Vetus bow thruster

[Dkk3000]

I’ve got a grand Banks 36 classic with a Vetus bow thruster model number BOW50112. The solenoid went bad and the bow thruster stop working. I bought a very similar solenoid from the auto parts store and hooked it up and I’m getting no power to the thruster I’m wondering if anybody has had this issue or is it a special solenoid? It is not the solenoids in the main unit, but looks to be one in front of that. It’s a aftermarket installation. I can jump. The two large cables and it will work. But I’m having no luck with this aftermarket solenoid. I have attached a picture of both solenoids. The one on the right is the one that came with the unit or was installed before I purchased the boat.

 

[READY]

Appearance is not a good way to find a suitable replacement. I suspect the key specs you need to screen for are:
1) voltage 12v?
2) current rating. Thrusters are high current draws. Find the max amperage draw on your thruster (specs should be online)
3) as far as I know most thrusters will provide a reversible output. This will change how your motor spins to move port or starboard
4) I would probably stick with one built for the marine environment. Often they are in high moisture environments with salt exposure unless you are in fresh water.

 

[Iggy]

It sounds like a bad solenoid due to the fact that you can jump it and it works. OR you have a bad connection at the switch that operates it.

 

[Bmarler]

The two little posts are for the control signal. You should have 12 volts there to close the relay.
I take it that this is a remote disconnect? There should be a switch to operate it. Maybe that is bad or doesn’t have any power.

 

[Dkk3000]

The two little posts are for the control signal. You should have 12 volts there to close the relay.
I take it that this is a remote disconnect? There should be a switch to operate it. Maybe that is bad or doesn’t have any power.

Should I have 12 V at both of the small post. The other thing I was thinking, it might be a bad control module at the helm. Does that sound like a possibility?

 

[Delta Riverat]

No, one is 12V, the other ground. Polarity not important. If wired this way should "click" when powered, no need to attach high current cables for this test.

 

[High Wire]

So the original solenoid went bad and the new one is also bad? Maybe the original wasn’t really bad but the problem is elsewhere.

 

[Dkk3000]

So the original solenoid went bad and the new one is also bad? Maybe the original wasn’t really bad but the problem is elsewhere.

You could be right on that, the original solenoid, where the main power lead from the bow, thruster hooks onto it, it was totally fried and loose. I just assumed that the solenoid was bad. Now I’m thinking the new solenoid which I bought at an auto store, may either not be the problem or the wrong solenoid. The question I have is II don’t know why I got an external solenoid on the bow thruster when it has two built-in solenoids already. This was an aftermarket installation. Any ideas?

 

[Bmarler]

The extra solenoid seems like it’s not needed, but was installed as a remote disconnect. If there’s a manual disconnect switch you might want to just bypass it.
That would be your call.
Where and what type of switch turns it on? Do you have a volt meter and know how to use it?

 

[Dkk3000]

Thanks for the quick reply, I’ve got a breaker on the panel that turns it on or off. I’m thinking that that’s probably the remote cut off switch that you’re referring to. I’ve got two stations one in the salon one at the helm that operates the bow thruster with an on off switch. The way they’ve got the breaker set up, is that it turns on both the winless, and the bow thruster. Which I can sort of understand, but probably not the proper factory set up. I do not have a fuse anywhere in the cable from the battery to the bow thruster. Usually they have like a blade fuse close to the battery. I do have an amateur and pretty familiar with the electrical stuff. Again, thank you for your quick reply. I was up at 2 o’clock in the morning trying to figure this thing out so I can use the boat this weekend.