Vetus bow thruster - beep error codes

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ddurand

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I am still tracking down the issue with my Vetus bow thruster. When I press the ON switch the second time (normal operation, kind of a child lock) the light turns red and I get 2 beeps, short pause then 3 beeps. Long pause and it repeats. Tried it a few times and always the same. Someone designed it to do that when a certain error was detected yet I cannot find anything on the Vetus website that talks about beep error codes. I assume there are several sequences of beeps and pauses and each relates to a specific error. So why not publish it?
 
I just did a quick search and came up with only one video related 'error codes' but was of no help. Have you tried calling the Vetus tech support line?
 
I have contacted Vetus and the only thing they say is if it's not a battery issue (it's not) then when the light on the controller turns red (should turn solid blue) then the controller is broken. They do not seem to have a chart that lists out specific errors the beeps & pause & beeps are trying to tell me.

This seems like the error codes you would get on cars before OBDII where you would count beeps or flashes of a light to identify the error.

The controller is a little over $300 so would like to be sure before I buy a new controller.

I know owning a boat is not cheap.
 
have you checked for power both at the control and at the thruster motor? Like windlasses each is often powered separately. Check for breakers and fuses as well.

Otherwise, if Vetus tells you the control is bad, we’ll…
 
Can you jumper from the battery directly to the controller? Have you tested for solid/good power to the controller?
 
In this case I do not believe the controller is powered separately. There is a 4 conductor cable with jacks/plugs going to the controller. The controller has power as it has its blue or red light that light up and I think the controller is where the beeps come from.

By controller I mean the joy stick, s switch, a LED, some circuitry all in a sealed round unit that sits in a hole at the helm.

I will recheck the wiring diagram.
 
I understand that the controller (joystick panel) is powered but are you sure that the motor is powered or that it’s fuse or breaker didn’t trip for whatever reason.
 
PascalG said:
I understand that the controller (joystick panel) is powered but are you sure that the motor is powered or that it’s fuse or breaker didn’t trip for whatever reason.
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So I need to add a fuse and a switch.

But currently there are two battery cables from the battery to the bow thruster relay pack. It's a dedicated battery a foot away from the bow thruster. The relay has a 5 amp fuse and a 4 pin connector that the joystick controller plugs into via an extension cable.

When the error beeps happen I am just turning on the bow thruster. Have not moved the joy stick.

The wiring diagram is pretty simple. 12V plus and minus to the controller and a positive for each direction of the bow thruster. That's the 4 wires.

The joystick controller has some circuitry inside the sealed unit at the helm. They don't list that.

I do not think the controller can sense anything from the motor besides the 12V.
 
My frustration is I am pretty sure the beep beep short pause beep beep beep means something specific and Vetus cannot tell me what it means beyond "controller errror".
 
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