Lowrance X67C sonar trouble shooting

[Jerry_NJ]

I obtained a Lowrance X67C color fish finder. The first problem is it will not turn on. I have held the Menu button down for a long "5 count", nothing happens. I have checked the 3 amp fuse and it checks okay. I'd like to be able to check for 12VDC at the connector to the unit. There are about 6 pins so I guess I can do a trial and error.. what is that taking two at a time 5+4+3+2+1 15 combinations? My meter works for both polarities so I only have to get on the correct two pins, doesn't matter which polarity. In any case, I didn't find the power and continue to suspect the problem lies with the delivery of 12VDC to the unit. If I knew which pins are the power feed it would be an easy one step test. As usual,the owner manual doesn't give anything that technical.

Is there a web source of repair shop level information on this unit?

The original owner says "it worked last time he turned it on". :blue:

 

[Silvertip]

Re: Lowrance X67C sonar trouble shooting

Check for voltage at the source. Check for voltage into and out of the fuse. If you have voltage at either place there is a good chance there is power at the head unit connector. You can check for power by placing the ground lead of your meter on ground wherever you find it. Then simply probe each of the six pins. You should find +12 volts in less than a minute. This will prove +12 volts is available but it won't prove there is a good ground in that cable. But then you now know which is the +12 volt pin so that leaves only five others. You can also do a continuity check on the power portion of the cable to identify the two pins involved.. There is also a separate connector for the speed/temperature function.

 

[Jerry_NJ]

Re: Lowrance X67C sonar trouble shooting

Excellent methodology !! No I am not making it up, the same strategy occurred to me and I had it planned the other way around: Use a test clip lead to connect +12 to the + input on my meter and then step through the pins to find which is grounded. What is said about "Great minds think alike" ? I guess I've been in management and then retired too long, I have forgotten how to think, or I have just become too blog dependent. Connecting to ground is more portable and less risky, you method is better than the one I dreamed up. It turns out the connector is next to the battery so I'll connect to the negative battery terminal to be sure I have a true/good ground. The way the unit was installed it will require the removal of a lot of electrical tape to get the physical wires separated. I see a second female end connector on the unit, but I didn't see a second cable. Isn't the "primary" temperature part of the main input group of wires? From what I read in the manual this unit provides for a second temperature input, I suppose it would be used when stopped to measure the temperature at depth(s). This is of secondary concern, so I didn't read carefully.

 

[Silvertip]

Re: Lowrance X67C sonar trouble shooting

Eagle/Lowrance locators have speed and temp sensors in the paddle wheel speed assembly which is separate from the sonar transducer.

 

[Jerry_NJ]

Re: Lowrance X67C sonar trouble shooting

Yes, I recall seeing the paddle wheel in one of the figures. Is that a standard or optional/add-on item? I'm sure the manual will tell me, but I'm at my laptop not my desk - so ask.

That asked, assuming you own one, how do your like the x67c?

 

[Silvertip]

Re: Lowrance X67C sonar trouble shooting

I've owned Eagle and Lowrance units for decades and never had an issue with any of them. My X67c has been used as a portable unit for ice fishing. Any locator can work fine -- it is the operator that needs to understand what they are looking at.

 

[Jerry_NJ]

Re: Lowrance X67C sonar trouble shooting

The unit has power. Looking into the connector with the flat down as a reference then counting clockwise from the left side Pin #2 is +12VDC, Pin #4 appears to be ground as a meter across 2/4 give the 12VDC reading. The battery has a reasonable charge on it so the terminal no load is about 12.5 VDC. Other pins, remember the connector is open, the only thing connected is the battery and the transducer, have various voltage readings, but none at 12. This leads me to conclude the transducer is active, makes me wonder if the power should be removed (off) when the unit is off.

My experience with electronics is if it doesn't fail in the first few hours it will be trouble free for years.... thousands of hours. Yet, it appears the unit (electronics) is where the problem is. If I could find someone locally who has the same unit I could try a substitution of the electronic unit to see if that fixes the problem.

I may just go back to my Humminbird Piranha - low cost monochrome and it displays fish symbols, so it doesn't take a lot of educated reading... beyond knowing the fish symbols are guesses on the "arches" that are really received. The x67c would be a step up in information displayed, which I do not yet know how to use, seems I many not need to know.