Garmin Autopilot Wiring 2012 R27

[CaspersCruiser]

I’m getting the dreaded, “Searching For Autopilot Controller” message on the GHC-10 Garmin Autopilot Display. It started last September after I towed the boat from Louisville to Savannah. Something must have been jarred loose during the tow. I tried troubleshooting it before I put the boat away for the winter to no avail.

Today, I talked with a Garmin tech support rep who knew the product and was interested in listening to my description of the problem and finding a solution. The tech rep said the problem is likely one of two things:

1) The yellow data cable from the GHC-10 display has become separated from the CCU/ECU interconnect cable. That cable is what tells the CCU/ECU to power up. Does anybody with my vintage boat have a clue where I might find the junction of those two cables?

2) A ground for the CCU/ECU has been compromised. Anybody have a clue where this ground might be?

 

[BB marine]

My C26 2016 did not have a yellow cable installed. I searched high and low to locate it. Garmin said you must find the yellow power cable to confirm it is powering the backbone. This is where the display gets its power. I found in my boat that Fluid Motion did not use the yellow power cable. The display was getting its power from the fusion radio. It was powered through the NRX. My radio needed to be reset when I did this the NRX switched to off. I now lost power to the display. I changed the backbone power by installing a yellow 12V source and tuned the NRX off based on information that Garmin gave me.

This may or may not be your power issue.

 

[Kevin Lamont]

I’m getting the dreaded, “Searching For Autopilot Controller” message on the GHC-10 Garmin Autopilot Display. It started last September after I towed the boat from Louisville to Savannah. Something must have been jarred loose during the tow. I tried troubleshooting it before I put the boat away for the winter to no avail.

Today, I talked with a Garmin tech support rep who knew the product and was interested in listening to my description of the problem and finding a solution. The tech rep said the problem is likely one of two things:

1) The yellow data cable from the GHC-10 display has become separated from the CCU/ECU interconnect cable. That cable is what tells the CCU/ECU to power up. Does anybody with my vintage boat have a clue where I might find the junction of those two cables?

2) A ground for the CCU/ECU has been compromised. Anybody have a clue where this ground might be?

Hello,

Here is a link to the R27 owners manual which includes wiring diagrams, there is a 40amp inline fuse for the autopilot i would check: viewtopic.php?f=7&t=1550

I also would agree with Brian to check for the yellow NEMA power wire. If I remember the easiest way to access the NEMA backbone is by removing the fridge. Hope this helps.

Thanks,

 

[CaspersCruiser]

Brian, thanks. I’ve heard about the Garmin autopilot display getting power from the Fusion radio on some boats. I am unfamiliar with “the NRX” you mention.

The autopilot display on my boat IS getting power and it is functioning. The NMEA backbone on my boat does have a yellow power cable and there is a NEMA 2000 switch breaker on the DC power panel on my boat that I assume services that yellow cable. The problem is that the ECU and the CCU are not functioning even though ECU is getting power. According to the Garmin rep, that may be because of a non-functioning connection between the autopilot display and the CCU/ECU interconnect.

From viewing the General Connections Diagram in the Garmin autopilot install manual, I can see the how the yellow wire from the GHC-10 autopilot display is SUPPOSED to go to the CCU/ECU interconnect. God only knows if Fluid Motion wired it according to the install manual.

 

[CaspersCruiser]

If I remember the easiest way to access the NEMA backbone is by removing the fridge

Heads up to owners of R27s of my vintage— 2012. Removing the refrigerator is not easiest way to access the NMEA 2000 backbone on my vintage boat, it’s the ONLY way to access it. Hopefully on later year boats access was improved.

I did remove the refrigerator and check the backbone connections. Everything was in order.

 

[bill46]

I found AP could not locate controller when boat is cold. Believe it might be data cable on ECU in lazarette.
Anywhy when it is cold and finds CCu I leave on until it warms up! Been fighting this 3 years.