Wind cups top of my mask not working

[william r sizemore]

I just replaced the wind cup and wind directional at the top of the mast however it`s not transmitting any signal to the wind Sensor in the cockpit, anyone else have this issue and any recommendations to fix this.
Bill

 

[BlowMeAway]

Wired or wireless system?

 

[Joe]

A description of the sensor and the instrument, and how they are connected would help.

 

[william r sizemore]

hardwired

 

[Rich Stidger]

If it is a RayMarine unit, I have had intermittent problems with the connections at the masthead. My best solution is to spray the contacts, both male and female, with DeOxit DS5 cleaner. Plug and un-plug the masthead transducer several times and then snug the locking hand nut. Before you come down from the top, verify with someone in the cockpit that the unit is working for both speed and direction. The directions may not be correct, but that is adjustable at the display head.

 

[JamesG161]

Plug and un-plug the masthead transducer several times and then snug the locking hand nut

How long does that maintenance last? Several years? I just got a replacement quote ≈$1000. I bought a hand held for $30 but like your idea.
The transducer is just a magnetic counter ( from the RayM tech) just like the knot meter. Your solution sound more logical.
Jim...

 

[Rich Stidger]

Please tell us the model of your wind instrument. I will assume (dangerous, I know) that the cups are spinning and the vane is tracking the wind direction. If that is true, then it is fair to assume that the transducer is not mechanically defective. Hence a connection or broken cable is the logical suspect.

Was the wind instrument working before you replaced the cups and vane? Why did you replace those items?

A few more bits of information and we should have a pretty good idea what is wrong and how to fix it.

 

[Rich Stidger]

How long does that maintenance last? Several years? I just got a replacement quote ≈$1000. I bought a hand held for $30 but like your idea.
The transducer is just a magnetic counter ( from the RayM tech) just like the knot meter. Your solution sound more logical.
Jim...

Jim,
I remove my wind transducer every fall and replace it in the spring. I do this for two reasons- First, by removing it over the winter non-sailing season, there is no wear on the internal bearings. I did have one fail over a winter and it is not cheap to fix.
Second, by going aloft twice a year it gives me an opportunity to examine my standing rigging for any kind of problem or damage. So to answer your question as to how long the contact spraying lasts, I don't know because every Spring I re-spray the contacts before I install it. BTW, if you have an ST50 unit like me and the bearings seize or develop friction, the bearings are available commercially and can be replaced if you are handy. There are four bearings total, all the same size. I have two ST50 wind transducers and one has bad bearings and the other is on my mast. I am about to order 8 bearings so that I can rebuild my spare and have more bearings to rebuild the one in use.

 

[JamesG161]

BTW, if you have an ST50 unit like me and the bearings seize or develop friction, the bearings are available commercially and can be replaced if you are handy.

ST50 here, minimum freezing, I am handy, but up the mast is beyond me. I need to be about 50 lbs lighter for a bosun chair.
I do have a volunteer but he isn't happy about my boom lift line. I do use the spinnaker halyard as a safety back up.
I will probably see if it the contact cleaning and like you said be prepared to take it down. I will ask again if I need your bearing source.
Thanks...
Jim....

 

[Rich Stidger]

William R Sizemore- Does any of this help you?

 

[alexco38]

A friend of mine installed it upside down. I told him it's wrong. He must have forced it as there is a guide pin on the plug.
He reversed it but still won't work. Looks like the pins are crushed.
The plug and socket is 5 pins DIN much like the old stereo cables. It's a bear to replace aloft. You need to be on a bench. Good luck.