I-finder voltage.

[RobertELee]

Could some tell me how much voltage is coming out of the plug end of there auxilary power cord? On mine when I have the cord plugged into the cigarete lighter the little green power light goes on but when I turn on the GPS it slowly fades out and goes off. The GPS is not getting any power to it.(it runs fine with just AA batteries) I changed the batteries in the unit, checked it on several power sources, but still the same effect. I checked the voltage coming out of the plug and it reads 2.1 volts DC.. Just wondering if its the cord or somthing wrong with the GPS, so when I call Lowrance I have my facts straight.

Thanks in advance,

Rob

[Surface Tension]

You should have more then 2.1 volts. It'll be more like 3-5 volts. This sounds to simple but is the vehicle running or the the ignition on accessory when you use the cord? Have you checked the fuse or clean the contacts for the fuse?

I've seen a few of the these plugs go bad and its quite possible yours did too.

[ScoutII]

I-Finders run on about 3 volts. 2 batteries 1.5 volts each equals 3 volts. 12 volts will FRY you unit.

[Surface Tension]

Scout, ya that was a typo and I fixed it.

[LaZyDayZ]

I have the same issue with mine.

When on batteries it runs just fine.

When plugged in the green light on plugin goes dim and the unit just shuts off.

I have replaced fuse tried numerous 12 volt outlets with all the same results.

[PierBridge]

The problem is the power cord and it's POOR design, take a look at the two cheezy contact pins....

I'd get on the phone now it took me 1 hour on hold to my new cord sent out...

[LaZyDayZ]

I just called after reading your post.

Was on hold aboput 10 minutes, the rep took my serial number and contact info and said I would have a new cord in 3-5 days.

[schweady]

I got an ExpeditionC (basically the same as an H2OC) in January. Problems while using the external power cord led to a call to Lowrance and a replacement cord in July. Last week I called again with similar problems while using the cord and the tech mentioned a "known problem" with some of these units where a bad circuit in the unit fails to recognize the cord. I believe he was only talking about the ExpeditionC, but I could be wrong. The clincher was when I mentioned the time that it read "External Power" for 3 hours but the background light would go out anyway. Turns out it was actually sucking the life out of some fresh batteries the whole while before it promptly quit.

I sent the whole unit in last Thursday and (according to FedEx tracking) I will have it back this Friday. I'll let you know if it is my old one repaired or a new replacement unit.

P.S. I agree 110% on the cheesy plug design for that cord, (especially if you want the lanyard attached there, too) and I've told Lowrance that it would be the first thing I'd like to see updated.

[RobertELee]

Hey thanks everyone, I guess I'll be calling Lowrance tomorrow.

[schweady]

Rob:

I got my ExpeditionC back today (a day earlier than FedEx promised), after only an 8 day turnaround (10 days quicker than Lowrance originally estimated). It's a totally new unit, with a newer version of the software (v. 1.1.0) that has at least one new menu item ("Calibrate Altitude") that I don't recall on the other unit and I don't see anywhere in my manual.

Tried out both of my power cords and they have worked flawlessly so far. Funny thing is, I sent in my original cord with the unit this time -- the one I was using when I had my first problems in July and that they had "solved" by mailing me a replacement cord. Well, they tested it and sent that same cord back. (I recognized some distinct scratches on it.) So I guess I have a spare.

It reads a steady 3.5 volts when running on external power from the cigarette lighter sockets in both cars. 3.5 volts with occasional flashes of 3.6 volts when connected via the power socket on my Rapala electric knife's AC adapter cord.

Got my trails and waypoints all loaded off of my buddy's MMC card, put the LakeMaster chip back in, and I'm ready for ice!