Windlass problems

[mcanderson]

On Monday it worked fine. On Friday nothing, nada, zip in either up or down. So out comes my multimeter and I have power all the way to the relay and out of the relay. Power to the foot switches. My windlass will only work with the engine running so I had the engine on for all the power checks. When I operate the foot-switch I can't here the relay operating, but I can't ever remember hearing it. When I short the switch at the relay there is no noise from the relay. I have pulled the relay apart and it is spotless and it live in a cupboard in th forward cabin so is very dry.

I have ordered a new relay as quay concensis is that it is a relay problem.

However can a relay just fail? I have been through the excellent Nigel Calder's book on electrics and it would appear that they can, but I would have expected to see a reason why the relay failed when I pulled it apart.

What are your thoughts?

 

[rogerthebodger]

Check the relay coils for continuity with your multimeter. They could gone open circuit.

If the relay coils are open circuit you may not see it.

 

[mcanderson]

How would I do that? I can check voltage, but after that I tend to get lost.

 

[rogerthebodger]

Switch you multimeter to ohm range and place the 1 lead on the + connection from the operating switch and the other lead on the - connection. If the reading shows a reading it should be ok if no reading the coil is open circuit and faulty. Remember there are 2 coils one up and one down. Don't know what kind of windlass you have so cannot give further details.

 

[mcanderson]

Thanks!

 

[mcanderson]

Looks like I have a dead coil. One is fine, but the other is dead.

 

[pvb]

Looks like I have a dead coil. One is fine, but the other is dead.

If that's the case, you'd expect it to work in one direction, but you said it didn't work in either direction.

 

[mcanderson]

The power in terminal isn't giving a reading across any other terminal.

 

[wiggy]

If the relay is suspect replace it, they're cheap as chips.

 

[pvb]

The power in terminal isn't giving a reading across any other terminal.

In your OP, you said you had "power all the way to the relay and out of the relay", so which is correct?

 

[mcanderson]

I have power through the whole system. When I check for continuity I don't get a reading on the positive in terminal against any other.

If this doesn't make sense then I am sorry. I am not an electrical guru hence my post here to see if anyone has any suggestions. I have a new relay on order. It should arrive on Thursday. My bad French and everyone's best attempts at English make things more complicated. Worse comes to worse then I will crash out a marine electrician.

 

[RichardS]

If the lay is suspect replace it, they're cheap as chips.

I think by "relay" the OP means "solenoid". These are not "as cheap as chips" ... think £50 - £100.

Richard

 

[mcanderson]

I think by "relay" the OP means "solenoid". These are not "as cheap as chips" ... think £50 - £100.

Richard

€96 here on Thursday. Could be worse.

 

[KREW2]

I have a Loframs Cobra that gave up the ghost after only 3 seasons. The chain runs parallel to the motor, then water runs down the side of the vertically mounted motor, and manages to get in, resulting in the bushes and all the bottom end going rusty beyond repair. Like yourself the relay clicked in both up and down, but no movement.
I had to buy a new motor, as I wanted more than three seasons out of it I did a bit of a Heath Robinson fitting, involving a plastic flower pot with the bottom cut out to prevent any water coming in through the chain hole from running down the side of the motor. To protect the flower pot from being abraded by falling chain I used an aluminium hawser pipe cut and fitted upside down inside the chain locker. This was to divert the chain away from the flower pot.
A bit of a long winded reply but if you have a Loframs Cobra, or Tiger windlass with a vertically mounted engine this could be your problem.
Hopefully it will just be the relay.

 

[mcanderson]

Thanks for the reply. The problem appears to be with my relay not windlass. The windlass is a Leroy-Somer who made windlasses for Beneteau for a brief period and then stopped. If the motor is gone, and I hope not, then it's a new windlass for me as spares are not available.

 

[Lon nan Gruagach]

Thanks for the reply. The problem appears to be with my relay not windlass. The windlass is a Leroy-Somer who made windlasses for Beneteau for a brief period and then stopped. If the motor is gone, and I hope not, then it's a new windlass for me as spares are not available.

Motors can be repaired, probably cheaper than a new windlas, but it will take time.

 

[Mrnotming]

Nobody mentioned brushes (carbon) in the motor.
if it goes when you rotate it slightly, or a combination of that and a thump from a block of wood, it might be this problem.It does'nt mean the brushes are worn, just corroded in their slides.
I have a Lofrans Cayman 1000W, and have never opened it up yet, so if its water in the casing as Krew2 has experienced, I'd like to know if its a widespread issue.
Mine lives under a lid on the foredeck,which may have saved it until now?
Do let us know what transpires!

 

[mcanderson]

All sorted. There were two issues:

1. The solenoid needed to be replaced. I got one today at the chandlers in St Jean Cap Ferrat - €97.

2. The earth return to the engine which allows for the windlass to run only when the engine is running had broken.

I did try the old solenoid once I had found the earth problem, but clicking only and no action. New solenoid and windlass is working like a champ.

I need the windlass as pulling up 45m of chain whe we anchor of Cap D'Ail is not fun!

Back to the rosé.

 

[Mrnotming]

Glad your sorted, mind you don't hook any electric submarine cables! I did!