Simrad Navico WP10 User manual

MAXIMIZING YOUR PERFORMANCE AT SEA

Simrad WP10
Wheelpilot
MANUAL
Instruction manual
III

IV
Wheelpilot WP10
The technical data, information and illustrations contained in this publication were to the best of our knowledge correct at the time
of going to print. We reserve the right to change specifications, equipment, installation and maintenance instructions without notice
as part of our policy of continuous development and improvement.
No part of this publication may be reproduced, stored in a retrieval system or transmitted in any form, electronic or otherwise with-
out prior permission from Simrad Ltd.
No liability can be accepted for any inaccuracies or omissions in the publication, although every care has been taken to make it as
complete and accurate as possible.
E03548 Issue 1.3 MDL/CR 01/12/03
© 2003 Simrad Ltd

V
Instruction manual
CONTENTS
1. General
1.1 Introduction
1.2 Technical Summary
2. Operation
2.1 General
2.2 Engaging the Clutch
2.3 Autopilot Mode
2.4 Adjusting Course
2.5 Autotack
2.6 Rudder Movement (Gain)
2.7 Seastate
2.8 Autotrim
3. Configuration
3.1 Scaling
3.2 Calibration Mode
3.3 Adjusting Gain
3.4 Adjusting Seastate
4. Installation
4.1 Fitting theWheelpilot
4.2 Electrical Installation
5. Appendix
5.1 Advice On Operation
5.2 Fault Finding
5.3 Auto Compass Calibration
5.4 Adjusting BeltTension
5.5 Spares & Accessories
5.6 Servicing
5.7 Warranty

Page 6
Wheelpilot WP10
1 General
1.1 Introduction
The Simrad Wheelpilot WP10 is a self-contained
automatic pilot suitable for a wide variety of wheel-
steered sailing yachts up to 10m (32ft) in length.
Combining highly sophisticated electronics with
advanced software and a powerful mechanical
drive, it is capable of providing reliable and accu-
rate steering performance under a variety of differ-
ent conditions with minimal current consumption.
The WP10 has been designed so that, while it rep-
resents the state of the art in marine autopilots with
many advanced features, it remains very simple to
operate, using only five keys to access all functions.
To ensure the best results from your Wheelpilot it is
essential that the unit is installed correctly. Please
read this manual thoroughly before installation.
Thank you for choosing Simrad!
If you are pleased with your Wheelpilot, we hope
you will be interested in our range of marine elec-
tronic equipment, which is manufactured to the
same high standards as the Wheelpilot. Please con-
tact your nearest Simrad Agent for a catalogue
showing our increasing range of high-tech naviga-
tional instruments, GPS, Autopilots, Radar,
Chartplotters, Fishfinders and VHF radio sets.
Simrad operate a policy of continual development
and reserve the right to alter and improve the
specification of their products without notice.
Wheelpilot®is a registered trademark of
Simrad Ltd.
WP30
WheelpilotWP10

Page 7
Instruction manual
1.2Technical Summary
WHEELPILOT WP10 SPECIFICATIONS
Supply Voltage 12v DC (10v-16v)
Power Consumption 0.06A (Standby)
(Typical) 0.75A (Auto)
WP30
Fig 1.1 -Wheelpilot dimensions
388mm (15.25 in)
348mm (13.7 in)
165mm (6.5 in) 550mm (21.6in)
234mm (9.2 in)

Page 8
Wheelpilot WP10
Fig 2.1 - Engaging clutch
STBY
TACK
STBY
AUTO
STBY
AUTO
Fig 2.2 - Engaging autopilot mode
STBY
CAL
TACK
STBY
AUTO
Fig 2.3 - Course adjustment to Port
2 Operation
2.1 General
The Wheelpilot powers up in Standby mode, indicat-
ed by a flashing LED next to the STBY/AUTO key.
The two direction LEDs above the Port and Starboard
keys are always dimly lit, which provides night illu-
mination for the keypad. All functions are confirmed
audibly by a “beep” and visually by the LEDs, so the
status of the unit can always be confirmed at a glance.
2.2 Engaging the clutch
The Wheelpilot will not drive in any mode, unless the
drive clutch is engaged first. The clutch is controlled
by the lever on the left side of the unit (Fig 2.1). When
the lever is in the upward position, the clutch is dis-
engaged, and the wheel is free to turn by hand. To
engage the clutch, push the lever down fully until it is
flush with the motor housing. The wheel will then be
held firmly by the Wheelpilot – hand steering will not
be possible until the clutch is disengaged.
2.3 Autopilot Mode
To lock the vessel onto the current heading, simply
steer a straight course, engage the clutch and press the
STBY/AUTO key to switch to Auto mode, indicated
by the LED next to the STBY/AUTO key lighting per-
manently (Fig 2.2).
To lock the pilot onto the desired course, simply steer
the correct course and then engage the autopilot. The
wheel should always be in the centreline position
before engaging the Wheelpilot.
If the STBY/AUTO key is pressed and held, the pilot
will beep a second time and lock onto the previously
used heading (this feature will not be available if the
unit has just been switched on).
To disengage the pilot, press the STBY/AUTO key
and lift the clutch lever. Always switch the pilot to
Standby mode when disengaging the clutch.
2.4 Adjusting Course
While in Autopilot mode, precise course adjustments
can be easily made -
Clutch On
Clutch Off

