Chuck, a couple of comments; 1) The difference in the breakers is that one is a "low amp" breaker and the other a "high amp" breaker. The purpose of the breakers is to protect the wires from overheating so the windlass motor requiring high amps requires a much thicker gauge of wire to carry the amps and thus a high amp breaker. Both systems are 12V. The reason for running the motor while using the windlass is to provide additional amps from the alternator rather than just the house battery. 2) Paint the toggle of the motor breaker Yellow or Red so it is clearly visible that it has tripped. This allows you to advise the crew to nip down below and reset the "yellow thang" 3).Would also recommend you learn how to release the windlass capstan/wildcat manually and how to raise it manually. There is typically a tool or long bar that fits in the windlass for such an emergency. 4) Finally if all else fails, you can raise the anchor by tying a rolling hitch knot on the chain and leading the line back to one of your winches to raise the chain. It will be slow going and several rinse and repeats of retying the knot and stowing the chain, but it will save your back.
Chuck, a couple of comments;
1) The difference in the breakers is that one is a "low amp" breaker and the other a "high amp" breaker. The purpose of the breakers is to protect the wires from overheating so the windlass motor requiring high amps requires a much thicker gauge of wire to carry the amps and thus a high amp breaker. Both systems are 12V. The reason for running the motor while using the windlass is to provide additional amps from the alternator rather than just the house battery.
2) Paint the toggle of the motor breaker Yellow or Red so it is clearly visible that it has tripped. This allows you to advise the crew to nip down below and reset the "yellow thang"
3).Would also recommend you learn how to release the windlass capstan/wildcat manually and how to raise it manually. There is typically a tool or long bar that fits in the windlass for such an emergency.
4) Finally if all else fails, you can raise the anchor by tying a rolling hitch knot on the chain and leading the line back to one of your winches to raise the chain. It will be slow going and several rinse and repeats of retying the knot and stowing the chain, but it will save your back.
Great information! Thanks for sharing! It is low amp vs high amp and I used voltage. Great tips too! Thank you!
How did you get the rest of the chain up after the trip?Manually?
I only had about 5 feet of chain left. I just manually pulled it up while sitting on the deck behind the windlass.