Antares 760 Electrics

[spray]

What possible reason would you want to have the bow thruster or windlass on a motor boat operating when the engine is off?

My reason is to check that it works before I put it in the water

 

[Sticky Fingers]

Your engine has cut out and you are drifting towards some rocks/into a shipping lane etc etc so you want to drop the anchor............

That’s “not running”. Not “off”. If it actually means that the engine has to be running for these things to work then that’s stupid, agreed.

 

[PaulRainbow]

That’s “not running”. Not “off”. If it actually means that the engine has to be running for these things to work then that’s stupid, agreed.

It does mean that the engine has to be running, it also means the alternator has to be charging.

 

[Plum]

As far as i've seen, the "engine must be running" thing just adds a relay that must be closed to enable the switches, buttons, remotes etc. The relay is activated by the alternator, when the engine is started. If you wanted to be able to use the windlass without the engine running, replace the relay with a switch (disconnecting or isolating the wiring from the alternator) the switch would normally be off, to prevent accidentally activating the windlass, turn it on as part of pre-departure checks.

The relay on mine that stopped the winch operating until the engine was running can be seen below. The brown wire had been disconnected from the winch relay box by a previous owner so the winch now operates even if the engine is not running. I have subsequently removed the wire.

 

[Sticky Fingers]

It does mean that the engine has to be running, it also means the alternator has to be charging.

Ok thank you. Learned something new today.