|
|
20-12-2014, 03:22
|
#1
|
Registered User
Join Date: Dec 2014
Posts: 5
|
Windlass keeps tripping circuit breaker
I just got my boat out of the charter company's hands after 8 years. When I use the anchor windlass it trips the circuit 4 or 5 times while bringing the anchor up. It runs strong for several seconds then starts to bog down and if I don't stop quickly enough to let it rest (cool down) it trips the circuit. It is not even able to bring the anchor up to the roller once it is free in about 30 feet of water without popping the breaker. This can be nerve wracking when drifting down on a reef or another boat. It has always worked well in the past when I would use my boat while in the hands of the charter company.
Not being terribly electrically inclined I would like to know if this sounds like a problem with the wiring or if the motor is going bad and needs to be replaced. I hate to change the motor and find out it was a wiring problem as I did with my fresh water pump.
Any help appreciated as I can no longer just tell the charter company to fix it.
Sent from my iPhone using Cruisers Sailing Forum
|
|
|
20-12-2014, 03:30
|
#2
|
Marine Service Provider
Join Date: Jan 2012
Location: Thailand
Boat: Herreshoff Caribbean 50
Posts: 1,095
|
Re: Windlass keeps tripping circuit breaker
Doubt its a wiring problem ! More like a lack of maintenance on the windlass itself. Does it turn freely with no chain on it ?
__________________
Steve .. It was the last one that did this !
|
|
|
20-12-2014, 04:04
|
#3
|
Moderator Emeritus
Join Date: May 2008
Location: Fort Lauderdale, FL
Boat: 48 Wauquiez Pilot Saloon
Posts: 5,975
|
Re: Windlass keeps tripping circuit breaker
Tripping breaker = Higher amp load
High amp load =
1. Higher motor loads- binding, motor going South
2. lower voltage - battery low, going bad, bad connections to windlass
2 person job = Make sure your battery is topped up... check the voltage at the windlass terminals while operating. Clean all connections back to the battery, and check again...
Get a DC clamp ammeter and verify your current draw...
__________________
In the harsh marine environment, something is always in need of repair...
Mai Tai's fix everything...
|
|
|
20-12-2014, 04:50
|
#4
|
CF Adviser Moderator Emeritus
Join Date: Sep 2007
Location: Virginia
Boat: Island Packet 380, now sold
Posts: 8,942
|
Re: Windlass keeps tripping circuit breaker
I'm with HappyMd--try the easy stuff first. Check battery voltage, and unmake, clean and tighten all connections. If that doesn't do it, only then start pulling your windlass apart.
__________________
Hud
|
|
|
20-12-2014, 04:56
|
#5
|
Moderator Emeritus
Join Date: May 2007
Location: Ohio
Boat: Now boatless :-(
Posts: 11,580
|
Re: Windlass keeps tripping circuit breaker
If it runs at normal speed for some seconds, bogs down and trips I would suspect dirty and corroded wiring or deteriorated wiring.
emmaliina is right to check the no load behavior. If it runs slow, grinds or bogs down with no load you mave a motor/mechanical problem with the windlass.
If you have access to the wiring connections check them after circuit breaker pop and they will likely be hot to the touch.
|
|
|
20-12-2014, 05:04
|
#6
|
Senior Cruiser
Join Date: Mar 2003
Location: Thunder Bay, Ontario - 48-29N x 89-20W
Boat: (Cruiser Living On Dirt)
Posts: 49,082
|
Re: Windlass keeps tripping circuit breaker
Greetings and welcome aboard the CF, MinorI.
__________________
Gord May
"If you didn't have the time or money to do it right in the first place, when will you get the time/$ to fix it?"
|
|
|
20-12-2014, 05:14
|
#7
|
Moderator Emeritus
Join Date: Oct 2009
Location: Manchester, UK
Boat: Beneteau 473
Posts: 5,589
|
Re: Windlass keeps tripping circuit breaker
Check the state of the carbon brushes as well.
__________________
Nigel
Beneteau 473
Manchester, UK
|
|
|
20-12-2014, 06:04
|
#8
|
cat herder, extreme blacksheep
Join Date: Jul 2008
Location: furycame alley , tropics, mexico for now
Boat: 1976 FORMOSA yankee clipper 41
Posts: 18,967
|
Re: Windlass keeps tripping circuit breaker
i would check to see if the wiring to windlass was adequate for the load--could be wires are too small, and batttery needs to be closer to the windlass--like in da bow. try that. extra battery for windlass and closer to bow. then you will have a windlass... thankyou for the thankyou.
is how i had to do mine with same exact problems....
|
|
|
20-12-2014, 06:53
|
#9
|
Registered User
Join Date: Feb 2008
Location: North Charleston, SC
Boat: Camano Troll
Posts: 5,176
|
Re: Windlass keeps tripping circuit breaker
Quote:
Originally Posted by zeehag
i would check to see if the wiring to windlass was adequate for the load--could be wires are too small, and batttery needs to be closer to the windlass--like in da bow. try that. extra battery for windlass and closer to bow. then you will have a windlass... thankyou for the thankyou.
is how i had to do mine with same exact problems....
|
If it worked fine in the past and now it doesn't, the wiring is not too small and the battery doesn't have to be moved closer to the windlass. That's part of Troubleshooting 101.
