2005 420DB Fluxgate location - Need Help!

[Tenacious]

2005 420DB Fluxgate compass location - Need Help!

In a prior post on another thread I identified the reported location of the fluxgate as illustrated within Sea Ray's owners manual. I was confident I found it after researching the manual last evening for an hour. I just left the boat and could not find it at the specified location which was beneath the Portside guest state room bunk. I have searched every nook and cranny imaginable short of dismantling and have yet to locate it. I am in dire straits as my auto pilot has significant deviation and I suspect it is due to metal being in close proximity. Does anyone know or have any suggestions as to where I may locate it? I hate to beat a dead horse with repeatedly asking the same question but cannot seem to find anyone with information so I'm hoping someone out there may know the answer to my question.

My boat is a 2005 for 420 sedan bridge with 480 CE's. I checked beneath the forward floor area near the bow thruster, the sump area as well as beneath the bunk area all with negative results. I also checked the AC area under forward state room bed, under the floor in the galley area as well as under the stairs near the washer with negative results. I opened the helm electronics removing my MFD's and checked the spaces there with and then went in the engine room and checked low and forward against the bulkhead and anywhere's else I could think of, all with negative results.

I have to believe that at some point somebody out there has had to have come across it. Anyone? I'm leaving on a trip Friday and truly need to resolve this before departure. Thank you for your help in advance.

 

[HUMPH]

I would think it's in a similar position to mine which is right in the middle of the boat under a floor hatch.

 

[Tenacious]

I would think it's in a similar position to mine which is right in the middle of the boat under a floor hatch.

That's the case with an express but not with a sedan bridge. Thanks for the thought though.

 

[DaleM]

What is a 'fluxgate' and what does it do? Based on the word, I assume it has something to do with magnetics and because of that direction being tied into the autopilot. This is more of a curiosity question. I don't want to derail the thread.

 

[doozie]

I know on a 48 it's in the locker on the opposite side of the stairs, it's up near the top of the space

 

[Tenacious]

What is a 'fluxgate' and what does it do? Based on the word, I assume it has something to do with magnetics and because of that direction being tied into the autopilot. This is more of a curiosity question. I don't want to derail the thread.

Basically its an electronic compass which gives the auto pilot its heading info. It also provides info to chart plotter as a compass would. When metal items are stored near it it will deviate and provide false readings.

 

[Tenacious]

Doozie:

Are you speaking of a 48 sedan bridge? Which stairs are you speaking if? In cockpit or below? Also what year are you referencing? Thank you.

 

[Henry Boyd]

T.

I just wonder if this may not be a flux gate issue, but more of a compatibility/calibration one.

I seem to recall your profile header lists an e125 mfd display. That is RM's current technology. Did you have it installed?

What is the vintage of the heading system and flux Gate? If they are 2005 are you sure they are compatible with the e125? If they were installed with the e125, why not ask the installer where he put them? That may explain why the flux gate is not where the OEM install said it should be.

In any event have you tried to recalibrate the heading system? The older systems were notorious for going out of adjustment for no apparent reason.

Your point about metal interference is accurate, but unless you have recently installed a lump of metal weighing several pounds, magnetic interference may not be the issue if the auto pilot used to work ok. Magnetic interference is more of an improper installation issue if nothing has been added to the boat that would cause it. Basically if the heading sensor used to work ok the only reasons to move it would be the addition of a magnetic source, or a hardware failure.

Henry



Sent from my iPad using Tapatalk HD

 

[Tenacious]

Henry

The bridge of my boat was damaged in a roof collapse caused by snow last year. As a result I got all new electronics including an e125 and e127 which replaced a c120 and SRNII. My autopilot head was a st7001. It started acting up when I took delivery of the boat after repairs and the dealer swapped it with a St8002 head but the pilot remained the same. I did the swing myself and it seemed to be fine last year. This year it's off a great deal. The dealer is very proficient and I feel they would know about compatibility issues. Basically my auto pilot is 2005 vintage while the MFDs are current. Each is self contained and talk to each other. The AP is a stand alone therefore there would be no incompatibility issue as it remains as it was when new using the same specified flux gate compass.

My my issue is that it seems something has recently changed. I think metal may be the cause and in order to eliminate or confirm that as the cause I need to locate the fluxgate which turns out to be easiersaid than done. Thanks for the reply. I hope to resolve this soon.

Tenacious

 

[Woody]

Henry

The bridge of my boat was damaged in a roof collapse caused by snow last year. As a result I got all new electronics including an e125 and e127 which replaced a c120 and SRNII. My autopilot head was a st7001. It started acting up when I took delivery of the boat after repairs and the dealer swapped it with a St8002 head but the pilot remained the same. I did the swing myself and it seemed to be fine last year. This year it's off a great deal. The dealer is very proficient and I feel they would know about compatibility issues. Basically my auto pilot is 2005 vintage while the MFDs are current. Each is self contained and talk to each other. The AP is a stand alone therefore there would be no incompatibility issue as it remains as it was when new using the same specified flux gate compass.

My my issue is that it seems something has recently changed. I think metal may be the cause and in order to eliminate or confirm that as the cause I need to locate the fluxgate which turns out to be easiersaid than done. Thanks for the reply. I hope to resolve this soon.

Tenacious

If it's was working last year and not this year and you're thinking it's metal by the fluxgate I'd wonder what you drug onto the boat and where'd you put it. Maybe you were working on something and left tools where they shouldn't be. Dumb approach maybe but find the metal and maybe the fluxgate will be there.:lol:

 

[dcpringle]

Mine (48DB) is in the starboard compartment in the cockpit near the doors. Kind of under the steps which lead to the bow on the starboard side.. Hope that helps..

 

[Tenacious]

Mine (48DB) is in the starboard compartment in the cockpit near the doors. Kind of under the steps which lead to the bow on the starboard side.. Hope that helps..

Have not looked there yet. I hope it is. Thank you.

 

[DaleM]

Basically its an electronic compass which gives the auto pilot its heading info. It also provides info to chart plotter as a compass would. When metal items are stored near it it will deviate and provide false readings.

thank you

 

[Tenacious]

If it's was working last year and not this year and you're thinking it's metal by the fluxgate I'd wonder what you drug onto the boat and where'd you put it. Maybe you were working on something and left tools where they shouldn't be. Dumb approach maybe but find the metal and maybe the fluxgate will be there.:lol:

Woody:

Exactly! But for the life of me I cannot figure out what and where. I do have a lot stowed away. Scuba tanks, you name it. On the port side where it's supposed to be located I have numerous 25lb bags of lead shot (400 pounds worth) which I use for ballast to correct a starboard side list. While they've been there for years I thought perhaps they shifted and that was the cause but when I looked for the fluxgate based on where the owners manual says it's supposed to be, it was not there. Ridiculous that Sea Ray provides a very nice schematic for it yet the item is not at that location. The only spot I have not checked is the starboard side locker where a few say theirs is located. I have a jump pack I have kept in there plugged in an 100AC outlet for years so I'm not sure. Perhaps it moved. Anyway I hope that's the location. This is driving me crazy!