Helix 7 installation

Ordered Humminbird Helix 7 and got it in. Went to my shop and hooked it up to the battery on my lawnmower to make sure it worked and play with it. Everything worked great so the next day I started installation on my boat and got all the wiring run, etc and waited to make the final connections today. Plugged her up and nothing. Checked voltage at the plug and had 12.5 volts. Retried and nothing.
Called Humminbird for help and they said send it in. As a last resort hooked it up to the cranking battery and it worked like a champ. Took the battery cable off the first battery, cleaned the connector, reinstalled and it worked. My question is if the voltage read 12.5 volts at the plug why didn't it work the first time?


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Nary a flicker at the one instance lends to possible intermittent connection ...

Rickie

Ground?


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Not grounded since connections are direct wire to the battery. Don't think there is anything on the boat that is grounded?


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Sound like a loose connection somewhere

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A week connection will give you a volt reading, but not amount of amps. Amps have to be a certain level to fire off the computer part of your finder. Amp level has become more and more important on all our more modern electronics. All connections need to be solid and clean. I try anymore to avoid using butt connectors and spade connectors as much as possible. Run a 10 gauge wire set from cranking battery instal crimp on ring eyes the solder at connection. Twist together that pair ov wires several times. Then solder your finder plug wires to that using heat shrink to seal. And at the battery I use a water prof spade fuse with ring eye soldered to it. With main wire soldered to other side of it.