Anchor windlass problems

TickledPink

We decided to drop the anchor today for the first time since we bought our FV 250. When I pressed the windlass power button, it beeped for about 10 seconds and the power light flashed on and off continuously. Nothing happened when pushing the down/up buttons.
My husband went to check it out. He opened the hatch and found a small hinged plate that hooks onto the chain to stop it moving, and a kind of lever sitting onto of the chain wheel. 
On lifting these, the anchor fell and the chain kept going out until the anchor hooked onto the sea bed.
The windlass buttons still weren't working so I had to pull up the chain/anchor by hand.
Any thoughts/advice on the windlass control not working? 

Grahamu

Check the main anchor windlass breaker is engaged.

TickledPink

@Grahamu where is the breaker located?

Grahamu

Not sure on your boat, mine is close to the up/down switch, there might also be a resettable fuse near your main battery switches.

rasbury

I also have a big breaker next to my up down-and mine did not work. When I opened the locker a couple long bolts from the housing laying there...rather than go down that rabbit hole I started chasing the power. When I pulled that breaker out, one of the terminals was broken off. Must of worked at least once to roll in the chain and line...point being if it is not something visibly wrong then you have to be a little above novice, like me, with a multimeter....!

TickledPink

I don't get why it's beeping and flashing. I can't find anything on Google with that issue.

rasbury

I don't think that is your berping and flashing problem? Beeping is going to be engine related? What is flashing?

aero3113

Did you have the engine running when you tried to use it? Just throwing this out there, you never know. There’s a chance your battery doesn’t have enough juice to use it. It might need the engine running to keep the battery topped off. Whenever I drop and retrieve my anchor, I like to have the engines running. I don’t think the windless is on the start battery, it could be your house battery that’s low.

Spyderweb

Yes, try @aero3113 suggestion.  The windlass draws a lot of amps.  I can imagine it not working on low battery without engine running.

TickledPink

No the engine wasn't running so that's a good shout, thanks.

TickledPink

@rasbury it's the green power light that was flashing, next to the power button and up/down buttons in the cockpit.

rasbury

Hmm...mine does not have a power light. I have a breaker next to the up down...

Cableguy Greg

Can you post a picture of your setup? 

TickledPink

rasbury

Different brand than what I have. No other breaker? I assume from the huge Amp draw from these units it needs a much heavier breaker than found in the panels...so the light is explained, but what about the beeps? Can't think of any reason to have your anchor system beep?

aero3113

@TickledPink , did you get a chance to run the engine and try it?

Liberty44140

Look under the helm for the Windlass breaker. May be this circled below:

Grahamu

Your breaker should look like this, might be a different amperage

Maxwell 70 Amp 12/24-volt Windlass Isolator (HRC-8 Only) (Vetus P102903) (vetus-shop.com)

Grahamu

Manual for Vetus RC-8 which looks like yours.

Maxwell RC8-10-VW10 Users Manual.pdf (binnacle.com)

Pat310

Nice find @Grahamu. Page 8 says main engine running before using

aero3113

Pat310 said:

Nice find @Grahamu. Page 8 says main engine running before using

There you go! My thoughts were correct. Now @TickledPink needs to let us know if that was it! ⚓️

aero3113

TickledPink

@aero3113 the weather has been crap here so I've not been over to the boat again yet.
@Grahamu thanks for the manual. The first part of operation mentions the clutch handle. Hmmmm, there isn't one 😐
@Pat310 & @aero3113 I'll definitely try it with the engine running. 
I'm learning so much from this group. What would I do without you all. Thank you so much 👍

Liberty44140

Large crescent wrench is all you need for a clutch handle if you need to tighten the Gypsy but that’s not your problem if you are getting no power. 

Grahamu

@TickledPink what is the model # of the windlass, I might have sent you the wrong one 

TickledPink

I'm not sure @Grahamu. The one I have has the chain going up and over. There's a hinged arm that sits over the chain and a small hinged plate right at the front of the , about 2x2 inches with compartment with two prongs that fit into the chain, Iimagine to stop the anchor from falling.
When I next go back to the boat, I'll see if I can find a model number somewhere.

TickledPink

This one looks familiar 

https://vetus.sharefile.com/share/view/seaf4870645a7402386f92ae0cdabbdb3