Problem with 788ci

[dipn4specks]

When I crank the engine with the 788ci powered up the screen hangs up sometimes to the point that no buttons on the unit work. The only way I can get to unit to work is to unplug and replug it. I have a 997 on the back and have never had this issue with it. I have since replaced the battery for the heck of it and went through all connections three times. Has anyone else had this problem and what am I missing?

Thanks

[GrumpyLoomis]

My 798ci SI does that. I finally had to put it on it's own battery without the motor on it. Took care of the problem but it is a pain having one more battery to maintain. I did get all my accessories of my start battery though. Sometimes I listen to the radio (Football/Baseball) so long it killed my start battery.

[dipn4specks]

Hope there is another option. I already got three batteries crammed into a boat designed for two. Didn't have any problems wtih the previous one I had up front. It doesn't make sense to me. You would think the 997 would be starved first.

[Humminbird_Greg]

When you say that you “went through all connections three times” does that mean that there are a number of electrical connections between the 788ci unit and the battery? I would try temporarily connecting the power cable from the 788ci directly to the battery and start the motor a few times to see if this happens again. If it doesn’t than run a new set of wires directly from the cranking battery (through an in-line blade type fuse) to the 788ci and solder than seal the connections. Be sure that you use at least a 20AWG wire for this. Otherwise it may mean that you need a new or larger cranking battery. My guess is that it is the connections or distance of the wiring to the 788ci dropping the power that can actually get to the 788ci unit versus the 997 unit.

[dipn4specks]

Thanks Greg. I'll give it a try. Maybe it is just a voltage drop.

[jiggshooter]

do you have this wired to your cranking battery if so connect it to your trolling motor battery

[mozingo1952]

I had this same problem , I went from the start battery directly to the unit with new 14 ga wire, got rid of the old style inline fuse, installed new
blade type fuse holder. No more problems. Just have to remember to shut it down each trip no more cutting it off with the console switches.
Voltage increased almost 2 volts over the old install coming off the console switches.


MO

[rnvinc]

When you say that you “went through all connections three times” does that mean that there are a number of electrical connections between the 788ci unit and the battery? I would try temporarily connecting the power cable from the 788ci directly to the battery and start the motor a few times to see if this happens again. If it doesn’t than run a new set of wires directly from the cranking battery (through an in-line blade type fuse) to the 788ci and solder than seal the connections. Be sure that you use at least a 20AWG wire for this. Otherwise it may mean that you need a new or larger cranking battery. My guess is that it is the connections or distance of the wiring to the 788ci dropping the power that can actually get to the 788ci unit versus the 997 unit.

A good way to temporarily test Greg's suggestion is to just run two wires down the middle of the boat in the floor and then test your situation to see if running new dedicated wires will fix your problem...the wires only need be in your floor long enough to see if that's the fix you need...

Rickie