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Guys/gals, I was wondering if any of you could help me out with an issue I am having with my Helix 5. Started at the end of the day Saturday at Darbonne. The unit would just cut off for no reason. I would re start it and it would last a couple of minutes and shut off again! Help please! I really dont want to send it back to the shop for the 3rd time if I dont have to. Thanks in advance.
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Sounds like low voltage check ground. check voltage to unit with a load on it.
I have the Helix 9. I had one of the ears on the tray, where it plugs in the back, break off. We were fishing a very rough Lake Fork, while running across the lake, the Helix popped out of the mount, yanking the tray out, breaking the ear. Anyway, mine will also shut off, due to the tray not holding tightly anymore, I have to push it back in, and works fine until it gets rough again. Yours may have something similar going on.
First I assume the Sonar is not hooked into the power for the TM ,, With it starting at the end of the Day, Did you have the Voltage showing,,, If the Voltage is too low it will shut down automatically. Bros was wired to his TM and when the TM was used, the Voltage Drop would shut his down too ... If you had not told me at the Gathering about water getting inside the first two units from Rain water while at home with the Boat in the yard, I would have never Known as there has never been anything said on the Electronics DI/SI forum about HB units out in the weather ... Hope it is Low Voltage for you
Dwayne, most likley a voltage problem. Can you tell us how and where you have your power wire hooked up. Usually I recommend running a set of wires in 12/14 gauge straight to battery and not to a connection on a buss bar of fuses installed on the boat. Get a spade fuse connector at auto parts store and hook at battery with 3 amp fuse on positive side. Run those 2 wires to wherever your unit is mounted. Before you run them twist the 2 in a lazy twist similar to braiding hair. That's called a twisted pair and works to reduce the chance of interference. If you have the tools and knowledge solder the wires together using heat shrink to seal. Rather than just butt connector. If you have the factor red plastic fuse holder with glas fuse that is worst cause of bad connections and needs to go away.
Fuse holder
ATC & ATO Weatherproof Fuse Holders - 12 Gauge
Yes I have it wire directly to the battery. I also have the TM wired to the same battery but separate wires. I do have the fuse on the positive side, it is the square fuze that comes with the unit. Thanks for all the responses and keep them coming! I want get to look at it today, have to fry fish for the in laws.Quote:
Originally Posted by Cray
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Dwayne you really should have it wired to your cranking battery instead of your TM battery...two reasons...less apt to get interferrance...and it will get more constant voltage. And use at least 14 guage wire. 12 would be even better.
Mine is also wired to the TM battery...if I move it to the cranking battery, and use it all day, is there any risk of it running down the battery to the point of being unable to crank the motor? (Non-electrician here!)... I've had my depth finder kick off at the end of the day as well, only to discover the trolling batter was running down. Hit the pedal and the screen would kick off.Quote:
Originally Posted by "G"
Thanks all.
What is the model number on your unit? It does sound like voltage issues from what has been described.
Looking at the specs from the website it looks as 10.8VDC is the lowest acceptable voltage the unit will stay powered up on. If you had been fighting the wind all day like most of us your voltage on the batter could have been floating just above this and with the in rush current of starting the trolling motor could have pulled it below that 10.8VDC just enough to cut the unit off. You could also remove the power plug out of the helix and use a voltmeter to measure the voltage at the plug and move the cable around to rule out a possible short in the power wire. Just a few thoughts.
Attachment 321776
Only have 1 battery or would have it on its own battery. I pull start my motor, no electric start. Small 25 hp motor.Quote:
Originally Posted by "G"
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Also not sure if you have the display boxes setup on your Helix but you can do it under the Advanced User mode I believe. I run the boxes so I can show the time, speed,depth, and voltage all on the screen continuously.
Have had the same issue with a bigger unit and it’s hooked straight to the batter ! And low voltage was the problem the unit would keep shutting off but the 125 hp started with no problem I was under the impression that the big motor would sufficiently charge the battery when running ! no other issues since I hooked up a on board charger to that battery and keep it plugged in when it hits the garage!
Justin, I believe this is probably the issue as I was on the tm pretty heavy that morning. It only seemed to go off when I hit the tm on. I will check it when I get home. Sure seems like 10.8 is kind of high to turn the unit off, the tm was working fine.Quote:
Originally Posted by Duckcomando
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What size battery are you using ? You may just need a larger group size. I always use group 31 for TM. Some of the guys are even using golf cart batterys which are larger. These new electronics will cut off with a small voltage drop.
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Agree with the voltage issue. I had a HB 597 shutting down when hitting any kind of rough water. Would start right back up. Turned out to be corroded/split ring connector on battery which malfunctioned only when jostled very hard. Voltage test were all OK which made it difficult to diagnose.
Good luck!
Dwayne maybe someone on here could recommend a small battery just for the FF.
"gene"
Its the Optima blue top but I will have to check the size when I get home.Quote:
Originally Posted by "G"
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Attachment 321799Quote:
Originally Posted by PawPaw "gene"
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https://www.amazon.com/Universal-Pow...ANL&ref=plSrch
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I fish for about 6 hrs at a time and my unit is always on and hooked up to the cranking battery.....no problems with it running the battery down.......YET!.Quote:
Originally Posted by LouisianaFishNut
I run two depth finders plus my live well with a timer...all day and I can still crank my 90 Yamaha up. The fish finder will not pull the battery down it draws small mili-amps. The TM however draws lots..and even tho the voltage drops as the battery is being used...it will still run a electric motor ( just not as strong) the problem is the complex chips and integrated circuits in todays fish finders...they have to have close to full voltage or they will shut down.Quote:
Originally Posted by LouisianaFishNut