Fish Finder Won't Turn On

[phantomace08]

I have a Lowrance X47 that was working fine at the end of last year but will not turn on now. The power from the battery goes to the front of the boat to a "control panel" with a couple different switches. They all work fine (sometimes the lights will not work on a rocker switch or two without hitting it a bit) but I think there might be some corrosion in the cables. However, when I pulled the power input off the panel and tried to hook it up directly to the fish finder power cable, nothing happened. I don't get it!

Thanks!

 

[Silvertip]

Re: Fish Finder Won't Turn On

If you are absolutely certain there is 12 volts and ground on the power wires to the locator, then the locator is toast. If there is an inline fuse in the 12 volt lead make sure it is ok.

 

[phantomace08]

Re: Fish Finder Won't Turn On

Yup, the lead and ground from the battery give power to the switch board, but when I try and hook them directly to the fish finder, I get nothing. Is there any other way to test the fish finder itself to see if it works?

 

[Silvertip]

Re: Fish Finder Won't Turn On

Is there any other way to test the fish finder itself to see if it works?

Not if you can't power it up!

 

[phantomace08]

Re: Fish Finder Won't Turn On

I guess I was wondering about hooking it directly up to a power source. Also, was wondering if I could take it to a store and use one of the plugs that they have for display models. I thought I checked all the connections correctly, but this would tell me for sure.

Thanks for the help!

 

[Silvertip]

Re: Fish Finder Won't Turn On

This is why I asked you in the first response if you are absolutely certain you had power and ground on the locator wires. I still suspect you do not. Hook it directly to the battery and try.

 

[phantomace08]

Re: Fish Finder Won't Turn On

Perhaps I'm doing something wrong when checking.

When I am testing wires at the bow of my boat, what should I use a a ground? Do I hook the voltmeter to both the black and red wires or do I attached the black lead from the voltmeter to some place on the boat?

When I did some testing on the tilt motor, the instructions said to connect the red of the volt meter to the red wire on the boat. Then, it had me connect the black wire of the voltmeter to the engine block as a ground.

 

[Rick.]

Re: Fish Finder Won't Turn On

Red to Red, Black to Black. Rick.

 

[Silvertip]

Re: Fish Finder Won't Turn On

When checking VOLTAGE in a circuit you measure +12 volt to ground. If you don't see 12 volts it doesn't mean you are simply missing 12 volts (hot lead). It can also mean you have 12 volts but you don't have a good ground. If you want to check a DEVICE and aren't certain about the wiring, connect the unit directly to the battery. Then you know you have a good 12 volt and ground source. If you still cannot power up the unit it is toast (assuming the battery is fully charged). If the battery voltage happens to be below the LOW VOLTAGE setting on the locator it obviously can't operate.