Which Battery Bank Does The Windlass Run Off?

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   I have a 2014 445 and I am installing a deck wash down pump , I am going to wire it to the closest battery bank which is the bow thruster battery under the bed. I am trying to figure out if the windlass also runs off the thruster battery? We are likely to never be using the thruster and deck wash down pump at same time but windlass and pump will be used simultaneously so wanting to figure out max draw I need to account for on the battery.

I have 3 banks , starter , house and thruster.

Edited by mattplowman - 31 May 2025 at 05:12

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mattplowman Members Profile Send Private Message Find Members Posts Add to Buddy List Captain Joined: 05 December 2017 Status: Offline Points: 165	Post Options Post Reply Quote mattplowman Report Post Thanks(0) Quote Reply Topic: Which Battery Bank Does The Windlass Run Off? Posted: 31 May 2025 at 04:55
	I have a 2014 445 and I am installing a deck wash down pump , I am going to wire it to the closest battery bank which is the bow thruster battery under the bed. I am trying to figure out if the windlass also runs off the thruster battery? We are likely to never be using the thruster and deck wash down pump at same time but windlass and pump will be used simultaneously so wanting to figure out max draw I need to account for on the battery. I have 3 banks , starter , house and thruster. Edited by mattplowman - 31 May 2025 at 05:12
	H445 #210

marsella Members Profile Send Private Message Find Members Posts Add to Buddy List Rear Admiral Joined: 21 June 2022 Location: Antigua Jolly H Status: Offline Points: 592	Post Options Post Reply Quote marsella Report Post Thanks(0) Quote Reply Posted: 31 May 2025 at 05:06
	I think you are talking about WindlAss, in which case it should run from the house bank and draw something in the range of 100Amps, the pump you will be installing should draw 10 times less...well unless its a power washer.

S&J Members Profile Send Private Message Find Members Posts Add to Buddy List Admiral Joined: 30 August 2014 Location: Perth WA / Med Status: Offline Points: 1371	Post Options Post Reply Quote S&J Report Post Thanks(0) Quote Reply Posted: 31 May 2025 at 08:27
	Windlass is definitely on the house bank. I find this strange given the longer cable runs. I'm aware that the bow thruster is an option but I'd have thought that there would have been advantages in combining this option with alternative power supply for the windlass. However I'm not 100% that the thruster battery is 12V It might be 24V so I'd check this before connecting more to it.
	H458 #159 Primal Mediterranean cruising

marsella Members Profile Send Private Message Find Members Posts Add to Buddy List Rear Admiral Joined: 21 June 2022 Location: Antigua Jolly H Status: Offline Points: 592	Post Options Post Reply Quote marsella Report Post Thanks(0) Quote Reply Posted: 31 May 2025 at 09:31
	I think because thrusters take a lot of power (4kW or more) , those dedicated batteries get quickly depleted even if you would have standard 12V system. Something that you dont want your windlass to hook up to. And its true many thruster battery banks are wired for 24V to handle high current draws. I just faced this dilemma while installing bow and stern thrusters on my boat and went for 6.5kW 24V thruster motors and dedicated 24V battery banks with calculated capacities allowing thruster runs for only about 15min or so. As a result, I dont see any further use of those added battery banks.

mattplowman Members Profile Send Private Message Find Members Posts Add to Buddy List Captain Joined: 05 December 2017 Status: Offline Points: 165	Post Options Post Reply Quote mattplowman Report Post Thanks(0) Quote Reply Posted: 31 May 2025 at 23:02
	Thanks all, very helpful. My thruster battery is 12v , will hook the wash down pump to that today…..one less job on the job list!
	H445 #210

32mike Members Profile Send Private Message Find Members Posts Add to Buddy List Commadore Joined: 26 March 2020 Location: FLorida, US Status: Offline Points: 453	Post Options Post Reply Quote 32mike Report Post Thanks(0) Quote Reply Posted: 01 June 2025 at 13:36
	Just curious - how are you routing the wire from the bow thruster battery to the deck for the wash down pump?
	Mike S/V Dulces Sueños 458 #087 Tampa, FL

mattplowman Members Profile Send Private Message Find Members Posts Add to Buddy List Captain Joined: 05 December 2017 Status: Offline Points: 165	Post Options Post Reply Quote mattplowman Report Post Thanks(0) Quote Reply Posted: 03 June 2025 at 22:25
	Hi Mike , my forward storage locker has a metal panel already installed through the bulkhead into the forward berth (thruster battery under the bed). This panel has water pipes connected from the main water tank under bed into the storage area and then up to the intake in the deck and into the overflow outlet. It also has a smaller connection pipe that has a wire run already (the forward storage area has a light , chain counter and 12v socket that are wired to the thruster battery as well). This has been made "watertight" by filling with sealant after the wires were run (before my ownership). The hardest part of the job has been getting that sealant out! Edited by mattplowman - 03 June 2025 at 22:28
	H445 #210

32mike Members Profile Send Private Message Find Members Posts Add to Buddy List Commadore Joined: 26 March 2020 Location: FLorida, US Status: Offline Points: 453	Post Options Post Reply Quote 32mike Report Post Thanks(0) Quote Reply Posted: 04 June 2025 at 00:30
	I’m guessing it looked like this before the wires were run. So, I was thinking that, for a wash down pump, I would use that plugged pass through for tubing for sea water intake for the pump. I would run the tube on the inside down into the floor and tee off the seawater intake for the toilet flushing. Doing that, I would still need to run power from somewhere. The windlass and nav light wires are run from the port side right up under the deck. Where are you drawing the seawater for the pump? Any body else with a 455/458 have a Hanse installed wash down that can show me how they wired/plumbed it from the factory or how you did it yourself?
	Mike S/V Dulces Sueños 458 #087 Tampa, FL

mattplowman Members Profile Send Private Message Find Members Posts Add to Buddy List Captain Joined: 05 December 2017 Status: Offline Points: 165	Post Options Post Reply Quote mattplowman Report Post Thanks(0) Quote Reply Posted: 04 June 2025 at 00:39
	That's it exactly. On my 445 a previous owner had installed a tru design intake/ball valve in the hull below that panel. It was never used so I have just plumbed the deck washdown pump to it (I am 50/50 as to using the same one for a water maker as I am told there are issues with airlocks when underway but that is TBC)
	H445 #210

marsella Members Profile Send Private Message Find Members Posts Add to Buddy List Rear Admiral Joined: 21 June 2022 Location: Antigua Jolly H Status: Offline Points: 592	Post Options Post Reply Quote marsella Report Post Thanks(0) Quote Reply Posted: 04 June 2025 at 01:36
	I didnt install the pump but I run a few wires (12V aux power and communcation cable for windlass control from the cockpit) from nav station up inside the port channel along with windlass cables all the way to the front locker. The only narrow place is to pass thru the head but doable. There is black protecting cover that hides windlass cables in the locker, make a small cut, pass the fishing wire, get another end in the cabin, and so on Edited by marsella - 04 June 2025 at 01:43



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