Lowrance HDS-7 Problems

[agoggin]

I have a Lowrance HDS-7 mounted on my 2005 Tahoe 215 deck boat. I purchased the boat used about 6 months ago. I have had a few issues with the Lowrance system and I'm not sure where to get some help. Here are the problems:

1) The Unit will completely shut off at high speeds (seems like once I get up on plane). I then need to power it back up once I slow back down

2) The unit shows the water temp but it is not correct. Any idea where it picks up this reading?

3) If I shut the engine off, the unit shuts off. This is annoying as I need to power it back up and it takes a minute or two. Any suggestions to correct this?

Let me know.

 

[JoLin]

Re: Lowrance HDS-7 Problems

I assume you have a combination unit- GPS and depth/fish finder in one? I have the 7-M, gps only. I have a separate Lowrance depth finder...

1. Bad wiring connection somewhere. You're losing continuity when the boat bounces.
2. Water temp is picked up at the transducer mounted on the transom. Do you have the screen readout set to Celsius instead of Fahrenheit?
3. The unit is getting power from a 'switched' circuit that's turned on and off with the ignition switch. You'd need to change the power pickup (red wire) to a source that's live all the time.

My .02

 

[stevecur]

Re: Lowrance HDS-7 Problems

Try using some Dielectric grease on the cables where they attach to the back of the unit. My water temp screwwed up a couple years ago. I ended up resetting to default settings for the whole unit and it straightened out.

 

[agoggin]

Re: Lowrance HDS-7 Problems

Thanks for the suggestions.

- Do you know where the switch circuit is? Is it connected before or after the fuse box? Also do you think the fuse box could be the source of losing continuity?

- I don't see any transducers on my hull for the depth finder/water temp pickup, if the installerers used a thru hull transducer, is there any options to still have the water temp feature work?

 

[JoLin]

Re: Lowrance HDS-7 Problems

Not a 'switch' circuit, but a 'switched' circuit- one that's switched on and off with the ignition. You need to hunt around for a circuit that's always live, or wire the GPS diectly to the fuse box.

Does your unit have a depthfinder function? Does it work? Usually on a boat your size the transducer is mounted on the transom. If it isn't there, there are 2 other possiblities.

A thru-hull install has the transducer sticking through the bottom of the boat, into the water. That would also be able to provide water temp.

On the other hand, a 'shoot THROUGH the hull' transducer does just that. In that case the transducer is mounted inside the hull, isn't exposed to the water, and can't provide a temp reading.