Elite 4 HDI help

I have an Elite 4 HDI that I cannot get to turn on. With a voltmeter I get 12.99 volts to the female end of the power cable where it connects to the FF.  I know the FF works because I took it to West Marine where they kindly hooked it up to their display. There is some corrosion in the female end. I'd buy a new cable and have looked online but I'm having trouble making sure I'm looking at the right one. Mine has a red end and the ones I find online are blue.
Is there a way to clean out the corrosion? 
How do you keep it from getting it corroded in the first place?

I think the color changed.


https://www.thegpsstore.com/Lowrance-Power-Cable-for-all-HDS-Elite-Hook-HDI-series-units-P3326.aspx

That's the one I wasn't sure of.  I'll go ahead and send for it.  The pin pattern "looks" the same.

Thanks
mark

That's the one I wasn't sure of.  I'll go ahead and send for it.  The pin pattern "looks" the same.

Thanks
mark

Does the page say it fits yours? I'm pretty sure it's the right one.

Has it always not worked or has it recently stopped working? I have a cable from a hook 4 that you are welcome to swing by and plug into to see if it fits.

It started not working intermittently then quit altogether.  I first found a blown fuse, replaced it and now it won't turn on when hooked up to my yak. I would like to take you up on your offer to try a cable. Send me a message please. 
 
Also, are you guys with FFs going through the hull or over the side?

Thanks
Mark

Skippy, first, the blue-end cable is the right power cable.  I grumped at Lowrance about the different color on the replacement cable compared to the red-cap cable in the box, but I've been using it for a year and it works fine.

If the unit worked fine on a test system and the fuse blew on your system, the first thing I'd check is the polarity of the wiring and make sure the positive and the negative leads aren't reversed.  That'll pop a fuse.

If that isn't it and you're still under warranty, send it in.  I'm not suggesting the Elite-4 HDI units are crap, but there seems to have been more problems with those units than the other Lowrance units.  Mine failed within six months and Lowrance replaced it with a new Hook 4.

PITA so send it in, but worth it.

And as others have suggested, invest in some dielectric grease to minimize future corrosion problems.

Thanks.  Got the dielectric grease yesterday and cleaned out the holes the best I could.  The polarity is correct. I've had the unit for about 3 years. I'd like to check it out with the loaner and if that works I'll buy the new blue cable.  Lowrance probably saves a few cents by making each cable the same color.

Mark

Good luck, Mark.  I only mentioned polarity because the adapter I have for a blue brick battery has (+) and (-) reversed and I blew two fuses before I decided I should check the output polarity...

Thanks for all your thoughts and prayers!  I replaced that power cable with the cable with the blue connector (instead of the red that the FF came with) and all is well. Even though I was getting 12.95 volt and the end it wouldn't work with the corroded connector.

Thanks
Mark

I had a very similar problem with my FF cable (Garmin). It's baffling when the voltage is correct, but that doesn't gaurantee that current will flow. It seems it's always worth trying to replace the cable...

Thanks for the troubleshooting steps. I have the same problem with my Humminbird Helix 5. The display unit is a brand new unit I got from warranty and has only been used once. It worked great, but yesterday I couldn't get it to turn on at all. I'm thinking some corrosion got into the wires and there is some green death in there. Hopefully I can find it and cut it out instead of replacing the whole cable.

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Changed these sons of #-&-+ out and got it working again. Restocked up on dielectric grease. Not going to let that happen again if I can help it.

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