Voltage across M1 and M2 on 2-way windlass

[pedal88]

Hi,

I have a Lofrans cayman 88 windlass and a quick reversing solenoid.

Suddenly my windlass have started to move really slowly in both up and down direction.

My wiring looks like the picture below (even tough the windlass itself looks different).

When pushing up switch I get 5V across A1 and B and 8V across A2 and B
When pushing down switch I get 8V across A1 and B and 5V across A2 and B

If I disconnect A2 cable from M2 terminal, the windlass will move up perfectly well with 13V
If I disconnect A1 cable from M1 terminal, the windlass will move down perfectly well with 13V

The terminals A1, A2 and B are inside the motor so have not looked at them yet. Apparently the 3 cables, leading to A1, A2 and B, have been spliced close to the windlass motor at an earlier occasion, therefor I am able to measure the voltage.

What is wrong? Is there unwanted electrical contact between A1 and A2 at some point?

Can I have connected the solenoid wrong (I replaced it recently).

 

[Graham376]

When you replaced the controller/solenoid, was there a problem straight away or has this happened some time afterwards?

To check the windlass without using foot switches, I would disconnect switch wires and short battery feed + to M1 (hefty bit of wire or old spanner) and then + to M2 and see if it works properly in both directions. If it works OK then, assuming you have the correct controller for the windlass, you either have a problem with switch wiring or the Quick controller itself. With switch wires disconnected, try shorting + direct to each switch terminal and see what happens.

 

[roaringgirl]

If you disconnect A1 and A2 from the windlass, what's the resistance between them? If it's not infinite (I suspect it's not) then they are making contact somewhere.

 

[PaulRainbow]

When you replaced the controller/solenoid, was there a problem straight away or has this happened some time afterwards?

To check the windlass without using foot switches, I would disconnect switch wires and short battery feed + to M1 (hefty bit of wire or old spanner) and then + to M2 and see if it works properly in both directions. If it works OK then, assuming you have the correct controller for the windlass, you either have a problem with switch wiring or the Quick controller itself. With switch wires disconnected, try shorting + direct to each switch terminal and see what happens.

That's exactly how i'd do it. It's almost impossible to get an internal short between M1 and M2