Continous duty solenoid, Help.

[chrismarion]

I have been redoing my boat since I purchased it in March, which was a halfway completed project by the previous owner. Anyway, I got my 12 block fuse panel (Blue Sea 12 position #5026) with combined ground block all wired up and mounted. I have two batteries under the center console also with two Perko selector switch's for the engine and fuse panel.

Now what I have done so far with the fuse panel (which has running lights, 12v plug, fishfinder, bilge pump, aeriator and radio wired in and fused so far) was use the Blue Sea water proof switch panel with breaker & LED. The top switch I wired it to have a constant 12v (fused) and be able to switch it on which then kicks the solenoid to give power to the fuse panel for my accessories which are also run off of the switch's. But they cannot turn on with the switch's unless the "12v Power" switch is on.

Problem I am having is the solenoid aparently is overheating. Its not burning hot, but its warm. After about 30 minutes it kicks off. Does anyone have a suggestion on what is THE BEST water proof, heavy duty, continous duty cycle solenoid to use? Or maybe another way to do what I am going for. I really like how everything is set up nice and neat without the possibility of forgetting to "disconnect" power to the panel or accessories. Cant miss the LED for the "12V Power" switch.

Thanks guys, Chris

 

[xtraham]

Re: Continous duty solenoid, Help.

Mack dealer, ask for the power relay, the are very durable, they look like a ford starter relay
but they are continuous duty

 

[Silvertip]

Re: Continous duty solenoid, Help.

You don't want a solenoid for this job -- you want a relay or contactor (not a contractor). d Relays are continuous duty devices -- solenoids generally are not. Any relay with a 12V primary and contacts capable of carrying 20A should be sufficient. Today's cars are full of them.

 

[chrismarion]

Re: Continous duty solenoid, Help.

Only problem I have with relays is most are junk. And since I have 6 gauge cable coming from the battery to the solenoid and then to the fuse panel, a relay will not connect to that. If your meaning RELAY in autos, like the ones in the relay box under the hood. Technically, its a HD starter solenoid. And it too looks like the Ford starter solenoid/relay.

Xtraham, How much do those usually run? And I take it that they are continous duty. I mean its not like I have mass amounts of amperage running through it. Probably 15 at most if I am actually using the aeriator, radio and lights at the same time. Which I dont.

 

[bruceb58]

Re: Continous duty solenoid, Help.

I am curious why you want to do it his way. If you really want to turn power off to the panel, why don't you use a large current breaker?

or

 

[xtraham]

Re: Continous duty solenoid, Help.

I do not remember the cost, I think around 20 bucks, they are quite heavy duty and can withstand mounting in the weather, about a year ago I installed 2 behind the cab of a rear loader trash truck to support the amprage going to the rear body lights and they are holding up, tell the mack parts dealer you want the power relay for a 1996 dm mack, sorry I do not remember the p/n if this is what you need and have any problems let me know I will get you the p/n if you need it,

 

[Boatin Bob]

Re: Continous duty solenoid, Help.

Sounds to me like you are making this way too complicated. What is the amp rating of the switch you are using to energize the solenoid? Most of those switches are rated for at least 15 amp some 20. If you only need 15 amps tops replace that top switch with one that will suit your needs and then use it to feed the rest minus the solenoid.

 

[chrismarion]

Re: Continous duty solenoid, Help.

The switch is built into one toggle switch box. If I were to mount a breaker then I would have to cut a hole in the top of the console to mount it and turn it on. The whole objective is for me NOT to have to get on my knees and reach inside the console to turn power on. And if I used the key to turn on power (just like your car) I would be in the same situation.

The reason I am doing this is a nice safety feature and peace of mind. Nothing can be turned on accidently if the main switch isnt flipped to kick the solenoid/relay to power the fusepanel. Which means no dead batteries. Think about it, your car and house have this very same feature. And the Big 3 went even further and add in a timing module to kill ALL power 5 minutes after the key has been removed.

 

[Paul Moir]

Re: Continous duty solenoid, Help.

Does the location demand ignition protection (SAE J1171 / UL 1500, etc)?
The Blue Sea solenoid (pn 9012) is rated for continuous operation and is ignition protected but it's just shy of $200! Enough to make it worthwhile to relocate the relay/solenoid.

 

[Gone]

Re: Continous duty solenoid, Help.

Motorhomes use a latching relay to turn on/off the house and/or chassis batteries. They draw virtually no current after latching. They're in the 75 Amp range, I think. I've seen some from Intelletec (In a Chicago Suburb) that are 150 and 500 amps.
Overkill for what he's trying to do, but if anyone really needs one, it's out there.

CD.

 

[islandboat]

Re: Continous duty solenoid, Help.

We use both a constant duty solenoids and a starter solenoids at work. Without part numbers, they are hard to tell apart. Constant duty solenoids require less amps to maintain contact but cannot handle as high an amp load as intermitant duty solenoids. Use a relay to control the solenoid. A relay uses very low amps and can be run with a terminal off of the ignition switch. The relay should be used to energize the solenoid so you will be carrying very little load through the ignition switch
By the way, constant duty solenoids are very warm during normal operation.

 

[chrismarion]

Re: Continous duty solenoid, Help.

I dont care of it being warm. But this one is starting to shut off after being on. Hasnt done it before untill now. About 3 months old.
I saw those solenoids in my West Marine Book, little pricey to say the least. I think I will try a different solenoid.

 

[xtraham]

Re: Continous duty solenoid, Help.

Mack..........easy............
they work, been there, done that

 

[Paul Moir]

Re: Continous duty solenoid, Help.

I'm with you there. Just make sure you put it in a location where it doesn't need to be IP. Here's our exceptions, I'm sure they're the same as yours since they are mostly lifted from the ABYC ones:

8.4.1.1
Exceptions to 8.4.1 are the following:

(a) any small vessel using diesel fuel as the only fuel source; and

(b) electrical devices in accommodation spaces or open compartments, or both, having at least 97 cm2 of open area per cubic metre of net compartment volume exposed to the atmosphere outside of the small vessel.

97 cm2 is 15 sq-in. You think they would at least round it off to 100!

 

[50alive]

Re: Continous duty solenoid, Help.

Try Allied Electronics www.alliedelec.com
white-rodgers Model 120-105751-6
Coil voltage 12VDC Cont. Current 120 AMP Cont.
Sealed Unit will work fine for you application
but their is one thing that seamed to be mised here and thats the coil will pull current the while it is energized usualy about 1 amp that may not seam like much but if you have it on for 8 - 10 hours it adds up it may make the differance of starting and going home or not starting and getting towed or jumped
i would use a cole harst isolator switch they will disconnect the battery their manualy operated pull no current and are rated to handle the starting current of the heavest engine. also will allow you to select battery 1,2,both or off allows you to use 2 battery's and keep them isolated from each other.