Re: [electricboats] Motor not powering up

if the contactor poles are not working shouldn't you change that before dismantling the sevcon?

On Mon, Sep 14, 2020 at 2:23 PM Larry Brown <elcapitanbrown@gmail.com> wrote:

So I got a hold of TS today.  They said the small poles on the contactor should show 20 to 24v when it's energized to make the contactors close.  Probing those posts I get no voltage.  They had me probe the wires through the harness and they show continuity.  So they are asking that I send them the controller so they can put it on a bench.  So off I go to dismantle things.

I really hope I'm missing something and it's fine.  I don't see how, but that would be the best outcome.  I held on to this unit in my home for a couple years until I had the opportunity to do the install.  After getting it installed I've taken the boat off the dock 1 time.  I've run it about a dozen times at the dock so on average I got about $80/hr use out of it.  Sevcon sounds like they are a pretty good outfit but this is very disappointing.  If it is the controller they will make a case for getting a replacement unit from sevcon but no guarantees since it's 3 years old.  I'll keep you guys posted.

On Mon, Sep 14, 2020 at 11:46 AM Bob Jennings <heatnh@gmail.com> wrote:

Larry, won't be at my boat till next week.

Matthew brought up a good point. If you can't hear the contactor clicking/pulling in when you turn the key, it's busted.  

The contactor on my boat is a Tyco. Should be able to find a replacement easy enough.

On Mon, Sep 14, 2020, 11:35 AM <jack21322@gmail.com> wrote:

Just so you know, I have the 48v thunderstruck kit and have had the same contactor problem- proper voltage on one pole and significantly reduced voltage on the other. Ended up replacing the contactor and she worked fine. My connections on the contactor were kinda loose when I went to diagnose it at first with the multi meter, but seems yours were tight. 

I think the contactor they provide with the kit could be low quality now that I read you are having the same problem. If you end up replacing it with a different kind let me know because I'm thinking of getting a spare contactor the keep on board in case it happens again underway or in a foreign country.

Best,

-Jack

On Sun, Sep 13, 2020 at 11:51 AM Larry Brown <elcapitanbrown@gmail.com> wrote:

Reading up it seems I could leave the throttle in (off position) run a screwdriver across the Line and Terminal contacts and should see the clearview showing the correct voltage to confirm the contactor is not fully engaged?  I'm unsure as to why it isn't simply 53V or 0V on the Terminal side to the controller.  Seems it would act like a physical switch and either be on or off...  But bridging the two with no load seems like it shouldn't hurt.

Larry

On Sun, Sep 13, 2020 at 2:13 PM Larry Brown via groups.io <elcapitanbrown=gmail.com@groups.io> wrote:

I went down to the boat yesterday to clean the bottom and figured I'd run the motor a little to keep that warm and fuzzy feeling that I'm ready to go when I need to and no warmth or fuzz to be had.  Turning the key on to activate the Sevcon caused the sevcon green light to illuminate and the Clearview screen to come on.  However, the clearview shows 00 for voltage.  My battery monitor clearly shows the voltage at 54V (48V system).  When I check the lead going into the contactor to ground I get 53V but on the lead coming out of the contactor going to the controller I'm readying approximate 10V.  I suspect this is the culprit?  Or is there a reason the lead between the contactor and the controller would read low?  

Looking at the contactor it looks like it's a sealed/waterproof unit (From the Thunderstruck kit, or at least water resistent).  All wires nuts are tight on their wire leads from both incoming wire from the battery bank and outgoing wire to the controller and the two that run to the key switch.  It's in a dry spot and I've run the motor maybe a dozen times in the 2 years I've had the equipment.  (my project was on hold).  There is no apparent corrosion externally whatsoever so I'm not sure what could have caused it to fail.  We are not far away from the lightning capital of the country (Lakeland Fla) but I don't see any charred marks on anything, the solar charge controller is working fine.  Are contactors flaky parts or parts that I should always have a spare available for?  I really thought having such a simple system that's relatively new that was working as advertised would be doing so for quite a while.  Glad I found out at the dock when I didn't need to move the vessel :-P

Thanks in advance for anything you guys can offer as advice.

Larry

--

Larry Brown

S/V Trident

Palm Harbor, FL

~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~_/)~~~~~~~~

    ~     ~          ~~           ~

~           ~~_/)    ~      ~ ~        ~

     ~                  _/)          ~

--

Larry Brown

S/V Trident

Palm Harbor, FL

~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~_/)~~~~~~~~

    ~     ~          ~~           ~

~           ~~_/)    ~      ~ ~        ~

     ~                  _/)          ~

--

Larry Brown

S/V Trident

Palm Harbor, FL

~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~_/)~~~~~~~~

    ~     ~          ~~           ~

~           ~~_/)    ~      ~ ~        ~

     ~                  _/)          ~

_._,_._,_

---

Groups.io Links:

You receive all messages sent to this group.

View/Reply Online (#30768) | Reply To Group | Reply To Sender | Mute This Topic | New Topic

Your Subscription | Contact Group Owner | Unsubscribe [newarmyguitar24@gmail.com]

_._,_._,_