Sealine Windlass MCB's

[Labhaoise]

Hope someone can help
i have a F43 with a simpson lawrence windlass fitted.
yesterday i was at anchor when i deceided to pulled it in. no problem until i went to wash off the anchor with a further dip to clen the mud off when the power to the windlass stopped.
Relays for the switches all fine as i could here the clicking in the control box fitted beside the windlass in the anchor chain compartment but when i checked for volts with a meter i found none, so i figure i must have blown a fuse or something.
I dont recall ever seeing anything other than the main breaker switch over the helm in the main saloon so i consulted my operators manual to find i have a 70amp MCB(mini circuit breaker) on the wiring diagram for this windlass.
Any know where i could locate it as its not in the anchor compartment area where i thought it might be along side the control box? I think it may have tripped thus leave me no power going to control box.

 

[PaulGooch]

If it's a 70a breaker it'll be in the main 12v positive feed to the contactor, that's the heavy cable from the battery/isolator. The switching wires (the thin ones that make the relay click) are most likely fused before the windlass control. This is generally mounted as close to the battery/isolator as possible. Try following the route of the cable.

 

[Labhaoise]

If it's a 70a breaker it'll be in the main 12v positive feed to the contactor, that's the heavy cable from the battery/isolator. The switching wires (the thin ones that make the relay click) are most likely fused before the windlass control. This is generally mounted as close to the battery/isolator as possible. Try following the route of the cable.

Should i be right in thinking the power cables would only be coming to and from the bow thruster battery and that the mcb would be along this line.
At least i know where that is located and i have changed it in the pass but never noticed a breaker located near it . but i could be misltaken.

 

[kashurst]

I had a similar problem - the circuit breaker was in the aft cabin with the battery charger. usually they are resetable when fault is removed, but if old they can fail and not reset. only solution is new ones. (quite cheap though)

 

[PaulGooch]

Should i be right in thinking the power cables would only be coming to and from the bow thruster battery and that the mcb would be along this line.
At least i know where that is located and i have changed it in the pass but never noticed a breaker located near it . but i could be misltaken.

The windlass control switch will most likely be fused at the helm and will no doubt be powered by the main electronics battery. It's normal and recommended for the heavier cables, running from the battery to the contactor to be fitted with a breaker as close to the battery as practical. This however isn't always done. If the contactor clicks when the windlass switch is pressed, this simply shows that the power is getting from the switch to the contactor. If the contactor is not making good contact inside, then the windlass won't work. If there is a breaker in the main positive feed from the battery and it has tripped, the windlass will not work. In installations where a bow thruster is fitted, it is not unusual for the bow thruster and windlass to have a separate battery, mounted forward.

The simplest approach would therefore be to put a test meter or lamp across the battery cables at the contactor to see if 12v is present. If it is, the contactor isn't making a good internal connection and really needs replacing. If there isn't 12v at the contactor, you need to locate the breaker by following the positive cable from the contactor back to the battery.

 

[halcyon]

so i consulted my operators manual to find i have a 70amp MCB(mini circuit breaker) on the wiring diagram for this windlass.
Any know where i could locate it as its not in the anchor compartment area where i thought it might be along side the control box? I think it may have tripped thus leave me no power going to control box.

Normally a ETA push on / push off circuit breaker, knurled nut with a little black button, located with the battery islolator switch.

Brian

 

[JohnRob]

My F37 has a distribution box in the lazerette, which I believe houses the main circuit breakers (black buttones as described above). Not sure where the equivalent would be with your stern cabin arrangement - but agree it is probably in the same place as battery charger etc

 

[Labhaoise]

Normally a ETA push on / push off circuit breaker, knurled nut with a little black button, located with the battery islolator switch.

Brian

i do have two 25amp breaker in the battery charger cabinet in the aft cabin beside the isolation switch, however i did check and push them in to be sure. i assume they only pop out when they break a circuit and just need pushing back in , but neither braker had popped and also as descrided in the wiring diagram i thought i was looking for a 70a mcb.

PaulGooch Quote:
The simplest approach would therefore be to put a test meter or lamp across the battery cables at the contactor to see if 12v is present. If it is, the contactor isn't making a good internal connection and really needs replacing. If there isn't 12v at the contactor, you need to locate the breaker by following the positive cable from the contactor back to the battery.

Already checked with an amp meter both sides of the control box to find power in not coming out of it to the motor and then check inputs to find no power going into the control box , so it must be this breaker where ever it is located.

 

[halcyon]

Should i be right in thinking the power cables would only be coming to and from the bow thruster battery and that the mcb would be along this line.

If you have a bow battery the winch would be normally wired to this, in which case there will be a isolator switch and circuit breaker in that circuit for cable protection.

Brian

 

[Labhaoise]

If you have a bow battery the winch would be normally wired to this, in which case there will be a isolator switch and circuit breaker in that circuit for cable protection.

Brian

After reading all the suggestions so far i am beginning to think this could be the location alright as i know it makes sense to have heavy 12v cables travel a minimum distance to its power source, ie battery , and the nearest battery is the bow thruster battery located under the forward cabin bed to the windlass and it also has a battery isolator located beside it i think from memory.