Bow Thruster Not Working

vanburen

vanburen

New Member
Feb 18, 2008
324
Annapolis / Alexandria
Boat Info
420 DB
Engines
Cummins 480 CE
Went to use the bowthruster yesterday and the dash switch makes the normal "clunk" when I energize it (assume that is a solenoid moving), the joystick light lights, but no action when I activate the thruster. Would low / bad battery do this? Or is there anything else I should check? Many thanks in advance.
 
Your batteries are 4 years old... you may want to test them. The bow thruster sucks up an incredible amount of juice.

On mine, there is also a big fuse by the batteries as well as the breaker (mine is under the bridge stairs). You may want to check that fuse.
 
Thanks Gary - have been having battery problems across the board. I need to replace the STBD bank anyway and may just test those batts on the thruster - see if that solves the problem. Then start this year with all new AGMs.....
 
ED,
Garys correct. I had some spooge on my thruster and crappy batteries. NADA happned. SILENCE. Changed batteries and spooge be gone !

FYI Check out the SEARS AGMS . I laughed at first but if u do a comparison on the reserve and starting amps nothing comes close.

Good luck

Rob
 
Everybody is correct. I had the same symptom and problem last year - dead battery.

If you want to confirm before you do any work, take a volt meter to the bow thruster (in my boat its located right before the forward bed) and pop the cover over the electrical hookup on the motor. Have someone try the bowthrusters, you will see an immediate voltage drop.

Also, while you are in there, might be a good idea to check the fluid level. I cannot remember if they take brake fluid or p/s fluid, but mine was low.
 
My Starboard battery bank runs my Thrusters. They get low at all and you have no thrusters. As was said before there is a large fuse that is above my batteries. I would check there also as they are prone to blow.
Jack
 
Robski97 said:
ED,
Garys correct. I had some spooge on my thruster and crappy batteries. NADA happned. SILENCE. Changed batteries and spooge be gone !

FYI Check out the SEARS AGMS . I laughed at first but if u do a comparison on the reserve and starting amps nothing comes close.

Good luck

Rob
Click to expand...

Rob - Florida bow thruster installed a Sears AGM when they did my install. They must be good batteries, they warranteed the thruster and battery for 3 years.
 
The fuse for the Bow thrusters rated for like 200 AMPS.... thats no joke !

The warrty on the batteries is full replacement. No pro-rated BS.

Rob
 
I just had to change out the convertor (charger) on mine. Exact same symptoms as those described by Ed. Investigation led to dead batteries, however dead batteries were only three weeks old. Further investigation led to the dead charger. On my boat, thruster is run by two dedicated 8D's with a dedicated convertor/charger.

Paul
 
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This is interesting because I just had a bow thruster malfunction this weekend. This time it turned out to be that the batteries were boiled dry although they were topped up last month. I suspect that in my case the 240VAC-24VDC converter may be suspect. Not being able to get my hands on AGMs right away I just installed a couple of deep cycle wet cells.

Last year I had my first bow thruster malfunction. Solenoid went "click", the activation left a higher pitched whirring sound. In that case a shear pin had let go. There are two shear pins in a Vetus unit. The dealer hauled the boat thinking that it was the shear pin in the propeller shaft housing. Nope, it was the other one internally and the boat did not require that haulout.

So the diagnosis is whether you get a solenoid click and then:

1) green light may or not come on and nothing happens
2) a high pitched whirring sound

#1 is probably electrical (batteries)
#2 is mechanical and most likely a broken shear pin

I suppose if there is no "click" then that massive fuse should be the first place to look. (I remember it to be 300 Amps, but I could be wrong)

James
 
Thanks- had no indication of whirring or mechanical action. Since another family of AGMs is enroute anyway think I will test on the thruster.

Do chargers need to be told the type of battery they are charging? I am running 31s but if I need to flip a dip switch or something I haven't. Thanks.
 
You need to read the charger manual and find the voltages it charges at for each setting and match them to the battery voltages. For example, I've seen some chargers (I think the newer Promariner ones) that have a setting for AGM and it DOES NOT match the AGM charging voltages I've seen by any manufacturer. The wet cell setting is closer to what it needs to be....

Check out this link:

http://clubsearay.com/forum/showthread.php?t=10005&highlight=deka

I think there is a promariner dude hanging around here and maybe he can explain why their setting for AGM does not match what the battery makers say you need to have... I think it's an error on their part....
 
On most chargers there is a fuse on the circuit board that is not accessable unless you take the charger apart. If your charger is dead you may want to check it out before you sent it out for service. The fuse blows when there is an overlaod condition
 
Yes there is a ProMariner dude floating around here! :grin:

I would be happy to help.

I would just need the details probably easiest on the phone give me a call 603-766-7603.

As for the charging profiles we worked with all the major companies to come up with our profiles. Based on the battery manufactures recommendations and our experience. That said, if the battery states the profile on the houseing and say Flooded is in the range even though it is an AGM my recommendation is use the flooded setting.

