Alphatron ALPHASEAPILOT MFC - Manual and Auto Deviation Correction; I) Automatic Deviation Correction Procedure

Operating manual ALPHASEAPILOT MFC Issue 1.1 Page 70 of 84
ALPHASEAPILOT MFC
2.39 Manual and Auto Deviation Correction
Magnetic Deviation:
A Navitron Heading Sensor Coil (type HSC 1 or HSC 2) attached above or below a magnetic
compass to transmit heading information to the Autopilot system will be subject to any
deviation errors associated with the compass.
Provided such errors are not totally abnormal they can be electronically corrected by the
Autopilot system via access to the set up Menu.
Two deviation correction procedures are available (Set Up Menu Parameter No. 50) as MANUAL
or AUTO and an existing deviation table can be cleared down using the CLEAR facility.
Automatic Deviation Correction:
This is only available when NMEA (HDT sentence) heading information is connected to the
Autopilot in addition to the Sensor Coil (i.e. when swinging the vessel, the Sensor Coil
information can automatically be compared with the NMEA HDT sentence input and
electronically corrected accordingly).
Manual Deviation Correction:
This is the only facility for electronic deviation correction if the Sensor Coil is the solitary
heading input for the Autopilot.
2.39 (i) Automatic Deviation Correction Procedure
(a) Enter the Set Up Menu by 5 second simultaneous CANCEL/CONFIRM key operation and
use the Set Course knob to scroll to Parameter No. 50 (MAN/AUTO/CLEAR).
(b) Use the rotary illumination control (+/-) to set AUTO.
(c) Press the AUTOTRIM key to display current Mag (HSC2 Coil) Heading.
NB. If no TRUE NMEA Heading data is available to the Autopilot the AUTO Mode selected
will be forced to MANUAL.
(d) Use the rotary illumination Control (+/-) to adjust the displayed Heading to agree with
any known ships head Magnetic Heading reference (Steering compass etc.).
(e) Press the AUTOTRIM key which will be confirmed by an alternating display showing
“TURN STARBRD”.
(f) Turn the ship slowly to STARBOARD through a minimum of 360
o
noting, that at 30
o
intervals during the turn, “bleeps” will be heard confirming that Heading data
comparisons are being made and stored until, finally, the display shows SAVE?.
(g) Press the AUTOTRIM key to save the data which will be confirmed by the message
END.