hds-8 keeps rebooting !

I have a hds-8 that I have had for a year or so now and while fishing today it starts rebooting all on it's own !! Again and again and again. Only way I can get it to stop is to kill the power to it and start all over again ! It will come on as always and after a few minutes it will do it again. It's like it's hot or somethin. It's not loosing power and the batterys are fully charged. I havn't done a soft or hard reset with it as I don't wanna loose all my settings ! I will if I have to however. Any thoughts on this ???

Back up your data would be the first thing. Then check the connections. If you've confirmed that battery and connections are good, i'd go for the reset. If that doesn't correct it, I'd call Lowrance. If it's an issue where you need to send it in, you'll get a new unit back and restore your data/settings and back in business.

Hope it all works out.

Resets usually resolve software issues. This sounds more like a hardware problem. If the hard reset doesn't work, give Navico customer service a call.

Brian

Thanks for the input. Think I'll back it up first thing and then call lowrance !!

mine was doing the same thing but im runing a 10 and a 7, pumps everyting in the boat on 1 battery . now my hds's on 1 battery by there self has resolved my problem. If it happenes again try to turn off LLS, if your hds will stay on then its your battery.

Had the same problem with 2 HDS 10s. Tried 3 different brand starting batteries,same problem. Went to a D31m dual purpose Optima for my starting battery--problem fixed. Z21.

Same thing worked for me.

what your amps going to your unit.

Jason: If you tell me how to check the amperage I will do it ! I have a Multimeter ! The unit is hooked to my starting battery right now which is a newer(less than a year old) dual purpose battery ! Always burns my merc225 over pretty good !!

Check all your wiring going to the unit. Look for corroded or loose connections. If possible temporily run wires from the battery directly to the unit. If it then works you know you have a wiring problem.

Yep, what BB said. Remember, that the must operate voltage of most units (including your unit) is 10 volts. If voltage drops below this level, even momentarily, your unit will reboot or in my case with (Humminbird 997) screen would freeze and I would have to disconnect power from the unit to get it to reboot. Never fixed the problem, even with a new start battery.

I now have a separate battery for all my electronics.

I hooked up my oscilloscope to the battery and saw impulse noises that varied in peak size from from 30 volts to near 0 volts and lasting 10-200 milliseconds. The worst negative swinging impulse voltage was when I started the big engine, and when bilge or circulator pumps turn on.

When I had my john boat I powered a 997 from my motorcycle battery it would last all day. I now have a tracker 175 and its hooked to start bat. but not directly, there is a light on the console that I unhooked to get the power. It does the same thing you are talking about. If I sTART THE BIG MOTOR FIRST then turn on unit it is fine,otherwise it freezes.

Unless you have a full charge on a good battery, starting the big motor will usually cause a reboot, freeze or just flat shut it off. I bought a cheap walmart garden tractor battery for my HDS 8 because of this, but it will not last all day. One day the tractor battery went down early, so I rewired back to the big battery. I've since bought another big battery and use it for the HDS and have used it for a backup to the TM and the Main battery. Never hurts to carry extra juice.

Thanks for all the input guys !! I went one day since my first post and It did it once during the day !! I have since put another battery in the boat just for the freakin graphs ! Next time out when it does it again I will switch out the batts and see if that takes care of it. Will post my results here when I know !

I have a ? For the HDS on the console,wouldnt it be better to hook to the TM batteries instead of the start Bat. When you are running the big motor the trolling motor would be stowed,or it should be. No interference and no rebooting starting engine.

C,mon you electric Gurus,is this good or bad and why. CanePole, Catman ,anyone

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Originally Posted by wilbur

I have a ? For the HDS on the console,wouldnt it be better to hook to the TM batteries instead of the start Bat. When you are running the big motor the trolling motor would be stowed,or it should be. No interference and no rebooting starting engine.

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No. Everytime you step on the TM's go pedal there is a surge to the motor and voltage drops momentary. Electronics do not like surges and voltage drops.

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Originally Posted by Barnacle Bill

No. Everytime you step on the TM's go pedal there is a surge to the motor and voltage drops momentary. Electronics do not like surges and voltage drops.

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Your not running the TM This is console FF

i would run the new units on their own battery and fuse box

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Originally Posted by wilbur

Your not running the TM This is console FF

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In that case you could do it. I always left my console unit on so the person in the back can see the depth.

Hey guys.....I never said that it would reboot when starting the big motor. I know what ur talkin about as I have seen units do this in the past. This one will do it at any given time. Normally does it after use for a few hours.

We use the unit ALL the time while fishing....B/W graph up front on tm and hd8 on console. We will use both at the same time to locate us precisely on a piece of structure so hookin it to trollin motor batt won't work as it would most likely mess with the super sensitive electronics of this unit.

For as much as these things cost they are a POS !! Seems like the old 300 dollar units were much more trouble free. Dosn't seem like it....they were better !

I give ya $300 for that POS! That is enough to git ua old one and also relieve you of stress.

Once I get mad enough at it a put a few rounds through it i'll get in touch !! LOL

If the unit is the problem, call Lowrance. If there's a problem with the boat, fix it. Maybe the POS isn't the HDS unit. and your boat is the problem? Maybe you'd be better served by having someone at a boat dealership look at this. Sometimes having someone who works on "stuff" for a living look at the issue can make a world of difference. Enjoy.

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Originally Posted by mduncan62

If the unit is the problem, call Lowrance. If there's a problem with the boat, fix it. Maybe the POS isn't the HDS unit. and your boat is the problem? Maybe you'd be better served by having someone at a boat dealership look at this. Sometimes having someone who works on "stuff" for a living look at the issue can make a world of difference. Enjoy.

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I concur. I love my HDS8 and have never had it reboot on it's own. I've had it shutdown due to low battery, but never reboot. I'll offer $350 with now rounds put through it.