Nuked 3 Lowrance LGC-3000 antennas!

[Carpenter]

I have networked Lowrance LMS-520c & LCX-38HD units, one puck and one transducer. "Professionally" rigged at the dealer I bought the boat from.

A week or so after taking delivery of the boat the GPS wouldn't lock on. Swapped the puck and things were working again. Few weeks later and the puck was out again! Looked at the manual and traced the wiring. Found the dealer powered the puck from both head units. Called Lowrance a couple times (on hold for hour+ each time) but they warrantied both pucks, but couldn't get them until the fall. Pulled the fuse on one unit, got a new puck from the dealer and the rest of the season was fine.

Got the boat out of storage and water ready...gps isn't working. Now I have 2 new pucks again. Swapped pucks...works. What's going on? Any thoughts before I take it to the local "lectronics" and pay to have this boat wired properly (again)??

Right now the 38 is powered constantly (no switch) I have to turn it off with the button. The 520 is on the "Main Power" switch along with the puck.

The dealer is 1.5 hrs away and I don't have the time or the patience to go back there or else they'd be figuring it out.

Any help would be appreciated.

[Superduty]

That many failures in a short time would make me believe something is installed incorrectly. You can run both units with one puck on a network if you want. Power each unit, power the network, and use a terminator connector at the end of the network. It is best to put the puck on a switch so it does not drain your battery when the boat is not used.

[walleyewild]

From what I have read and had guys explain on the forum here, you only want to power the network once, and it is best to use a T in the network to power it.

If you disconnected the power from one of the head units you should be ok, but again not the best.

I would rewire the x-38 so that it was connected through the master power on/off if you have one.

To go though 3 pucks in that short of time there is something wrong with the wiring and I would find the time to take it back to the dealer and have them fix it.

WW