Motor mover problem (fixed) intermittent operation

[PhilR]

Hi everyone, just joined up to post my fix for a faulty motor mover (Power touch) it would keep stopping and switching off, reading up the normal problem is the battery, it was 5 years old so I switched it out for a new one, sadly the fault remained, traced the problem down to the isolation switch, it was working but not allowing enough current through under load, so giving the symptoms of a failing battery , I bypassed the switch to confirm my suspicions and it worked.
Replacement ordered from eBay for the price of £9 and now working OK

Hope it helps someone in the future.

 

[IanB1485]

Used to get that all the time on my clubs and my boats (RIBS used for Diving expeditions) The internal mechanism just turns and then engages a brass/phosphor bronze arm onto the two contacts.It doesn't wipe the contact surfaces either when making or opening the switch, so the surfaces slowly oxidise and become slightly resistive On some I've had the contacts actually warmed up and slightly melted the body exacerbating the fault . It takes longer in caravans than in boats due the milder atmosphere , and sometimes they never fail. Attached is a marine grade isolate switch which is sealed . Given how clever modern motor mover controls are (when not use the micro goes into 'sleep' mode taking very little power from the battery and the fact the isolate switch is not in a really accessible position if something did go wrong and the mover stuck on you wouldn't be able to stop it !