Side-Power bow thruster works only while pressing both "on" bottons

JackLabs

New Member
Apr 24, 2020
23
Boat Info
300 Sundancer
Engines
Twin 5.7 Mercruiser w/Bravo III
2004 SR 300DA
Side-Power Bow thruster system with 8960 joy-stick panel

Issue: to turn the thrusters on you are told to press both "on" buttons. if I do this there is a yellow light that turns on - expected. The light will turn off as soon as the joy-stick is moved. I can hear just the slightest "thud" when moving the stick. The noise is not at the stick but rather i suspect it is forward near the thrusters themselves. If I hold both of the "on" buttons with one hand and use the joy-stick with the other then the thrusters work.

Thoughts?
 

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Taking a $260 gamble.... Ordered new switch
 
Nope, save your money. As far as I know, all Side-Power thruster controls require you to press both "on" buttons at the same time to turn the thruster on. Works that way with the remote also.

Try that before you install the new switch. You might be able to return it.
 
thank you for the reply sir... so just trying to be more clear on the issue. The thrusters work IF I hold both "on" buttons with one hand and while continuing to hold the buttons i can move the joy-stick with the other hand and it works..... BUT that is not how they were designed to function. It was designed to press both "on" buttons momentarily (the light should come on and stay on) then release to activate the system and then to use ONLY one hand to move the joystick.
Hope that make sense.

I researching possible issues I found many posts online talking about the Side-Power panels having short life-spans and many issues - or so it seemed. Unfortunately I never ran across a post describing the same issue as I am having.
https://forums.ybw.com/index.php?threads/bowthruster-problems.182121/
https://forums.ybw.com/index.php?threads/sleipner-side-power-problem.426759/
I think I am on the right track
Thanks for your time and input Gofirstclass!
 
thank you for the reply sir... so just trying to be more clear on the issue. The thrusters work IF I hold both "on" buttons with one hand and while continuing to hold the buttons i can move the joy-stick with the other hand and it works..... BUT that is not how they were designed to function. It was designed to press both "on" buttons momentarily (the light should come on and stay on) then release to activate the system and then to use ONLY one hand to move the joystick.
Hope that make sense.

I researching possible issues I found many posts online talking about the Side-Power panels having short life-spans and many issues - or so it seemed. Unfortunately I never ran across a post describing the same issue as I am having.
https://forums.ybw.com/index.php?threads/bowthruster-problems.182121/
https://forums.ybw.com/index.php?threads/sleipner-side-power-problem.426759/
I think I am on the right track
Thanks for your time and input Gofirstclass!


I think you are on the right track.

It would appear that your "turn on" logic on the joystick control board is not staying engaged. It is timer based and should remain on for 3 minutes or so after both ON buttons are depressed. It resets the 3 minute counter if the joystick is moved while the yellow light is lit. Your movement of the joystick seems to cancel it instead. Holding down both buttons and moving the joystick forces the joystick into an ON state.

Most likely the thud is one of the solenoids trying to engage just as the controller goes dead.

This logic is on the joystick controller not on the thruster controller itself. The thruster does have a controller as well but its purpose is directional control of the thruster.

Just for clarity.....have there been any changes to the wiring going to the joystick? It does require a clean power source and ground.
 
PlayDate.... that is an interesting question. I acquired the boat recently and was looking behind the dash for the first time investigating the thruster issue. I happened upon one of my many winter projects just then. Typical rats nest. When I take the new joy-stick to the boat this weekend I will inspect as much of the wiring as I can before passes through the fiberglass before installing it. Might be able to save a few bucks.

Thank you sir I appreciate your response.
 
PlayDate.... that is an interesting question. I acquired the boat recently and was looking behind the dash for the first time investigating the thruster issue. I happened upon one of my many winter projects just then. Typical rats nest. When I take the new joy-stick to the boat this weekend I will inspect as much of the wiring as I can before passes through the fiberglass before installing it. Might be able to save a few bucks.

Thank you sir I appreciate your response.


The reason I asked is if the 12v on the joystick controller is going to less than 12 volts when you move the stick.....that would indicate that it is wired into the thruster battery bank which is a no-no. You want the joystick to be on the House battery bank or another battery bank from the thruster. A lower voltage at the Joystick will cause it to turn off.

BTW Welcome to Club Sea Ray!!!
 
Thank you John!
 
Just a follow-up. The new joy-stick control pad fixed the issue. once the "on" buttons are pressed and released the light stays lit and the joy-stick controls prop spin direction as expected.
 
Just FYI for future use, Side-Power has excellent customer service in two times I dealt with them...
 

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