Breaker on windlass cable?

[SanDiegoChip]

Hi,
Got a quick question about a breaker.

We have a old stern anchor windlass which has old cables that need replacing.

On the end of the positive cable just before where it connects to a buss that the windlass connects to is a 40 AMP 12V breaker. No telling if it is slow blow.
We are putting on a new cable. This breaker is not accessible easily once installed. It is under the cockpit sole.

Is this the best way to handle the protection to the windlass and cable?
Should we just get a new in-line breaker and do the same thing?
There really is not a place to put a breaker that mounts on an electric panel or bulkhead.
Thanks,
Chip

[xsboats]

The breaker is needed and should be as close to the battery end of the windlass cable as possible.

[PBzeer]

The breaker for my windlass is mounted on the right side of the vee berth cutout.

[mitiempo]

Chip

Find out what max amperage the windlass uses.

Decide what gauge wire you will/are using and its ampacity. Table below.

Pick an amp rating between the windlass's amperage and the wire's ampacity for a fuse size.

As posted install a fuse like an ANL close to the battery or the bus that leads to the windlass.

[mitiempo]

Table here:

[donradclife]

You really want to replace it with an accessible breaker/switch, like a blue seas unit, which you can use to TURN IT OFF WHEN YOU NEED TO.

[mitiempo]

Every windlass (or thruster) should have a master switch. I use ANL fuses as instead of breakers.

[SVAuspicious]

Originally Posted by PBzeer

The breaker for my windlass is mounted on the right side of the vee berth cutout.

If you trace the positive wire back toward the battery you should ("should") see a higher amperage fuse at or very close to the battery to protect the wire between the battery and the breaker.

[SanDiegoChip]

How it works
The windlass is old and we have searched the web etc for manuals and have found none (it is a Powerwinch).
We do not know how much AMPs the current draws.


The windlass connects to a 15 amp switch breaker (like at our nav station) and then to a buss. You can see this at the far right in the pic.

The windlass it’s self has a on\off switch.

The buss connects to the 40 amp breaker that resets. Then to the 2 gauge cable.

The cable runs to the back of the electrical panel and connects to a selector switch. The selector switch has a (newly replaced by us) 2 AWG cable that runs to the batteries.


The selector switch is used to turn the power to the windlass on\off.
We could add another fuse between the selector switch and the 2 gauge windlass cable?

On our new bow windlass we have a breaker that sits in the bulkhead. It can be re-set. There is not a place for this type of braker for the stern windlass.

Thanks

[SanDiegoChip]

This picture is of a 2 gauge cable and a copper or bronze maybe strip and then a 40 AMP breaker and then a #10 wire and it goes to a buss which connects an old stern anchor windlass. We have purchased a spare windlass of the same kind and are replacing the old automotive 2 gauge cable with a new marine one. The other wires will be replaced also.

The breaker will be replaced with a new one of the same type. This setup woks fine but it is just old and we want to update the wiring. The wires sit under the cockpit and for the sake of my sanity I have quit trying to re-engineer the schematic. There is also a toggle breaker just before windlass and the windlass has an on\off switch.
We will add a fuse at the end of the 2 gauge cable where it connects to a selector switch.

OK my question is what is the piece of flat metal used for in this setup? It connects the 40 AMP breaker to the 2 gauge cable.
Thanks,
Chip