I'm going for lack of maintenance and lubrication on the windlass but another possibility not mentioned so far is a failing circuit breaker. They can go bad to where they trip at a lower current than rated.
__________________
Ron
HIGH COTTON
|
|
|
20-12-2014, 06:59
|
#10
|
Moderator Emeritus
Join Date: May 2008
Location: Fort Lauderdale, FL
Boat: 48 Wauquiez Pilot Saloon
Posts: 5,975
|
Re: Windlass keeps tripping circuit breaker
Quote:
Originally Posted by HappyMdRSailor
Tripping breaker = Higher amp load
Get a DC clamp ammeter and verify your current draw...
|
Quote:
Originally Posted by rwidman
I'm going for lack of maintenance and lubrication on the windlass but another possibility not mentioned so far is a failing circuit breaker. They can go bad to where they trip at a lower current than rated.
|
What I meant...
__________________
In the harsh marine environment, something is always in need of repair...
Mai Tai's fix everything...
|
|
|
20-12-2014, 07:06
|
#11
|
Registered User
Join Date: Jan 2011
Location: Caribbean live aboard
Boat: Camper & Nicholson58 Ketch - ROXY Traverse City, Michigan No.668283
Posts: 6,353
|
Re: Windlass keeps tripping circuit breaker
All good points. Eliminate/fix the easy stuff first. After 8 years in charter, it may be time to look under the hood anyway. I have found several DC motors on our boat that benefited well from an open inspection, cleaning, de-rusting, painting, greasing. - and brush inspection.
|
|
|
20-12-2014, 07:26
|
#12
|
Registered User
Join Date: Sep 2009
Location: Houston
Boat: '76 Allied Seawind II, 32'
Posts: 9,626
|
Re: Windlass keeps tripping circuit breaker
Or could just be a bad breaker.
Get a clamp on ammeter and see how many amps it pulls when the breaker trips.
Sent from my iPhone using Cruisers Sailing Forum
|
|
|
20-12-2014, 09:08
|
#13
|
Registered User
Join Date: Jun 2012
Location: Dallas, PA
Boat: Alden Malabar Sr 33
Posts: 20
|
Re: Windlass keeps tripping circuit breaker
1. Check voltage at windlass. If less than 12 volts, check connection at windless breaker. Check screws on ckt breaker and inspect for corrosion. Check voltage at this breaker coming into it and going out.
2. If less than 12 volts at windlass, ck any connections between breaker and windlass. (probably none)
3. If you have 12 volts or more at windlass, the problem is in the windlass. Check brushes first. Next, run windlass with no chain/rode, eliminating as much load as possible. If brushes looked good, but windlass runs better without load, change brushes out. If it still trips with chain/rode on windlass, the next step is to measure the current draw of the windlass, using a clamp type DC ammeter, or, using a little more effort, wiring an ammeter in series with the motor. Compare this current reading to what the motor is supposed to draw.
Do the above with fully charged batteries if possible. The lower your voltage, the higher the current draw.
|
|
|
20-12-2014, 09:08
|
#14
|
Marine Service Provider
Join Date: Sep 2012
Location: Virgin Islands
Boat: PDQ 36, 36'5", previously Leopard 45 cat and Hunter 33 mono
Posts: 1,345
|
Re: Windlass keeps tripping circuit breaker
It could also be a battery on its way out, and unable to sustain the voltage when heavily loaded. That leads to more amps, to supply the needed wattage, and the breaker blows.
|
|
|
20-12-2014, 09:20
|
#15
|
Registered User
Join Date: Nov 2011
Location: OH
Boat: Catalina 30
Posts: 37
|
Re: Windlass keeps tripping circuit breaker
Either the wire is to small or something else is wired in series...
|
|
|
|
|
Thread Tools |
Search this Thread |
|
|
Display Modes |
Rate This Thread |
Linear Mode
|
|
Posting Rules
|
You may not post new threads
You may not post replies
You may not post attachments
You may not edit your posts
HTML code is Off
|
|
|
|
Advertise Here
Recent Discussions |
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
Vendor Spotlight |
|
|
|