windass....engine 430

[Navicula]

I powered up my 430 on the hard with the batteries hooked up and pluged into a genny...

everything works so far except the windlass...there is 12 v to the control box in the anchor locker....but the fuse at the nav station will not light up for the up and down swithches to work....the big lewmar breaker is on.

I followed the wires from the small breaker at the nav table.....one goes to the switches and the other goes to a sensor on the yanmar (looks like a oil sensor)....if I jump the wire at the sensor the windlass works fine.....
this leads me to belive that the engine would have to be running in order or the windlass to work......is this the way it should be hooked up..........
what if you have an engine failure...............whats the reason behind this

thanks
john

 

[Don12364]

Yes, that was how my H376 was wired too.
Not so clever when, in the middle of the night, one needed to pay out more scope without wanting to wake everybody.
I know that it is best to run the engine when raising the anchor, and am the only one to operate the windlass anyway - so I took that wire direct to the supply.
Also, from memory, the system took the above power from the engine battery to operate the contactors and from the house battery to operate the motor. This meant having BOTH batteries in good state before the windlass could be run.
Crazy thinking - so now mine only runs from the house bank.
BTW I also have means of joining both banks should the need arise so there is little chance I would get stuck not being able to weigh anchor.

 

[artboas]

This is correct.
The windlass needs min 12 v to run. Having the engine running ensures there is adequate voltage to the windlass.
Also, if you are hauling up a long rode, you could flatten your house bank if the alternator isn't running.
All charter boats down south have an oil sensor interlock for the windlass conractor .

 

[Navicula]

thanks
one more question................is there any way to free wheel this windlass (chain), since I am on the hard with the engine not running....

 

[artboas]

Yes, use your winch handle and loosen the capstan.