Handwheel SR

Operation Manual
www.alphatronmarine.com
Contents
Preface..................................................................................................................................................... 3
Revision History ................................................................................................................................... 4
Glossary ............................................................................................................................................... 5
Abbreviations ................................................................................................................................... 5
Definitions........................................................................................................................................ 5
Safety Information................................................................................................................................... 6
Warranty ................................................................................................................................................. 7
Introduction............................................................................................................................................. 8
Enabling FU control ................................................................................................................................. 9
Control allowed/not allowed ............................................................................................................ 11
Control handover .............................................................................................................................. 13
Take control ................................................................................................................................... 13
Release/take control ..................................................................................................................... 13
Steering ................................................................................................................................................. 13
Alarm handling ...................................................................................................................................... 14
Dimming ................................................................................................................................................ 15
Alarm speaker and lamp test ................................................................................................................ 15

2 | Preface
Preface
The Alphatron AlphaPilot MFM system is a type approved heading control system, designed to fit
vessels of any size, including high speed crafts.

The Handwheel SR is part of the AlphaPilot MFM system and is used for steering in manual FU
steering mode.

• Thoroughly read this operation manual before operating the equipment.

• We recommend keeping this manual nearby the equipment to ensure ready access to it.

3 | Preface
Revision History
Revision Date Description Author
No.
1.0 19-04-2018 First release. J. Kreeft

4 | Preface
Glossary
The glossary contains a list of abbreviations and a list of definitions.

Abbreviations
Abbreviations as used in this manual are explained in the table below.

FU Follow-Up
PS Port Side
SB Starboard Side
SR Single Rudder
STBY Standby

Definitions
The meaning of standard definitions as used in this manual are explained in the table below.

Alarm Audio and visual signal announcing a condition requiring attention.

The audio continues until acknowledged. The acoustic noise pressure
of the alarm is at least 75 dBA but not greater than 85 dBA at a
distance of 1 m (IEC 60945). The visual indication continues until the
alarm condition is removed.
AlphaPilot MFM Alphatron brand name for the heading control system
Autopilot A Heading Control System.
Indication Visual display of any message to the user which may be accompanied
by a low intensity acoustic signal to gain attention.
Steering mode selector A switch provided for the selection of manual steering modes and
automatic steering devices.

5 | Preface
Safety Information
The signal words DANGER, WARNING and CAUTION used in this manual indicate the degree of
hazard that may be encountered by the user. These words are defined as follows:

DANGER Indicates a hazardous situation which, if not avoided, will result in death
or serious injury. This signal word is limited to the most extreme
situations.

WARNING Indicates a hazardous situation which, if not avoided, could result in death
or serious injury.

CAUTION Indicates a hazardous situation which, if not avoided, could result in minor
or moderate injury.

The signal word NOTICE used in this manual indicates information considered important but not
related to injury. It is typically used to prevent damage to equipment or property.

To safely operate this system, the following DANGERS, WARNINGS, and CAUTIONS must be adhered
to. Failure to comply with the precautions or with specific dangers, warnings, and cautions elsewhere
in this manual violates safety standards of design, manufacture, and intended use of the equipment.
ALPHATRON MARINE assumes no liability for the customer's failure to comply with these
requirements.

Do not disassemble or modify the equipment. Otherwise, it may cause a

WARNING
fire, or you may suffer an electrical shock.

Immediately turn off the power and disconnect the power supply cable if
the equipment is generating any smoke or odour or is overheated.
WARNING Immediately inform your local service agent of the symptom to have it
repaired. Prolonged equipment operation under such a condition can
cause a fire or electric shock.

Do not place a container containing liquid on the equipment. Otherwise, it

WARNING
may cause a fire, or you may suffer an electrical shock if knocked over.

When unplugging the instrument, be sure to remove the cord terminal

WARNING correctly. If the cord is pulled, the cord may get damaged resulting in a fire
or an electrical shock.

6 | Safety Information
Warranty
To not to adversely affect the warranty, the following notices must be adhered to.

Operating personnel must not remove equipment covers. Only personnel trained
NOTICE and certified by ALPHATRON MARINE must make component replacement and
internal adjustment.

Do not disassemble or modify the equipment. Failure to observe this instruction

NOTICE
may cause equipment failure, and it will void the warranty.

Any modification to this equipment without prior written permission from

NOTICE
ALPHATRON MARINE will void the warranty.

Installation of this product shall only be done by a certified installation company

NOTICE approved by either ALPHATRON MARINE or by an official ALPHATRON MARINE
distributor. Acting otherwise will void the warranty.

This product contains no operator serviceable parts. Service and repair shall only be
NOTICE
carried out by personnel trained and certified by ALPHATRON MARINE.

Do not place a container containing liquid on the equipment. The equipment can be
NOTICE
damaged if knocked over.

When cleaning the surface, do not use any organic solvent such as thinner or
NOTICE benzine. Otherwise, the paint and markings on the surface may get damaged. For
cleaning the surface, remove the dust and debris and wipe with a clean dry cloth.

