Lofrans Installation Fault

[papawads]

My 2001 43 DS has a Lofrans Airon Windlass.

It recently started over-running when deploying the anchor, twice throwing all 100 meters of chain (into 5 meters of water!!).

To be clear, this is not the clutch slipping, this is active motor deployment.

Talked to Lorfans, sent photos, and they said "the controller switch has been installed wrongly and could be the cause of your fault".

In short, these should NOT be installed upside down. It makes wiring easier, but after many years, the heavt duty electro switch can stick.

€70 bought we a new controller switch and about one hour of simple work at awkward angles (use help) installed it.

Part: 600018 CONTROL BOX LOFRANS 3T 12V 0,5-1,7KW

Incidentally - also realised when doing this, that the windlass is powered from the starter battery. I have a bow thruster, so likely to move to that bank, under the front berth.

[Trevor]

Hello Papawads, that must have been a bit exciting seeing all of the chain being hurtled into the briny. Hopefully a well secured bitter end to save going for a dive. I think the power from the starter battery( or alternator as cannot use without engine on) is because the thruster would have been an option so not standard fitout. Having said that, my anchor winch is powered the same and I have considered changing to the thruster battery. Fortunately it works so well I have never really been encouraged to change it.

[saltymetals]

I agree w Trevor. Typically i would often be running the engine if weighing the anchor so never had any problem but it will still work without the engine (if i am sailing off the anchor to test my abilities....). I also thought about re-wiring so that the windlass worked from the bow-thruster batteries but if it works as it is why change it?
Andrew

[rxc]

Is it possible that the solenoid in the control box failed because the voltage at the box might have been too low? I don't know how the box works, but there is quite a voltage drop between the engine and the windlass, even though Jeanneau installed some serious wiring. I use the battery that was installed for the bow thruster, for the windlass, as well. It keeps the voltage up, and the large wiring keeps the battery charged well, too.