Windlass malfunction

[tophooey]

2006 Beneteau 393. I'm a bit frusteated. The windlass is fine. It works when jumped to an independent battery. I replaced botth 5 blade relays, checked wiring from battery to windlass for continuity, all good. Yet, when I turn the engine switch to "on" and try to use the windlass, the voltmeter for the house battery drops to near 0 and the winch does not move, simply makes a clicking sound. I am obviously missing some relay/solenoid or something. Any help would be greatly appreciated.

 

[Davidasailor26]

If it works when jumpers to a spare battery then I’d suspect the house battery first. What’s the condition of the house battery and how does it seem to handle other loads?

It’s most typical to use the windlass with the engine actually running so the alternator can provide some of the amps. Still the house voltage shouldn’t drop to 0 of you try it without the engine running.

 

[tophooey]

I had replaced the house battery with new one. Used the old one, actually, for the jump. She's on the hard right now so can't crank the engine over, just put in "on" position. However, when I've done that in past for replacing anchor rope everything worked fine. This happened first off when on the water, so I replaced house battery to no effect I was hoping that I could get her to work properly when on the water and engine running and alternator on, as you suggest. I don't have full electrical schematic, so I can't tell if there's anything else in the circuit that might be failing, paricularly in the interface with the engine.

 

[kloudie1]

Sounds like a bad connection or a corroded wire. Measure volts on the battery post (not terminal) if voltage goes to 0 when asking windlass to go, it is a bad battery. If post voltage stays at 12 then a bad connection somewhere between the post and where the house voltmeter takes it’s measurement.

 

[tophooey]

I'm sure not a bad battery because brand new. I'll give it a look. Thanks