Vetus bow thruster issue

D

ddurand

Member
Member
Joined
Jun 20, 2001
RO Number
5015
Messages
837
My 27' Chaparral has a Vetus bow thruster. It worked when I did a sea trial but not now. I press the ON button and after I press the ON button the second time (required) the light goes red and I hear a few beeps. Bow thruster does not work.

Have looked around the Vetus website and there was not a lot of info to troubleshoot the issue.

Battery has the proper voltage.
 
Bow thrusters have a quick disconnect switch usually near the thruster or the relay at the bow. Make sure nobody pressed it by mistake. Usually when it’s off the controls will activate but the thruster won’t run
 
PascalG said:
Bow thrusters have a quick disconnect switch usually near the thruster or the relay at the bow. Make sure nobody pressed it by mistake. Usually when it’s off the controls will activate but the thruster won’t run
Click to expand...
The blue light turning red and the beeps must mean something. Why doesn't Vetus document what it means?
 
No manual on the boat ?

Call vetus tech support
 
PascalG said:
No manual on the boat ?

Call vetus tech support
Click to expand...
I emailed them and they emailed back and said to check for missing wires going to the battery and send them some pictures. I sent the pictures but no response back.
 
Mine is not the Pro Thruster. Mine is a yellow orange in color which means not Pro.

I need to check the voltage but the battery is 2 feet away with #2 gauge wire. New battery. But this fault happens turning on the bow thruster. Not using it. Even a bad electrical connection would probably not see a drop in the voltage with no real load.
 
Could simply be bad electronics in the control. How old is the trustee? Is the control exposed to the elements? Usually thruster controls have a multi pin connector to the harness. Check the pins for corrosion
 
I have run out of warmish weather, needed to focus on winterizing the engine. Need to put a light cover on the boat and then it goes back on the rack. The marina does not pull boats off the racks after Dec 15 until spring (for customers).

Start diagnosis in the spring with a fresh charged battery.
 
Fall turned into winter turned into spring and still working on the issue with the Vetus bow thruster.

Got a troubleshooting guide from Vetus.

Moved the joystick from the helm to the connector on the bow thruster and same beeping and red light after pushing the button the second time. Tried a new joy stick and same beeping and red light.

Tried a jumper on the joystick connector from the red wire middle pin to each of the outside pins one at a time. That should have clicked the solenoid and run the bow thruster, but nothing.

After reading the Vetus trouble shooting guide a couple of times found where it's mentioned that the joystick control measures some low current on two wires that supply power to the solenoids. So if either wire gets cut or the thermal cutoff fails then red light will come on.

I will check the thermal cutout with ohm meter.
 
ddurand said:
Fall turned into winter turned into spring and still working on the issue with the Vetus bow thruster.

Got a troubleshooting guide from Vetus.

Moved the joystick from the helm to the connector on the bow thruster and same beeping and red light after pushing the button the second time. Tried a new joy stick and same beeping and red light.

Tried a jumper on the joystick connector from the red wire middle pin to each of the outside pins one at a time. That should have clicked the solenoid and run the bow thruster, but nothing.

After reading the Vetus trouble shooting guide a couple of times found where it's mentioned that the joystick control measures some low current on two wires that supply power to the solenoids. So if either wire gets cut or the thermal cutoff fails then red light will come on.

I will check the thermal cutout with ohm meter.
Click to expand...
Hi,
Did you ever find out what the problem was? I have the same issue. Thanks!
 
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