Troubleshooting Hummingbird depth finder

[slia67]

How much troubleshooting can be done on a Hummingbird depth finder? (don't remember the model, it's the round one in the dash)

The depth finder works intermittently. I've checked the connections, they are all good. I've checked power and ground, both good. For here I don't know where to go, or is there even a way to troubleshoot them.


Thanks.

 

[slia67]

Re: Troubleshooting Hummingbird depth finder

Anybody?

 

[j_martin]

Re: Troubleshooting Hummingbird depth finder

Does the motor start and stop? Older ones had brushes in them. Does the flasher lamp not flash? That could be electronics, or a damaged wire to the transducer, or the pad of the boat delaminating under the transducer, or a bad transducer itself.

If it boils down to intermittent electronics, you can open up the unit, get to the PC board, and examine every soldered connection under as high a magnification as you can get. I use a microscope. Look for a telltale ring in the solder pad that indicates mechanical failure of the joint. Resolder just that joint. Resist the temtation to resolder everything on the board. Odds are you'll fry something doing that and negate your work. Use high quality, preferably eutectic (67/33) activated rosin core solder. Radio Shack 60/40 is a poor but usable second choice. Also use a high quality regulated soldering pencil. Again, the RatShack electronic soldering pencil is a poor but usable second choice.

hope it helps
John