Engine hatch is slow

[chartersj]

The 12+ lift actuator for engine hatch on my scarab 26 is slow. I have hooked it up directly to the battery and works great...after some reading it seems I'm having too much voltage drop by the time power gets to the motor. Some have used 2 relays for up and down functions but have read they can be unreliable as well as they cannot handle the amperage draw the motor takes. I tried using 2 marine trim pump solenoids but I couldn't get them to operate the motor because I assume the motor isn't getting a path to ground...is there a different way I could wire in solenoids to operate the hatch?

 

[Bondo]

I have hooked it up directly to the battery and works great...after some reading it seems I'm having too much voltage drop by the time power gets to the motor.

Ayuh,..... If it used to work right, 'n now doesn't, I'd suspect corroded wirin' connections,.....

If it Never worked right, use starter solenoids, or up-grade to bigger wires,....

 

[Scott Danforth]

Or switch to hydraulic and get the Bennett hpu

 

[chartersj]

Ayuh,..... If it used to work right, 'n now doesn't, I'd suspect corroded wirin' connections,.....

If it Never worked right, use starter solenoids, or up-grade to bigger wires,....

The boat is new to me and been a project that i started last fall so I'm not sure if it had always been this slow but it seems like it is really lagging. Are starter solenoids different then a trim pump solenoids?

 

[Bondo]

Are starter solenoids different then a trim pump solenoids?

Ayuh,..... Higher amperage rated I believe,.....

 

[chartersj]

Ayuh,..... Higher amperage rated I believe,.....

Ok that makes sense....i'm just not sure how to wire them up...I used one for down and one for up,,, my dpdt switch at the dash will trigger each solenoid but the motor isn't getting ground...I think that is why people use relays instead.

 

[dingbat]

, my dpdt switch at the dash will trigger each solenoid but the motor isn't getting ground...I think that is why people use relays instead.

People use solenoids because a switch doesn’t have the current carrying capacity of a solenoid. Melt the contacts right out of the switch.

Solenoids control the postive voltage to the circuit. They have nothing to do with the ground connection.

Find your bad ground connection and you found your problem..guarante

 

[chartersj]

Why wouldn't a winch contactor/solenoid work? I realize they are not marine rated but it will not be in the engine compartment, it will be under the back seat.

 

[dingbat]

Why wouldn't a winch contactor/solenoid work? I realize they are not marine rated but it will not be in the engine compartment, it will be under the back seat.

Depends on the current draw of the motors.

I wouldn’t use none marine rated solenoids anywhere near an engine compartment. Not worth the rise of killing someone

Clean up your wiring mess. Fiix your ground issue and your problem goes away