BrianSmith
Senior Member
- Joined
- Mar 20, 2014
- Messages
- 487
- Location
- USA
- Vessel Name
- Smartini
- Vessel Make
- 2002 Kristen 52' Flybridge Trawler
It's been a year and a half, but I think I've finally figured out why my Northern Lights 16kw genset suffers from intermittent shut-down / won't-start issues. As I've suspected for a long time, it's related to the four Bosch relays in the control box that allow the engine to start, and to keep running, as long as none of the three safety shut-downs activate (low oil pressure, high coolant temp, high exhaust temp).
Today, when the genset was running, but the gauge needles were vibrating (usually a precursor to a shut-down), I pushed down firmly on the relays while my wife watched the gauges, and she said the needles were rock solid as long as I was pushing them. As soon as I let go of them, and jiggled one a tiny bit, it shut down. Based on this, and on the fact that every other time I've had a problem with this genset, and have gotten it working again, the fix involed one or more relays - I have decided the problem is simply that the relays are not being held solidly in place in their sockets.
Has anyone dealt with this particular issue? Can I do something to the sockets to make them "grip" the relay pins better? Can I replace the sockets with new ones? I'm thinking of using some zip ties and a short length of 1/2" x 1/2" wood to snug them into place, basically doing what I did with my fingers to steady the needles.
Today, when the genset was running, but the gauge needles were vibrating (usually a precursor to a shut-down), I pushed down firmly on the relays while my wife watched the gauges, and she said the needles were rock solid as long as I was pushing them. As soon as I let go of them, and jiggled one a tiny bit, it shut down. Based on this, and on the fact that every other time I've had a problem with this genset, and have gotten it working again, the fix involed one or more relays - I have decided the problem is simply that the relays are not being held solidly in place in their sockets.
Has anyone dealt with this particular issue? Can I do something to the sockets to make them "grip" the relay pins better? Can I replace the sockets with new ones? I'm thinking of using some zip ties and a short length of 1/2" x 1/2" wood to snug them into place, basically doing what I did with my fingers to steady the needles.