Black screen-Ideas?

  • tim hurley
    Posts: 5977
    November 28, 2020 at 7:53 am #1992053

    My Helix gen3 went black yesterday while fishing, I tried over and over to restart and it stayed black. Battery was fully charged so I am puzzled. When I got home I put the batteries on the charger like I always do, checked out the ‘bird this morning and it is working fine. Ideas? Want to fish one more time Sunday, really need that thing working!
    Thanks

    James Holst
    Keymaster
    SE Minnesota
    Posts: 18926
    November 28, 2020 at 9:43 am #1992062
    tim hurley wrote:

    My Helix gen3 went black yesterday while fishing, I tried over and over to restart and it stayed black. Battery was fully charged so I am puzzled. When I got home I put the batteries on the charger like I always do, checked out the ‘bird this morning and it is working fine. Ideas? Want to fish one more time Sunday, really need that thing working!
    Thanks

    From my experience The vast majority of issues I’ve seen with all brands of ice fishing electronics have been attributed to the power source. Bring a spare battery with you your next time out on the ice and if it happens again swap in the spare. If the screen goes black after you’ve made the switch I think you can confidently eliminate the power source as the culprit.

    SuperDave1959
    Harrisville, UT
    Posts: 2816
    November 28, 2020 at 10:15 am #1992069

    Tim, was this in the boat or ice as James is referring? The last time that I had a similar issue in my boat it was a loose ground connection.

    tim hurley
    Posts: 5977
    November 28, 2020 at 2:52 pm #1992135

    Thanks James!Should have mentioned that it was in my boat-Dave where is my ground connection?

    SuperDave1959
    Harrisville, UT
    Posts: 2816
    November 28, 2020 at 5:34 pm #1992157

    Don’t know how your unit got wired but follow the black wire to where it terminates and ensure it isn’t loose or have any oxidation. On the power side, do the same thing and pay attention to the inline fuse if it has one. BTW, not a big fan of inline fuses.

    James Holst
    Keymaster
    SE Minnesota
    Posts: 18926
    November 28, 2020 at 5:39 pm #1992159
    tim hurley wrote:

    Thanks James!Should have mentioned that it was in my boat-Dave where is my ground connection?

    Can you tell I have ice on the brain? doah

    If all else fails run a dedicated power and ground wire from your unit to the battery. The problem should be solved at that point.

    tim hurley
    Posts: 5977
    November 28, 2020 at 6:00 pm #1992165

    Well and I do not think of a HB as an ice unit, old school that way (and a few hundred other ways)
    Thanks for the advice-ice is coming!

    tim hurley
    Posts: 5977
    November 28, 2020 at 6:02 pm #1992166

    Thanks Dave (now i’ll go back to your turkey tip)

    tim hurley
    Posts: 5977
    December 5, 2020 at 9:14 am #1994236

    The ground was solid and I could not replicate the problem by shaking any wires(i’m about as good as a monkey with this stuff, I shake push poke etc.)Anyway I found a fuse that is on a panel that seems to be only for my HB, that seemed a bit loose after I tighten it everything seems to be ok-thing still does not screw down as tight as I would like.
    Thanks

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