How to open the engine hatch with the batteries disconnected

luvinlife · December 2020

Buy one of these for $60 from Amazon.

Grahamu · December 2020

@LaRea, I must be missing something. If you connect a 12 volt battery's positive to post 2 and negative to post 1 current will flow from post 2 to the trigger for relay 2 closing the contacts. Current is then allowed to flow through the diode thru relay 2 contacts to the motor and then thru the diode to post 1 raising the hatch. I think that was the way it was designed to operate. I can't test it on my boat as everything has been disconnected in the engine compartment.

LaRea · December 2020

You are correct. With all boat batteries disconnected, a jump box on the override studs can raise the hatch (if both diodes are working, unlike my boat). What the studs can't do is lower the hatch. The diodes won't allow current flow in that direction.

LaRea · December 2020

And again, many boats do not have this arrangement with solenoids and diodes. My 342 did not have it, and I could raise/lower the hatch from the studs.

Grahamu · December 2020

I should have spent a little more time thinking this through. I now see the problem with the negative return on lowering the hatch.

Ian · December 2020

Exactly what we’ve been tryIng to determine - is there a way around it. Still in background @LaRea just too much end of year focus at the moment.

Grahamu · December 2020

@LaRea, on your 346 where you could raise and lower the hatch did the posts become live when operating normally from the helm switch. My posts have insulated covers and the door is closed so unlikely to cause problems for the few seconds the normal operation takes. I know ABYC would not approve of connecting the studs directly to the motor but it's a simple fix.

LaRea · December 2020

Yes sir, direct connection. Here's the schematic (although I never verified it). When pressing the helm switch, there would would be +/ 12VDC at the studs.

Image: https://us.v-cdn.net/5020499/uploads/editor/2q/qdb9n9fzdqm6.jpg

Grahamu · December 2020

I'm hoping mine is as the 2004 version. Happy Holidays everyone.

NickCruz · January 2021

Hi everyone, I'm new to Rinker forum. I've talked to a few of you on my problems with my boat. As I worked on boat I hooked a come along on the rail on top of the back seat, and other end hooked on swim platform. With batteries disconnected I just ratchet open and close with lift disconnected.

Liberty44140 · January 2021

Glad that worked Nick but I’d be worried about breaking that hand rail on your back seat. There are people on here who have used those rails as cleats for dock lines and ripped them out of the fiberglass. I would consider you lucky so far and find another way next time.

YYZRC · September 12

@larea did you find a source for new diodes? My hatch will only go one way. All relays are new. Blaming the diode - possible?

Image: https://us.v-cdn.net/5020499/uploads/editor/h4/wot87fvkb03m.jpeg

LaRea · September 13

@YYZRCIt definitely could be a diode not passing enough current to move the motor.

There are two different diodes -- same size and shape, but opposite polarity. Replace both of them. I hope you can still read the markings on your originals to make sure which is which.

https://www.digikey.com/en/products/detail/vishay-general-semiconductor-diodes-division/VS-1N1183/80442

https://www.digikey.com/en/products/detail/vishay-general-semiconductor-diodes-division/VS-1N1183R/81258

Image: https://us.v-cdn.net/5020499/uploads/editor/31/ufho2btjj2w9.jpg

YYZRC · September 13

Thanks @LaRea ! I ordered but after reading your thread and thinking more about it, I am going to bypass all the BS and add a DPDT switch at the hatch and be done with it all. The new actuator I added only pulls 6 amps.

Formulaben · September 13

YYZRC said:

Thanks @LaRea ! I ordered but after reading your thread and thinking more about it, I am going to bypass all the BS and add a DPDT switch at the hatch and be done with it all. The new actuator I added only pulls 6 amps.

It's funny you say this, as my hatch started acting up and I think I have a failed switch. I ordered what I thought was a correct replacement, but it didn't have the correct number of poles, so while pondering that, I thought it was weird that the switch is at the helm when I should be near the hatch, so I'll probably end up doing the same.

YYZRC · 2:15AM

The 390 has a switch panel on the port side refreshment area. I am moving the engine hatch switch there.

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How to open the engine hatch with the batteries disconnected

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