Wallas Fix

V

Valkyrie

New member
Hey Everyone,

Last week I posted that I couldn't start the Wallas. There were many good suggestions, but none worked.

Finally, I took Valkyrie to the local (60 miles) boat wizards who corrected the incorrectly rigged wiring to the battery charger a few months ago.

The problem was three, count 'em, three blown fuses in the starboard lazerette, which is watertight, unlike the port lazerette. They were wet, probably from condensation. One fuse was for the Wallas and others for other stuff.

I didn't know that the fuses were hidden in those little clipped boxes, so didn't know what to look for.

Hey, I'm no electrical whiz! My sailboat had 2 batteries, one VHF, one knotmeter/depthsounder and a few lights below. Power came from my Honda's alternator and a big solar panel. Anchor light was kerosene. I could go for months without shore power.

I guess I'll have to go out and buy a bucket of fuses now. Oh, well.

Thanks again,

Nick
"Valkyrie"
 
Actually I think the real cure would be to replace those darn Access Hatch covers..... I see Bomar now has "New" access hatches with a better design so water will not pour past the seal.

Joel
SEA3PO
 
Another thought..... open the fuze box and cover everything with silicone grease.... ( di-electric silicone) We use it when ever we bring wires through the firewall of a car... it will insulate the fuzes from any moisture....works super...and won't affect the fuzes at all... you can get it from the phone repairman or anyone that works for the utility company...they use it anywhere they make a line connection.. you can also buy it at the automotive parts house but it is kinda expensive... military uses it in gobs...
Great stuff....

Joel
SEA3PO
 
Both are good ideas, thanks guys. I think I'll give the silicone a try, less for me to screw up.

I hope that we have saved some other people time and trouble when they are troubelshooting the same problem.

Nick
"Valkyrie"
 
Dan,
Reference your suggestion to reverse the wiring harness: the CD owner's manual says you have to have a fuse on the wire run within 50 inches of the battery. Mine is a 2002 model and the rule may have changed but I would guess it is some coast guard or ABYC thing. I suppose if you were not concerned about the short protection of the wire run you could just eliminate the fuse since the Wallas has a fuse at the stove.
 
I suppose if you were not concerned about the short protection of the wire run you could just eliminate the fuse since the Wallas has a fuse at the stove.
Click to expand...

On my Wallas, the only fuse at the stove itself is a 4a fuse protecting the control circuit. The fuse in the main feed line is a 25a. The way I solved the problem is wiring the stove to the hot side of a disconnect switch I put at the helm and fed with 2ga cable from the battery. Everything in the cabin except the Wallas and the auto bilge pump circuits are disabled with that disconnect. Real handy. One switch when leaving the boat, and anything I forgot to turn off is off.
 
The 50 inch rule is when the wire is protected by an overall jacket, conduit, or other extra protection, otherwise the rule calls for a fuse within 7 inches of the battery.
My boat came with no fusing at all for the wiring to the helm panel.

And here's one for the good guys.

My 2 year old Wallas crapped out at the beginning of a 2 week cruise this February. It began with the fan turning itself on at various times, with the switch off. When I cycled power off and on, it would work OK. That repeated for a couple of days, then refused to do anything. A few calls to Karl @ Scan, confirmed it as dead. I talked to him yesterday, and he told me that he replaced the circuit board, no charge. Probable cause, unknown.
 
Tyboo,
I just checked out the Wallas stove and you are right. I never had an owner's manual for the stove but the fuse I had noticed under the stove(2A) wouldn't be large enough to run the fan and pump. Mine came with a 20A in-line fuse near the battery.
 
Awhile back Pounder installed a Wallas in his boat...When he got the kit from Scan Marine it included a very nice knife..... I think the company was very thoughtful to include a knife to cut yer throat when the damm thing kraps out...
 
Joel-

Do I notice a bit of sarchasm is your posts about the "Wallas Knife"?:smileo

A cursory examination of the documents section shows no Wallas Owner's Manual listed! :cry

Maybe we could get one, post it, and you could write the last chapter (probably 13) for those who reach the final frustration point with the

"Finickey Fumarole From Finland?" :amgry

Joe. :wink
 
ha !! not me.....I have a Dickerson propane stovetop.... im no coward...when my stove crumps....everyone will know... (somthing like an atomic storm cloud)

Joel
SEA3PO
 
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