Simrad NAC-D Commissioning Manual
  1. Manuals
  2. Brands
  3. Simrad Manuals
  4. Autopilot System
  5. NAC-D
  6. Commissioning manual
Simrad NAC-D Commissioning Manual

Simrad NAC-D Commissioning Manual

Hide thumbs
Table of Contents

Advertisement

Quick Links

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

Advertisement

Table of Contents
loading

Related Manuals for Simrad NAC-D

Summary of Contents for Simrad NAC-D

  • Page 1 NAC™ -D Commissioning Manual ENGLISH www.simrad-yachting.com...
  • Page 3 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.
  • Page 4 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 Preface | NAC™ -D Commissioning manual...
  • Page 5 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...
  • Page 6 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 Preface | NAC™ -D Commissioning manual...

  • Page 7: Table Of Contents

    Contents Introduction NAC-D autopilot computer Autopilot controllers Autopilot computer setup 12 Dockside setup Data source selection Override function Boat characteristics Drive configuration Rudder setup 16 Sea trial Compass setup Transition speed Set turn rate Tuning the autopilot 23 User settings...
  • Page 8 Contents | NAC™ -D Commissioning manual...

  • Page 9: Introduction

    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.
  • Page 10 Ú Note: Dockside settings can only be accessed when the autopilot is in Standby mode. Ú Note: 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.
  • Page 11 Installation setup workflow Introduction | NAC™ -D Commissioning manual...

  • Page 12: Dockside Setup

    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.

  • Page 13: Boat Characteristics

    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.

  • Page 14: Drive Configuration

    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.

  • Page 15: Rudder Setup

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

  • Page 16: Sea Trial

    Sea trial A seatrial can only be performed after the dockside settings are completed. Ú Note: 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.

  • Page 17: Transition Speed

    Calibration option, AP48 Ú Note: 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.

  • Page 18: Set Turn Rate

    • 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.
  • Page 19 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. Ú Note: 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.
  • Page 20 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.
  • Page 21 The value is set too high. Steering becomes unstable and often the overshoot will increase The value is set too low. It will take a long time to compensate for a heading error, and the autopilot will fail to keep a steady course Counter rudder Counter rudder is the amount of counteracting (opposite) rudder applied to stop the turn at the end of a major course change.
  • Page 22 Counter rudder value too low; overshoot response Counter rudder value is too high; sluggish and creeping response Correct setting of Counter rudder; ideal response Perform various course changes and observe how the boat settles on the new heading. Start with small changes, 10-20 degrees, and proceed with bigger changes, 60-90 degrees.

  • Page 23: User Settings

    User settings The user settings can be configured differently between the different profiles, depending on boat steering characteristics and user preferences. Steering profile settings The NAC include two steering profiles (High and Low), used for high and low boat speed. The initial parameters are automatically assigned when you select your vessel type.

  • Page 24: Turn Pattern Settings

    Rudder limit Determines the dynamic range of the rudder before its movement is restricted and alarm is triggered. Typical usage is to limit the amount of rudder action caused by yawing in following sea. Ú Note: Rudder limit is not a hard limitation of the rudder range, only around the current setpoint.
  • Page 25 All turn patters, except the U-turn, have associated turn pattern settings. Depending on the autopilot controller these turn pattern settings can be adjusted before you start the turn or during the turn. Turn pattern settings, MFD Turn pattern settings, AP48 Ú...
  • Page 26 U-turn Changes the current set heading to be 180° in the opposite direction. Spiral turn Makes the vessel turn in a spiral with a decreasing or increasing radius. • Turn variables: - Initial radius - Change/turn. If this value is set to zero, the boat will turn in a circle.
  • Page 27 Depth contour tracking (DCT) Makes the autopilot follow a depth contour. Ú Note: DCT turn pattern is only available if the system has a valid depth input. Warning: Do not use the DCT turn pattern unless the seabed is suitable. Do not use it in rocky waters where the depth is varying significantly over a small area.

  • Page 28: Installation Verification

    Installation verification When all units in the autopilot system are installed, external equipment connected and the software configured according to the previous chapters, the installation should be verified according to the checklist. The boat specific settings should be noted down in the relevant tables included this chapter.
  • Page 29 Steering system Settings Minimum rudder Steering profiles Settings Low Speed High Speed Turn Rate Rudder gain Counter rudder Autotrim Init rudder Rudder limit Off heading limit Track response Track approach angle Course change confirm angle Turn Pattern settings Settings Continuous Rate of turn Spiral Initial radius...
  • Page 30 Settings Leg distance Square Leg distance Lazy-S Course change Turn radius Depth contour Depth gain Installation verification | NAC™ -D Commissioning manual...

  • Page 31: Maintenance

    You can check the autopilot computer's software version from the display unit's Device list. The latest software is available for download from the product website on www.simrad-yachting.com. Resetting the autopilot computer You can reset the autopilot to factory default settings.
  • Page 32 Reset autopilot computer, AP48 The first time the autopilot computer is started after reset, it will run through the automatic setup-procedure. Ú Note: Unless you need to clear all values set during the installation set-up procedure, you should not perform a reset of the autopilot computer.

Table of Contents