | NAC™ -D Commissioning manual 17

•The system changes from High profile to Low profile when the
speed decreases to 8 knots (= Transition speed minus 1 knot)
AP48 page MFD Autopilot control bar
Set turn rate
Used for setting the preferred turn rate of the boat.
Bring the boat into a turn with the preferred safe and comfortable
turn rate, then activate the Set turn rate option to save the turn
rate parameters.
ÚNote: The captured turn rate will be stored in the active
steering profile. This setting must therefore be repeated for
each steering profile.
Tuning the autopilot
ÚNote: Tuning of the autopilot must be done separately for low
and high speed profiles.
Both Autotune and manual tuning should be performed in
calm or moderate sea conditions.
Providing you have entered correct vessel type, length and cruising
speed, you may not have to perform further manual or automatic
tuning.
Proceed as follows to verify satisfactorily steering:
1. Stabilize the vessel on a heading, and then select AUTO mode
2. Observe course keeping and rudder commands
-The autopilot should keep the vessel on the set heading
within an average of +/-1 degree, providing calm sea and
wind
3. Make some small and bigger heading changes to port and
starboard and observe how the vessel settles on the new
heading
- The vessel should have a minimum of overshoot. See "Rudder
gain" on page 20 and "Counter rudder" on page 21.
18 Sea trial | NAC™ -D Commissioning manual

If the autopilot is not keeping the heading satisfactorily or not
making the turns satisfactorily, you may now either try the Autotune
function or go directly to manual tuning.
ÚNote: If the vessel is more than approximately 30 m/100 ft or
has a very high cruising speed it may be unpractical to perform
Autotune. It is then suggested to proceed with manual tuning.
Autotuning
When performing an autotune, the vessel will automatically be
taken through a number of S-turns. Based on the vessel behavior,
the autopilot will automatically set the most important steering
parameters (Rudder gain and Counter rudder).
•Stabilize the vessel on a heading and set the speed between 5-10
kn, then select Autotune.
- The autopilot will now switch to AUTO mode and take control
of the vessel.
ÚNote: Autotuning can be stopped at any time by pressing the
STBY key on the autopilot controller.
The autotuning takes approximately 3 minutes to complete. When
completed the autopilot automatically switches to Standby mode,
and the rudder must be controlled manually.
ÚNote: All parameters that are set during autotuning can be
manually adjusted. For optimal steering performance it is
recommended to manually adjust the steering parameters after
running the autotune.
Manual tuning
Rudder gain and Counter rudder can be manually adjusted.
•Stabilize the vessel on a heading and set the speed in the middle
of the profile range (well clear of the transition speed) to avoid
profile switching during tuning. Then activate the Rudder gain
option. Adjust the value according to the descriptions below.
•If required, adjust slightly the Counter rudder option.
Sea trial | NAC™ -D Commissioning manual 19

Tuning parameters, MFDs
Tuning parameters, AP48
Rudder gain
This parameter determines the ratio between commanded rudder
and the heading error. The higher rudder gain value the more
rudder is applied. If the value is too small it will take a long time to
compensate for a heading error, and the autopilot will fail to keep a
steady course. If the value is set too high the overshoot will increase
and the steering will be unstable.
20 Sea trial | NAC™ -D Commissioning manual