Overview

The Garmin 010-11533-11 is a solenoid power cable used to connect a solenoid-type hydraulic drive unit to a compatible Garmin autopilot ECU. It includes protection diodes and self-healing fuses to shield the ECU from voltage spikes created when hydraulic solenoid coils switch on and off.

The cable is 0.8 m (2.6 ft.) long and it cannot be extended, so plan the ECU mounting location and routing before you start terminating the drive-unit end. This cable is used on GHP Reactor Mechanical/Solenoid/Retrofit corepack installations and GHP 12 setups that steer through a solenoid valve pack.

On the solenoid side, the harness provides color-coded conductors for port and starboard steering, plus a bypass pair when your system uses a bypass solenoid. The ECU end connects at the autopilot ECU drive output.

Key features

• Built-in protection diodes and self-healing fuses help protect the autopilot ECU from solenoid coil voltage kickback
• Made for solenoid-type hydraulic drive units used in a solenoid configuration (valve packs)
• 0.8 m (2.6 ft.) harness length; the cable cannot be extended
• Color-coded leads for starboard solenoid positive and common (red, white/red)
• Color-coded leads for port solenoid positive and common (black, white/black)
• Includes bypass solenoid positive and common (blue, white/blue) for systems that use a bypass valve

Compatibility and fit

Use this cable when the boat steers through a solenoid manifold with separate port and starboard solenoids, with an optional bypass solenoid on some systems. It is not the cable used for pump-drive installations or for drive units that already include their own dedicated drive wiring.

If you are unsure whether your system is solenoid-based, look for a valve block with individual solenoid coils and a common return, rather than a single reversible pump motor. The drive unit documentation will usually identify port, starboard, and bypass valves.

Installation and setup

Because the harness is fixed-length, the clean install starts with physical layout. Mount the ECU close enough that the 0.8 m run reaches the solenoid pack without splices, and route the cable where it will not chafe on steering gear, sharp fiberglass edges, or hydraulic hoses.

Terminate the bare-wire end with the correct lugs or spade terminals for your solenoid coils. After crimping, seal and support the terminations so vibration does not loosen them, and secure the harness so it cannot sit in bilge water or collect spray near the valve manifold.

Wiring notes

Wire colors are assigned to each solenoid pair: red and white/red connect to the starboard solenoid positive and common, black and white/black connect to the port solenoid positive and common, and blue and white/blue connect to the bypass solenoid positive and common when a bypass valve is present. If your system does not use a bypass solenoid, the blue and white/blue leads should be insulated and secured out of the way.

Before final tightening, confirm which coil on your manifold is port, starboard, and bypass and which terminals are the common returns so the autopilot commands match the helm.

Use on board

This cable is a good match for refits where an existing solenoid steering manifold is being controlled by a Garmin autopilot ECU, including many hydraulic steering systems found on cruising sailboats and sportfishing boats. It is also a practical replacement when you are troubleshooting steering issues tied to voltage spikes from solenoid coils.