Thank you Bill R & Bill K,

Jaygo (SM#224) does have the aluminium control box as described by Bill R.  It is very similar to Eric's SM#158.  I inspected the micro-switches and they seemed to be clean, and appeared to be switching correctly on the cambered rod when raised and lowered.  Amazingly, the act of me just opening that control box and inspecting the inside somehow miraculously solved the issue and the BT then began to operate as normal again.  I suspect that possibly one of those switches may have temporarily jammed due to relative infrequent use of the BT.  All other connections were clean and corrosion free.  Thanks again for your help, as well as the two other members that reached out to me offline.  I now have a much better understanding of yet another system on our Amel.  Happy Days.

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Rob & Dee
SV Jaygo.
SM#224
Currently cruising the Great Barrier Reef, Australia

Rob,

Based on your description of the problem, we can eliminate all of the mechanical issues, and the high current 24V supply since you CAN get the motor to run by shorting the relay contacts.

We can pretty much eliminate the relays themselves, since the chances of BOTH relays failing is so remote as to not be worth considering.

The joystick switch supplies power to the coil side of the two relays on separate wires.  Again, the unlikely failure of BOTH wires would be required to disable the BT in both directions.

That pretty much leaves the negative wire that returns the current from both coils to the battery as the only point of failure I can see. Based on your troubleshooting so far, that is the next place I would look.

Bill Kinney
SM160, Harmonie
Port Louis, Grenada

Hi Team,

I am needing some help trouble-shooting the bow thruster on Jaygo.
Please let me preface the below with the disclaimer that I am almost clueless when it comes to electrical systems, but I will give just about anything a crack and am trying to learn.

We have owned Jaygo for just over 2.5yrs and the BT has worked flawlessly during that time.  The only servicing by me was to drain and replace the oil when we hauled out 12 months ago.
The BT has had very little use in the last 7 months since we have lived aboard full-time, only being into marinas or docks to refuel or provision a handful of times.  Yesterday was one of those times.

The BT is able to be lowered and raised normally as usual, however there is nothing when toggling the joystick switch to port/starboard.  
I have done the following.
1.  Checked the schematic from the files section on this forum.  Located here
2.  Tested the joystick switch which seems to be operating normally.  Continuity and voltage test at the switch.
3.  Checked the heavy duty 24v cables and confirmed that I DO have 24v to the relay panel located under the port-side bunk on the forward bulkhead.
4.  Observed that those relays do not seem to be throwing when the joystick switch is activated.
5.  Put the volt meter across the + - terminals that activate the relay and observed that there was no voltage when the joystick switch was operated.
6.  Lastly, I shorted across one of the relays under the front bunk and determined that this DID activate the BT motor.

What am I missing here?  Please tell me that it is something simple, as the hamster on the wheel in my head is getting tired.  :)

PS.  If I do not respond immediately, please accept my apology in advance as we have been, and will continue to be, in variable internet coverage as we continue north up the Australian coastline.  

Rob


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Rob & Dee
SV Jaygo.
SM#224
Brisbane, Australia