Maxwell AutoAnchor AA730 Hand Held Controller & Rode Counter — Owner's Manual

AA730 System at a Glance

Kit: one AA703 base station, one remote console with cradle, a deck socket with 2m lead, socket sealing cap, screws for the cradle and socket, and a drilling template.

• Keep the base station and console at least 3ft (1m) from VHF radios, modified sine wave inverters, radar and their cables, and 6ft (2m) from SSB; AA703 cables at least 1.5ft (500mm) away. Unshielded sensor cable compromises EMC and may invalidate the warranty.
• There must be an alternative method to operate the windlass, thruster or other equipment.
• Installation by a qualified marine electrician, to USCG, ABYC, NMMA and BMEA requirements.

Magnet and Sensor Installation (Windlass)

• Magnet polarity: irrelevant with the grey AA sensor (#9067) or a reed switch; with the black AA sensor (#9008) the south pole (marked side) faces the sensor. Seal the magnet under at least 1mm of epoxy.
• Vertical windlass sensor hole: 10.3mm (13/32") through the deckplate if not factory drilled, and 10.3mm through the deck in line with it. Check nothing below can be damaged and the structure is not weakened.
• Fitting the sensor: never force or hammer it. Keep it clear of the chainwheel and at least 300mm (1ft) from battery and motor cables; secure with neutral cure silicone or a strong adhesive (e.g. Sikaflex 291 or 3M 5200).
• Reed switch sensors: 10mm × 8mm magnet (#9061), 3–5mm gap, field connector needed; accurate for all-chain, approximate on rope/chain retrieval – replace with the grey sensor (#9067) for rope and chain.
• Plug and play sensor tuning: the sensor is tuned on first deployment (see Operation).

The AA703 base station and the sensor have connector plugs: the 2m sensor cable plugs straight into the base station. For a longer run use the 2m male/female cable (Part #9505) plus a gender changer (Part #9510) with a standard extension cable:

Maxwell horizontal windlasses (HWC, HRC6, HRC8)

• HWC (chain only): predrilled for the AutoAnchor sensor and magnet; drill the deck and fit the sensor as for a vertical windlass.
• HRC6 & HRC8 (rope and chain): you need the HRC sensor and magnet kit (#SP102909 as printed); the windlasses are predrilled. Disassemble: unscrew the 5 M6 × 40 cap screws holding the case together, remove the starboard cover, remove the pressure arm, unscrew the M10 × 30 cap screw used to adjust the clutch, then remove the outer clutch cone, outer belville washer, chainwheel, inner belville washer and inner clutch cone.
• Magnet (#SP4119): insert into the predrilled hole and cover completely with at least 1mm of epoxy to seal it from salt water.
• Sensor (horizontal sensor #SP4124): slide the wire into the downward facing hole in the sensor pocket until the sensor sits in the pocket and the wires protrude below the windlass; secure with neutral cure silicone or a strong adhesive (e.g. Sikaflex 291 or 3M 5200). Drill a 3/8" (10mm) hole in the deck for the wires using the template supplied. Reverse steps 1–5 to reassemble.
• The horizontal sensors have no plug: use an AutoAnchor field connector (Maxwell Part # SP4164) or solder and seal all sensor wires.
• Maxwell windlass deckplates: if factory drilled, remove the plug to insert the sensor; if not, drill a 14.5mm hole at the dimple mark. Slide the sensor into the black fitting adaptor so its top is flush with the adaptor, and push the assembly into the deckplate from the top – no adhesive needed.

Console, Deck Socket, Base Station and Wiring

AA703 base station internal connections

• All outputs are active high (+); unused outputs are automatically assigned as auxiliary outputs.
• Only one windlass per base station – 2 windlasses require 2 systems. OUT1 and OUT2 are fixed; Up/Down buttons and windlass location can be swapped in the menu.
• Bow and stern thruster outputs are default locations and can be swapped; port and starboard per output cannot.
• OUT 5 (white) and OUT 6 (brown) are the motor load wires – only needed for rope/chain counting.

