LMS 350A GPS

The GPS alarm keeps going off on my Lowrance LMS350A. Is there a salution to this problem, or is this pretty common with these units? It drives me nuts somedays.

Thanks
Tom P.

Check your input voltage. If it drops below 11 volts it will kick out.
I had to run a dedicated power supply to mine to keep it from fluctuating due to the boat accessories pulling to much juice.
Set your windows to a voltage screen and watch for fluctuations below 11 volts.

What does the screen show if anything? I have a 350A and my GPS seems to work very well. I have noticed that if you have it wired to your dash power switch, every time you start the boat with the 350 already turned on, you will loose GPS signal and it will take a long time to get it back. Two solutions: First, if this happens, shut off the 350A and turn back on, the GPS will lock faster that way. Or wire it right to the battery so you do not get a voltage drop at the 350 upon start-up.
Just a couple thoughts.

Boy you guys have great timing!

A friend has the 350a without the GPS. He’s having starter battery troubles. He was told by someone that he should not have this sonar connected to the starter battery because it taking so many amps and draining the battery. I find this hard to believe. He’s thinking of running it to his two trolling batteries (12v). He’s not having any trouble with the 350a except when his starting battery drops to the 11 volt range, but then he has trouble with starting his 60 hp Merc.

I think his trouble lies in his motor not chargeing.

Do you guys have any trouble running your battery down by using the 350a?

Not since I went to a dedicated battery for my electronics. I experienced alot of problems running it all off my starting battery, 2-350s, 1-Pinpoint and the marine radio pull alot of juice over a 8-10 hour day.

So you charge this battery with a charger when you’re not fishing?

I have a hard time believing that a 350 would make that much of a drain..even over 10 hours. Now the marine radio on the other hand will draw when transmitting.

So Hooks, what your saying is that between the radio and the 350 your starter battery when dead…or close to dead?

Then with a seperate battery for the two, the electronics battery didn’t go south? Please give me some more info.

Thanks!

I’ve never had my starting battery go dead, just drain down to the point my GPS’s went offline. I now run a seperate deep cycle for my electronics that will run everything mentioned about 3 days on one charge. Then I recharge it with a 10 amp charger with a timer for the amount of amperage drained. Each piece of electronics drains about 1.2 amps per hr. X 5 = 6 amps per hr. (3-3000 watt depth finders and 2 GPS’s) doesn’t even count the radio which I don’t use very often.
Hence 125 amp battery 50% drained, i’ll charge for 6-7 hrs. X 10 amps = 60-70 amps back in the battery. I never want to overcharge my batteries.
Hope this helps!

I do not run near as much with my cranking battery as Hooks. I have not yet removed my 350a from the battery and have never had any problems draining the battery. I just run the Areators on auto, 350a and GPS, and a Flasher up front. I will often run for 8 hours and no trouble except when I turn the key to start and it does not matter where the battery charge is then, the GPS will kick out.

Thanks Hooks
I`ll give that a try and see what comes up. At least it`s a place to start, and hopefully that`s the problem.

Thanks Again
Rom

Thanks Trof,

What motor/hp are you turning back there?

Thanks Hooks!

I think, his problem lies in the fact that his motor only puts out 12.5volts. It’s maintaining and slightly charging his starting battery, but with the accessories (especially the marine radio) it’s slowly draining.

So, if he does go with a second battery for the electronics, the worst case would be that he loses his sonar, radio ect. BUT he can still start his motor and go home.

Sounds like that’s the way to go. Thanks again!

But still, I don’t understand why his motor only puts out 12.5. I’ve check with Merc dealers and they all say the same thing. “That’s normal, it’s working fine”.

This might be one of those questions that never gets answered!

Brian

Actually an altenator needs to put out at least 13.5 volts to be working correctly, other wise it will not keep the battery charged fully.

Tom P.

And has to be turning at 4000 RPMs for max amps output!!!