Bukh control panel warning lights

[westerlylad]

Another Bukh question if you don't mind chaps. When I switch on the ignition, before starting, I get the amp and oil pressure lights, as expected, and on starting, these go out, also as expected. What I don't understand is, looking at the wiring diagram, I'd have thought that the acoustic alarm would sound, as well as the amp and oil pressure lights coming on, when the ignition is switched on, and that the alarm would stop, as well as the lights going out, on starting.

Am I correct in my assumption? Obviously, I would expect the alarm to sound, along with a warning light, if I lost oil pressure or alternator output, but what about the acoustic alarm on switching on the ignition?

Can anyone confirm please?

 

[VicS]

Got a link to the wiring diagram or manual ?

ITYWF that the audible alarm should be triggered by a low oil pressure, or a high temperature ( if applicable) but not by the ignition / no charge warning ,

This means that it should sound whenever the low oil pressure light is illuminated. That is at initial switch on before the engine is started, when the engine is stopped if not switched off immediately and of course in the event of a low oil pressure.
Maybe your buzzer is faulty or there is a fault with the diode plate. You know the sensor ( switch) on the engine is OK because the warning light works correctly.

 

[Poignard]

Another Bukh question if you don't mind chaps. When I switch on the ignition, before starting, I get the amp and oil pressure lights, as expected, and on starting, these go out, also as expected. What I don't understand is, looking at the wiring diagram, I'd have thought that the acoustic alarm would sound, as well as the amp and oil pressure lights coming on, when the ignition is switched on, and that the alarm would stop, as well as the lights going out, on starting.

Am I correct in my assumption? Obviously, I would expect the alarm to sound, along with a warning light, if I lost oil pressure or alternator output, but what about the acoustic alarm on switching on the ignition?

Can anyone confirm please?

I can confirm that on my BUKH engine when the key is turned clockwise the warning lights come on and the buzzer sounds.

When the engine is started the oil pressure light is extinguished but the Amps light stays lit and the buzzer sounds until I increase the engine revs sufficiently.

 

[westerlylad]

Thanks both for your replies. That's what I was expecting should happen Poignard, and I think you are probably correct VicS that it must be a fault in the diode plate, because my alarm sounds okay when I stop the engine and leave the key in the stop position a little too long. I think I'll try shorting out my water temp and oil pressure wires and see if I get an alarm then, but I think probably I'm looking for a new diode plate.
Cheers both.

 

[Poignard]

Thanks both for your replies. That's what I was expecting should happen Poignard, and I think you are probably correct VicS that it must be a fault in the diode plate, because my alarm sounds okay when I stop the engine and leave the key in the stop position a little too long. I think I'll try shorting out my water temp and oil pressure wires and see if I get an alarm then, but I think probably I'm looking for a new diode plate.
Cheers both.

I dread to think what BUKH Ltd would charge for a new diode plate.

If I remember correctly, there aren't many components on it. It might be cheaper just to replace every diode on it with ones bought from eBay.

 

[westerlylad]

That sounds a bit too intricate for me Poignard, but I'll have a think about it. I must admit, the lack of audible alarm has not been a big concern to date, and It has been this way since I got the boat several years ago. It's just my desire to get as many things working as intended as possible. I can see the warning lights perfectly clearly from my perch in the cockpit and I think I would notice fairly quickly if one of them came on, but I'll have a look at the Bukh distributor plate and see what may be involved.
Thanks again,

 

[VicS]

That sounds a bit too intricate for me Poignard, but I'll have a think about it. I must admit, the lack of audible alarm has not been a big concern to date, and It has been this way since I got the boat several years ago. It's just my desire to get as many things working as intended as possible. I can see the warning lights perfectly clearly from my perch in the cockpit and I think I would notice fairly quickly if one of them came on, but I'll have a look at the Bukh distributor plate and see what may be involved.
Thanks again,

Check the buzzer to begin with.
Two things you can do.. Check the volts across it when the warning lights are are on. No volts would suggest failed diodes or bad connections. (Off hand I'm not sure without referring to the wiring diagram if you'd expect to see 12 volts or something a little less)
If you get a significant voltage across it but no sound it suggests a failed buzzer ......... confirm by testing the buzzer.

If the diode plate appears to be defective you can test the individual.components. ( diodes and a couple of resistors)

There are a couple of variations (early ones and later ones IIRC) in the exact circuit on the diode plate.
There is some info on the diode plate on the Westerly Owners website but I don't have a link.

 

[Poignard]

In post #4 he says the buzzer is working.
There are wiring diagrams in the BUKH manuals. I can send you copies later today unless someone else can do so in the meantime.

 

[Rhylsailer99]

Another Bukh question if you don't mind chaps. When I switch on the ignition, before starting, I get the amp and oil pressure lights, as expected, and on starting, these go out, also as expected. What I don't understand is, looking at the wiring diagram, I'd have thought that the acoustic alarm would sound, as well as the amp and oil pressure lights coming on, when the ignition is switched on, and that the alarm would stop, as well as the lights going out, on starting.

Am I correct in my assumption? Obviously, I would expect the alarm to sound, along with a warning light, if I lost oil pressure or alternator output, but what about the acoustic alarm on switching on the ignition?

Can anyone confirm please?

my alarm sounds until engine starts

 

[Rhylsailer99]

Thanks both for your replies. That's what I was expecting should happen Poignard, and I think you are probably correct VicS that it must be a fault in the diode plate, because my alarm sounds okay when I stop the engine and leave the key in the stop position a little too long. I think I'll try shorting out my water temp and oil pressure wires and see if I get an alarm then, but I think probably I'm looking for a new diode plate.
Cheers both.

mine has 2 buzzers one for the stop solenoid and one for the alarms

 

[VicS]

In post #4 he says the buzzer is working.
There are wiring diagrams in the BUKH manuals. I can send you copies later today unless someone else can do so in the meantime.

Thanks . I missed that.
If the alarm sounds when the engine is stopped it suggests the diode plate is OK

Need to see the wiring diagram applicable to the engine in question. Stuff I find on line is mostly rather old.

 

[westerlylad]

Thanks all for your continued contributions. Re the wiring diagrams, I have a copy of these, although as VicS says most of these appear old and pre-date my installation. In any event, diodes and such are a bit beyond my experience. Rhylsailers comment re 2 buzzers has got me wondering If I may have 2 also, although the front of the panel does not look that way. It is quite hard to see the back of the panel without removing it, which will be my next step, but if have only one buzzer, then I guess it must be the diodes as it does sound when switching the engine off.

 

[neil_s]

I'm sorry it doesn't help you with your problem but I got fed up with the buzzers going off. When they stopped working I didn't fix them!

 

[westerlylad]

Ha! Good point Neil! However the obsessive compulsive in me demands that I attempt to fix everything that can be fixed!

 

[westerlylad]

However, talking of annoying alarms, take a look at the onboard video of Alex Thomson's Hugo Boss at the start of the Fastnet!

 

[westerlylad]

On reflection, I think perhaps that's just his countdown timer!