Lewmar Foot Switch problem

[billknny]

Originally Posted by slug

Yes This is how lewmar works

Remember three year working life then you throw away the switch

^^^^^^^^
Yes! This! The silicone rubber dome on these is good with UV exposure, but does not last forever. Replace them BEFORE they crack and water leaks in and turns on your windlass or sheet winches when you least expect it!!!!

This is a routine maintenance item. Do NOT wait until they fail!

[Wotname]

Originally Posted by Jim Cate

People keep saying t his in windlass threads, but it is not always so. Maxwell windlasses come with high current, high quality foot switches which are quite capable of directly controlling the windlass without the intervention of a relay.

My windlass, Maxwell 1200/1500 has been running this way since the boat was launched (30 years of full time cruising by the original builder/owner and then ourselves). The up switch is 30 years old, the down switch, which I installed after buying the boat, is a mere 15 (about). We live at anchor and move around a lot, so the switches have been used frequently over those years. Relays, which do add some added failure points, are NOT necessary.

And Nick (Jedi) if you want some more reliable foot switches, you might try the Maxwell version. As noted above, they are pretty long lived.

Jim

Originally Posted by mitiempo

They do exist - halfway down this page:
Winch Accessories

Muir offers the same (or similar) heavy duty foot switch which is wired direct to the windlass motor.

While there are some reasons in some circumstances to incorporate heavy duty relays in the circuit, they are often not essential and in those instances, there is no point in adding an extra failure point.

I'm with Jim on this one .

[Jim Cate]

Originally Posted by slug

I have never seen a momentary switch , push button type ....capable of handling 150 amps

This is always done by a heavy duty relay ... solenoid

The momentary switch controls this solenoid relay

Slug, your post is kinda offensive to me. I have clearly stated that I have such switches, that they have worked for a long time and lots of operations, and that I have NO... repeat, NO relay in the system.

Just because YOU have not seen such in your limited experience (limited because you obviously have not seen my installation or that of wsmurdoch described upthread or the very many others that exist in the world) does not mean they do not exist nor that they do not work as claimed.

If you would care to come down here to Tasmaia, I'd be happy to let you trace out the wiring and see for yourself. I'd even let you raise the anchor a few times, just so you could gracefully retract your statements.

Jim

[slug]

Originally Posted by mitiempo

They do exist - halfway down this page:
Winch Accessories

I just looked at several maxwell winch electric schematics and the foot switch always controls a solenoid

Do you have an electrical diagram that shows the foot switch controlling the motor ?

[Jim Cate]

Do you have an electrical diagram that shows the foot switch controlling the motor ?

No, I have a functioning boat that HAS the foot switch controlling the motor directly.

Do you not understand this simple statement?

Jim

[slug]

Originally Posted by Jim Cate

No, I have a functioning boat that HAS the foot switch controlling the motor directly.

Do you not understand this simple statement?

Jim

Ok

Show me the electric layout

[Uncle Bob]

Originally Posted by slug

I just looked at several maxwell winch electric schematics and the foot switch always controls a solenoid

Do you have an electrical diagram that shows the foot switch controlling the motor ?

Here is the descriptions for a couple of reputable brands.

Muir foot switch
Description:
Key Benefits & Features:

Designed for all anchor windlasses. Easy to install and suits 12 or 24 volt. Hinged safety cover helps prevent accidental operation. Heavy duty 150 amp continuous and does not require additional solenoids.

Maxwell foot switch
UV stabilized diaphragm
Rated to 200A peak current and 120A continuous current
Nickel plated copper contacts ensure good conductivity and high corrosion resistance
Heavy duty
Easy to install

[slug]

Originally Posted by Uncle Bob

Here is the descriptions for a couple of reputable brands.

Muir foot switch
Description:
Key Benefits & Features:

Designed for all anchor windlasses. Easy to install and suits 12 or 24 volt. Hinged safety cover helps prevent accidental operation. Heavy duty 150 amp continuous and does not require additional solenoids.

Maxwell foot switch
UV stabilized diaphragm
Rated to 200A peak current and 120A continuous current
Nickel plated copper contacts ensure good conductivity and high corrosion resistance
Heavy duty
Easy to install

Show me the electric diagram

[wsmurdoch]

Originally Posted by slug

Do you have an electrical diagram that shows the foot switch controlling the motor ?

Sure. The windlass motor is in the upper middle of this wiring diagram.

Bill

[Jim Cate]

Originally Posted by slug

Ok

Show me the electric layout

The installation is pretty simple: heavy cables from house bank, positive to nearby circuit breaker/isolation switch. Heavy cables to bow and into the sail locker. The + cable goes to each of the two switches, the - directly to the terminal on the motor. Cables from the switches go the short distance to the appropriate terminals on the motor.

It is so simple that I've never felt the need for producing a wiring diagram. Do YOU really need one to understand this circuit?

Jim

[slug]

If it’s a maxwell show me the installation docs

Electric diagram and reversing solenoid

[wsmurdoch]

My windlass is a Muir 800. The two foot switches are Maxwell. They replaced two identical Muir switches that were on the boat when I bought it in 2004. The boat was made in 1988. The rubber in one of the old switches had cracked, and I replaced the two old switches with new ones that I bought from Defender.

Here is a photo I just made holding the camera in the anchor locker. The brown liquid looking stuff is Boshield. A piece of black rubber sheet protects the motor and reducing gear from salt spray as the wet chain comes aboard. You can see the red No. 2 wires on the underside of the down switch clearly. The up switch is hidden behind passing wires. It is all wired just like my wiring diagram shows and just like Jim has written.

Bill

[slug]

This means you foot switch wires are the size of battery cables

[Jim Cate]

Originally Posted by slug

If it’s a maxwell show me the installation docs

Electric diagram and reversing solenoid

What do you mean by "installation docs"?

I've just described the wiring in detail, and am not inclined to draw it up just to please you. Surely you can picture one continuous negative cable, one positive cable, via breaker, to two SPST momentary switches, one switch going to the up terminal and the other going to the down terminal ON THE MOTOR.

And for the last (I hope) time: THERE IS NO SOLENOID, reversing or otherwise.

And as I have said it IS a Maxwell 1200 (now... was a 1500 previously until dissimilar metal corrosion ate some bits and I replaced it).

Jim

[Uncle Bob]

Originally Posted by slug

This means you foot switch wires are the size of battery cables

How very perceptive of you!