Thermal breakers

TOGO · Posted: Mon Sep 09, 2013 9:38 pm Post subject: Thermal breakers

I tripped two 50 amp thermal breakers simultaneously one goes to the switch panel the other to the windless. This happen tried to drop the anchor and nothing, did not even make a sound. I then noticed no VHF, no GPS, and no sounder. I know that the sounder was working as we were looking for about 20 feet of water.

I reset the breakers after I discovered that it was the little lever not the red button that resets. What is the red button for? I did notice that one of the battery terminals was a little loose and took care of that. Yes I will change the wing nuts to lock nuts.

The windless and the and all electronics are working like nothing happen. Could this of been caused by the loose battery terminal? Oh it had been a few months since I had used the windless. The boat is used at least once a week from a trailer.

I will appreciate your comments as I not sure what caused the failure and that is not a good feeling.

Guy

Bill K · Posted: Mon Sep 09, 2013 10:54 pm Post subject:

The red button is for turning off the breaker ( like when the boat is on the trailer )

Bill Kelleher

thataway · Posted: Mon Sep 09, 2013 11:09 pm Post subject:

Normally the loose battery cable would cause intermittent low voltage or even loss of function. A possibility is that the windlass shaft was stuck, or that accidently the up switch may have been accidently pressed before it went on the "down" position. But that would only account for the windlass circuit. The other circuit is a bit of a puzzle. If there is a lower voltage, from the poor connection, it may have caused voltage drop and a higher current draw. It would take a fair amount of current draw. Be certain that there is no short--where a positive wire may have hit the negative bus bar or visa versa.

As for the lock nuts--I avoid the Nylox, because under a high enough current draw they have been known to have melt the nylon insert. Also the Nylox nut should be replaced. I use a standard SS nut and a lock washer.

TOGO · Posted: Tue Sep 10, 2013 9:23 am Post subject:

Thinking back I don't think I noticed that the switch panel had lost its power until after I checked the breakers. When I write the next part THERE IS NO EXCUSE FOR NOT KNOWING YOUR BOAT which I did not. I think I probably pushed the little red button on breaker for the switch panel which tripped the breaker as it should. That brings the electrical problem to the windless which probably needs service from lack of use. They start drop the level of Lake Pend Oreille on the 15th which ends our boating season in this part of the world. A good winter project before it gets to cold in the boat barn.

Thank you for your help guys.

Guy

colbysmith · Posted: Tue Sep 10, 2013 7:33 pm Post subject:

Along these same lines, recently on a few occasions, I have had my electronics blink and the trim tabs zero up. Thought maybe I had put a screw thru the wiring bundle but that wasn't it. I "worked" the thermal breaker a bit, and that seemed to fix the problem. However I had it happen one more time since then...again exercised the breaker. Any one else experience a problem like this or know if these thermal breakers need any kind of routine maintenance? Colby