Fitting anchor winch cables.

[purplerobbie]

I fitting an anchor winch to my boat and have new cables to instal too.
I need to fit the windlass solenoid but rather than put it at the windlass end where it may get wet is there any reason I can't put it by the batteries?

 

[pvb]

But it's best to have the breaker installed fairly close to the windlass ....

I'd disagree. There needs to be a breaker or fuse at the battery end of the cables, to safeguard the cables. You can have another breaker at the windlass end, but it won't achieve much.

 

[AndrewB]

Sorry pvb, I remembered that and so deleted the post but just as you quoted me. Memo to self: engage brain before mouth!

 

[Plum]

I fitting an anchor winch to my boat and have new cables to instal too.
I need to fit the windlass solenoid but rather than put it at the windlass end where it may get wet is there any reason I can't put it by the batteries?

The solenoid can certainly be located at the battery. If you have a circuit breaker or fuse that should always be located close to the battery.

Colin. Www.solocoastalsailing.co.uk

 

[neil1967]

If your windlass is reversible, there will be 3 cables going from the solenoid, a common (neg) and 2 positive, one for each direction. There will be 2 cables from the battery to the solenoid. If the solenoid is by the batteries you will have 3 long cable runs rather than 2.

Neil

 

[pvb]

If your windlass is reversible, there will be 3 cables going from the solenoid, a common (neg) and 2 positive, one for each direction.

Not necessarily; many reversing windlasses only have 2 wires, the solenoid box reverses the polarity.

 

[Plum]

If your windlass is reversible, there will be 3 cables going from the solenoid, a common (neg) and 2 positive, one for each direction. There will be 2 cables from the battery to the solenoid. If the solenoid is by the batteries you will have 3 long cable runs rather than 2.

Neil

Neil, good point but it depends. If the solenoid is a reversing one, as mine is, there are just two cables in and out of the solenoid.

Colin. Www.solocoastalsailing.co.uk

 

[neil1967]

You live and learn......

 

[MM5AHO]

Its actually a good idea to be able to disconnect the power from the long runs of cables wherever you put the solenoid.
If solenoid at windlass, then have a breaker near batteries, and when not using windlass, open that breaker, so isolating the cables. If the solenoid at batteries, then this doesn't apply, as unless the windlass is turning, there's no power in the cables.
If you have a solenoid near batteries, then a longer run of solenoid control cables from control point (usually bow socket or similar) to the aft mounted solenoid.
Use very big cables for supply to the windlass.. The current is high, and the volt drop can be high along the typical length of a boat. Batteries are usually aft of midships, and more likely near the engine at about 2/3 the way back from bow. Windlass (normally) near the bow. The type of cable is like starter motor cables, or arc welding cables sizes.

 

[Sarnia]

The solenoid can certainly be located at the battery. If you have a circuit breaker or fuse that should always be located close to the battery.

Colin. Www.solocoastalsailing.co.uk

I have the same setup, winch solenoid very close to the batteries, it is just a switch anyway, so anywhere in the circuit it will work, but for practical reasons as others have stated away from the winch. My two winch foot controls, up- down, on the deck either side of the winch operate solenoids close to the winch for convenience, are sealed but I regularly check them.

 

[Boo2]

I fitting an anchor winch to my boat and have new cables to instal too.
I need to fit the windlass solenoid but rather than put it at the windlass end where it may get wet is there any reason I can't put it by the batteries?

I've just installed an anchor windlass and there were 3 connections between the solenoid and the motor and only 2 between the battery and the solenoid. Given the price of heavy gauge tinned welding wire I put the solenoid near the windlass.

My chain pipe between windlass and chain locker is a piece of rubber fuel filler pipe which should go some way towards keeping the solenoid dry.

Boo2

 

[Billjratt]

I added an extra battery near the windlass with the contactor close to both, so all the long cables for charging and control are reasonably light. In a three-cable set up (like my Lofrans Kobra) the "common" and "up" cables need to be thick, but you can get away with a lighter cable for "down" as the anchor is gravity assisted.