using the horn shuts off the fish finder.

[shadowdwpp]

I just bought a 1991 Four Winns Freedom 170 I had them install a compass and fish finder and do all general maintance so I wouldn't have problems for the rest of the season.<br /><br />When I was using the boat for the first time yesterday and blew the horn it shut the fish finder off. also when I had the blower on I couldn't hear any fan this is my first boat I've worked with car electronics to a fair degree my question is on a boat with a 12v system is there anything special that would be different between marine use or car because I would like to just pull the dash and rewire the whole thing properly and put in a cd player to get rid of the am/fm cassette which has tons of static while running.

 

[Spidybot]

Re: using the horn shuts off the fish finder.

No, the principles are the same. Marine devices are designed for the more hostile environment and wires are often of a better/heavier quality.<br /><br />Your problem sounds like unsufficient power getting to the devices - either due to bad wires/connectors or bad/worn switch points.<br /><br />-OR one or more device's use way more power than rated (this should cause a fuse to blow if a fuse is protecting the circuit).<br /><br />Appearantly more devices are powered from the same source since one consumer takes the power from others.<br /><br />A good, heavy, common positive wire from the battery to the key and live side of fuses and proper negative is important.<br /><br />Look your setup over, use WD40 and a multimeter to check. I suppose your battery is OK since you do not mention starting problems?

 

[shadowdwpp]

Re: using the horn shuts off the fish finder.

I was thinking to save them time they probably just tapped the horn circuit for the fish finder instead of running a new line.<br />yeah the only starting problems I had was fixed once I realized my 3 yr old son pulled the kill switch.

 

[Spidybot]

Re: using the horn shuts off the fish finder.

Sounds like it.<br /><br />Look it over, use common sense and make right whatever they didn't.

 

[mathiasmorgan]

Re: using the horn shuts off the fish finder.

Everything UU said was accurate, but I think your right also. They probably rigged the fish finder into the horn circuit. Re-route it somewhere else. The problem your seeing is caused by one of two possibilities. One they tapped the radio into the horn power line. Horns draw a lot of current and drops the power available to the fish finder. The fish finder is a digital device, and it doesn't take much power loss to mess it up. <br />There is also the possibility that the wires running to the horn and the fish finder aren't connected, but are close enough together that the electrical "noise" created when the horn blows is zapping out the fishfinder. Try and keep the lines separated as much as possible.<br />George

 

[ebbtide176]

Re: using the horn shuts off the fish finder.

i think you're on to something. there's nothing magic about a boat - its just running off a generator, alternator and/or battery. well not counting the nuke stuff <br /><br />you could go to the trouble of a separate wire to the battery way back in the other end of the boat, but maybe you just need to tie into the correct spot under the dash instead. on older engines you might need a Vregulator under there also. its accdg to what motor you're running.<br /><br />just a thought

 

[wazzu98]

Re: using the horn shuts off the fish finder.

If it is not too much trouble, I'd take it back and have them fix it right, since you paid good money for there service and they didn't correctly install it for you.

 

[shadowdwpp]

Re: using the horn shuts off the fish finder.

after I installed the new stereo with a ground loop isolator it also appears to have fixed the promblem with the fish finder. the only problem I have left is I need to replace the speakers and didn't have any measuring tape to see the size of the stock speakers the boat is a 1991 fourwinns 170 freedom.