Thrusters, auxiliaries, power and cables

• Thrusters must be installed and tested to the manufacturer's instructions first. With negative switching thruster controls, fit a relay between the AA703 output and the control wire.
• Use relays for auxiliary equipment drawing more than the AA703 output (e.g. more than 3.5A) or on a different supply.
• Power the AA703 from the windlass control circuit with all other windlass controls – never from the motor positive near the windlass. Fuse/breaker rated for the output loads (AA703 output maximum 3.5 Amps); isolating switch if the main breaker is out of reach of the helm.
• Brown and white motor load wires go direct to the windlass motor terminals for rope & chain counting, with a 1000 Ohm resistor near the terminal (prefitted in the kit terminators).
• Connecting: remove the lid, feed the multi-core cable through the waterproof gland, open each terminal with a screwdriver, tighten the gland and refit the lid.
• Interlock protection is built in: no diodes or interlock devices on the outputs. Star ground with AA560/AA150 consoles; run multiple-installation wiring in parallel.
• Low current drives (PLC, AC VFD): a dummy resistor load may be needed, near the equipment control and not on the base station – Part # 9083 in the text, 9515 on the drawing (as printed).

Set Up

• Base station LEDs: System (red) steady = power on, slow pulse = sensor connected while the windlass turns; Network (green) steady = base station ready; Comms (yellow) flashing = data received.
• Factory defaults (clears all settings): unplug the console, power the base station only, open it and hold the registration button 15 seconds until all three LEDs flash.
• Set up menu: AA703 powered, console plugged in and turned off; hold the two scroll buttons together. General: language, units, key beep, backlighting.
• Modes: as on the AA710 – windlass (Outputs 1 and 2), Option A/B (3/4), autowash (5), dual speed (6), thruster A bow (3 port/4 starboard) and B stern (5 port/6 starboard), up to 4 auxiliary outputs, power enable with off delay 0–60 minutes.

Windlass set up for chain counting

Appendix 1 – Chain and Rope per Revolution (Maxwell Windlasses)

Chain only windlasses

Rope & chain windlasses

If your windlass or chainwheel is not listed, measure the chain and rope per turn as described in Set Up.

Operating the AA730

1. Unscrew the sealing cap on the deck socket, fit the plug with the pins aligned and turn clockwise to lock.
2. Switch on the power supply; power up the AA703 and press Mode to turn the console on (screen locked, last mode shown). Hold Mode 2 seconds to unlock.
3. Use the system as set up; hold Mode 1 second to change application (e.g. windlass to thruster).
4. Turn off from the menu (Off) or hold Mode 6 seconds; the console also turns off and relocks after 5 minutes without use.
5. When finished, unscrew the plug, replace the sealing cap and put the console back in its cradle.

• Sensor tuning: anchor docked, count at zero, deploy in one continuous press until "Tuning done" (up to 10 turns).
• Manual windlass: hold Up or Down; release to stop. At the docking distance it stops and beeps (slow speed with dual speed) – hold to finish with care.
• Automatic: set a rode-to-be-released value, select Auto, then press and release Down ("Target reached") or Up (docking distance). Any button stops the windlass. Accuracy +1 chainwheel revolution; release stops 10ft (3m) short of the total rode length.
• Dual speed: right arrow toggles fast/slow (SL or FS on screen). Options A/B on the left/right arrows; Autowash runs during retrieval with any windlass control.
• Thrusters: left to port, right to starboard; with bow and stern, Up/Down toggle bow, stern or both; hold Up more than 1 second for pivot (360°) mode. Never run a thruster near swimmers, out of the water or without propeller resistance.
• No user serviceable parts: check cables, sensor wear and alignment, and the magnet; reset the sensor after any sensor change. Clean with a damp cloth only.

Troubleshooting

Messages flag external wiring, installation or set up problems – not a fault in the AutoAnchor.

Technician diagnostics are in the Set up menu: sensor Signal A must be between 4.6V and 4.9V on this unit; each solenoid wire needs a load of more than 10mA (12V DC) or 20mA (24V DC).