XF
Rev: 4, 2010-02-01
Page 26
8.6.
The thruster stops working after a long period of use
Intelligent electronic protection
WARNING:
The system has intelligent monitoring to measure run and pause time. The XForce Thruster is not
permitted to start if the voltage on the thruster is below 10.0V on 12V system/ 20.0V on 24V
system. If the voltage at the thruster drops below 9.0/18.0V when thruster is running, warning will
occur by showing orange light power light on the wireless control.
Of security reasons, the system permits continuous running of the thruster in 4 intervals of 30 sec.
After each interval, the thruster will stop. Switching off / on the joystick or switch panel will make the
thruster run again. If repeated 4 times, (total 2 minutes running), the thruster will need to cool down
for 25 minutes before being ready to run again. This to protect the motor and control unit against
overheating.
NB:
In an emergency situation, to save the ship from any damage, this protection can be override
by turning the main switch off and on.
Check the thruster, control unit, fuse, cables and electric connections for visible signs of
overheating, bad connection and short circuit.
9. Installation of equipment with high currents.
9.1.
Special considerations.
9.1.1.
Preface/introduction.
Engbo has experienced that over 90 % of our service-/problem enquieries, is related to power supply.
This section has been made to try to address and help avoid the most common and known problems
that can occur.
In general, there are special considerations that must be taken into account regarding installation, use
and maintenance of high current consumption equipment. It is therefore extremely important that only
persons with the appropriate knowledge are doing this kind of work.
The most common products which this document applies to are electrical bow and/or stern thrusters,
windlasses and electrical starters for main and/or auxiliary engines.
(Similar precautions must also be taken with generators and charging systems for batteries).
Such equipment has, or can have for shorter periods, many hundreds of ampere of current
consumption.
In-rush current in an electrical motor of this kind will typically be around 2-3 times nominal current and
can easily exceed 1000 A for short periods. Currents of these sizes will generate heat in all
components, including cables.
It is therefore very important that all components, including the connections of these components, are
done correctly to keep the connection resistance and the total resistance in the electrical circuit as low
as possible.
All connections between cable-lug and components shall always be directly copper against copper, (or
copper against brass). There shall never be any washers of any kind, or anything else, between the
connections.
Wrong or improper use or wrong connection of such high currents components will generate a lot of
heat which in worst case can cause fire.