Garmin's failing intermittently

[bruceb58]

Speaking of delays, one of my planned "upgrades" is to put in a delay for the interior and/or the swim deck lights. Sure would be nice to turn them off and give me a minute to get off the boat without breaking my neck in the dark. Our boat sits on our dock all summer so would be a great mod.

Checkout this little device I used to make sure UW lights turned off. Cheap and pretty easy to wire in and do what you want:

viewtopic.php?f=44&t=3217&p=63999

And then there was the link to sliderule's one which is exactly what I was going to do with a microcontroller.

I was also going to do that thing he does where you toggle it fast and it will stay on for 5 minutes. Was just going to use a small Arduino.

viewtopic.php?f=21&t=1493

[Big Block Power]

Speaking of delays, one of my planned "upgrades" is to put in a delay for the interior and/or the swim deck lights. Sure would be nice to turn them off and give me a minute to get off the boat without breaking my neck in the dark. Our boat sits on our dock all summer so would be a great mod.

Checkout this little device I used to make sure UW lights turned off. Cheap and pretty easy to wire in and do what you want:

viewtopic.php?f=44&t=3217&p=63999

I Just use that button on the helm. What's it called on there courtesy light or underwater lights?

[greenhut]

I Just use that button on the helm. What's it called on there courtesy light or underwater lights?

You know that button doesn't work...

[Big Block Power]

I Just use that button on the helm. What's it called on there courtesy light or underwater lights?

You know that button doesn't work...

Crap I thought we fixed that button too
Maybe that relay was from that button?

[bruceb58]

Speaking of delays, one of my planned "upgrades" is to put in a delay for the interior and/or the swim deck lights. Sure would be nice to turn them off and give me a minute to get off the boat without breaking my neck in the dark. Our boat sits on our dock all summer so would be a great mod.

Checkout this little device I used to make sure UW lights turned off. Cheap and pretty easy to wire in and do what you want:

viewtopic.php?f=44&t=3217&p=63999

I talked to chris(slideruleracer) and he used the same one you did

[bruceb58]

Speaking of delays, one of my planned "upgrades" is to put in a delay for the interior and/or the swim deck lights. Sure would be nice to turn them off and give me a minute to get off the boat without breaking my neck in the dark. Our boat sits on our dock all summer so would be a great mod.

Checkout this little device I used to make sure UW lights turned off. Cheap and pretty easy to wire in and do what you want:

viewtopic.php?f=44&t=3217&p=63999

SO...I ended up buying two of their wifi enabled ones(extra $10 each). Can't wait to try them out. Going to put one on my swim step lights and one on my interior lights.

[CaptBob]

I used 12VDC remotes (operated with a key fob) on the cockpit lights on a docked boat I had previously. Just mounted the remote on the power pedestal on the dock. Used to team up with the admiral and demonstrate to the partially inebriated people (most of our dock friends! ) about how we had wired the lights to a clapper.

remote.jpg

[GreenInTheGrove]

Bad news: Over time this problem has worsened.
Good news: Finally figured it out - easy fix.

One or both Garmins continued to not consistently start up when turning on the boats ignition. Even lost 1 or both units while underway a couple times. Armed with a multimeter and some determination, I did some cable tracing and testing.

Each Garmin has a separate power/ground connector from the Cobalt. First unplugged both and measured voltage after turning key. 12.6V every time. However, with either one of the Garmins plugged in alone, voltage would go a bit nuts between 5 and 8 volts and the plugged in unit wouldn't start up. A few times it worked and voltage sat at 12.5V. SO unlikely the Garmins were at fault.

It appears it is common practice in boats and cars to use power on relays to delay startup, more conveniently have many devices respond to the ignition remote power wire, or handle larger current draws. There are two such relays installed in our R5 (identical relays). One was failing and not passing 12V as it should. Swapped relays and Garmins are now perfect. Pretty sure the other relay is somehow used for the underwater lights and perhaps more.

While I could (and will eventually) get one through the Cobalt warranty, had one shipped for just under $10.
Picker Components PC792A-1C-C3-12S-RN-X

Super nice job with the diagnosis. Thank you. I am experiencing the same issue on my 2019 R5. Started with intermittent issues and progressed to the screens not turning on at all. At this point the Garmins are dead. Just ordered two relays for $9.88. Will install and report.

[AsLan7]

Bad news: Over time this problem has worsened.
Good news: Finally figured it out - easy fix.

One or both Garmins continued to not consistently start up when turning on the boats ignition. Even lost 1 or both units while underway a couple times. Armed with a multimeter and some determination, I did some cable tracing and testing.

Each Garmin has a separate power/ground connector from the Cobalt. First unplugged both and measured voltage after turning key. 12.6V every time. However, with either one of the Garmins plugged in alone, voltage would go a bit nuts between 5 and 8 volts and the plugged in unit wouldn't start up. A few times it worked and voltage sat at 12.5V. SO unlikely the Garmins were at fault.

It appears it is common practice in boats and cars to use power on relays to delay startup, more conveniently have many devices respond to the ignition remote power wire, or handle larger current draws. There are two such relays installed in our R5 (identical relays). One was failing and not passing 12V as it should. Swapped relays and Garmins are now perfect. Pretty sure the other relay is somehow used for the underwater lights and perhaps more.

While I could (and will eventually) get one through the Cobalt warranty, had one shipped for just under $10.
Picker Components PC792A-1C-C3-12S-RN-X

Super nice job with the diagnosis. Thank you. I am experiencing the same issue on my 2019 R5. Started with intermittent issues and progressed to the screens not turning on at all. At this point the Garmins are dead. Just ordered two relays for $9.88. Will install and report.

.
Hey GitG. So glad you found us!

Thanks for chiming in on this. Let us know what you find out.

And welcome aboard mate!

.

[greenhut]

Super nice job with the diagnosis. Thank you. I am experiencing the same issue on my 2019 R5. Started with intermittent issues and progressed to the screens not turning on at all. At this point the Garmins are dead. Just ordered two relays for $9.88. Will install and report.

Welcome - would be awesome to hear it helped someone out! Keep us posted.

[GreenInTheGrove]

Happy to report after changing relays and an engine start, both screens functioned flawlessly all day. Thanks again for the post!

[GreenInTheGrove]

15B47D0F-C9AD-4417-BE31-BDB9B7C9F318.jpeg

[Cjfr47]

My 2020 R7 Surf just started doing this the last few times I had it out. Thanks for diagnosis and sharing? you likely saved me a great deal of frustration and money!

[jhnmdahl]

Hm. Makes one wonder if the similar Panasonic relay (which costs $6 instead of $3) is actually worth double the price. https://www.digikey.com/en/products/det ... 12V/647006

[AsLan7]

My 2020 R7 Surf just started doing this the last few times I had it out. Thanks for diagnosis and sharing? you likely saved me a great deal of frustration and money!

.
Great to hear Cjfr47. So glad you found us too.

Any pics of your R7? How is she powered?

And welcome board mate.

.