Garmin Striker 4cv power plug keeps coming loose.

[raftingtigger]

I have a Garmin Striker 4CV and overall it does the job. It is mounted on a pipe in front of my swivel seat in my 12' hard floor inflatable. My problem is if I move the fishfinder such as adjusting the tilt angle, or even look at it cross-eyed the power cord loses connection. I then have to reseat the plug and turn it back on. My last outing I had to do that 4-5 times on a 3 mile run to the dive site.

Does anyone have any fixes? I'm willing to solder a cable to the unit and have a positive locking connection if needed.

 

[dingbat]

Did you strip the threads?

Both my Garmin units are screw on connectors

 

[raftingtigger]

Did you strip the threads?

Both my Garmin units are screw on connectors

This model has a push on plug.

Discovered more. The power connection is corroded in spite of rinsing with fresh water after each use. Apparently the female pin sockets are so tiny they don't flush easily. It disappoints me, as this cable is less than six months old.

Plan now, unless someone has a better idea, is to solder on some female connectors (just power and ground), glue on a screw connection to the back of the unit, and then pot the connection with a pourable silicone. I'll then have the far end of that cable with a more robust and easier cleaning connection.

For scale the plug hole is 9mm in diameter.

 

[dingbat]

The power connection is corroded in spite of rinsing with fresh water after each use. Apparently the female pin sockets are so tiny they don't flush easily. It disappoints me, as this cable is less than six months old

I got to ask…..why are you “flushing” the power connector with water?

Moisture, copper and electrical current is the perfect recipe for corrosion.

 

[raftingtigger]

I got to ask…..why are you “flushing” the power connector with water?

Moisture, copper and electrical current is the perfect recipe for corrosion.

Because it always seems to get damp with salt water. I then let it dry for about 2 weeks before powering it up again.

The power cable end is sealed and only the pin sockets are exposed. I started doing this after seeing a bunch of verdigris on the power cable sockets.

It is a small boat and the Garmin gets spray on it (no console). The power cable side faces the spray. If the plug would actually stay in for the entire time out on the water it wouldn't be an issue, but the plug doesn't like to stay in (push in, not a screw in type).

 

[dingbat]

Because it always seems to get damp with salt water. I then let it dry for about 2 weeks before powering it up again.

The power cable end is sealed and only the pin sockets are exposed. I started doing this after seeing a bunch of verdigris on the power cable sockets.

It is a small boat and the Garmin gets spray on it (no console). The power cable side faces the spray. If the plug would actually stay in for the entire time out on the water it wouldn't be an issue, but the plug doesn't like to stay in (push in, not a screw in type).

Have you tried tying the power cable to the mount as strain relief so it can’t come out?

Easier to just RTV the connector in the socket than mess with soldering etc.

 

[raftingtigger]

OK, here's my (temporary?) fix. Cleaned up the connection, stuffed a small amount of aluminum foil into the damaged pin socket (it wouldn't make a reliable connection otherwise), routed and taped down the cable and hot melt glued the plug in.

It turns on and seems to be a stable connection. At least the cable isn't poking out where it can get bumped around in my very small and crowded boat.

 

[airshot]

Time to get a whole new power connector !!! Using aluminum foil in an electric connector is an accident looking for a place to happen !!!!