Lowrance 520C Issues

[Dan]

I had my new 520C mounted on my bow by a local sports shop that sells a lot of the Lowrance equipment. I took it out and was running sand flats looking for beds with the big motor on and steering with the trolling motor. When I'd spot a bed I'd shut the big motor down and go back with the trolling motor and check it out. When I was done I would start the big motor back up and when I would go to the front the graph was off. It shuts off every time I start the big motor. Also, if I turn on my aerator and recycling pumps the graph won't come on at all. Looks like I need to find another power source up front. Any ideas as to what hot wire to tap into or do I need to somehow figure out how to get a new wire dedicated just to the graph from the front of my Basscat to the the battery. A cautionary note here is that I am mechanically impaired, that's why I had it installed by this sport shop. I plan to talk to them, but they put it in for me at no charge and I didn't buy my graph from them. So, I can't ride them for the problem. Also they are in town and my boats 100 miles away now for the summer. Any help or suggestions would be greatly appreciated.

[TritonTR20]

Sounds like the problem is this:
When you start the big motor the amp draw causes the voltage to drop low enough to shut down the Lowarance. Same problem with having the other stuff running at the same time. I would try this, to make sure. Start the big engine, turn on the aerator and recycling pumps then see if the graph will come on. My guess is it will because the engine is recharging the battery and keeping the voltage up. Doesn't sound like it's a wiring problem, but rather the starting battery is to small or too old and needs to be replaced with a little bit bigger one that can handle the larger amp draw. The depth finder doesn't draw hardly any juice (not nearly as much as the pumps) but it will not run below a certain threshold.

[motocross269]

Bass Cat reccommends running a Deep cycle battery with high cranking amps for your starting battery...
I wired my LCX 27 into my accessory switch at the bow and haven't had any issues...It was very easy to do on my Jag...
What year is your Cat??? If you have an older Cat with a Super dash like I do it will give your starting battery voltage..I am not sure if the newer cats have that option...the Voltage should be close to 13 volts....higher when running..If it is less than 11 volts the system will shut down everything, but the bilge and the starter to make sure you have enough juice to fire the motor...(this is on a super dash, I am not sure about the newer boats)

[flipclip]

Same thing happens to mine but only at the end of the day when the battery is lower.  It never happened when the battery was new, but it's 3 years old now and I suppose has less available amperage.  On mine the 520 is wired into the cranking battery, along with the LW pumps.  Maybe try a new battery, or parallel another in with your current one? 

[Dan]

I have an older Interstate Battery as a starter battery, and it is at the end of its life I'm sure. I am going to get a Deka battery, starter battery deep cell, that has 800/1000 cold cranking amps. I was told at the local sports shop that should do the trick. They too, thought the problem was amp draw off an old battery.
I have a 97 Jaguar with a digital dash. I bought the boat used so I don't know if they call it a super dash. It does show how many volts the big motor kicks out as you're running the big motor though.
Thank you all for the advice. I'll let you know what the situation is after I put in the new Deka.

Thanks again,
Dan

[motocross269]

You have the exact same boat that I do..It should be a BP101 super dash unless someone changed it.....If you change your battery the problem should go away...The digital Bass Cat guages are very sensitive to input voltage...Like I stated earlier if you get below a certain voltage it will shut everything down to make sure you have enough amps to crank the motor...If that doesn't work let me know and we can look at running a new wire over to the accessory switch on the bow...
B

[Dan]

Thanks Moto. What engine do you have on your cat? My old Cat is a solid ole boat. Any little thing wrong and Basscat still sends me most everything at no charge.

[Revtro]

Interestingly, I have the same problem on my 04 Cat.  Lately, everything shuts off randomly.  It doesn't happen often, but it's annoying when it does.  The cranking battery is the oldest of the 3.  My guess is it's the same issue.  I'm glad you guys talked about this.  It gives me something to check out.

[SethV]

My old Ranger did the same thing.  Seemed to start the big motor fine, but it would kill the electronics.  It was drawing the voltage too far down when the starter was engaged.

Put a new Voyager in and the problem was solved.

Seth

[TritonTR20]

The Marine Master Duel Purpose is a good choise. I have one in my triton that has lasted for 5 years now.

[Dan]

I would have like to put in the Voyagers. I had them for years and then they were hard to find. Went with the Dekas and even though they weren't really my first choice, people have told me that they should do the trick. So far the new Deka trolling motor batteries I bought are giving me an all day performance package. I got two Deka 31s.

[MBell]

I just started having the same problem.  It's definitely the starting battery, mine is on it's last leg.  For the last few weeks if I throw the starting battery on the charger before I go out it doesn't happen.  I have no tournaments anytime soon so I'm stretching if as far as I can.  You may also notice that the big engine doesn't fire up as quick. 
-Matt

[Dan]

The big motor seems to be starting fine. I have been charging the starting battery before every trip out and it seems to take a charge fine. When I'm running with the big motor though the dash shows lower than expected voltage especially if the aerator and recycler are running. When they shut off I see a jump in voltage. I am thinking that the starting battery should be replaced asap because in my truck I've been told that running with a bad battery makes the alternator or generator, I'm mechanically impaired, work harder. I assuming the same would happen with the outboard.