Hummingbird Low Voltage Alarm

[Mercury13]

During a test drive last night, the low voltage alarm on the fishfinder kept going off. The dash gauge never went below 13.5V at any time on the 1 hour ride. It was a test run for the prop so we were at WOT a good bit. 3500-3800rpm.

The onboard gauge has always been reliable and the boat had plenty of power to start up back at home with the muffs.

Can anyone think of something I might be missing here ?
Thanks.

Steve

 

[This_lil_fishy]

Re: Hummingbird Low Voltage Alarm

What is the alarm set at? Mine was set pretty high from the factory, you could also have a loose power wire on the finder. There could be a loose wire elsewhere that is giving a high draw randomly causing the problem. You could have a bad alternator (assuming outdrive) or rectifiers on their way out. It's a tough call. Trace everything back, get a good meter and have at it. In the end it could just be a bad fish finder. They do react very quickly to low voltage too, so a quick spike could send it off, like a bilge bump or trim motor (they draw a tonne of amperage).

Ian

 

[flycaster]

Re: Hummingbird Low Voltage Alarm

During a test drive last night, the low voltage alarm on the fishfinder kept going off. The dash gauge never went below 13.5V at any time on the 1 hour ride. It was a test run for the prop so we were at WOT a good bit. 3500-3800rpm.

The onboard gauge has always been reliable and the boat had plenty of power to start up back at home with the muffs.

Can anyone think of something I might be missing here ?
Thanks.

Steve

The fishfinder has a setting that you "set" the voltage level to sound a warning. Yours is probably set to high. Need to go in and reset it to 11.0 - 11.5.

 

[nlain]

Re: Hummingbird Low Voltage Alarm

flycaster has it, I set mine high on purpose and it goes off at times and there is no problem. I am going to lower it just a little to get rid of the random sounding. I had a wiring problem and my Hbird would do all kinds of crazy things up to and including locking up, wired direct to battery no more problem.

 

[Silvertip]

Re: Hummingbird Low Voltage Alarm

If you consider 3500 - 3800 wide open that is defiinitely the wrong prop, there is a serious engine problem, or the tach is incorrect. You are about 1000 rpm too low at wide open throttle.

 

[Mercury13]

Re: Hummingbird Low Voltage Alarm

It was set aroung 13, lowered it to 11 today and had no issues. Appreciate the replies. Right on the money.

As for the rpms, I am looking into a new prop. Hopefully that will straighten it out.

Steve

 

[waterinthefuel]

Re: Hummingbird Low Voltage Alarm

Yea you're losing alot with it at 3800 wide open. That's not even up to the full rated power of the engine.