Sounder/gps cuts out when starting engine

[Daintreediver]

Hi as the title suggest I noticed today that when I would start my engine the sounder/gps combo unit would turn off and instantly restart like some sort of power/voltage surge problem. Is my battery likely on the way out or what else could cause this? It hasn't happened before.

[hainsofast]

Battery is running low

[Aussie123]

You either have a bad join/connection in the wiring,dirty battery terminals or a crook battery.
I'd start with taking the battery terminals off and giving them a good clean and go from there.

[fishing111]

Raymarine?

[Schulzy]

I've always been told not run your electronics of your start battery because of voltage spikes? never had a drama in my tinny though?

[Moonlighter]

You either have a bad join/connection in the wiring,dirty battery terminals or a crook battery.
I'd start with taking the battery terminals off and giving them a good clean and go from there.

X2. This is on the money. Almost cetrainly due to voltage drop when the engine starts. Raymaine are particulary sensitive to this, but I have also experienced with my Lowrance units in the past. Have seen reports of other brands doing it as well.

Could also be a corroded wire, a small nick in the wire lets salt in, and you know what happens then. Also check fuse holders, as a little bit of moisture in there and the contacts on the fuses get corroded too.

[JulianDeMarchi]

Raymarine?

You say this like you have had issues with raymarine in this way. I too had dramas with my Raymarine and starting my engine. I went the VSR approach for dual batteries which fixed it. I had a new battery and it still cut out. I am running a raymarine e7d...

[WalrusLike]

ML wouldn't the large drain of starting pull the voltage lower even with perfect connections?

Mine has always done this, and till now I wasn't bothered by it.


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[Fed]

Test with a voltmeter to find the problem then fix it.

[Moonlighter]

Hi Walrus

Of course there is a voltage drop even when everything is perfect. But most of the electronics we use on boats have a point where, when the voltage drops below that point, they will either show a low battery warning, or cut off completely. The Raymarines are quite well known for doing this, one can only assume that their cutoof point is higher than the others which makes them are more sensitive to low voltage.

But if you have a crook connection, corrosion in a wire, low battery charge for whatever reason, it just makes it happen more easily when the engine is then cranked and draws all that power away.

If yours is doing this all the time, then if it was me, I wouldnt be at all happy about that. I imagine others might chime in with opinions, but I dont think it can be good for your expensive GPS or sounder to be doing this all the time!

2 reasons for my concerns.

1. Software. All of our GPS and sounders are driven by software, and it can cause software issues when the system is not shut down properly. You may not realise it, but when you turn your unit off, the software goes thru a shut-down routine that ensures it closes properly and various files and settings are put back where they belong. Same as it does when starting up - ot takes a short while to get the software running and ready to operate.

Let me pose this question to you: do you ever intentionally unplug your PC or laptop from its power supply while it is running? No, of course not. The reason is exactly as I described above. So, why would we allow our expensive electronics o be treated the same way? Doesnt make any sense to me.

2. Voltage spikes, which i certainly do not claim to be expert in, but it seems to me that the situation you described might leave the electronics more susceptible to spikes.

Since it sounds like your battery is starting the engine fine and has been for some time, I think you should look very closely at your wiring from battery connections, all the way up to the helm, and from the switch panel to your GPS/sounder connection, including the plug itself. As Fed said, a voltmeter will be your friend in diagnosing the problem.

Cheers

ML

[WalrusLike]

Aw crap Moonlighter.... I have wasted your time by not being clear. Sorry.

Mine doesn't reboot... It just triggers a low voltage alarm that goes away after motor starts. So it isn't an issue for me I think.

I did see a tip about coating battery terminals with circuit board laquer so I may do that when I next move some wiring. But till then... all good I think.

Still, as usual, all the info you've given is gold. Thanks.




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[Moonlighter]

Thats cool Walrus. Might still be useful info for someone.

What brand is yours, the one that gives the low voltage warning?

ML

[Daintreediver]

Thanks for the replays guys I will clean the terminals and maybe give the battery a full charge and go from there. I don't know how or where to check for bad wiring/connection as I had all this wired up by someone else and I'm not too clued up on electronics. And yup it's a ray marine a70d

[Gon Fishun]

Short between the Homoglobe and the Glockenspiel. My Grandfather told me. Once.

