Autopilot computer failure
Printed From: myHanse.com
Category: General
Forum Name: Chit Chat
Forum Description: Talk about anything to do with your boat
URL: https://www.myhanse.com/forum_posts.asp?TID=12531
Printed Date: 27 March 2026 at 03:29
Software Version: Web Wiz Forums 12.06 - https://www.webwizforums.com
Topic: Autopilot computer failure
Posted By: 32mike
Subject: Autopilot computer failure
Date Posted: 14 February 2021 at 14:36
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Anybody have any first hand experience with the NAC-3 autopilot computer failing while in use? Ours just died while sailing the other night. Got a message “autopilot computer failure” on plotter and the Nav switch on the DC panel blinks when on.
------------- Mike S/V Dulces Sueños 458 #087 Tampa, FL |
Replies:
Posted By: Arcadia
Date Posted: 14 February 2021 at 17:08
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Sounds like a blown fuse on the dc panel. The display will indicate “failures” when the computer is off line. Be careful when replacing the fuse. It can be tricky. It should be near the connector label XB 4.3 ------------- Leon / ARCADIA 2018 Hanse 588 Sag Harbor, NY |
Posted By: Arcadia
Date Posted: 14 February 2021 at 17:09
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I should clarify that “failure” would displayed on your Plotter. The DC panel will blink when there is a blown fuse on the corresponding switch. ------------- Leon / ARCADIA 2018 Hanse 588 Sag Harbor, NY |
Posted By: S&J
Date Posted: 15 February 2021 at 00:04
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I expand on the "tricky" part of fuse replacement, it is best to turn off the 12V DC supply to the control panel when replacing fuses just in case you drop them and they short out something on the panel. ------------- H458 #159 Primal Mediterranean cruising |
Posted By: Arcadia
Date Posted: 15 February 2021 at 01:38
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Agreed! You need surgical skill. You may want to upgrade to 20 amp fuse from the factory 15 amp. The dedicated wiring to the autopilot will handle up to 30 amps. ------------- Leon / ARCADIA 2018 Hanse 588 Sag Harbor, NY |
Posted By: 32mike
Date Posted: 17 February 2021 at 11:23
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Thank you gentlemen. I figured it might be a fuse. I’ll see what I can find. I have to admit that the correlation between switches and fuses and wires on that DC panel is a bit bewildering to me. Things don’t seem to match up to where simplicity would dictate they should. ------------- Mike S/V Dulces Sueños 458 #087 Tampa, FL |
Posted By: 32mike
Date Posted: 17 February 2021 at 11:26
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How do you shut off 12 volt DC supply to the panel? Shut off the house battery switch - the red one? ------------- Mike S/V Dulces Sueños 458 #087 Tampa, FL |
Posted By: Arcadia
Date Posted: 17 February 2021 at 14:18
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Yes. That’s the only way. I can send you a diagram of the DC panel. I’ll need your email (you can private message it to me if you want. ------------- Leon / ARCADIA 2018 Hanse 588 Sag Harbor, NY |
Posted By: Norman John
Date Posted: 17 February 2021 at 17:07
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Just an alternative suggestion - there may be a faulty electrical connection. Dampness entering electrical wires or connectors can cause the wiring to fail - hence no response from the autohelm. Can be worth cutting doing an electrical continuity check or cutting through a wire to check on its state. hope its not your computer. All the best. ------------- Norman Payne |
Posted By: 32mike
Date Posted: 22 February 2021 at 20:38
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As a follow-up, it was a blown fuse. Thanks to Leon on Arcadia I was able to find the right one. The spares kit, however, did not have the small fuses - another trip to West Marine to stock up on various sizes of those. Thanks, everyone for the help. ------------- Mike S/V Dulces Sueños 458 #087 Tampa, FL |
Posted By: Fendant
Date Posted: 23 February 2021 at 05:01
This is the reason, why I changed all cheapo automotive melt fuses to automatic resetable ones. Please observe by all means the recommendation by the previous poster to disconnect the 12 V power, before doing anything on the panel. A new panel is about 1000 $ and you need some time to install it. I learned it the hard way when a fuse disappeared into the panel   ------------- Frank |
Posted By: Pzucchel
Date Posted: 23 February 2021 at 06:46
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Hi Fendant, where did you find the resettable fuses? They seem hard to find... ------------- Hanse588#55 |
Posted By: Fendant
Date Posted: 23 February 2021 at 08:36
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I bought them from Conrad.ch or Conrad.de Order No: 2104540 - UO https://www.conrad.ch/de/p/hansor-circuit-breaker-mini-type-3-manual-reset-25a-cba3-series-25a-sicherungsautomat-standard-flachsicherung-25-a-weiss-1-st-2104540.html" rel="nofollow - Hansor Circuit Breaker Mini, type 3. Manual Reset, 25A CBA3 Series 25A ------------- Frank |