7 | Warranty
Introduction
The Handwheel SR is part of the AlphaPilot MFM system and is used for steering in manual FU
steering mode. The Handwheel SR is typically used in combination with an AlphaPilot MFM control
unit.

The Handwheel SR has 1 handwheel and multiple buttons:

- The alarm speaker button will illuminate when there is an alarm. The button is used to mute
the speakers of the Handwheel SR and interconnected modules.
- The buttons DIM - and DIM + are used to control the brightness level of the Handwheel SR
and interconnected modules.
- The button FU is used to release/take FU control.
- The handwheel is used to steer (step less control).

Figure 1: Handwheel SR

8 | Introduction
Enabling FU control
Push the button FU to enable FU control*. The control mode indicator FU and handwheel indicator
will illuminate, meaning that FU mode is enabled, and that the handwheel is enabled.

*Note that control must be allowed, see subsection ‘Control allowed/not allowed’ on page 11. Note
that another active controller may need to allow control handover first, see subsection ‘Control
handover‘ on page 13.

Figure 2: STBY mode enabled

9 | Enabling FU control
 Figure 3: FU mode enabled

10 | Enabling FU control
Control allowed/not allowed
When not in control, the Handwheel SR is in standby mode and handwheel is disabled (the control
mode indicator STBY is illuminated and the handwheel indicator is not illuminated). The button FU is
illuminated when allowed to take control (see Figure 4 and Figure 5).

FU control is steering in manual FU steering mode; therefore, the Mode Switch must be in position
MAN (Mode Switch 3 Pos) or AUTO|MAN (Mode Switch 2 Pos).

FU control is not allowed when the Mode Switch is in position NFU (Mode Switch 2 Pos & Mode
Switch 3 Pos) or AUTO (Mode Switch 3 Pos)).

Figure 4: Enabling FU control not allowed

11 | Enabling FU control
 Figure 5: Enabling FU control allowed

When a non-illuminated button is pushed, the speaker produces 4 short successive beeps to indicate
that the operation is not valid.

12 | Enabling FU control
Control handover
If applicable, handover of control must be allowed first by the active controller to allow the
Handwheel SR to take control (i.e. enable FU control).

The method for control handover is pre-set during commissioning. Two system settings are possible,
namely ‘Take control’ or ‘Release/take control’.

Take control
Any controller can take control. Control handover allowance is not applicable.

Procedure for Handwheel SR:

- Push the button FU to enable FU control. The control mode indicator FU and handwheel
indicator will illuminate, meaning that the FU mode and the handwheel is enabled.

Release/take control
Any controller can take control, only when the active controller allows control handover.

Procedure for Handwheel SR:

- Take control
Allow control handover from the active controller (refer to the respective operation manual
for the procedure). The button FU will illuminate to indicate that FU control is allowed. Push
the button FU to enable FU control. The control mode indicator FU and handwheel indicator
will illuminate, meaning that the FU mode and the handwheel is enabled.

- Release control
To allow control handover to another controller, push the button FU, until the control mode
indicator FU flashes (this indicates that control handover is allowed).
NOTE: The Handwheel SR stays in control until control is transferred to another controller.
NOTE: The control mode indicator FU keeps flashing until control is transferred to another
controller. There is no timeout. The speaker produces 3 short successive beeps with 10
seconds interval to indicate that the operation is not finished.
NOTE: The Handwheel SR goes into standby mode when control is transferred to another
controller.

Steering
In FU control, the steering gear will move the rudder as per FU value command (rudder angle).

Moving the handwheel to the neutral position will cause the rudder to move to the centre position.
Turning the handwheel farthest to the left will cause the rudder to move to a predefined maximum
rudder angle, turning the handwheel farthest to the right will cause the rudder to move to the
predefined maximum rudder angle in the opposite direction.

13 | Steering
Alarm handling
The alarm speaker button is only illuminated when there is an internal alarm. When an alarm occurs,
the alarm speaker button will flash in an uninterrupted sequence, and the speaker will beep in an
uninterrupted sequence.

The alarm speaker can be muted via the alarm speaker button.

When the alarm is (read and) acknowledged on the AlphaPilot MFM control unit, then the
illumination will be constant, and the speaker will be muted (if not muted already via the Handwheel
SR). When the alarm is accepted (e.g. problem solved), then the illumination on the alarm speaker
button will turn off.

Figure 6: Alarm
active

14 | Alarm handling
Dimming
Buttons DIM - and DIM + are always illuminated (dimmed to a pre-set brightness level) and control is
always allowed.

Push the button DIM - or DIM + to simultaneously adjust the brightness level of all indicators on the
Handwheel SR and interconnected modules.

Alarm speaker and lamp test

Simultaneously push and hold buttons DIM - and DIM + to test the alarm speaker and the indicators;
The alarm speaker will beep continuously and all indicators (buttons, control mode indicators, and
handwheel indicator) will illuminate continuously, until the buttons are released.

15 | Dimming