Jastram ENGINEERING DSC 100 - Autopilot Solenoid Command Signals

To Next Page

To Previous Page

DSC - Inputs

Page 16 of 80

The POS / NEG connections provide a supply that can be used to power

the rudder feedback circuit. This power supply output is the same voltage

level as the main input voltage.

Commissioning

In order to commission the system’s rudder feedback, the DSC must be

setup for either potentiometer (single ended) or differential input through

the use of the jumpers on the DSC main circuit board. Once the jumpers

are properly set the system must be told where the rudder’s two hard over

positions and center position are located. This procedure is done through

the DSC Setup Software’s Rudder Feedback Calibration window (see

section 4.1.2

), or through the keypad setup’s Calibration screen (see

section 4.2.5). If the polarity of the feedback signal is backwards it can

easily be reversed in the DSC Setup Software’s Rudder Feedback

Configuration window (see section 4.1.1

), or through the keypad setup’s

Calibration screen (see section 4.2.5

1.3.3 Autopilot Solenoid Command Signals

Description

The DSC can interface with autopilot systems outputting either directional

solenoid command signals or analog rudder order signals.

NOTE:

Whenever possible, the autopilot command interfacing should use the

analog command signals described in 1.3.4. An autopilot which outputs

analog rudder command signals will normally not require its own rudder

feedback signal.

The solenoid command input provides interfacing to autopilot systems

only capable of outputting on-off type directional solenoid command

signals. The input is capable of receiving signals from a positive common

or negative common autopilot output. These autopilot command signals

are optically isolated by the DSC providing galvanic isolation. This type of

autopilot command signal requires that the autopilot system includes its

own rudder feedback signal.

When this type of autopilot command signal is used in a dual independent

rudder system the two steering control systems will operate in a master /

slave arrangement. The autopilot system will send its command signals to

one of the DSC’s in order to control the ‘master’ rudder. The remaining

rudder will operate as the ‘slave’ rudder and will receive its positional

commands from the ‘master’ DSC through the use of the DSC to DSC

communication channel.