Windless/Bow Thruster Battery Info


L

Laconia Formula

Member
Had the battery go dead this weekend, pulling up the windless in a 15mph wind, it was not fun. New battery this season, but after testing was not being charged by either the on board charger or the engine. I charged the battery with a car battery charger and I am back in business, all is well. Today I talked with Formula and this battery has a charging relay that could go bad. Given the symptoms, this is what it has to be. I ordered a new relay and I will update if this was the cure. I hope this helps others.
 
a charging relay that runs thru the alternator charging system?? i'm not familiar so would be interested to see how this turns out.
 
The relay is a glorified electronic switch mounted down under the floor, to prevent the main battery from going dead if this is used too long. Very expensive, and useless.
I changed the set up on mine.
I installed a 100 amp breaker in the engine room, fed the power from the third terminal on the Charles charger, that was unused, and ran a 1/0 wire from the breaker to the battery.
When on shore power, the charger will charge. When engines are running, alternators will charge.
In an emergency, run the generator to charge the battery.
 
Thanks. That makes perfect sense. I will do this on the next relay change out. I ordered mine yesterday and it is already on the way. I will let you know how I make out.
 
I believe the relay is called an intelligent moffset switch. I think mine is made by paneltronics, but just not sure.
 
I just came from the boat. We finally found the relay after an hour with Formula on the phone. That is a story for another day. We removed the relay and tied the two cables together and then took a reading at the battery, bingo, it was now being charged at 13.5 volts. We then permanently connected those cables together. We then started the engine and the volt meter on the battery read 13.8. Thank you for your advice Gsent. Not sure if I need anything else for this project or what the moffset switch would do. Let me know. Again, thank you for your input.
 
Without the switch, your main battery could go dead if the thruster battery dies or shorts out. You have no protection, as they are now paralleled.
I installed the new switch and also charged the thruster battery from the charger. I like redundancy, and hate failure.
 
When I bought my boat in 06 Had the problem that the thruster battery kept going dead. It was not being charged. Formula shipped intelligent switch had it installed and no more problem. Yes it was made by Panaltronics
 
I understand why you would have one of these switches, but not sure how the work. Also, what is the cost of the paneltronics switch. The switch formula uses cost me $169.00. Also, I have an open third leg off of my shore power charger.

Gsent, you mentioned that the current switch is expensive and useless and that you changed the setup on yours. You also mention that you installed a moffet switch. What is this and how is it different from what I currently have? Just trying to understand to determine the best way to outfit the boat.
 
Keep the switch that you have if it is working, and still charge the battery from the third port on the charger.
B
 
I am not sure on the 40, but on the 37, it is in the floor access screwed to the bulkhead.
 
MY thruster motor is in the floor and easy to access. Is this swtich in the same area? Any hints what it looks like?
 
so i pulled the panel that the windless relay and the on/off power switch is mounted. I found 2 Bluesea charging solenoids behind the panel. Two diff part numbers. The yellow label has power running through it with a test like. The silver one only has power to one side. The little 14ga red wire is dead but if you put power to it you can here one of the solenoid makes some noise but no other changes.

How do you test these solenoids? Where is the power source for the red wire? i have checked everywhere for a breaker, relay something and i can't find the power source.

This is a 40PC i cant figure out how to change my info. IMG_8627.jpgIMG_8628.jpgIMG_8629.jpg
 
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