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Catalina/Capri 25/250 Sailor's Forums

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I hate elctronics

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Dave5041
Former Mainsheet Editor

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USA
3758 Posts

Initially Posted - 01/25/2010 : 17:46:54

My masthead anemometer, as expected after layup, didn't didn't work today. I redid the upper connector at home and left the mast foot/deck connector until the mast was up. I took the connectors apart, cleaned, and removed corrosion, and everything was fine after a trial re-assembly. After final re-assembly and taping, it didn't work. I spent the next 5 hours cleaning, re-assembling, testing voltages, signals, and resistance. Nothing worked. I gave up and put my tools away. As I was closing the boat, I thought: I can't believe it doesn't work! I pushed the button one more time, and it worked. I pushed the button a dozen times, tugged on wires, turned the battery switch off and on a few times. It still worked. I should be happy that it works, but I'm mostly irritated that it quit working for no discernible reason and, for no discernible reason, started working. I really hate electronics.

Dave B. aboard Pearl
1982 TR/SK/Trad. #3399
Lake Erie/Florida Panhandle

Edited by - on

delliottg
Former Mainsheet C250 Tech Editor

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USA
4479 Posts

Response Posted - 01/25/2010 : 18:24:40

In software testing, there are several things you never want to hear from a developer:

#1: "It works on my box" (this elicits immediate eye rolling on the part of any tester within earshot).
#2: "It's not supposed to do that" (pretty much same reaction)
#3: "I didn't fix it, it fixed itself"

Regarding #1: From a tester's point of view, it's a rare developer indeed who understands that we simply couldn't care less if it works on their box or not, we want to see it work on what we're shipping. And then break it.

Regarding #2: This is what testers live for, finding a bug for something the developer never even considered. Then we get a fix for it, and then break it, again.

Regarding #3: Serendipitous fixes are some of the most scary because you never got a chance to understand the root cause. We hate being told something is "no repro" (not reproducible), especially if changes in code were made in that area, which are almost certainly masking the previous behavior, not fixing them. We didn't get a chance to break it, and since we don't understand the root cause, we have less of a chance of isolating and breaking it again.

Edited by - on

Dave5041
Former Mainsheet Editor

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USA
3758 Posts

Response Posted - 01/25/2010 : 18:42:09

Yep, you want to know why and how it failed and how you fixed. When I worked on electronic countermeasures equipment years ago, we were only half joking when we suggested that sometimes there were just gremlins in there.

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Voyager
Master Marine Consultant

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USA
5357 Posts

Response Posted - 01/25/2010 : 20:32:32

Any chance you were standing on, say, the port side when you originally tested it, then were standing on starboard when it finally worked? While on deck, the heel doesn't seem like much, but up overhead, it can make a big difference. I had an anchor light like that once.

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Dave Bristle
Master Marine Consultant

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Djibouti
10005 Posts

Response Posted - 01/25/2010 : 21:27:43

<blockquote id="quote">quote:<hr height="1" noshade id="quote">Originally posted by Dave5041
 ...we were only half joking when we suggested that sometimes there were just gremlins in there.<hr height="1" noshade id="quote"></blockquote id="quote">In the computer biz, we called them "blue flashes" (no-repro).

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Sloop Smitten
Master Marine Consultant

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USA
1181 Posts

Response Posted - 01/25/2010 : 21:46:33

Dave,
I have found, through years of working on cars, that these intermittent faults can usually be traced to some sort of decay or corrosion. I don't know how long that anemometer has been in service but it could very well be oxidation of the wires inside the insulation has raised the resistance enough to lower the voltage to a minimal degree. It's a long way up that mast and back down. Coupled with the resistance of contact type connectors the cumulative resistance can really add up. If your battery was not fully charged this could add to the problem. Then again, you may never see the problem again.

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delliottg
Former Mainsheet C250 Tech Editor

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USA
4479 Posts

Response Posted - 01/25/2010 : 22:24:33

Isn't a blue flash what happens just before the magical blue smoke escapes?

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DaveR
Master Marine Consultant

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USA
2015 Posts

Response Posted - 01/26/2010 : 06:24:26

I've found that usually it's the grounding that gets you. It's the one thing that can appear to be perfect but due to corrosion or a break down the line where you can't see it doesn't make a connection. I've had a simple boat trailer push me to the brink of insanity, and the whole time you know there HAS to be a logical explanation, but it eludes. This is the definition of frustration!

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PCP777
Master Marine Consultant

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USA
1225 Posts

Response Posted - 01/26/2010 : 08:21:11

This is very topical for me. I have Raymarine instruments, on one side a anemometer wind direction indicator, on the other side a boat speed/depth indicator. During sailing this weekend either one would work or the other, intermittently. At the end of the day on Sunday, both seemed to be working for no good reason. I guess while looking at the wiring I'll pay close attention to the ground wire.

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Dave5041
Former Mainsheet Editor

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USA
3758 Posts

Response Posted - 01/26/2010 : 09:10:06

Peter, I have Raymarine ST40 Bi-data, likely the same as yours; the ST 60 is similar. I have found that the Seatalk cable that connects them can get loose and cause intermittent problems, but other than that and surface corrosion on the connectors and where the wires enter the connector, they have been pretty reliable. The anemometer still works this morning, my knotmeter paddle wheel is probably gunked up, but depth/water temp has been fine all along - I'm probably good for the season after I clean the paddle wheel.

Edited by - Dave5041 on 01/26/2010 09:10:35

PCP777
Master Marine Consultant

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USA
1225 Posts

Response Posted - 01/26/2010 : 09:29:58

<blockquote id="quote">quote:<hr height="1" noshade id="quote">Originally posted by Dave5041
 Peter, I have Raymarine ST40 Bi-data, likely the same as yours; the ST 60 is similar. I have found that the Seatalk cable that connects them can get loose and cause intermittent problems, but other than that and surface corrosion on the connectors and where the wires enter the connector, they have been pretty reliable. The anemometer still works this morning, my knotmeter paddle wheel is probably gunked up, but depth/water temp has been fine all along - I'm probably good for the season after I clean the paddle wheel.
<hr height="1" noshade id="quote"></blockquote id="quote">

Looks like that's what I have, I will check the connector cable.

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piseas
Former Treasurer

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USA
2017 Posts

Response Posted - 01/26/2010 : 14:39:37

Dave, by now you know you are not alone. I too have had similar problems with masthead wiring. Its very frustrating, grrrrrrr.
I now just accept it and chalk it up to marine goonies.
Steve A

Edited by - on

Prospector
Master Marine Consultant

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Canada
3159 Posts

Response Posted - 01/29/2010 : 11:30:26

We found an easy fix for masthead electronics.

Step 1: Find low bridge...

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Dave5041
Former Mainsheet Editor

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USA
3758 Posts

Response Posted - 01/29/2010 : 16:16:40

I don't believe my problem was at the masthead. Now for your process, do you go up on the bridge or just knock them off and forget them

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Prospector
Master Marine Consultant

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Canada
3159 Posts

Response Posted - 02/03/2010 : 08:49:50

<blockquote id="quote">quote:<hr height="1" noshade id="quote">Originally posted by Dave5041
 I don't believe my problem was at the masthead. Now for your process, do you go up on the bridge or just knock them off and forget them
<hr height="1" noshade id="quote"></blockquote id="quote">

We tried to squeeze under. The bridge won. No more trouble with masthead electronics. Didn't need 'em anyway.

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