I am trying to bench test various parts for a Robertson AP300 boat auto pilot. I can't get past a "rudder feedback failure" error with an RF300 rudder feedback unit that is likely bad. The RF300 has two wires that connect to the main junction box running at 12VDC. Its specs show a frequency of 3400 Hz indicates the rudder is at center position and each +/- 20 Hz indicates one degree of rudder change to port or starboard.
The RF300 is mechanically connected to the rudder control arm so its arm is probably rotating a potentiometer. If I put an ohmmeter on the two wires its readings fluctuate wildly while the unit is stationary. Measuring frequency with my DMM shows around 4600 Hz at center position, which is way off the 3400 Hz spec so I think this unit is probably bad. How can I create my own circuit to simulate the RF300? I would love to breadboard a simple device that I can use but I don't know where to begin? For example, how is resistance related to frequency? Thanks in advance for any suggestions.
The RF300 is mechanically connected to the rudder control arm so its arm is probably rotating a potentiometer. If I put an ohmmeter on the two wires its readings fluctuate wildly while the unit is stationary. Measuring frequency with my DMM shows around 4600 Hz at center position, which is way off the 3400 Hz spec so I think this unit is probably bad. How can I create my own circuit to simulate the RF300? I would love to breadboard a simple device that I can use but I don't know where to begin? For example, how is resistance related to frequency? Thanks in advance for any suggestions.