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01-11-2020, 06:17
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#1
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Registered User
Join Date: Jul 2019
Posts: 64
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Lightninga specific question
Looks like my bareboat trip coming up shortly in the lower Keys may include some thunderstorms. 4th bareboat excursion but first one where there is actual adverse weather predicted. I have read as much as possible (VHF antenna, microwave, etc) My question:..One blogger says to run engine in case batteries get fried so the engine is already started. Makes some sense.Pros/Cons? May I get some veteran sailors opinions
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01-11-2020, 06:27
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#2
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Senior Cruiser
Join Date: Oct 2007
Location: 29° 49.16’ N 82° 25.82’ W
Boat: Pearson 422
Posts: 16,306
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Re: Lightninga specific question
Depends on the engine. Modern common rail engines have electronic control modules that will most likely be fried in a direct lightening strike. Old mechanical injection engines this might work although my old mechanical engine has an electrically operated fuel shutoff solenoid I would have to bypass.
__________________
The water is always bluer on the other side of the ocean.
Sometimes it's necessary to state the obvious for the benefit of the oblivious.
Rust is the poor man's Loctite.
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01-11-2020, 06:33
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#3
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Registered User
Join Date: Nov 2018
Location: Panama
Boat: Norseman 447
Posts: 1,625
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Re: Lightninga specific question
One one boat that had been struck by lightning, with an older "non-electronic" motor, we had to replace all three relays on the motor, all the gauges and the fuel pump before it ran. The starter and alternator survived the strike. There are no rules for lightning strikes.
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01-11-2020, 07:44
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#4
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Senior Cruiser
Join Date: Oct 2007
Location: 29° 49.16’ N 82° 25.82’ W
Boat: Pearson 422
Posts: 16,306
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Re: Lightninga specific question
Quote:
Originally Posted by Bycrick
One one boat that had been struck by lightning, with an older "non-electronic" motor, we had to replace all three relays on the motor, all the gauges and the fuel pump before it ran. The starter and alternator survived the strike. There are no rules for lightning strikes.
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What three relays on the motor? I can think of two. Electric fuel shutoff and one for glow plugs.
Electric fuel lift pump could be a problem but I have a backup for that.
__________________
The water is always bluer on the other side of the ocean.
Sometimes it's necessary to state the obvious for the benefit of the oblivious.
Rust is the poor man's Loctite.
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01-11-2020, 08:00
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#5
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Registered User
Join Date: Nov 2018
Location: Panama
Boat: Norseman 447
Posts: 1,625
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Re: Lightninga specific question
This was ten years ago. IIRC, one relay was for the starter, one was for glow plugs and the third connected the normally isolated engine block to -12v so the glow plugs and stop solenoid would work. They also had connected one end of the start relay coil to the alternator, apparently as a way to prevent engaging the starter while the engine was running.
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01-11-2020, 09:33
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#6
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Senior Cruiser
Join Date: Oct 2007
Location: 29° 49.16’ N 82° 25.82’ W
Boat: Pearson 422
Posts: 16,306
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Re: Lightninga specific question
Quote:
Originally Posted by Bycrick
This was ten years ago. IIRC, one relay was for the starter, one was for glow plugs and the third connected the normally isolated engine block to -12v so the glow plugs and stop solenoid would work. They also had connected one end of the start relay coil to the alternator, apparently as a way to prevent engaging the starter while the engine was running.
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Forgot about the starter relay. I can crank mine without the glow plugs but may take a while in cold weather. Can bypass the fuel shutoff solenoid and jump the starter solenoid so as long as I can get any battery power I should be able to crank up.
__________________
The water is always bluer on the other side of the ocean.
Sometimes it's necessary to state the obvious for the benefit of the oblivious.
Rust is the poor man's Loctite.
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01-11-2020, 10:08
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#7
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Registered User
Join Date: Nov 2018
Location: Panama
Boat: Norseman 447
Posts: 1,625
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Re: Lightninga specific question
Perhaps you or I could bypass stuff and get it running, or in this case stopped. But the boat owner couldn’t have. My point was that even "simple," non-computerized motors have electrical parts that might be affected by lightning.
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01-11-2020, 11:15
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#8
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Senior Cruiser
Join Date: Oct 2007
Location: 29° 49.16’ N 82° 25.82’ W
Boat: Pearson 422
Posts: 16,306
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Re: Lightninga specific question
Quote:
Originally Posted by Bycrick
Perhaps you or I could bypass stuff and get it running, or in this case stopped. But the boat owner couldn’t have. My point was that even "simple," non-computerized motors have electrical parts that might be affected by lightning.
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Of course every motor has electrical parts that could get fried. My point is electrical parts like starters are much less likely to die than electronic parts like computer control modules. I think some of the electronically controlled engines have a limp home mode if the controllers are fried but not sure how much damage these can stand.
__________________
The water is always bluer on the other side of the ocean.
Sometimes it's necessary to state the obvious for the benefit of the oblivious.
Rust is the poor man's Loctite.
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