FF Acting Up

I have Lowrance Elite 5 Chirp that has begun acting up lately and was that somebody could chime in with suggestions. Im convinced that it's the battery, and not the fishfinder, but I was hoping that folks might point out something that I may be overlooking.

Up until this fall, this fishfinder and battery have been perfect. However, on a trip in November, the fishfinder just turned off after only being on the water for just a few hours despite the battery being fully charged(according to the battery tender) before the trip. After the screen went black, I turned it back on and it worked for a few minutes before turning off again.

Next trip, the fishfinder worked for six hours without any issues. Next trip, the fishfinder again started turning off after just a few hours. I turn it on again, it works for a minute or two, and the the screen goes black again. I checked all of the connections and even replaced the battery connectors since one felt a little loose. Next trip, the fishfinder worked for the entire trip without any issues.

I went out last weekend and it again shut off after only about two hours on the water. I repeated the turn on, work for a little while, and turn off again pattern four or five times before giving up. Each time I restarted it, the following on time was a little less than the previous.

Each time I went out, the battery tender said that the battery was full prior to the trip. But it is an older battery - probably six or seven years old. I don't want to go spend money on a new battery if that's not the issue, but I'm 99% sure that's it.

Is there something that I'm overlooking?

Thanks !

Borrow a battery to see if the pattern persists.

The age of the battery makes it suspect, but that it was fine once for six hours but shut off after a shorter duration two other times leads me to suggest checking the connection at battery and FF.

Do you use an anti-oxidant coating on the connectors?

The age of the battery makes it suspect, but that it was fine once for six hours but shut off after a shorter duration two other times leads me to suggest checking the connection at battery and FF.

Do you use an anti-oxidant coating on the connectors?

I have dielectric grease on the connectors.

My first thought was a bad connection somewhere as well. All of the connections now look good and there's no oxidation anywhere from the battery terminals all the way to the back of the fishfinder. One of the flathead connectors felt loose a few weeks ago so I went ahead and replaced both but the problem still persists.

Next time out, I'll take Howard's advice and borrow another battery to see if there's any difference.

 
  6-7 years old?  Yeah time for a replacement.  It my show 12.8 to 14 v but cannot supply steady current any longer.

Its the battery. Mine did that too until I bought a new battery. Now it runs okay, but sometimes decides to lose its mind and not show fish marks. Then I just reset it to factory settings an it works fine after that. My unit is five years old

Di electric grease does not conduct electricity.

Di electric grease does not conduct electricity.

You mean if you slather it on it may prohibit conductivity?

You might consider adding "Battery Voltage" to your overlay display if you don't have it yet.
All my FF, I display Voltage to monitor, my remaining power.
Also, recommend using LI battery which makes a huge difference.

Paul

Di electric grease does not conduct electricity.

You mean if you slather it on it may prohibit conductivity?

Meaning the definition of "dielectric" is that it is an insulator.  That's why you can slather it on and not create a short across the leads.  It depends on a tight friction fit of the contacts to wipe off the grease in those areas in order to close the circuit. 

Di electric grease does not conduct electricity.

You mean if you slather it on it may prohibit conductivity?

Meaning the definition of "dielectric" is that it is an insulator.  That's why you can slather it on and not create a short across the leads.  It depends on a tight friction fit of the contacts to wipe off the grease in those areas in order to close the circuit.

Thanks.  I use it on everything.  Vaseline does the same?

Di electric grease does not conduct electricity.

You mean if you slather it on it may prohibit conductivity?

Meaning the definition of "dielectric" is that it is an insulator.  That's why you can slather it on and not create a short across the leads.  It depends on a tight friction fit of the contacts to wipe off the grease in those areas in order to close the circuit.

Thanks.  I use it on everything.  Vaseline does the same?

Vaseline is also dielectric, but since it's petroleum based, it can degrade some plastics and rubber.  I pack all the connectors on my motorcycles with dielectric grease since I do a fair number of water crossings and don't like to be stranded with poor connections.  Vaseline might cause damage to the rubber or plastic on or around the connectors, so I use silicone based dielectric grease only.  The same stuff winds up being used on everything that way.  Oh, also Vaseline is flammable... if that risk applies to your application.

Boom!  Thanks for that.  See ya’ on da wattah!

My FF instruction manual advises against using di electric grease.

My FF instruction manual advises against using di electric grease.

Not on the pins or the opposing holes from my experience...