MZ electronic chain counter Nauti 011

[Thebazzer]

My Elling E4 has the above chain counter.

It works perfectly when raising the anchor but resolutely remains at zero when lowering.
I am struggling to get my head around this as I would have thought that a magnet passing a sensor would not discern between clockwise or anti clockwise rotation of the gypsy.

Any tips very welcome.

 

[henryf]

Is there movement in the winch that means when pulling in one direction the magnets work but when moving in the other direction not under load a gap appears meaning the magnet can't do it's thing?

Have a look at the gap when moving each way.

 

[Martin_J]

Did it work in the past or has it just stopped working? Did you change any wiring?

Remember that the electronic counter needs an input as well that tells it what direction the windlass is moving in.

 

[Thebazzer]

There isn't any movement, the gap between the gypsy and the sensor remains constant.

I haven't changed any wiring. I believe it was working previously but the boat is relatively new to me . When lowering the anchor,l the counter stays at zero. When bringing the anchor in, the counter comes up with a number of meters that have traveled past the sensor. The manual isn't much help and im not sure if it should count the meters as it goes out and then reduce back to zero as it comes in.

 

[Portofino]

Agree the manual is ambiguous.
Is there a separate ( none counter ) switch on the dash or is the counter a replacement?
I have 3 electronic methods .
1- Umbilical in the locker .
2 - Separate 3 position dash switch . Neutral , forwards for down and back for up both spring loaded if you let go it springs to N - stops .
3 - The counter .To get this to work I have to press “ On “ first for a set time ( feels ages btw ) then the gauge flashes then it responds to the arrows .
How ever sometimes I have to press the “ on “ and an arrow simultaneously iirc for the display to show the meters

Like you Iam struggling with the meagre instruction sheet in the smallest font .
It’s worse than programming a timer on a oven to come on . .



If I have not been to the boat for a while i forget the ex act pressing sequences and basically never bother .

Welcome to the MZ lazy farts club

 

[Hurricane]

I have the Lofrans one which I believe has the exact same electronics.
I haven't had any problems with mine - attached to a Lewmar windlass.
Mine is a wireless version but I also have a wired hand controller that I've yet to fit.
I had some good support when asking if the two would work together.
I couldn't see why they shouldn't work together but they came back with a comprehensive answer.
I've still to install the wired one but the wireless one works well.

Back to your problem.
I think Henry's reply is worth following.
Some windlasses use a DIY/after market magnet and reed relay which comes in the installation kit.
I suspect that yours is loose.
My Lewmar windlass has a builtin magnet/reed switch - as I say, I don't have those problems.

 

[Thebazzer]

Thanks for the useful comments.
I have a MUIR windlass and that has a drilling on the rim of the gypsy with the magnet (rare earth I guess) resined in. I think the magnet should protrude by 2mm and it doesnt. The boat is 13 years old and the end of the magnet shows signs of corrosion. I think I should drill it out and replace the magnet as a starting point.

Portofino's boat , from the pics, looks newer than mine and the MZ kit is a different and probably much later model. My controls in the wheelhouse are a Master On/Off and a Up/Down rocker type swithch. There is a plug at bow for a wired remote.

I would still like to know if the Counter should read reducing values as the anchor is reeled in.

Thanks again,

Barry

 

[Hurricane]

Thanks for the useful comments.
I have a MUIR windlass and that has a drilling on the rim of the gypsy with the magnet (rare earth I guess) resined in. I think the magnet should protrude by 2mm and it doesnt. The boat is 13 years old and the end of the magnet shows signs of corrosion. I think I should drill it out and replace the magnet as a starting point.

Portofino's boat , from the pics, looks newer than mine and the MZ kit is a different and probably much later model. My controls in the wheelhouse are a Master On/Off and a Up/Down rocker type swithch. There is a plug at bow for a wired remote.

I would still like to know if the Counter should read reducing values as the anchor is reeled in.

Thanks again,

Barry

The design is very simple.
The magnet in the gipsy closes a reed switch every revolution of the gipsy.
The MZ electronics knows that the windlass is winding in from the switch that you are pressing.
If the "up switch" isn't being pressed when the reed switch closes, the MZ thinks that the chain is being let out (either being letdown on the clutch or using the "down button")

If you can find and break into the low voltage wires from the windlass reed switch - disconnect and connect a multi meter to check the continuity across the reed switch.
Maybe you can also unwrap the chain from the gipsy.
Then turn the gipsy and see if the reed switch closes in both directions.
I would expect that the output onto the multi meter would be erratic.
Change the magnet and re-position/change the reed switch until you get a good reed switch operation.

 

[Portofino]

Mines like a single wire to a sensor - see the black 90 degree finger thing .This is a solid state device by the looks of it .

There is a magnet in the alloy wheel and it was rusted so I replaced it .Bought them on flee bay just proprietary magnets .


Pretty big locker could get 2x berths in , thats me full stretch for scale .
The grey wire is a single core to the sensor .
Interestingly the hand unbiblical in pic 2 is a MZ ……never noticed as the Admiral operates it .

It needs calibrating iirc bit like programming your oven with 2/3 buttons and a LCD flashing display the MZ instructions I have ( on the boat ) say something about letting out circa 15 m holding this or that button or maybe two ? For it to learn .
So if you change the engine or Dom batts ( not sure which it uses tbh ) or switch them off it looses it calibration and the LCD screen flashes “ CAL” or something?? .

I need to one day master it .It’s on my to do list for next yr .
I had it going once then for what ever reason it lost it calibration. Just send Mrs Porto up anyhow to do the anchoring .Every body else sends the wife up .
Flukey I had it going once this season but can’t recall exactly which button sequence I used - sorry .

 

[vas]

The boat is 13 years old and the end of the magnet shows signs of corrosion. I think I should drill it out and replace the magnet as a starting point.

I'd recommend AGAINST trying to drill a magnet. It's bloody hard material, drill slips goes to the bronze gipsy and you end up with an oversize hole and the magnet still in place!
cannot help in the other issue though

 

[Thebazzer]

Thanks everyone. I have now received a reply from MZ electronic. They recommend a change of magnet and sensor after checking the wiring and helpfully gave me the part No. Can't find a UK agent online so it looks like a Euro search. I will follow Hurricane's very helpful advice when I have dusted off my MultiMeter and dismantled half the bow cabin to get to the wiring.
I do not relish drilling the magnet although it is in a plastic sleeve epoxied into the gypsy and that may help somewhat. The Gypsy is stainless, so a little more forgiving of a drill slip than alloy.