Also as for the fuse replacement it depends on the charger. We do not put in any details on how to remove the fuse and replace it as UL prohibits it. I would be happy to discuss where it is located.

Again, I can not stress enough if you have questions call or email me I would be happy to help.

Jim
jmitchell@pmariner.com
 
I checked the water level on the bow thruster batteries (Group 31 Douglas Aquatroll) and they were completly dry. I put in almost a gallon of distilled water in each. When I reached our destination and used the bow thruster a little, I hooked up power. Soon I smelled battery gas and went down into the ER. I could hear the thruster batteries boiling.

The thruster charger is a Promatic 24-3 Alltch Series. I don't have a manual and a search of the web did me no good. Is overcharging the only way to boil the batteries or can these 5 year old batteries just wear out?

I want to go to AGMs but first have to find out if the charger is not going to float. How do I do that?
 
Gervie said:
I checked the water level on the bow thruster batteries (Group 31 Douglas Aquatroll) and they were completly dry... Is overcharging the only way to boil the batteries or can these 5 year old batteries just wear out?
Click to expand...

When the batteries go dry and the water goes below the plates the bottom of the batteries may short internally; so when you fill with water & charge it boils the water and you smell hydrogen gas (which I believe is explosive, so don't light a match down there).

Most likely if you put in a new similar style battery it will work just great again.
 
ProMariner said:
Y
As for the charging profiles we worked with all the major companies to come up with our profiles. Based on the battery manufactures recommendations and our experience.
Click to expand...

I'll start another thread about how this statement is freekin' WRONG... Unless you all talked to the local 7-11 clerk about the AAA batteries next to the condoms.

I think you guys need to fix your chargers and manual as they are not compatible with AGM batteries with the AGM switch set. You state that AGM batteries and Gel batteries have the same charging profile and I challenge you to post ONE SINGLE AGM BATTERY out there that has the same charging profile as a gel. In fact, your manual refers to "Lead Acid" and "AGM" as if they are different. AGM batteries are lead acid batteries... I think you are referring to "wet cell" (or "flooded cell") versus "AGM"... the whole manual is screwed up which makes one wonder who talked to who and what battery company.

Here...

http://www.progressivedyn.com/prod_d...rs_pd2100.html

Go to page 9... top of page... bzzt... Wrong implementation. Wrong descriptions. Wrong charger.

BTW.. If you think I'm a little hostile, I am. I sent you guys several e-mails about this issue and questions last year and was totally ignored... so to pop in here now is a little frustrating... especially with comments I know are not correct.

I'm no battery expert by any means but the promariner products/manuals do not match their competition's documentation or any battery manufacturer I could find... and plunking down the money some of us have on AGM D size batteries, one gets a little miffed when a freekin' charger company doesn't have it right.

I'll post in a thread tomorrow.
 
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You have cooked your batteries. Once the water is gone they will never come back up to the voltage that shuts off the charger. Thus the charger keeps trying to charge a battery that will never get to a point to shut off the charger. It just keeps charging and charging until the water boils out.
New batteries and from now on keep them filled with distilled water and you won't have problems until you reach the life of the battery ( my experiance 3 to 4 years).
Jack
 
Thanks for the information. I think I will try a couple of the Sears batteries. I must have missed checking the bow thruster batteries for water. The port and starboard engine batteries are fine.
 
Four Suns - Gary,

I would be happy to discuss batteries and their chemistry or charging rates with you if you like.

I think that you interperted what I said incorrectly.

Commonly AGM (Absorbed Glass Mat) batteries will accept the same charge rate or profile as Flooded Lead Acid AKA Wet Cell batteries. That said, from a battery stand point they are totally different. AGM batteries like a lot more current for recharge then traditional Flooded batteries.

With the above said it would depend on what model charger you have on your boat to give you a sound recommendation as to what profile should be used. Over the years that we have worked with Sea Ray they have used 5 different series of our chargers. If you see page 6 of the ProNautic manual attached you will note our charging profiles, this is the latest unit used in production on the larger boats. http://www.promariner.com/images/ProductPhotos/Hi_Res/ProNautic%20Manual.pdf

Each series of chargers we make have different profiles based on current recommendations and the purpose of the unit. Please note there are other things to consider wire guage size and if you are passing through an isolator. These things are crucial to consider as they will affect voltage output.

As always I would be happy to discuss this with anyone but can assure you with over 30 years in the marine industry our chargers work exceptional with Flooded, AGM and Gel batteries.

I also hope you know that I am responding to your post with the utmost respect and hope to assist. I appoligize for no one getting back to you as you noted the only thing I can think of is maybe your email address was caught by the spam blocker. If anyone ever needs me call be 603-766-7603 I will even go so far to give out my personal cell phone 603-475-5777 for after hours or weekends.

Jim Mitchell
603-766-7603
jmitchell@pmariner.com
 
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