Windlass solenoids

Photo would be helpful. I've had ours apart once but don't recall the details. Maybe a small machine screw with a lentil head would work? You can get them in copper online. Or just piece of copper rod, rounded over, inserted into a suitably drilled out hole.

If it's only going down and not up, switch over the wires! :)
 
Mine are well burned . Screw won't last but copper may if I can find a way to fit it to the counter lever.

I take it your still in marina . All good here no problems . Well if you don't counter the windlass .
 
You don't say what state everything is in.

I took our old one apart and simply ground down all the 'burnt' parts - but it sounds as if yours is in a bad state.

You seem to have terrible problems with that windlass.

Just think if you had bitten the bullet about 2 years ago you would have not a single problem over the last many months.

Jonathan
 
Hi Vic, I suspect that the contacts are made from a copper tungsten alloy. If you can find some you could just make up some new contact buttons and solder them to the existing ones after you’ve cleaned their mating faces. However, I think yngmar’s got the best idea, just use some copper screws. They probably won’t last long but at least will be easily replaceable. Incidentally, is one of the contacts eroding more than the other?

Mike
 
Hi Mike
H
mikegunn said:
Hi Vic, I suspect that the contacts are made from a copper tungsten alloy. If you can find some you could just make up some new contact buttons and solder them to the existing ones after you’ve cleaned their mating faces. However, I think yngmar’s got the best idea, just use some copper screws. They probably won’t last long but at least will be easily replaceable. Incidentally, is one of the contacts eroding more than the other?
Click to expand...
Hi Mike
Good to hear you , hope things are going better now , leaving the UK any time soon .
 
Yes a new one is less them £100 but there nothing wrong with the one I got other then the contact are badly burn ,
We live in a world where people keep going on about throwing things away and how land fill are full with stuff that can be repair, so why not repair Them if possible.

I made it work for now , epoxy a bit of left over copper from the bus bar I made for the lithium .
Probably won't last for long but it gives me time to think of some thing else .
 
Last edited:
Neeves said:
You don't say what state everything is in.

I took our old one apart and simply ground down all the 'burnt' parts - but it sounds as if yours is in a bad state.

You seem to have terrible problems with that windlass.

Just think if you had bitten the bullet about 2 years ago you would have not a single problem over the last many months.

Jonathan
Click to expand...
Hi Jonathan
Actually we had two cases where the breaker tripped last year for no real reason and considering how many time it's used in a season most days , I don't think throwing it away is the answer and spending over a K .
As I said in my last posting , there just too much throwing stuff away when it cost penny's or is it cents these days to repair .
 
sailaboutvic said:
Hi Jonathan
Actually we had two cases where the breaker tripped last year for no real reason and considering how many time it's used in a season most days , I don't think throwing it away is the answer and spending over a K .
As I said in my last posting , there just too much throwing stuff away when it cost penny's or is it cents these days to repair .
Click to expand...

using plain copper and / or trying to repair a 'burnt' tip by cleaning it will fail in a fairly short time ! usually the contacts are coated with some form of silver compound that helps to prevent 'splashing' by the arc which occurs on closing and opening of the contactor. The more they are splashed the more chance they will fail either by not making contact or worse by welding together and there by giving continuous contact. Depending on which brand of contactor you have will depend on your being able to get spares. Check out Albright Contactors and see if yours are similar as they supply the contactors for Lewmar and other makers of winches etc. If so then you will almost certainly be able to buy spare tips / service kits etc for your model.
 
ean_p said:
using plain copper and / or trying to repair a 'burnt' tip by cleaning it will fail in a fairly short time ! usually the contacts are coated with some form of silver compound that helps to prevent 'splashing' by the arc which occurs on closing and opening of the contactor. The more they are splashed the more chance they will fail either by not making contact or worse by welding together and there by giving continuous contact. Depending on which brand of contactor you have will depend on your being able to get spares. Check out Albright Contactors and see if yours are similar as they supply the contactors for Lewmar and other makers of winches etc. If so then you will almost certainly be able to buy spare tips / service kits etc for your model.
Click to expand...
Good fine thanks , just got to work out with ones will fit my loran altho i think there all similar
 
If there is no arc suppression fitted (ie. a resistor & capacitor in series across the contacts) then I suggest you fit one on each side (up & down) to avoid burning-out the new contacts.
 
JAH said:
If there is no arc suppression fitted (ie. a resistor & capacitor in series across the contacts) then I suggest you fit one on each side (up & down) to avoid burning-out the new contacts.
Click to expand...
interesting, first time I see such a comment.
Can you suggest what size (F/Ohms/W) and rating should be?
any diagram would be welcomed.

cheers

V.

PS. see you're a new poster, just be aware you will have to wait for sometime before posts are approved/accepted and appear
 
My solenoid contacts also burned a few years ago but heat had been generated which had melted the contact holder. I did wonder whether to build up a new holder with JB Weld or similar but the cost of a new solenoid on eBay was not excessive so I replaced it.

Richard
 
We.l guys sorted , I found an old car solenoid and took bits off . Looking good it should last for a while.
Surprising what you find in bins?
 

Attachments

  • 20210502_110414.jpg
    20210502_110414.jpg
    458 KB · Views: 23
  • 20210502_110337.jpg
    20210502_110337.jpg
    589.1 KB · Views: 23
RichardS said:
My solenoid contacts also burned a few years ago but heat had been generated which had melted the contact holder. I did wonder whether to build up a new holder with JB Weld or similar but the cost of a new solenoid on eBay was not excessive so I replaced it.

Richard
Click to expand...
Richard as you know we cruisers and don't have the luxury to have an address just when we need it :)
If it can be fix best fix it .
 
vas said:
interesting, first time I see such a comment.
Can you suggest what size (F/Ohms/W) and rating should be?
any diagram would be welcomed.

cheers

V.

PS. see you're a new poster, just be aware you will have to wait for sometime before posts are approved/accepted and appear
Click to expand...

OK I'll put something together for you.
J.
 
  • Like
Reactions: vas
sailaboutvic said:
anyone rebuild the contact point on a solenoid ?
If so what did you use ?
Mine have burned out on one side, there must be a way to rebuild them .
Click to expand...
Just buy a new contact plate. Very cheap. Alternatively get a new one. They are also cheap and save time. I’ve stripped and rebuilt a few, it’s not worth the effort. Another suggestion, if you have a low current windlass get a high current switch instead. Maxwell do one.
 
I found Albright International in Hamshire who specialise in High Current Contactors very helpful for replacement of a Bow Thruster Reversing relay. They were reasonably priced as you're dealing direct with the manufacturer. I think that you can purchase the actual contact parts as a kit from them and rebuild yourself.
Kinsale 373
 
You must log in or register to reply here.

Other threads that may be of interest

G
Keryl Reborn
Replies
0
Views
117
gavrob
G
mogmog2
Maxwell windlass 10 VW looks interesting (to a windlass noob)
2 3
Replies
59
Views
1K
mogmog2
mogmog2

Share this page

Top