Shoalwaters
Guru
- Joined
- Feb 24, 2008
- Messages
- 681
- Location
- St. Lucia, West Indies
- Vessel Name
- "Dragon Lady"
- Vessel Make
- DeFever 41
I have a Lewmar 185TT bow-thruster with a joystick controller on the flybridge. I want a second joystick at the lower helm, and I'm a long way from the nearest Lewmar supplier. I have a heavy four-wire momentary switch which looks promissing, as there are four wires connecting the Lewmar joystick to the thruster unit. The question is: what wires go where?
Lewmar's email says: "We would not recommend using the momentary switch. There is more to the joystick than just port and starboard and those protections that are built into it wouldnt be in the momentary switch". They don't say that a momentary switch will not work, just that they don't recommend it. Unfortunately the circuit diagram is not informative and their joystick does not respond to a continuity tester.
*A Lewmar joystick is around $200 plus the same again in air-freight, customs duties etc. I will go this route if I have to, but I'm reluctant to shell out multiple boat units without good reason. After all, we are talking about a 12v DC motor with a reversing solenoid. Anyone with knowledge of the workings of these things, please chime in.
BTW: I would like to say many thanks to Mike of this forum for patiently explaining all aspects of the fiberglass work involved in a bow-thruster install.
-- Edited by Shoalwaters on Tuesday 13th of September 2011 06:05:55 AM
Lewmar's email says: "We would not recommend using the momentary switch. There is more to the joystick than just port and starboard and those protections that are built into it wouldnt be in the momentary switch". They don't say that a momentary switch will not work, just that they don't recommend it. Unfortunately the circuit diagram is not informative and their joystick does not respond to a continuity tester.
*A Lewmar joystick is around $200 plus the same again in air-freight, customs duties etc. I will go this route if I have to, but I'm reluctant to shell out multiple boat units without good reason. After all, we are talking about a 12v DC motor with a reversing solenoid. Anyone with knowledge of the workings of these things, please chime in.
BTW: I would like to say many thanks to Mike of this forum for patiently explaining all aspects of the fiberglass work involved in a bow-thruster install.
-- Edited by Shoalwaters on Tuesday 13th of September 2011 06:05:55 AM