Page 9
Instruction manual
To make a 1º adjustment, press either the Port or
Starboard key once. This is confirmed by a single beep,
and the relevant Port or Starboard LED will flash once.
To make a 10º adjustment, press and hold the key,
which is confirmed by a double beep and a double
flash of the Port or Starboard LED (Fig 2.3).
2.5 Autotack
The Wheelpilot has a built-in autotack facility, allow-
ing easy tacking of the vessel when single or short
handed. An autotack is only possible when in
Autopilot mode.
To initiate autotack, press and hold the TACK key, fol-
lowed by either the Port or Starboard key, depending
on which direction you wish to tack (Fig 2.4). The
WP10 has a factory preset autotack angle of 110º.
2.6 Rudder Movement (Gain)
The Wheelpilot uses highly advanced steering soft-
ware, which constantly assesses how the vessel is being
affected by the prevailing conditions. By adjusting its
own performance, the pilot is able to maintain the most
accurate course for these conditions, just as a human
pilot would. Thus, in a rough sea the pilot is not over-
worked and battery drain is kept to a minimum.
The pilot will make corrections to compensate for
heading errors, in order to keep the boat on course.
The amount of rudder correction made is set by the
Gain (sometimes referred to as the rudder ratio).
The Gain setting can be compared to driving a motor
vehicle – at high speeds, very little wheel movement is
necessary to steer the vehicle (LOW Gain). When dri-
ving at slow speeds, more wheel movement is neces-
sary (HIGH Gain).
Fig 2.5Ashows the effect of setting the Gain too low:
the boat takes a long time to return to the correct
heading. Fig 2.5Bis ideal, errors are quickly correct-
ed. Fig 2.5Coccurs when the Gain too high, causing
the boat to “S”, or oscillate around the correct head-
ing. Excessive Gain (Fig 2.5D) causes instability of
course, leading to increasing error.
To adjust Gain, please refer to section 3.3.
STBY
TACK
STBY
AUTO
STBY
TACK
STBY
AUTO
TACK
TACK
Fig 2.4 - Initiating Starboard autotack
ABCD
Fig 2.5 - Effects of Gain setting

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Wheelpilot WP10
2.7 Seastate
In rough weather, more variations in heading will be
detected by the Wheelpilot due to the heavy seas
yawing the vessel. If no account of this was taken,
then the Wheelpilot would be overworked, causing
unnecessary strain on the unit and excessive drain
on the batteries. All Simrad Wheelpilots will contin-
uously monitor corrections applied to the wheel
over the course of a voyage, and allow a “dead
band” within which the boat can go off course with-
out corrections being made (Fig 2.6).
The dead band is automatically set and updated
by the Wheelpilot to give the best compromise
between course holding and battery consumption.
However, this can be manually set if desired. To
manually adjust the Seastate, please refer to sec-
tion 3.4.
2.8 Autotrim
Under differing conditions a rudder bias (sometimes
known as standing helm or rudder trim) is applied,
in order to steer a straight course. An example is
when sailing close hauled where the vessel will nor-
mally pull into the wind, and the helmsman applies
a standing helm to leeward in order to maintain
course. The amount of this standing helm varies
according to factors such as strength of wind, boat
speed, sail trim and amount of sail set. If no account
of these were taken, then the vessel would tend to
veer off course, or pull around head to wind if sail-
ing close hauled.
The Wheelpilot continuously monitors the average
course error and applies a bias to the wheel to com-
pensate until the optimum condition is reached.
This bias or standing helm is applied gradually, so as
not to upset the normal performance of the
Wheelpilot. Thus, it may take up to a minute or so to
fully compensate after changing tack. Once opti-
mum trim is reached, the pilot will still monitor for
changes in the prevailing conditions and update the
trim accordingly.
D
E
A
D
B
A
N
D
º
Fig 2.6 - Seastate “deadband”
Average Course