Yanmar 3JH5E electric panel problem (C30)

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Leonv

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Hi there,

i hope someone is able to help. I have a yanmar engine 3jh5e, 5 years old. It starts from the electronic panel C30. I am on the 2nd panel already and once again i get mall functions. Since a week , every now and then the panel blinks, all red lights come on and a bleep sound can be heard, then the rev counter goes to zero,moves back up and the whole process start over again. The engine keeps running through this process.

anyone has any ideas or suggestions what the issue could be? Before running to yanmar minimum euro 1200 for checking, a new panel and installation.

thanks,

leon


on the link is the video file of the process

Yanmar c30 panel error.MP4
 
To begin with I would run a check on the power coming into the panel ( red wire to terminal 30 on the keyswitch assuming you have a keyswitch)

Also check all connections on the keyswitch and the connections on the fuse in the panel

Since you have already replaced the panel .. Id suspect the power supply Check the 3R wire from the main + connection on the starter motor solenoid through the 3 pin connectors to the panel.
Refer to the wiring diagram in your owners manual
 
Thank you Vic for your suggestions. I have checked the wiring and fuse connections behind the panel already. all seems to be in order.
Could be the wire connection on the start motor solenoid. Maybe the vibrates of the running engine is highlighting this problem. I will have a look
 
Good morning Leon.
Have you talked to Yanmar about this problem by phone or mail? That would be a good step.

Vic suggested to check on the power coming into the panel
By that, I am sure he means to check the voltage with a muliltimter.

You replied, I have checked the wiring and fuse connections behind the panel already. all seems to be in order.
However you didn't mention using a multimeter.

The panel is new. It is Japanese and very high quality, so I would put that on the bottom of the list.
If it is not the panel , it is either power in, negative supply or one of the sensors (tacho, charge, temp, oil pressure) sending a signal to the panel.

1. With a multimeter, check the voltage as suggested by Vic.
Even if it seems good, make up a new (temporary) wire from the power supply to terminal 30.
You have eliminated any power supply problem.
Next make up a new (temporary) negative wire and you have eliminated a negative supply problem.

After those checks, one by one disconnect each of the sensor feeds into the panel.

Best of luck
gary
 
Thank you gary for your suggestions. I have tried to speak with yanmar Cyprus (i am living in limassol) but they are not helpful. They just say to make an appointment.

i will do as you say and start with slowly trying to eliminate possibilities.
 
Hi Leon.
I understand the communication problem with Yanmar in Cyprus.
That is not unusual.

I am sure you will find the problem and fix it.
When you do, please come back and tell everyone how you did it.

gary
 
An update on the panel problem. To my surprise the nut of the positive power wire on the solenoid was loose. The wire from the battery and the wire to the panel both were loose on the bolt.

also the nut from the connection between the solenoid and starter engine was completely missing.

i found the nut in the engine leak compartment and tightened both nuts. Lets see if this was the cause of the panel malfunction.


F4765F37-0561-45E8-A5ED-3E6E09F3D267.jpeg42676404-85D9-4BC9-9F3B-00B93CD7CBF5.jpeg
 
I hope that is the solution Leon.
Corroded, broken or looses connections cause about 50% (or more) of the electrical problems on a boat.
It is strange to have loose nuts on such a new engine, so to be safe, check every connection that you can see.

gary
 
I also hope that it fixes the panel fault. In your opening post you mentioned that you are already on the second panel. Why was the original changed? Who changed it?

Just thinking out loud, if it was the same problem and you’ve now fixed it by tightening a nut, I’d be asking for a refund, unless it was changed under warranty?
 
Hi skylark, the previous panel was replaced by yanmar. There is a story to this as well.

I bought the boat new in 2015. In summer 2017 I was sailing and before going into an anchorage near cape greco in Cyprus, I wanted to motor sail. Before, on the cape there were military communication masts relying signals from middle east through Cyprus to other military bases around. The electronic“field” around these masts were so strong, all electronics onboard would start to give problems. Batteries would suddenly drop to 10 volt, navigation equipment would stop working as well as the autopilot. All alarms on the boat would start giving signals. On top of that there are different currents, the sea floor comes up quick and somehow the wind curls in this area. This sometimes leads to challenging situations with wave hight and wave and wind direction and strength. it is a situation which needs your full attention. Therefore usually one mile ahead I switch on the engine and switch of all electronics, just out of precaution.

Normally you first switch on the power to the panel and then start the engine. Strangely enough this time the engine started immediately. I was suspicious but did not act on it.
After 5-10 of minutes I smelled a burning smell and saw white / grey smoke. On first reaction I started to look around but soon enough realized this was a bit naive as with no boats around, any smoke should come from my boat.... and yes the smoke was coming from the hatch just behind the helm. I do have fire extinguisher onboard and a couple outside as well. I emptied the storage locker but could not locate the source If smoke. Then I ran down to check the engine compartment and realized the teak and stairs were incredibly hot....I did not lift the stairs to the engine compartment just in case if there would be a small fire not to add more oxygen. I grabbed the radio for a pan pan, but found out that radio signals and phone signals do not work properly as well in that area. I did switched of the engine.

In the mean time the boat had turned into the wind which was about beaufort 6 , the sails were flapping loudly, the boat was rolling heavily sideways on the waves, it was rather stressful.... but thank god after switching of the engine the smoke became less.

I got the boat back under control and sailed to the nearest bay. Some of the pan pan signal must have come through, as once I was out of the electronic field area, the Cyprus rescue services was calling for information on the radio. In the end Marine police came to assist and pulled me to a fixed boy (the anchor winch works only when the engine is on). We looked at the engine and saw that the starter engine was red hot. It turned out that the starter engine kept running. Later on I tried to take it apart. This was hard because everything inside was completely melted.

Naturally I called Yanmar. They came and said it must have been a faulty panel giving a constant starting signal to the starter engine...anyway we changed the panel, some of the wiring, the solenoid and starter engine. It was an expensive repair and I asked if this would be under guarantee as the boat was less then 2 years old. And frankly these are very dangerous equipment failures. unfortunately after payment I never heard back from them about the guarantee.

I believe it was a close call to real fire onboard. It was not such a great experience but learned so much from this situation. Not only I learned from my lack of certain skills but as well of the design flaws of the boat, especially the location of the life raft. Almost Impossible to reach in case of emergency and impossible to launch when wounded.
 
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