[WalrusLike]

Mine is a Garmin 551S


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[fishing111]

You say this like you have had issues with raymarine in this way. I too had dramas with my Raymarine and starting my engine. I went the VSR approach for dual batteries which fixed it. I had a new battery and it still cut out. I am running a raymarine e7d...

I've got a Raymarine A50D and i'ts a PIA ! I recently got a Garmin 750S and it's wired on to the same switch on the circuit board and it works fine without cutting out. Yet the bloody Raymarine turns itself off everytime i start the engine, or use the winch. It does this on one battery or both. Won't be buying Raymarine again that's for sure! ML is on the money with the shutdowns as mine has started to freeze up on a couple of occasions now, so i think it's on borrowed time. On another note the Garmin is fantastic.

[SatNav]

1. Don't blame the electronics as LVD can be different for different reasons on different bits of gear.

2. Many of these issues can be related to the setup and typically the overall setup is at fault, some would also equate bad setup = user misunderstanding.

[Moonlighter]

I've got a Raymarine A50D and i'ts a PIA ! I recently got a Garmin 750S and it's wired on to the same switch on the circuit board and it works fine without cutting out. Yet the bloody Raymarine turns itself off everytime i start the engine, or use the winch. It does this on one battery or both. Won't be buying Raymarine again that's for sure! ML is on the money with the shutdowns as mine has started to freeze up on a couple of occasions now, so i think it's on borrowed time. On another note the Garmin is fantastic.

One thing you can/should do is to "reboot" the software in your unit, as this helps to reset the siftware and it can resolve problems like freezing up. In your circumstances where it is cutting off regularly, I would be inclined to do this every half a dozen trips.

Have a look on your manufacturers website and see if you can find out how to do it. Lowrance has 2 ways to do this reboot - they call it a reset - and they have a soft reset, and a more complete version they call a hard reset.

Raymarine should have a similar process, with any luck. See if you can find it on their help page, of email them and ask.

Cheers

ML

[MrNanks]

One thing you can/should do is to "reboot" the software in your unit, as this helps to reset the siftware and it can resolve problems like freezing up. In your circumstances where it is cutting off regularly, I would be inclined to do this every half a dozen trips.

Have a look on your manufacturers website and see if you can find out how to do it. Lowrance has 2 ways to do this reboot - they call it a reset - and they have a soft reset, and a more complete version they call a hard reset.

Raymarine should have a similar process, with any luck. See if you can find it on their help page, of email them and ask.

Cheers

ML Thanks ML. I have just started to have problems with my Lowrance Elite 7. It had been perfect until my last few trips.
On Sunday I basically had no depth reading for half the day. I altered the angle of the transducer a few times but no better.
At one stage the depth and 0.0 reading alternated every second for about 20 minutes.
I will try a reboot. Nothing else is dchanged on the boat. Next step may be a battery check I think.
Thanks for your worldly advice that I can use to try and resolve my problems.

Cheers Dave

[SatNav]

1. First think to check with LV disconnects is always going to be the battery and the wiring configuration

2. Second thing is to understand why units have this inbuilt type protection

[Daintreediver]

Just an update went out today no problems. I gave the battery a full charge before going and hit the terminals with some sandpaper and it didn't cut out today when starting? Is my battery likely ok then? I'll just see how it goes next trip

Cheers

[honda900]

Some units are more prone than others. software resets and the like should be done with caution and cause not all issues are problems generated by the unit, most are generated by the operator.

Like most people with an Icom radio, they restart at the smallest hint of LVD, that not to say there is anything wrong with wiring, software or corrosion. Simply the unit requires a stable constant power supply and they do not suffer software issues as result as they ROM based firmware.

A VSR module does not solve the problem..

Regards
Honda.

[macka12]

MrNanks,

I've got a HDS5 Gen2 and I had a fair few issues with the sounder playing up and depth saying 0ft. Rang lowrance and they told me to try hard reset etc to no avail.

