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Swagmans Sailing Blog

Swagmans Sailing Blog


Come on in and say hello via a 'comment'. We've cruised our Hanse 46' sailboat from UK to Egypt to the Caribbean mainly two handed from 2004 to 2008 - and enjoyed every minute. We are back temporarily in the UK - but sunshine beckons us again for next summer.

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Jul 13th 2005 - Excellent Marine Electrician in Palma

Posted at 10:13 AM, Wednesday, July 13, 2005

Have had a great couple of days in Palma with the girls.

 

If you thought I could drink - you need to watch them in action!  Suspect the difference is we are well parited - whilst they are just starting and absolutely determined to enjoy themselves.  A laught.

 

Had the local electrician as recommended by Hanse Palma come on board yesterday to try and resolve our charging issues - and here's what resulted. 

 

The Hanse 461 has three battery banks - all Varta 80Ah gel batteries.  One bank of three for domestic power, one dedicated individual for engine starting, and one set of four for winches / windlass and bow thruster.  In total 640 Ah.  Our issue was we appeared we were charging OK both when under motor or connected to shore power on the domestic and engine banks, but not upon the winch / windlass bank.  The first two banks showed us 13 v when charging, the last one only ever indicated 11.5v.

 

A quick call to our UK electricians - DataYacht in Lymington - verified we should get it seen to and Hanse UK confirmed by email it was a warranty issue and they would cover costs.  I'm glad we sorted it in Palma as this local German chap - Eric Forner - tel +34 630 081092 - was really good.

 

We had no manual for the Hanse (!!) nor any paperwork for the charger (!!!!!).  So it took 15 minutes of checking lockers and underfloor space before we found the shore charger and attached management system. 

 

If another 461 owner wants to know where it is - look in the starboard aft locker behind the seat backs.

 

Eric investigated to explain it appeared the charger was getting good current from the shore connection, but he said the way the charger output and the management system was wired up, it was only possible for the two banks that were getting current to be recharged. 

 

He advised the only current going to the third was by way of leakage - but in any event - it was all wired up incorrectly. 

 

Wire is supposed to go from three outlets on the shore charger to the three banks - but it only had one connector linked up.

 

Good job he was German - for it enabled him to speak with Hanse Germany direct on his mobile to help get is solved.  They told him the boat would not have left the yard wired up as it apparently was and they inferred it may have been re-wired when used on shore at the Paris Boat Show last December.  They asked for and we took, digital pictures to email them for the record

 

Neither Eric nor I think the wrong wiring was done after it left the yard - as the wiring albeit wrong, looked to neat and tidy.  The correct wiring was not simply disconnected, it was not even present!

 

So Eric then spent 2 hours installing the wiring needed to ensure we got the charge properly from the shorepower charger.  The only thing he was unsure of was why it had been wired wrongly? 

 

He even expressed the opinion there may be a further fault - possibly one that does not show at all times? 

 

He ventured that the incorrect wiring was set up to overcome a fault we could not find ourselves - so gave us his number should anything more eventuate.

 

Anyway - true to form - it showed itself to us later yesterday after we'd paid him and departed Palma for a cala to anchor in last night.  We gently sailed most of the aftternoon skipping along close to the coast - lovely day - but at early evening when dropping sails as we approached a cala - we started the engine and could see the charger was doing it job properly now and giving more current that we'd ever had before - 15v output. 

 

The management system is supposed to automatically apply all this current first to the engine bank, and then when full, switch to give it to the domestic bank, and again when full, finally to the winch bank.  

 

Well it did the first OK and the engine battery got to 14+v in short order, but it did not swop over and give any power to the other two banks despite waiting 2 hours to see it do this.

 

As we went to bed, our status was engine 14v, domestics 11.5v, winches 12.2v. 

 

We cut down on domestic use to a very minimum overnight - coolbox off etc - but by morning it was engine 13.8v, domestics now to 10.5v with a warning flash on the panal - and winches 12.1v. 

