Thanks for all your thoughtful responses. This is a great forum and I have
learned a lot within a short time about AMEL. I love it!
Here some comments on your responses:
I’m not using the bow truster more than 5-6 seconds per burst. When I use
it, I’m carefully not to overdue and I usualy waiting to cool down a bit between
2 burst. Thats why I was wondering how fast it was paused by the system….
No, I don’t use generator while use the bow truster, as AMEL and many
others recommending. I agree with Thomas about it.
- In one hand the Engine is running always when use the BT and is
supporting the batteries as well .
- On the other hand I do not extensively use the BT so my Batteries should
be able to carry the load.
- AND most important; I don’t want to shorten the live of my GenSet just to
help the batteries a bit.
In my opinion is; The live of a Diesel engine is shorten by too many short
usage without much load and without running it at leased 30min at a time. When I
turn the GenSet on, I use it for many things at the time, Laundry, Water-maker,
heater, charging, whatsoever. Therefore it runs at leased an hour when it’s
on.
BTW:
We don’t had the 425A fuse on #55 either. Olivier recommended to install it
and also an emergency shutoff in the BT compartment . So we did. ;-)
Fair winds!
Ruedi
WASABI A54/55
Kithnos
Hi Mohammad and Aty,
So you don't have that 425A fuse on Kokomo?
It'd be interesting to have other data points.
When we started seeing A54s for sale, someone from the yard in Hyères told
us Amel started to fit the emergency disconnect on 54s after instances of
incidents where the bow thruster wouldn't stop. The thermal switch should
provide that safety stop, but maybe they felt there should be a manual override
too, in case.
By the way, it was in the same sentence as "have the genset running when
you use the bow thruster" that raised a few eyebrows in this group a while back.
At the time, not knowing better, I took it for granted. Sufficient and safe,
yes. Necessary?, I'm not sure. We don't do it anymore as we don't go to marinas
that much and when we do, we try to play the game of least-bow-thruster-usage to
improve our handling skills, and our batteries can handle the high current
discharge.
Fair winds!
Thomas
GARULFO
A54-122
Curacao
Hi Thomas;
Your fuse may have been added on because I've
heard some surveyors and insurance companies regard this situation as
unsafe and will require the fuse to be added. I'm pretty sure that we were
told by Olivier during our survey that the bow thruster is directly connected
to the batteries. When I inquired about the reason, I believe the response was
that Amel felt that the safety of the boat, when absolutely needing the bow
thruster to be operational, was more important than the possibility of the bow
thruster being damaged due to overuse.
The emergency disconnect is a manually operated switch which
would require intervention form a person to stop current flowing to the bow
thruster.
Respectfully;
Mohammad and Aty
B&B Kokomo
Amel 54 #099
Hi Mohammad,
On Garulfo (54-122) there is also a 425A fuse on the positive cable and
an emergency disconnect (big red button), both housed in the box inside the
forward locker.
I recently found the emergency disconnect to be rusted frozen so it's on
the list for replacement.
I would encourage others to test the emergency disconnect as it has a
carbon steel backing plate and is mounted without any kind of waterproofing so
is bound to rust.
Fair winds,
Thomas
GARULFO
A54-122
Curacao
Hello
Reudi;
Yes, the
Amel 54 has a thermal cutoff to prevent damage to the thruster as well as
continuous high current draw (Around 550 Amps at 24V) which could lead to
fire on board. We've had the thermal cutoff kick in only a couple
of times and it has reset in a matter of minutes. We have not timed the
exact reset duration.
I'm not
aware of any adjustments in the thermal cutoff. The bow thruster has a
direct connection to the batteries without a breaker. The thermal cutoff is
the only safety items preventing major damage to the thruster and/or
wiring.
Try to
use the thruster in bursts (less than 15 seconds), as much as possible, so
it has time to cool down between usage. We try to over correct a bit when we
use use the BT so as the bow falls off, the BT has more time to
cool.
Respectfully;
Mohammad Shirloo
323-633-2222 Cell
310-644-0908 Fax
On my Amel-54 I discovered that the bow truster stops working after
repeatingly use within 10-15 min timeframe.
I used the bow truster a bit more than usual when I practiced some
manouvers first time; - and on a second occation when I had to manouver in a
marina with a lot of windguests of 18+ kn and another chain over my
Anker...
It stopped working and after a while (maybe 10 min.) it re-started &
operated normaly. I know BT Is not made for constant use, - only few seconds
at a time. Then wait and re-use another time.
Question from a beginner:
Does the bow truster has a termic fuse which is activated after some time
of usage to save the motor from overheating?
Does anyone know exactly how it works and if this can be adjusted because
I think the BT on Wasabi switches of quite fast. Any ideas or other
information?
Best regards
Ruedi
SY Wasabi A54#55
Sailing Cyclades GR.
