Bow Thruster Joystick Spares

[Hurricane]

I'm trying to track down the joystick switches for bow/stern thrusters.
Mine have been a bit intermittent and it would be safer to replace the actual switch mechanism.
I know I can get them from the usual supply channels but it must be possible to get them from the actual manufacturer or his stockist at a fraction of the price.

They are made up from two parts - the joystick itself and the little "replaceable" switch underneath.
QL use a single underneath switch mechanism whilst Vetus use a twin underneath switch mechanism.
They are, basically, wired as a single pole changeover.

So far, I've found that they are a General Electric part
See Here
And Here

There is also a new style (grey joystick) which appears to have the same type of underneath switches.
French Marine are listing the new type grey switch.

I would like to find a atockist who will just supply the underneath switches - I cant seem to find a GE UK supplier.
I'm sure the switches will be quite cheap when I do find a stockist.

I cant be the only one who wants to keep a spare set of switches.
Any ideas.

 

[Hurricane]

Just found the switches
Here
QL ones are P9B11VN at £3.31 each
Vetus ones are P9B10VN £1.84 each (2 required)

Still looking for the actual joystick GE (old style black part no is probably P9MMN2F - sot sure yet)

Still haven't found the manufacturer of the grey one yet.

 

[Nick_H]

careful when you change them, I took off the joystick to change the instrument panel and it fell apart in my hand and the bowthruster came on and stayed on. Had to bodge something quickly, and fortunately I was nicely tied up to the pontoon so no real problem

 

[Hurricane]

Same thing happened to me yesterday but I realised in time and shut off the isolator.
The little switch that QL uses is pushed by a plunger that is operated from the joystick.
Push the little plunger in about 5mm drives the thruster one way or let it pop out by 5mm and it drives the thruster the other way.
Like me, I bet most people keep the isolator on all the time as well!!!.
Seems awful hit and miss to me - thats why I'm looking to keep some spares on board.

 

[asteven221]

This is an old thread but I was wondering if anyone has managed to get replacement switches for QL Bowthrusters? The price for the normal replacement is about £200 which I think is way over the top. Is there anything particularly clever about these switches, or would it be feasible to make something up as a replacement. Mine is the version with that looks like a top hat and you pull up the lock and then push the stick port/starboard. Unfortunately it doesn't always want to work!

RS do some really nice stainless (waterproof) push button switches for about £11 each (RS Stock No. 811-8405) so I was thinking that I could make a panel and have one for port, one for starboard.

What do the experts think?

 

[Hurricane]

Wow - that was a long time ago.
That was on our last boat.
However, I did find the correct switches - I think I had to buy a minimum order quantity (10) but I've had a look and I can't find the spare ones anywhere.
You have to dismantle the assembly - but make sure that the thrusters are switched off first.
These switches fixed the problem when I fitted them.

My spare ones might be in Spain on the new boat but thats a long shot.
You would be welcome to them if I could find them.

I've just done a Google search for the GE parts above (P9B11VN and P9B10VN)
How about comparing the old one with these
http://www.kempstoncontrols.co.uk/P9B11VN/GE/sku/153879
and these
http://www.kempstoncontrols.co.uk/P9B10VN/GE/sku/153878

It has been a long time but I seem to remember the triangular ones (P9B11VN) fitted.

As I said above (a few years ago) push the little button in and it operates the switch one way and let it pop out to operate the other way.

I definitely fixed the problem with ours.

Hope that helps

 

[asteven221]

Thanks Hurricane.

Yes it's an old thread I came across via a Google search.

And thanks for the offer if you can find them! I will have a look at the links.

Assuming I find a solution I will post back on here in case anyone else has the same issue.

Cheers
All the best.