Thanks Steve -

The motor in the BenMar draws 15 amps, but it does so thru a pair of
relays - I only need to supply relay actuating current. It is my
understanding that the ST6001 has a single pair of drive outputs which
reverse polarity, so I will need to drive the pair of relays (one for
port actuation, one for starboard) thru some diodes I guess.

I have a concern tho - since the ST6001 thinks it is directly driving
the motor, does it have any "soft start" or other such nonsense imposed
on the actuation current? This could confound my use of the output for
relay actuation.

bob
s/v Eolian
Seattle

Steve wrote:
I have been hooking Autohelm and Raymarine ST model controls to other mfg
actuators for several year. (my boat and helm demands are too much for
Raymarine/Autohelm drives).

I can't address your specific question but can advise that the amount of
current your BenMar draws should meet that normally supplied by the
ST60001+. Your manuals might tell you this. If not you will have to add a
drive transistor circuit that provides both forward and reverse power
polarity.

If your BenMar provided position feed back to the control, then that will
have to match the resistance ranges that the control unit is expecting and
if not, you won't be able to calibrate the rudder location without a
Raymarine rudder position unit.

I'm using a linear drive unit from Alpha and had to change the feed back
potentiometer in this drive unit. Not easy to find, but I finally did.

If I weren't a DIY Tinker', I probably wouldn't have a AP. Hydraulics just
seem to extreme for my open cockpit arrangement. (double ender Ingrid 5ft+
tiller)