Windless 135amp breaker

[Sadey]

2003 356 aft cabin. Under the step the 135 amp breaker for the windless has failed for the second time. It was replaced last October and tested but not used. Tested it this April for about 6 inches of deployed chain and worked as advertised. Went to used it yesterday and the windless was inop. It’s definitely the breaker that has failed (used a meter to test it) not sure why. All connections are secure and absolutely no corrosion at any terminal related to the windless. Any thoughts? Also do most people leave the windless break on all of the time?

[g36]

When you say bad are you saying it's tripping, is this immediately ? If it's tripping when windlass is activated it's doing its job if there's a overloaded condition.. When you reset it does it trip again when activating the windlass? It would be somewhat uncommon for it to just fail especially when you have replaced it with new. The motor being shorted will definitely trip it or too much load. I believe you may need to take a look at wiring or windlass motor. I leave mine active all the time.

[tomschauer]

My windless breaker tripped twice last year. First time, no biggie, reset and moved on. Second time I of course, had to dig in. I found that the connections at the windless motor were fairly loose. Tightened all up and have been good to go the rest of last season. Haven't used it yet this season.

[Sadey]

Sorry, when I say the breaker is bad I meant it has failed. It is designed to trip then be able to be reset. The breaker has lost the ability to be reset. This breaker has very little travel between on and reset. There is a definite click when resetting which both of my failed breakers no longer have. Further there is power going into the breaker but no power coming out with the breaker up or down. Just seems odd after 16 years with no history two breakers have failed within days of use. Again, the failed breaker was replaced in September of 18 and tested fine. Used for literally seconds in April of 19 and failed sometime afterwards. I'll go check the connections at the winch again just to be sure. This winch is almost new. It is a 2003 but the owner hardly if ever used it at. I bought the boat with 170 hours total and again is in near perfect shape inside and out. So something is not right.

[mjk1040]

Your going to have to test the amp draw on the windless motor. Low hours & lack of use, I'm thinking corrosion has over takin something in the system. Try hand operating windless, if it feels free, then you should look at the motor or relay as being corroded maybe.

[Sadey]

Never thought the corrosion could be unseen. Everything else is so clean I just made an assumption. I’ll check it out this weekend.

[mjk1040]

Your going to need someone to operate the windless while you take amp readings. That's a lot of amps if it's tripping a 135 amp breaker, almost sounds like a dead short when you operate the windless switch. If you can disconnect the windless motor wires and separate, then try the windless switch. If breaker doesn't trip, the motor has to be the issue. If it does trip, then the short is in the wiring or relay.

[Sadey]

Update. Well I replaced a two hundred dollar breaker that was working just fine. I feel bad for the PO, he replaced it as well but had Skipper Bud’s do it so his expense was a bit higher. Long story short the panel under the step that the breaker is mounted to flexes just enough that it’s hard to apply the required force to trip or reset the breaker. I tripped the breaker after my test use and I’m guessing the PO did the same. Then we both were unable to restore power to the winch fearing we were going to damage the panel if more force was applied. Then both of use and Skipper Bud’s assumed the breaker had failed.
This breaker is the only way to remove power from the winch for it is hard wired to the battery. At the helm is the control panel with a little red light that indicates power to the panel and winch. I assume the light draws very little and I have a safety chain attached to the anchor to prevent a free fall situation but I don’t like the constant draw for the light on the battery. Thoughts?

[bud37]

Yup thats exactly what that breaker is like.....it only moves a very tiny amount and requires more force applied than you would think to operate. You have to listen for the click...probably the reason people just leave them on. But I think if they are used frequently it may be a different story.

Ours is just like that, I have fooled around trying to get it set at the start of the season as well.

Odd that the marina didn't realize this.....very common complaint, easily rectified.