Adding Raymarine ST5000+ autohelm to a Garmin system

KRH1326

Chief Petty Officer
Joined
Sep 22, 2007
Messages
491
Hello,
I purchased a boat, that came with a ST5000+ Autohelm. It had been connected to a Lowrance unit, via nmea 0183, and was working fine. Previous owner removed his Lowrance systems. I installed my Garmin system .. multiple gpsmaps, radar, livescope, heading sensor, etc etc all connected via nmea 2000 and Garmin Marine Networking.
The main unit is a 942xs+ . I connected the blue (tx/a out/+) to ST5000+ nmea in +; and grey (tx/b out/-) to ST5000+ nmea in -.
I also decided to get crazy and installed a raymarine Seatalk to SeatalkNG converter, to connect to my nmea 2000 backbone. I cut the seatalkng blue backbone wire, and installed a garmin field installable end. So the Seatalkng converter is one end of my nmea 2000 back bone. I did NOT install the Seatalk power drop, all power coming thru nmea 2000. I did connect ST5000+ flat seatalk with cable, to yellow port. The two white NG ports are capped, as is the remaining blue port, as it is the very end of the entire backbone.
I have the Garmin equipment and the nmea 2000, powered from one switch, and the power to ST5000+ from another switch.
What is happening now, is when I power the Garmin switch , the systems come on, but the ST5000 does, as well, even with its power switch off. It powers up, showing a heading, and in STANDBY mode. If i press AUTO, it goes to "NO DATA" and continuously beeps.
I have poured thru Raymarines old forums, and have come to a couple conclusions: 1) ST5000 is being backfed power thru nmea 2000 via Seatalk to Seatalkng converter, and I must open YELLOW PLUG cable, between converter and ST5000, and eliminate the red power wire. 2) In raymarines old Forums, it was stated that the Garmin blue wire (tx/a out/+) is connected to ST5000 nmea in +, but the ST5000 nmea in - is connected to the same ground as the transmitting device. Which would be correct, the way that I have it or what the forum states?
At this point, should I follow the above first conclusion, and eliminate that red power wire, or should I completely remove the converter, cap the Garmin nmea 2000 backbone, and completely rely on the one nmea0183 connection?
Also, in the settings for 942xs+, there are options for configuring that 0183 channel. I have enabled all options. There are no other 0183 systems or connections, on board.... is there specific ones that the ST5000+ needs, and I should disable all others?
Thanks for any help...
Kenny
 
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dingbat

Supreme Mariner
Joined
Nov 20, 2001
Messages
16,313
Paged quickly through the ST5000 manual.

Given the age of the unit (20+ years) and its limited (serial) message lists, I suspect your trying to pass messages via Seatalk that the autopilot doesn’t support.

The first thing I’d do is disconnect everything except the serial connection between the Garmin and the autopilot and see if it works.

If that works, you then need to compare the NMEA 2000 and Seatalk messages on see what is supported and what is not.

I would be very surprised if it worked with NMEA2000
 
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