Lofrans melting relay box

[Zeelander44]

Hello...... I have a Lofrans Cobra windlass with a Lofrans 12v 3 terminal control box for the remote control.... The motor is 1000watt and the control box solenoid switch is rated at 500/1500 watt........ When I operate the system it struggles...... Gets hot... Eventually melting the box and the switch packs up finally...... The in line fuse on the cable from the batteries never blows...... But the cables between the solenoid and the motor do get very hot too....... Do I need a bigger solenoid or bigger cables??? Please help

 

[Sandro]

The double Watt rating of the solenoid switch needs to be clarified. And at which voltage.

The 12 V 1000 W motor, loaded by the rated mechanical torque (cable pull), draws 83.3 Amps. The 1500 W (@ 12 V) switch should handle this current without problems.

If the motor is mechanically overloaded or even stalled the current will raise many times the rated value and motor, wires and switch will overheat.

You could start by checking the working current with a 200 A ammeter.

 

[burgundyben]

Are your sure the windlass is able to run free? Not starting to sieze up?

 

[vas]

if only the box was melting and cables where fine and cool, I'd suspect the box (arcing contacts etc)
now that you say cables hot and motor struggling, I'd remove the windlass and get it fully overhauled (and check the brushes at the same time)

 

[Zeelander44]

The double Watt rating of the solenoid switch needs to be clarified. And at which voltage.

The 12 V 1000 W motor, loaded by the rated mechanical torque (cable pull), draws 83.3 Amps. The 1500 W (@ 12 V) switch should handle this current without problems.

If the motor is mechanically overloaded or even stalled the current will raise many times the rated value and motor, wires and switch will overheat.

You could start by checking the working current with a 200 A ammeter.

The double Watt rating of the solenoid switch needs to be clarified. And at which voltage.

The 12 V 1000 W motor, loaded by the rated mechanical torque (cable pull), draws 83.3 Amps. The 1500 W (@ 12 V) switch should handle this current without problems.

If the motor is mechanically overloaded or even stalled the current will raise many times the rated value and motor, wires and switch will overheat.

You could start by checking the working current with a 200 A ammeter.

Cheers for your reply......... It does sound and feel overloaded

The double Watt rating of the solenoid switch needs to be clarified. And at which voltage.

The 12 V 1000 W motor, loaded by the rated mechanical torque (cable pull), draws 83.3 Amps. The 1500 W (@ 12 V) switch should handle this current without problems.

If the motor is mechanically overloaded or even stalled the current will raise many times the rated value and motor, wires and switch will overheat.

You could start by checking the working current with a 200 A ammeter.

Cheers for the reply....... Yeah it does sound and feels overloaded...... Then smells overloaded......
Do you think a new motor might be the thing to do? It is old..... But ran well when bench tested(no load of course)....... A new motor might solve the problem?
The anchor is 75lb.....

 

[Zeelander44]

if only the box was melting and cables where fine and cool, I'd suspect the box (arcing contacts etc)
now that you say cables hot and motor struggling, I'd remove the windlass and get it fully overhauled (and check the brushes at the same time)

Thanks.... The motor is old..... I might buy a new one.... Ouch$

 

[Zeelander44]

Are your sure the windlass is able to run free? Not starting to sieze up?

Cheers for the reply.... I think the gear box is OK.... But the motor is old and might be drawing too much current under load..... The anchor is 75lb....not too heavy..... Might have to buy a new motor and see if that solves it??
Cheers

 

[Neeves]

What size and what length of chain are you trying to lift, noting that you will be lifting 'vertical' chain - not using the windlass to pull the yacht to the anchor.

To me a 1000 watt motor to retrieve a 75lb anchor (who uses lbs?) and 10mm chain (maybe 3/8th") (and a lot of chain) into a strong wind should be acceptable but only if over the anchor. You must have a decent sized yacht to need a 75lb anchor - that'd roughly 30kg - and a Rocna 33kg would be recommended for a roughly 45/50' yacht - and 1000 watts seems a bit parsimonious.

If the motor is old, then so is the gear box (gear boxes last forever (if cared for) motors are a different issue. When did you last check the oil in the gear box. When did you last grease the windlass shaft? When did you last service the windlass? If it has not been serviced for some time then be prepared for a shock. I believe you windlass is based on an aluminium casting and I bet they use stainless bolts and further bet the installer or the last person who serviced it has not heard of Duralac (you might need an angle grinder).


If the gear box is dry, or full of mud and abraded gears and the shaft full of mud and not serviced and you are lifting the 75lb anchor and lots of 10mm - then no wonder the windlass is struggling.

Just to put my questions into context - We use a Maxwell windlass with 6mm chain, 1,000 watt motor and 8kg (20lb) aluminium anchors for a 38' cat.

Most windlass are incredibly forgiving and grossly over engineered.

Take care, stay safe

Jonathan

 

[geem]

What size and what length of chain are you trying to lift, noting that you will be lifting 'vertical' chain - not using the windlass to pull the yacht to the anchor.

To me a 1000 watt motor to retrieve a 75lb anchor (who uses lbs?) and 10mm chain (maybe 3/8th") (and a lot of chain) into a strong wind should be acceptable but only if over the anchor. You must have a decent sized yacht to need a 75lb anchor - that'd roughly 30kg - and a Rocna 33kg would be recommended for a roughly 45/50' yacht - and 1000 watts seems a bit parsimonious.

If the motor is old, then so is the gear box (gear boxes last forever (if cared for) motors are a different issue. When did you last check the oil in the gear box. When did you last grease the windlass shaft? When did you last service the windlass? If it has not been serviced for some time then be prepared for a shock. I believe you windlass is based on an aluminium casting and I bet they use stainless bolts and further bet the installer or the last person who serviced it has not heard of Duralac (you might need an angle grinder).


If the gear box is dry, or full of mud and abraded gears and the shaft full of mud and not serviced and you are lifting the 75lb anchor and lots of 10mm - then no wonder the windlass is struggling.

Just to put my questions into context - We use a Maxwell windlass with 6mm chain, 1,000 watt motor and 8kg (20lb) aluminium anchors for a 38' cat.

Most windlass are incredibly forgiving and grossly over engineered.

Take care, stay safe

Jonathan

That windlass doesn't sound overly large. We lift our 30kg anchor and 60m of chain with a Lofrans Falcon. 1700w motor. 18t boat. I would say we are on top of the job?.
The Falcon windlass was the original fit by Trintella when the boat was built but then it had a 2000w motor.