Lowrance Elite 7 HDI - New and Problems

[SoCalAngler]

Hello gents --

Just purchase and installed a NEW Elite 7 HDI from West Marine.

Problem......it powers off while motoring after 3-4 minutes. I can turn it back on and it will turn off again after 3-4 minutes. Frustrating!!!!

Appears to work fine when motor is OFF and I am using only my trolling motor. Works fine while on the trailer in my garage too!!

FYI...The transducer is mounted off my rear, port, pontoon (where previous FF/transducer was mounted). I have a 21' pontoon boat.

Bad unit, something I'm doing wrong, or what??? Hoping something simple.... Before I have to disassemble and return this unit.

Thanks for all the assistance!

[Ken Sauret]

This could be a problem with the battery. There may be a draw on the battery that brings the output below 10 or 10.5 volts. This seems to be when we experience our electronics shutting off when starting or running the big motor. Check your battery first.

[SoCalAngler]

Thanks Ken. I will check the battery tomorrow. Would this be so even if the battery charger shows battery fully charged? Also, never have problems starting motor. I am running a 2010 Mercury 60hp EFI 4S Big Foot on my 2010 Suntracker 21' Fishing Barge Pontoon boat. Radio, running lights and live well are only items on this cranking battery.
Thoughts on this?

[Ken Sauret]

As a battery ages there can be a drop in voltage when there is a big draw. Electronics are very sensitive to this drop and will turn off and sometimes turn right back on but go through the boot up process because of the interruption. Lights or a radio don't respond the same way electronics do. If the battery doesn't fix this then call Lowrance customer care at 800-628-4487. If they point to the battery, you can tell them that you already tried that and they will take it from there.

[SoCalAngler]

The battery has been on the charger since Saturday at 2:00pm. I'll disconnect charger tomorrow, let it sit for one day, and then take it to a battery shop for a load test on Tuesday.

Battery question....what are your thoughts on a marine dual purpose battery? This way I get MCA and some deep cycle amps for my FF, radio, lights, etc.
Thanks for the advice.