Datamarine knotmeter problem

[Warren Stringer]

Eendracht has an old (1981) datamarine knotmeter and depthsounder whose power routes through a separate circuit breaker panel after the main electrical panel. The small panel breaker often trips while we are out sailing, seeminfly more often on port tack ( the panel is located at the nav desk to starboard. We have replaced a corroded coaxial cable junction to no avail. Any thoughts? Could the separate breaker panel for the two instruments simply be bypassed?

Thanks,

Warren



wstringer@aristotle.net

[Larry McAnally/CD30 Intow]

Warren,
Yes, you can bypass the second breaker panel as long as you have an appropriate size fuse/breaker in the circuit. With our CDs we often run out of electrical capabilities with the original breaker panels and that is why the additional ones are added. Most knott/depth insterments would be on the Nav/Com breaker in the original panel.
You might want to find the source of your problem while these instruments are on this seperate panel. The breaker could be faulty.
Try feeding the instruments with a different breaker or a fuse as a test. Separate their power to isolate which is defective, knott or depth. With the breaker tripping only on one tack, look for a wire being pinched on that tack.
Good luck. Let us know what you find.

Larry McAnally
Destin Fl.



larrymcanally@cox.net

[Ken Coit]

Warren,

The reason you have that second breaker panel is to provide space for the breaker and not overload the circuits on the main panel. If the circuit is sensitive to tacks, then you have a problem that needs to be fixed. It is neither the panel nor the breaker that are bad, the wiring is probably bad.

Connecting that wiring directly to the 12 VDC bus or through a breaker on the main panel will only exacerbate the problem. If the breaker does not trip, then the wire will get hot and a fire could result. I'd much rather have a tripped breaker. Find the short and fix it; we will all be much happier.

Keep on sailing,

Ken Coit
CD/14 #538
CD/36 #84 Parfait
Hailing Port: Raleigh, NC
Sailing from: Beaufort, NC

Eendracht has an old (1981) datamarine knotmeter and depthsounder whose power routes through a separate circuit breaker panel after the main electrical panel. The small panel breaker often trips while we are out sailing, seeminfly more often on port tack ( the panel is located at the nav desk to starboard. We have replaced a corroded coaxial cable junction to no avail. Any thoughts? Could the separate breaker panel for the two instruments simply be bypassed?

Thanks,

Warren

parfaitNOSPAM@nc.rr.com

[Joe Mac Phee]

Warren,

The fact that the breaker is tripping is a feature, not a bug. In addition to the other good suggestions that have been made, consider these. Find out if it is the depthsounder or the knotmeter. Remove power at the sub-panel on one of the instruments and see if the breaker still trips. The knotmeter runs on flea-power, so I would suspect the depthsounder. Is it possible that the transducer or any portion of the wiring is being flooded with bilge water on port tack? Which instrument had the corroded coax cable? Is the junction in the bilge?

Good luck on your quest. I just love intermittent problems!

Joe Mac Phee
S/V Iolanthe
CD-30/K
Bristol, RI



jvmacpheeNOSPAM@aol.com

[Warren Stringer]

Warren,
Yes, you can bypass the second breaker panel as long as you have an appropriate size fuse/breaker in the circuit. With our CDs we often run out of electrical capabilities with the original breaker panels and that is why the additional ones are added. Most knott/depth insterments would be on the Nav/Com breaker in the original panel.
You might want to find the source of your problem while these instruments are on this seperate panel. The breaker could be faulty.
Try feeding the instruments with a different breaker or a fuse as a test. Separate their power to isolate which is defective, knott or depth. With the breaker tripping only on one tack, look for a wire being pinched on that tack.
Good luck. Let us know what you find.

Larry McAnally
Destin Fl.

Unfortunately we are about a month away from getting to the boat. Currently Robinhood is looking at the problem.

Warren



wstringer@aristotle.net

[Warren Stringer]

Warren,

The fact that the breaker is tripping is a feature, not a bug. In addition to the other good suggestions that have been made, consider these. Find out if it is the depthsounder or the knotmeter. Remove power at the sub-panel on one of the instruments and see if the breaker still trips. The knotmeter runs on flea-power, so I would suspect the depthsounder. Is it possible that the transducer or any portion of the wiring is being flooded with bilge water on port tack? Which instrument had the corroded coax cable? Is the junction in the bilge?

Good luck on your quest. I just love intermittent problems!

Joe Mac Phee
S/V Iolanthe
CD-30/K
Bristol, RI

The corroded connection was for the knotmeter and was indeed in the bilge. Last year the connection was replaced and lifted away from the dampness. The circuit breaker still tripped, though not as often.

Warren



wstringer@aristotle.net