lowrance power troubles

Every time I get that kind of problem on my FF, it has always been the wiring/terminals either corroding/degrading or snapped somewhere. Try running some new wirings and go from there. I had that issue last week and found out there was a kink in the line and the wires broke off.

I've gone through and cleaned all the connections, redid the connections at the battery and it still keeps shutting off with both the new and old battery. The cable has good continuity per the multimeter and I'm reading full power at the plug end.

It could be a lose/worn connection inside the plug itself, but I need another cable to test by swapping out. It feels tight when it's on the head unit with no noticeable wobble. Wiggling it doesn't seem to trigger a shutdown so I'm somewhat skeptical that it's the cable. This is the plug style.

Is it consistently shutting off after few minutes or do you ever get mixed results where it may work for a while then shut off?

My first lowrance elite 5 would power on and it would try to start up and then just shut off after a minute.  Tried all different cables and same results, determined it was the head unit.

Hope you get yours figured out.

When the issue cropped up it was running for probably 15 -20 minutes before it kicked off. Since then it will only run for a few minutes at most before shutting off. Once it does shut down it takes a while before it will start back up or even respond to the power button. Just now it ran for about two minutes and shut off and then won't get past the start up screen before turning off.

Brad

When the issue cropped up it was running for probably 15 -20 minutes before it kicked off. Since then it will only run for a few minutes at most before shutting off. Once it does shut down it takes a while before it will start back up or even respond to the power button. Just now it ran for about two minutes and shut off and then won't get past the start up screen before turning off.

Brad

wasn't there a post about disconnecting the card reader cable (can't remember the details) to get it to work?  i actually did that, but it didn't help my issue since it was the cable.  you are welcome to plug it into my yak if you are ever in the southbay.  oh, i also have a spare cable i took off the boat recently that you can test with too.

When the issue cropped up it was running for probably 15 -20 minutes before it kicked off. Since then it will only run for a few minutes at most before shutting off. Once it does shut down it takes a while before it will start back up or even respond to the power button. Just now it ran for about two minutes and shut off and then won't get past the start up screen before turning off.

Brad

hmmm, that sounds just like my Elite 5.  After it shuts off, I would have to unplug and plug the power cable back in for the power button to respond again.  And most times it wouldn't make it past the start up screen. Good chance it might the head unit. 

I'm probably going to open up the head unit this weekend and disconnect the cable to the card reader. I had a couple days during salmon season when it got finicky after a surf launch and acted somewhat similar to what it is doing now.

Last night it ran for over 3 hours straight. I shut it down before going to bed, now this morning it's back to the old routine of start up and shut down.

If the card disconnect works I'll post up about it, otherwise no sense in beating this dead fish finder any longer

Cheers,
Brad

I had persistent power problems with my Lowrance elite a couple of years ago.

I ended up wrapping fishing line around the plug tying that to the mounting bracket, and then cinching down to apply some angular pressure at the connection.  It mostly worked, but I sent the head unit in for repair at the end of the season.  I had (more or less) reproduced the problem with a different battery & cable, so I felt like it was actually an issue the the power connection inside the head unit.

But, having had some power issue since, I really think it is all about corrosion on both sides of the connector.  I try my best to keep that connection dry, but I am still having to clean/scrub both sides pretty regularly.  This includes a good corrosion cleaner, and  getting into the female plug with steel bristle brush and/or a sharp fish hook.  (I am not sure that the fish hook is a good idea, but it seems to have helped.)

I kinda feel that the power connection isn't really up to the rigors of kayak fishing.  Or at least it requires someone who is going to be more careful with its care than I am willing to be.  Dielectric grease, plastic baggies for the connectors, plugs in the head unit on the way out, careful not to get it wet at the end of the day - damn it, I just want to fish!