2008 Simrad auto pilot remote WR 20 battery replacement

[capran]

Would sure be nice to have a working remote for the auto pilot on the fly bridge. Opened up the remote and tested the battery. Nada. E mailed Simrad t two weeks ago. No response, and I can't find a contact number. Battery numbers on existing battery don't match what e bay has, and I'm pretty sure in 08 it wasn't a Lithium Ion battery. Any ideas of where/how I might get a replacement battery? posted on Helmsman thread but no input.

 

[CharlieO.]

https://www.cutratebatteries.com/pr...ries&msclkid=0cb1c968f8121b70b28aaf770ea4c90f

Amazon.com

Don't know if that helps but googled Simrad WR20 REPLACEMENT BATTERY

 

[capran]

https://www.cutratebatteries.com/pr...ries&msclkid=0cb1c968f8121b70b28aaf770ea4c90f

Amazon.com

Don't know if that helps but googled Simrad WR20 REPLACEMENT BATTERY

I saw that too but dimensions and hook up don't match the pic of the battery in the unit I have a pic of. The two copper clips on top and bottom of blue battery have a little end piece that connects to each side of the battery, and those clips touch the other side when closed. see crude drawing attempt. LOL

 

[CharlieO.]

Maybe need to solder the wire on pointed end or use a mini spade connector. Since no luck contacting Simrad directly you could reach to a marine electronics supplier that deals in Simrad. Good luck!!

 

[Pascall]

I have asked your question to my Simrad dealer, he may have the answer.
Greeting,

Pascal.

 

[capran]

I have asked your question to my Simrad dealer, he may have the answer.
Greeting,

Pascal.

That would be awesome. You can give him my e mail if he needs it. I'm six hours away from the boat. (Boat is in Anacortes). my boat yard didn't have any ideas. I was surprised that SIMRD didn't reply to my e mail and didn't have any contact number I could find. The auto pilot from the main helm is fine, but would be nice to not have to hand steer from the fly bridge. (although in my 40+ years of sailing, rarely used the auto pilot, which is interesting now that I'm in the trawler.)

 

[capran]

Maybe need to solder the wire on pointed end or use a mini spade connector. Since no luck contacting Simrad directly you could reach to a marine electronics supplier that deals in Simrad. Good luck!!

I wish there was a manual with it, or some amperage info printed on the battery to help me know if I could modify something that was compatable.

 

[Pascall]

I haven't received a message from the Simrad supplier yet, I had typed a message via SMS.I have now sent an email, just wait and see if there is a response.

Greeting,

Pascal.

 

[twistedtree]

For what it's worth, I had a WR20 on a previous boat circa 2012 and it was essentially unusable. Sometimes it would work, but other times you would press buttons and nothing would happen.

After trying a million things at Simrad's suggestion, including replacing the unit, I finally discovered that it was interference from cellular service that was causing the WR20 to not work. If we had any cell phones turned on on the boat, the WR20 would be flakey. This was even if the phones weren't being actively used, just sitting there. Locating them physically further away from the WR20 and it's receiver helped, but I couldn't get them far enough away to completely solve the problem without getting a bigger boat. If I turned the phones off, the WR20 worked perfectly. So there was a crippling interference problem in the design.

I ended up stuffing it in a drawer and never using it again, which might be what happened to yours. So think about how much time and money you want to spend on reviving it vs just installing a wired control panel on your fly bridge.

 

[capran]

Thank you. that's interesting. So far I have come up empty on the battery replacement. also interesting is your comment about a wired control panel. when I got a recent quote re: other updated electronics package, they told me if anything auto pilot involved would add greatly to the price quoted. Hence my thought about the battery. the whole experience is turning into a bummer.

 

[Pascall]

If it still applies, this was the recommendation of my Simrad supplier:

Pardon our interruption...

Greeting;

Pascal.

 

[twistedtree]

Thank you. that's interesting. So far I have come up empty on the battery replacement. also interesting is your comment about a wired control panel. when I got a recent quote re: other updated electronics package, they told me if anything auto pilot involved would add greatly to the price quoted. Hence my thought about the battery. the whole experience is turning into a bummer.

Which model AP do you have? You might be able to find a used control panel for the fly bridge, assuming it's a model that's no longer made. If you can find an appropriate panel, it's just a matter of pulling a cable and plugging it in.

 

[capran]

If it still applies, this was the recommendation of my Simrad supplier:

Pardon our interruption...

Greeting;

Pascal.

Thanks. I had seen that on a google search, but didn't know if the lithium ion rechargeable would work. No port or anything to recharge, and I'm not even sure Lithium was around when the boat was purchased with the remote. I'll see if they have pics of the sides for the contacts to work. If it comes charged up, it might be worth it to try it.

 

[capran]

Which model AP do you have? You might be able to find a used control panel for the fly bridge, assuming it's a model that's no longer made. If you can find an appropriate panel, it's just a matter of pulling a cable and plugging it in.

Not sure about the model, as the boat is 6 hours away. on the purchase survey it says it is "AP 26", but not a high degree of confidence, as several things were incorrect after I started looking into it. All the electronics were as installed in 2008, so doubt anything was a plug and play, but I could ask.

 

[capran]

Thanks. I had seen that on a google search, but didn't know if the lithium ion rechargeable would work. No port or anything to recharge, and I'm not even sure Lithium was around when the boat was purchased with the remote. I'll see if they have pics of the sides for the contacts to work. If it comes charged up, it might be worth it to try it.

I'm not a real computer savvy person, but for some reason the e bay site keeps trying to say I am in Mexico, and won't let me switch to the US. beyond frustrated. I am in US (Washington state)