Anchor winch solenoid

Aug 27, 2015
58
Cal 2-46 Whitianga. New Zealand
We are currently in Vava'u. Tonga. Deep anchoring. And our 1501 Lighthouse anchor winch (12 volt) currently has "up" control only. We would rather also have "down" power control.
Is anyone familiar with installing an up/down solenoid and foot switches to a 1501?
 
Feb 10, 2004
4,136
Hunter 40.5 Warwick, RI
I'm not familiar with your particular windlass, but the following should apply:
I assume that the OEM setup was for UP only and that you have a simple solenoid switch to control it. I also think that the motor would be a two-wire connection and not a 3-wire. (Three wires would indicate a motor that is reversed without changing polarity to it.
What you would need to purchase is a reversing solenoid. This device is wired to the battery and to the windlass and will reverse the voltage to the windlass motor via the UP/DOWN switches or control. An UP/DOWN control (or two foot switches) would then be connected to the solenoid.
You need to check that the windlass can be reversed and that there is not some sort of mechanical limitation that would prohibit that operation.
This solenoid is about $150-200 and it would replace your existing solenoid.
 

Gunni

.
Mar 16, 2010
5,937
Beneteau 411 Oceanis Annapolis
...or loosen your gypsy drag and let it feed out. Don't those windlasses have a nice hand control?
 
Aug 27, 2015
58
Cal 2-46 Whitianga. New Zealand
Thanks for these comments. Yes we use the drag but tricky to judge length when it gets past 50m.
We will investigate the up down solenoid.
Does any one know if the 1501 motor can operate in both directions??