Help. Bow thruster malfunctioning

[bccoast]

Hey y’all. Well been a wild christmas. Came down dec 23 to get the keys on my first sailboat SO49. Basically just handed the keys and other than a few manuals am in the dark. Waiting for the winter storm to pass and snow to stop. -9° tonight and got 6” of snow today.

Anyway, when we had survey a couple weeks ago, bow thrusters worked. When i got the boat a few days ago they didnt. Trying to trouble shoot. There was this switch box in forward cabin beside bow thruster and batteries, rubber gasket and a spring and cap. It was on the floor. I mucked around with switch and got it to work once but cant get it to work any more. A green light is flashing on the control panel buttons at helm. When it worked, i believe it was solid green.

Leaving tomorrow, any help would be appreciated.

[Flod]

Try to start the main engine and then try the thruster. These are usually wired so they only work with alt on main engine delivering current.

[GordMay]

Which make & model bow thruster have you?
➥ https://www.quickitaly.com/en/produc...vring-systems/
➥ https://www.quickitaly.com/en/manuals/

BTQ140 & BTQ185 ➥ https://www.technicalmarinesupplies....-en-rev06c.pdf

[Flod]

Usually there are also 3 switches for a thruster. One for the low current circuit, usually found on the electronic switch panel, one for the high current circuit, this can be a breaker of some kind for example an automatic breaker but this is no standard things. Then there is usually an “activate” button on the control. On my system you have to press the two buttons on the control for 3 sec to activate it.

[GordMay]

See page 22 ➥ https://www.technicalmarinesupplies....-en-rev06c.pdf

[ranger58sb]

Originally Posted by bccoast

A green light is flashing on the control panel buttons at helm. When it worked, i believe it was solid green.

With ours, it takes two button pushes to activate the control. First push, green light starts flashing. Second push, green light stays solid.

-Chris

[bccoast]

Omg. You guys are brain surgeons, YES. Houston we have lift off. Haha. Well thats how it felt when it worked.

[Flod]

Great! What did it turn out to be? In a couple of month’s of cruising on your new boat you will know all of this as well. The learning curve is steep on boats

[Cadence]

I'd guess Chris and flod had the answer. Be careful with that weather.

[bccoast]

Damn, that was short lived.

The 3 second both button press solved the original post but now it is not working again. I was pulling into marina yesterday, pushed both buttons and light went solid green. 10 seconds later the thruster started automatically and pushing port side. I hit the panel, I think red but was panicking a bit as it was not a good time for that to happen unexpectedly.

It stopped but now can't get it to start again. button just flashes green and won't go solid, won't start. with engine running as well. took voltmeter to battery and has 14.4v

Thanks for those manual links @gordmay I will look at those. What do you think the battery isolator does. that button in my pic above has a rubber boot with a spring inside and the cap does pop off. should that button be pressed in normal or is that like a kill switch to hit in emergency?

[Flod]

I have experienced that as well [emoji2] in my case it was corrosion in the contactor. You are doing winter sailing in harsh conditions and these things are really made for warmer and nicer climate. I think most professional user in cold waters have hydraulic systems. Anyway In my case it was enough to hit the contactor with a hammer (not hard) on the outside. Later I had to replace it

[bccoast]

Originally Posted by Flod

I have experienced that as well [emoji2] in my case it was corrosion in the contactor. You are doing winter sailing in harsh conditions and these things are really made for warmer and nicer climate. I think most professional user in cold waters have hydraulic systems. Anyway In my case it was enough to hit the contactor with a hammer (not hard) on the outside. Later I had to replace it

I have the hammer out


What am i banging? Not sure what the contractor is?

[Flod]

Could look something like this

[Flod]

Follow the thick cables from the thruster. At least of of them will go to the contactor. Some models have these built in the assy close to the motor. Then you could bang gentle on the actual assy. Unfortunately the banging is not a long term solution but might fix it for now

[Cadence]

Originally Posted by Flod

Follow the thick cables from the thruster. At least of of them will go to the contactor. Some models have these built in the assy close to the motor. Then you could bang gentle on the actual assy. Unfortunately the banging is not a long term solution but might fix it for now

If the contactor is sealed replace it. On one not sealed, days of yore, the contacts could be burnished.
Wacking it with a hammer may be a temporary solution.