 

Trying the engine saw the only one increasing to be the engine battery.

 

So a quick call to Eric confirmed the management system has to be at fault.  Possibly why it was wired wrongly before?  Eric gave me step by step instructions on how to bridge across all three outputs of the management system and by doing so allow us to recharge all banks in one hit from the engine - but it is not a solution that could remain long term as we would equally deplete all batteries when at anchor.

 

The risk would be if they all got too low - is that we may not be able to restart the engine - so we can't leave it like this.

 

Eric suggested we moor up tonight in Andraitz (our closest marina) and he'll drive over with a new managent system to install this evening.  We'll do that and have another run ashore

 

So - great service. 

 

Eric charges Eu30 per hour plus parts.  He does only bill for time on board working.  Good value.  Highly recommended by us if you ever need electrical help on Mallorca.

 

So catch you later - hopefully after the new management systems in place .

Cheers

 

JOHN

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Posted by at 7:50 PM, Wednesday, July 13, 2005

Untypical shoddy German workmanship! The Hanse is still a beautiful craft though. You are certainly a prolific writer, do you update from the boat or from an internet cafe? As i'm still a yacht virgin, so I have a thousand and one questions, but this is one you may be kind enough to help me with. When I finally get to the cruising bit i'd like to update often, in tandem with my on-board log. I'm still learning from magazines (favoring this above talking to salesmen!) and though there are a whole host of wonderful looking digial aids for mariners apparently available; I still don't know if one can access the internet from a boat.

Hi Aquarius - I've explained how we do it to another person earlier in the blog. I have a laptop with a GPRS card allowing me to access the web in a similar but slightly faster way that with a mobile phone connection. Can only use it when close to shore or in port - but as you can see - it works well for us.
Cheers
JOHN

Edited by swagman on Jul. 15, 2005 at 10:10 AM
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Un bloody believable

Posted by Anonymous at 7:52 PM, Wednesday, July 13, 2005

Hi John

I know the world is not a perfect place, but boy have Hanse shot themselves in the foot with this absolutely ridiculous situation - a brand new 461 and they are trying to absolve themselves of resposibility!!! Just as well you "found" this excellent electrician who obviously knows his stuff - otherwise you could have been stuffed!!

I know you are normally pretty laid back, but this would test the patience of saint - will be interesting to hear what stance Hanse take is in the final analysis.

Glad to hear that the girls are fully up to speed with the old tactic juice - I would need to pack a suitcase of spare livers and rinse out a fresh one each day :-)

Have fun and remember "Non Illigitimus Carborundum"

Gerry McGettingroastedinscotland

Hi Gerry - I need to apologise to Hanse if the blog infers they are not helping - for they are albeit it's not easy at a distance. Hanse Spain 'found' me the local electrician - Hanse UK have accepted they'll pay whatever it costs to sort out - and Hanse Germany are advising the electrician as he / we pass over the info.
I don't think I'm being too soft on them as I do appreciate with hull number 7 they must still have been 'feeling their way' in installing all kit - and for all I know today - it may well have been someone else who modified things after it left the yard.

Remember - it was in the hands of Hanse France for the Paris Boat Show - then has had our own electricians installing nav gear - then Hanse UK electricians installing winches. I'm confident it will get fixed - and in the meantime all I need do is bridge some connections twice a day to ensure we remain on top of the power needs.

Anyway - it's now around 35 degrees outside - 30 degrees in the water - the fridge is full of cold beer - who's complaining!

Cheers
JOHN

Edited by swagman on Jul. 15, 2005 at 10:18 AM
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Apolgies to Hanse

Posted by Anonymous at 11:43 PM, Saturday, July 16, 2005

My mistake John - glad to hear that they are taking their responsibilities seriously and trying to help you get the situation resolved.

Apologies to all concerned.

Gerry.

NB: Got a nice e-mail from Larry & Phyll, once they sort out their plotter problems(not on a Hanse) they will be working their way around the coast to Gib & on.
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