windlass

[ds480]

ok...this thing is becoming a nightmare....i have tried everything i know to fix it...the switch on the dash is all molded to gether with all the other switches and only 4 wires go to that whole cluster ...so there is no way for me to rule out the switch...i have taken a 4 gauge wire and jumped the solenoid and the switch on the dash will lower the anchor no problems, but when you go to bring the anchor up it trips the 5 amp fuse in the forward AIM. I can reset that and get it to bring anchor up about 2 foot and it trips again...i tried putting a new solenoid on it...no good. I know the forward control module is not bad because it works fine when i jump the solenoid. any one got any ideas...i hate to buy that instrument cluster and that not be the problem.

 

[boatmailster]

there is no way to test keypad. Your best bet is to stop by sea ray dealer and borrow new keypad and plug in into yours boat harness or borrow panel from someone with same key panel - few different models share same dash panels

 

[Henry Boyd]

My inclination would be that the keypad may not be the problem. The EIM is what is doing the heavy lifting in that it controls the actual windlass circuit. Think of the EIM being a smart relay. If the windlass breaker is tripping, the problem is on the high current circuit. That puts the problem on the motor, wiring to/from the motor, and the EIM. There have been a number of posts about bad EIMs causing 'irrational' behavior. This might be an indication the EIM is going south. This might explain your having checked the motor and found nothing wrong.

I don't know if you can troubleshoot the EIM on a DIY basis.

Henry