Clicking windlass solenoid

demonboy

demonboy

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Until recently my solenoid could drop the anchor chain no problem. It started to fail when weighing anchor. First it weighed 20 or so metres and then stopped, now it's doing nothing. All I hear is the rapid clicking sound as I press the foot buttons. After a few tries, the clicking stops altogether. I've run a large, new battery cable from the breaker to the solenoid but this makes no difference (bypassing the solenoid is no problem). The main cables from solenoid to windlass motor are clean, and I had the solenoid serviced in India recently, though I've yet to take it apart myself.

What is the most likely cause of this symptom? I assume the signal cable between foot button and solenoid is ok as I can hear clicking, or could this connection still cause this noise?
 
I would question the 'service' of the solenoid. The only time our windlass has failed is when the solenoid got water in it. (Poor installation by previous owner and water had run down a cable into the solenoid).

I stripped it down and cleaned out the much and corrosion and its worked perfectly ever since. Our solenoid still 'clicked' but it didn't actually make the electrical connection. The only thing I am concerned about is whether your has failed in 'up' and 'down' mode. It would be unusual for both parts of the solenoid to fail at the same time - unless your solenoid is designed differently to ours?

What make windlass and solenoid?
 
Hi John,

It's a Quick Aries 1500w, but I don't know about the solenoid. It is the same solenoid that appears in the instructional manual so perhaps it is also Quick. Will be dismounting it shortly to investigate.
 
If it a continuous clicking when you hold the button down I would check the control cables from the button to the solenoid.

If it is a single click when you push the button I would check the solenoid or the cables to the windlass but you say no problem when you bypass the solenoid so cables should be OK.
 
Windlass solenoids do fail reasonably often. Its hard to switch that much current reliably, long term with some very heavy duty components which many windless solenoids lack.
Its worth checking for any bad external contacts or a faulty switch, but most of the time the fault is in the internal solenoid contacts. As an emergency repair you can sometimes cut open the casing and effect a repair, but the best solution is a new one.

Buy a larger over specified one if possible.
 
Last edited:
demonboy said:
Until recently my solenoid could drop the anchor chain no problem. It started to fail when weighing anchor. First it weighed 20 or so metres and then stopped, now it's doing nothing. All I hear is the rapid clicking sound as I press the foot buttons. After a few tries, the clicking stops altogether. I've run a large, new battery cable from the breaker to the solenoid but this makes no difference (bypassing the solenoid is no problem). The main cables from solenoid to windlass motor are clean, and I had the solenoid serviced in India recently, though I've yet to take it apart myself.

What is the most likely cause of this symptom? I assume the signal cable between foot button and solenoid is ok as I can hear clicking, or could this connection still cause this noise?
Click to expand...


Jamie

Connect a volt meter across the pos and neg of the main power cables then get someone to press the windless control button , while the button is depressed read the voltage at the meter, sounds like the relays are initiating the main motor then drop out as soon as the current drew is to high , soon as the relay is drained of voltage it switches off and the main motor stops trying to turn .... Then the voltage goes back up , the relay works again and the circle of on off on off continues .

Most likely cause would be a bad connection of the main supply from the batteries to the motor if the test shows a low voltage when in operation ??

Ian
 
I had a similar problem where there was 'single' clicking.
Disconnected wires from solenoid.
Identified one terminal must have been sparking as one nut was being eaten away.
Cleaned up terminals.
Put back together.
All was well.
 
I have exactly the same problem with my Lofrans Tigres, it lifts the anchor fine, but sometimes won't drop it.

See this YouTube video (made before I realised that it was Tigres rather than Tigress) :) http://youtu.be/cSg3Dg5N2zE

It is caused by the dog-clutch inside the windlass, I have been sent some pictures by Lofrans on a modification to remove the spring inside and replace it with a spacer, but I think a stronger spring is the answer.
 
Ok, this is what I've done so far: taken apart the solenoid and cleaned the contacts. Replaced all cables running to the solenoid. Now I am getting a single click.

Next I'll check the voltage.
 
>Clicking windlass solenoid


If the solenoid clicks there is a battery or cable or cable connection problem. Check the battery is fully charged if it is check the cables and connections.There is often corrosion in the cables and connections. Been there had that.
 
demonboy said:
Ok, this is what I've done so far: taken apart the solenoid and cleaned the contacts. Replaced all cables running to the solenoid. Now I am getting a single click.

Next I'll check the voltage.
Click to expand...

Hope this doesn't cause insult but just to state the obvious when you put it back together and now get the single click is the main breaker turned on?
Also try using the windlass with the engine running and see if that improves things.
 
This is probably not your problem, but some windlass relays have to be mounted the right way up - the solenoids need gravity as well as spring pressure to operate properly. I found this out when I bought a replacement for a malfunctioning unit that was already fitted to the boat when I bought it. The instructions for the new one made it clear which way was supposed to be up. I now have a spare.
 
Healthy voltage reading at motor (UP +ve). No voltage reading when button depressed. Down button is actually only one click, up is two. Solenoid mounted upright. Checked with engine running.

The fact I took the solenoid apart, put it back together, and now only have single or double clicks instead of continuous says something, no?

If someone could explain to me what to look for within the solenoid, that would be useful.
 
I would be looking for which solenoid "pistons" move when control voltage is applied and which contacts are supposed to be forced closed by those pistons. The contact points need to be clean, they often errode by sparking.
 
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