windlass contact breaker placement Q

[vas]

afternoon all,

I have one of these to fit and I'm about to bolt down and sort routing to the windlass control box, so it's important to decide on:

WHERE do I place the contact breaker?

1. e/r close to the batteries
2. next to the windlass control box, just outside the anchor locker on a nice and dry bulkhead, accessible from the bow cabin?

Logic says 2, but maybe I'm wrong. Mind there wasn't one originally, so bought it and planning to install it.

cheers

V.

 

[Seastoke]

Closest to battery therfore protecting any shorts on cables which would have no protection hence fire

 

[westernman]

Closest to battery therfore protecting any shorts on cables which would have no protection hence fire

Yes - but not in a place where you will need to dismantle half the interior to get to it in what will certainly be an awkward moment when it decides to cut out.

 

[vas]

thanks for the pointers!

Having inspected the cables throughout their run in conduits they are nice and clean. The last metre from the solenoid to the windlass is another thing though. I tried to clean them yesterday from odd paint splashes and revealed a couple of good (as in deep) cuts with the core showing on both of them, so will be replaced.

Not a problem I can place the breaker next to the bow thruster one on the e/r panel just by the e/r door, easy to access, nothing to dismantle
Will fabricate a base for them both though as I don't like the idea of having the thick cables visible/accessible and difficult to insulate there.

cheers

V.

 

[Seastoke]

Is a 50 amp large enough for your wind lass

 

[vas]

Is a 50 amp large enough for your wind lass

sorry, just a picture I found of the right type and shape. Mine is 80A (iirc) 24V and 1200 or is it 1500W winch
PO had it wired to a household fuse of 100A

V.

 

[Seastoke]

Ideally you could put clamp on amp meter when the windlass is under load then get the closest size up ,could you pm me when you get a cut out as we are using a fuse at the moment and swimbo does not like changing it

 

[vas]

Ideally you could put clamp on amp meter when the windlass is under load then get the closest size up ,could you pm me when you get a cut out as we are using a fuse at the moment and swimbo does not like changing it

didn't think of that!

a colleague has clamp on amp meter for installation testing, I'll borrow them and use them when I haul the 70m chain back in the anchor locker

Will let you know

cheers

V.