lowrance power troubles

So my Hook5 gave me troubles the last time out - I fired it up before launch and let it run. Everything seemed fine and then it clicked off right before launch  I could get it to fire up later, but not for more than a couple minutes at a time. The voltage would just drain down quickly and it would shut off.

So bad battery right? Not so fast - I hook the battery up to my old Mark-4 and it shows 12.8 volts and keeps running. Switch it over to the Hook5 and it either doesn't fire up and only runs for a few and does the same trick.

I cleaned all the old dielectric grease off the terminals and plug. Bad power cable or time for a new head unit?

Cheers,
Brad

Hi Brad,
It could be a number of things. But it sounds like a typical behavior of an old or damaged battery. The Hook5 drains more than Mark 4 for sure. Maybe the drain from the Hook5 crosses the threshold of what the damaged battery could handle. How old is your battery? Do you take care of it religiously? It only takes one time to damage it.
One way to know for sure is check the voltage with a multimeter while hooked up to the Hook5 and running the ff. If it's much less than 12v, it's time to replace it. I have stuffs that can help you rule out problems with the battery or wiring, but I live in Union City.

rgds,
ernest

It could be the battery - I'll get a fresh one and give it a test. Battery is the cheapest thing to swap out to test.

Cheers,
Brad

I agree with Lucky13.
Most likely a battery issue.

Could be the power cable. Since the plug does not have a screw cap on the hook model if you add  dielectric Grease to it, it makes it harder for the plug to go in. I had some issues with my hook 7 reveal power cable. I have to hold the plug in for the unit to start because the grease pushes the plug out. I got a new cable from lowrance for free (warranty) and will eventually replace it. 

I had somewhat similar issue.  Last season my FF started to act out and complained about not being able to find my ducer.  I swapped my Nocqua to Chet's and the problem went away. 

Had this same issue on with my Hook5, ended up being just loose connectors to the battery.  Just cut the wire a bit and crimped on a new connector and that fixed the issue for me.  Like you, it would work some days and sometimes it would just shut off after a minute or two. 

Well, it doesn't look like it was the battery -- it'll start up and run for a few on the new battery and then switch off. I'm not seeing the drain on the voltage that I did before, but the same end result. I've redone the crimps on the battery end of the power cable -- so I'm thinking its either a bad cable overall or the head unit. Anyone SF/peninsula area around sometime to let me test the head unit on their setup or have a spare power cable? This is the original Hook5 with the red screw on power cable.

Cheers,
Brad

You can try mine.  PM Sent.

You can try mine - RWC, by 280


Nevermind, mine is using different cable

I'm in SF.  I have a spare power cable for a Hook Reveal 5 and a battery.  If you bring your cable, I have a multimeter and can help diagnose that, too.  I'll PM my contact info.

You put a real multimeter to the battery?

Hey all - thanks for the replies and thanks Tedski and Vash for the reminder to dig out my multimeter. I just tested the power cord and its good, the batteries also read correctly as well. Looks like its time to go shopping.

Cheers,
Brad

Hey all - thanks for the replies and thanks Tedski and Vash for the reminder to dig out my multimeter. I just tested the power cord and its good, the batteries also read correctly as well. Looks like its time to go shopping.

Cheers,
Brad

Fishfinders just die?  No sense sending it in?

fwiw,  i was ready to throw away my hook 5 and go shopping, but ended up cleaning the red connector on the kayak side.  i used corrosion x, a pick, and q-tips to clean out the inside wall of the contacts.  once i did that, it fired right up and continued to work!