Rum_Pirate
Well-Known Member
What is the order of checking for faults as to wht it will not operate?
Electric anchor windlass
- Thread starter Rum_Pirate
- Start date
Tranona
Well-Known Member
Power first. Loose or dirty connections. If it is a Lofrans then sticky contacts in control box is common. Really need more info - make of windlass and what happens (or not) when you try to use it.
vyv_cox
Well-Known Member
When mine failed last year the cause was corrosion of the thin supplementary earth connection at the motor terminal in the anchor locker. It was only there to save me the trouble of taking the connection to the solenoid all the way back to the batteries.
Neeves
Well-Known Member
Check circuit breaker and also loose or dirty main power connections - all as Tranona said.
The windlass will be powered by heavy duty cables - they may be loose (anywhere) but the control, foot switches, toggle switches, are low power cables and again may be loose, badly corroded or broken. The main power cables are very unlikely to be broken (as they are usually massive) but might be corroded.
Windlass enjoy a lot of vibration and if the heavy duty power cables are not installed really tightly they can work loose. You should have heavy duty cables running from the circuit breaker and connected to the solenoid and motor. The light weight control cables run from the toggle switch, remote, or foot switches to the solenoid and may include a fuse.
The solenoid that controls up and down may need to be opened up and the contents cleaned. Do this carefully as the components are sprung and if you open up on deck - bits might fly about. All that is usually needed, clean terminals and the various pieces inside the solenoid box (I'm sure the pieces have technical names - but they elude me). We had a solenoid that constantly malfunctioned - my temper can be short, with such objects, and a sharp bash with my fist sometimes freed it up - and I could clean it at leisure later.
There may also be a fuse in the control wiring, check for a fuse holder.
They are very simple devices, but also powerful, do not be intimidated.
If you find a model number you will then be able to access a manual which will have a wiring diagram.
As Tranona says a picture or name would help. (but once you have seen one windlass - vertical or horizontal - the rest are amazingly similar).
As you are going to conduct half a service check the gear box oil and clean and grease the shaft.
If you have a Maxwell windlass - and cannot solve the issue they have a technician on call 24/365 (different one, they are on a rota
) - send an email to Oz or NZ and you will have support at your finger tips.
Jonathan
The windlass will be powered by heavy duty cables - they may be loose (anywhere) but the control, foot switches, toggle switches, are low power cables and again may be loose, badly corroded or broken. The main power cables are very unlikely to be broken (as they are usually massive) but might be corroded.
Windlass enjoy a lot of vibration and if the heavy duty power cables are not installed really tightly they can work loose. You should have heavy duty cables running from the circuit breaker and connected to the solenoid and motor. The light weight control cables run from the toggle switch, remote, or foot switches to the solenoid and may include a fuse.
The solenoid that controls up and down may need to be opened up and the contents cleaned. Do this carefully as the components are sprung and if you open up on deck - bits might fly about. All that is usually needed, clean terminals and the various pieces inside the solenoid box (I'm sure the pieces have technical names - but they elude me). We had a solenoid that constantly malfunctioned - my temper can be short, with such objects, and a sharp bash with my fist sometimes freed it up - and I could clean it at leisure later.
There may also be a fuse in the control wiring, check for a fuse holder.
They are very simple devices, but also powerful, do not be intimidated.
If you find a model number you will then be able to access a manual which will have a wiring diagram.
As Tranona says a picture or name would help. (but once you have seen one windlass - vertical or horizontal - the rest are amazingly similar).
As you are going to conduct half a service check the gear box oil and clean and grease the shaft.
If you have a Maxwell windlass - and cannot solve the issue they have a technician on call 24/365 (different one, they are on a rota
) - send an email to Oz or NZ and you will have support at your finger tips.Jonathan
Rum_Pirate
Well-Known Member
Friends boat.
Will check the brand and model and report back.
Will check the brand and model and report back.
nigel1
Well-Known Member
Some ideas on fault finding here
Tips & Tricks for Troubleshooting Your Electric Anchor Windlass
Tips & Tricks for Troubleshooting Your Electric Anchor Windlass
