PG500 — 2-Axis Minigyro Compass 12-24VDC • True North • AD10 Output & 2 NMEA0183 Outputs

The FURUNO PG500 is a 2-axis minigyro compass designed to provide accurate and stable heading data for recreational vessels and coastal fishing boats. It combines innovative electromagnetic compass technology with a solid-state gyroscope for enhanced heading stability. This heading sensor delivers horizontal accuracy of ±1.0° with 0.1° resolution and a tracking rate of 25°/s.

Connectivity and Integration

The PG500 features a versatile interface with one NMEA 0183 input port (Ver1.5/2.0) for RMC and VTG sentences. It provides two output ports (one managing three outputs) supporting the proprietary FURUNO AD-10 format and NMEA 0183 (Ver2.0) with HDG, HDT, and HDM sentences. A high-speed heading data output in IEC 61162-2 format is also available. AD-10 data updates every 25 ms, while NMEA 0183 data can be selected at 100 ms, 200 ms, or 1 second intervals.

Advanced Features

This compensated heading sensor integrates a solid-state gyroscope to improve accuracy and stability by monitoring the Coriolis force. It outputs both true and magnetic heading. True heading can be obtained via automatic correction of local magnetic variation through an interface with a compatible GPS navigator (transmitting RMC or VTG sentences), or manually with an optional remote display such as the RD-30/RD-33. The PG500 also handles automatic deviation correction, performed by spinning the vessel to compensate for errors caused by the onboard environment.

Robust Design

The FURUNO PG500 operates on 12-24 VDC with a power consumption of 120-30 mA (0.12-0.03 A). Its compact and waterproof housing (IPX5 per IEC 60529 and CFR-46 USCG) is designed to withstand ambient temperatures from -15°C to 55°C. It weighs 0.3 kg and includes visual status indicators to simplify installation and maintenance.