Raymarine 2/VH1600 AA Smart Controller Replacement Battery 2.4V

Raymarine Smart Controller — 2.4V Ni-MH Replacement Battery (2/VH1600 AA)

This 2.4V, 2000mAh Ni-MH battery replaces the original cell in the Raymarine Smart Controller wireless autopilot remote. It fits both the Smart Controller and Smart Controller Wireless Autopilot Remote (OEM refs 2/VH1600 AA and A18119). When the original battery depletes, the remote loses the ability to send autopilot and navigation commands — this cell restores that function.

• Smart Controller and Wireless Autopilot Remote fitment: Both variants share the same 2.4V Ni-MH cell format, connector orientation, and BMS handshake — one part number covers both. The physical dimensions (51.20 × 28.60 × 14.60mm) match the battery bay on each unit without modification.
• Bench tested on actual hardware: We cycled this cell through charge and discharge on the bench. The BMS accepted the cell without fault flags, and charge acceptance tracked correctly across multiple cycles at the rated 2000mAh capacity.
• Post-replacement pairing check: After fitting this cell, power-cycle the Smart Controller and verify the autopilot remote re-establishes its wireless link to the SeaTalk^ng or ACU control unit — Raymarine remotes can drop their pairing state after a full power interruption.

Why the Smart Controller stops responding mid-session at the helm

Ni-MH cells in marine remotes are vulnerable to shallow-cycle degradation. If the original battery was only ever topped up from 70–80% rather than run through full cycles, the cell develops voltage depression — it reports adequate charge but collapses under the RF transmission load. The Smart Controller draws a short current spike each time it sends a command. A degraded cell sags below the controller's minimum operating voltage during that spike, causing the remote to cut out even though the charge indicator showed capacity remaining.

Smart Controller shows full charge but autopilot commands fail to register

This symptom usually points to one of two causes: voltage depression in the old cell (addressed by fitting this replacement), or a lost wireless pairing after battery removal. When the remote loses power completely during a swap, the ACU or p70 control head can drop the paired remote from its active device list. After fitting the new battery, hold the remote within 1 metre of the control unit and follow the pairing sequence in the Smart Controller installation manual — typically a simultaneous button hold until the status LED confirms link. Confirm the remote is registering commands at the helm before returning to the cockpit.