Called them back and then spoke to a guy and he knew what he was talking about. Basically said if you have your depth set to auto it can whack out every now and then and if you were in 60ft of water set the depth to manual at least 70ft give it a minute and it'll start pinging correctly. Fixed it first crack. Now I have mine set to 5-10ft more than the water I know im fishing in but even now I can put it back on auto and it works fine without any hiccups.

Hope this hepps.

Cheers,

Dan

Sent from my GT-I9505 using Tapatalk 2

[WalrusLike]

Just an update went out today no problems. ......

Good on ya DTD. Thanks for the update. It's so much better when the whole story from go to woah is told... much more helpful than the "I have a problem pls help, here are some some tips,.... then nothing" type threads.

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[Lucky_Phill]

I can't believe people start their motors while the electronics are running. Not being smart etc, just as a young fella , way back when, I would never do this.

I am also surprised no one has mentioned a Surge / spike protector. I have fitted one to every boat I have owned and never... never... ever had an electrical issue.

http://www.biasboating.com.au/Electrical_s/69.htm?searching=Y&sort=2&cat=69&show=30&page=1&brand=Matson

I actually believe these should be standard fitting on boats. Cheap insurance for your electronics I reckon.

I am also interested in others thoughts on these.


cheers LP

[WalrusLike]

Yeah Phil I wondered about that also..... but it doesn't seem to present a problem, at least so far, on my boat.

I will be interested to see if anyone has ever done a damage with this... but I doubt we will find anyone who had a functioning unit, started their motor and spiked it dead..
of course, I am often wrong.... :)

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[Lucky_Phill]

I killed a spike protector once. Got air borne anded landed heavily, ( assuming I bounced the battery ) creating a battery spike, which zapped the protector and for all I know, saved my electronics.

cheers

[WalrusLike]

....... Got air borne anded landed heavily, ( assuming I bounced the battery ) creating a battery spike, which zapped the protector and for all I know, saved my electronics....

Excellent point Phill. I hadn't thought of that kind of exceptional event.

I might rethink things..... one thing is I would have to have is an installation that was easy to bypass the protector if a baddee did happen, and it's taken the bullet. Then you'd want a quick bypass to get going again.


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[bigpat]

Good point, never thought of a protector!

If a new battery doesn't give any joy, perhaps look at installing an in line capacitor. The doof doof boys use these to stop voltage fluctuations. You definitely don't need a big capacity one, as little amperage involved. Places like Jaycar should be able to advise you accordingly.....

[MrNanks]

MrNanks,

I've got a HDS5 Gen2 and I had a fair few issues with the sounder playing up and depth saying 0ft. Rang lowrance and they told me to try hard reset etc to no avail.

Called them back and then spoke to a guy and he knew what he was talking about. Basically said if you have your depth set to auto it can whack out every now and then and if you were in 60ft of water set the depth to manual at least 70ft give it a minute and it'll start pinging correctly. Fixed it first crack. Now I have mine set to 5-10ft more than the water I know im fishing in but even now I can put it back on auto and it works fine without any hiccups.

Hope this hepps.

Cheers,

Dan

Sent from my GT-I9505 using Tapatalk 2
Thanks Dan,

When I was out on Moreton Bay the other day we fished a variety of depths and I know that I increased the depth to about 5m deeper than we were. But that still didn't fix it.
I will try it again though. What a pisser. I have to spend more time out on the Bay. Oh well someone has to do it.
Thanks for the info. I will update when I have solved it because i am sure there will be others with a similar problem.t
Cheers Dave

[honda900]

I can't believe people start their motors while the electronics are running. Not being smart etc, just as a young fella , way back when, I would never do this.

I am also surprised no one has mentioned a Surge / spike protector. I have fitted one to every boat I have owned and never... never... ever had an electrical issue.

http://www.biasboating.com.au/Electrical_s/69.htm?searching=Y&sort=2&cat=69&show=30&page=1&brand=Matson

I actually believe these should be standard fitting on boats. Cheap insurance for your electronics I reckon.

I am also interested in others thoughts on these.


cheers LP

phill,


simply put, electronics these days are a lot better at handling voltage increases and drops, the biggest issue is really data corruption from writing to disk or memory. All late model units have inline fuses to protect them so its not such an issue..

Regards
Honda.