T&T: Windlass problems

[Chuck and Susan]

Jim, Is this something new or has it done this all along. A couple issues I see, either a voltage drop from too small cables, as you mentioned, might be easier to replace than adding batteries, or a bad connection, or a bad circuit breaker, which I have found to be the case in many instances. Solenoids can cause this if they are going bad and the motor can be binding. You need to check all connections and if you have another breaker, be sure it is sized properly and switch that out first. Chuck

To follow our adventures, go to

http://trawler-beach-house.blogspot.com/

http://sea-trek.blogspot.com/


--- On Sat, 1/3/09, Jim Boyd <jboydjr at comcast.net> wrote:

> From: Jim Boyd <jboydjr at comcast.net>
> Subject: T&T: Windlass problems
> To: trawlers-and-trawlering at lists.samurai.com
> Date: Saturday, January 3, 2009, 1:53 PM
> Problem:  When retrieving my anchor the breaker frequently
> trips.  I am
> careful to not use the windlass to pull the boat to the
> anchor and try to
> have the chain/rode slack when operating the windlass but
> it still trips.
> 
> My 42 ft Californian is equipped with an Ideal horizontal
> windlass, model
> CWM with 40 ft of 5/16 BBB chain and 150 ft of rode
> attached to a 33 lb#
> Danforth anchor.  The windlass is operated by a single (up
> only) foot switch
> near the windlass and is powered by one of the starting
> batteries and is
> controlled by a double throw breaker in the panel on the
> saloon.  It's like
> the Keystone Kops running from the bow of the boat down to
> the saloon, back
> to the bow of the boat and repeat the process.
> 
> I have cleaned the terminals on the windlass and made sure
> it was lubricated
> as per Ideal instructions but it still trips the breakers.
> 
> The wire run from the batteries to the windlass is about 25
> ft (if run in a
> straight line- which it is not)
> 
> I have considered that the existing wire was perhaps, too
> small for the
> amount of current needed to run this 20 year old windlass.
> 
> One thought I had was to install another battery closer to
> the windlass
> (about 5 ft) and use the existing wire from the battery to
> the windlass and
> use it as the wire to charge the new battery. 
> 
> Any other options to consider?
> 
> Jim Boyd
> Lark
> 42 ft Californian
> _______________________________________________
> http://lists.samurai.com/mailman/listinfo/trawlers-and-trawlering
> 
> To unsubscribe or modify your subscription options (get
> password, change email address, etc) go to:
> http://lists.samurai.com/mailman/options/trawlers-and-trawlering
> 
> Trawlers & Trawlering and T&T are trademarks of
> Water World
> Productions. Unauthorized use is prohibited.