Windlass anchor winch not working

[Impetuous]

Hi All

I have a Muir anchor winch about 6 years old. I have had intermittent problems with it not working over past few months.

After a series of tests I have found:

I only get full voltage at the terminals that connect directly to the winch motor when they are not connected to the motor terminals

When I connect them there is no reading on the multi meter when depressing the anchor switch. Nor is there any voltage across the appropriate contacts on the solenoid. Upon closer inspection I noticed that the red light on the breaker switch is going off while I press the anchor switch. However, the breaker is not tripping

Also I noticed that there is zero resistance across the two motor terminals (not sure if this is normal or not)

Is this likely to be either;

1. Breaker switch
2. Siezed winch
3. Anchor motor

Your advice would be appreciated

 

[gm280]

First thing you need to do is post a few pictures. I am not familiar with such an electrical winch and therefore have no idea how it is wired. Sounds like you have a switch and that goes to a solenoid to power the motor. That would make sense. So you can't read any resistance across the actual motor? I am suspecting that the resistance across such a motor could be so low that it appears to be a short. So unless you have a really good meter, it may show as zero resistance.

Try disconnecting the actual motor out of the setup and verify that the switch AND the solenoid work as they are supposed to do. If you can't get voltage/current to operate them, then you need to figure out why not. JMHO!

 

[alldodge]

My guess would be either your solenoid has gone out or there is a bad connection. The red light on the breaker should come on when the switch is pressed. The light would not come on if it tripped.

Go to the solenoid and measure across the two terminals marked POS and GND, there should be 12V.

Next measure across the smaller GND terminal which is identified with a "C" and the other terminals with the yellow triangle. Press one switch (circled in green) and see which one goes to 12V, then press the other switch and the other should go hot.

If this does not happen need to check out the switch wiring.

If it does switch, measure from the main GND terminal to one of the other larger terminals and press the switch. One switch should make one side go hot and the other should make the other side go hot.

If switches made small terminals go hot but not large ones, then it would appear your solenoid is gone bad.

Before doing any replacement make sure cable connections are clean and shinny metal

 

[Grandad]

I'd say you have a low voltage condition. Assuming you have the same wiring layout as AllDodge has posted (this is Muir's suggested circuit), it's significant that the breaker's indicator light goes off when you try to energize the winch. Also, you said that there is no reading on the voltmeter at the motor terminals of the solenoid when the switch is pressed though there is until you connect the motor. Both conditions are typical of voltage drop in the circuit. It only shows up when you try to operate something that draws significant current. Your meter and the indicator light react mostly to voltage requiring very little current to operate, so they do not affect the circuit. The solenoid winding somewhat and the winch motor winding in particular draw enough current that any weak link in the electrical circuit will drop the voltage and choke significant current flow at that point.

So, assuming that you have a good fully charged battery, I suspect that there is a corroded connection at some point in the circuit or poor contact within the solenoid. I don't think the winch motor is likely at fault, nor the breaker itself. - Grandad
EDIT - because the indicator light went off, it's most likely that the problem lies between the breaker and the battery. - GD

 

[dingbat]

Disconnect the power leads from the motor. Hit the motor from a known good power source. Jump box or jumper cables to a good battery. If motor runs, the problem is between the motor solenoid and the battery.

 

[alldodge]

Don't which model of winch the OP has but schematic is from Muir - used VM/VMC 500
http://www.muir.com.au/shop/manuals/VM500-650_VR1000-1200.pdf