GENETRON

[Jason]

Dick,

I have a question for you. I have a Genetron and I have a problem. Let me start at the beginning so you know all the facts. Last year I purchased 2 new batteries. One for my starting motor and a back up run parellel to the starting battery, so I don't have any problems with draining my starting battery. I also run my Genetron off my starting battery. I know that the Genetron takes alot of power to run and this is why I have these two batteries run parellel to each other.

My problem is this. When I shut off my main motor and am fishing my Genetron starts beeping low battery. I find that hard to believe being the batteries are new and I have also check them and my connections and still have the same problem. Can you give me any advise on what my problem is or could be?

JASON

[KP]

I don't own a Genetron but my first guess is maybe a ground or corrosion problem on your boat that's not allowing the full voltage of the batteries to get to your sonar.

Though it's not the same thing, I had a subwoofer amp in my car where the positive wire ran directly to the battery and my negative attached to a ground under my rear seat. When my car was running and the alternator cranking 13+ volts through the electrical system, the amp worked. When I shut the car off, the amp shut off. I used a VOM (Voltage/Ohm Meter) to check my voltage at the battery, 12.8 volts, and at the amp, 11.1 volts. It turned out the ground attachment I used was not a good ground. Bad grounds are common on boats especially if you have aging or exposed ground wire, or corrosion in any contact or plug. I don't know what minimum voltage a Genetron requires but an older CRT display sonar I own requires 11.8 volts minimum. That's tough to keep up with a lot of other equipment running all day.

Good luck on finding the problem.

[GENETRON]

JASON. KP HAS GIVEN YOU GOOD ADVICE. THE GENETRON HAS AN AMP DRAW OF ROUGHLY 1.8. WHEN WE USED TO GO TO SPORTSHOWS WE COULD RUN A GENETRON ALL DAY ON A WELL CHARGED STOWAY BATTERY. ANOTHER TRICK IS TO DISCONNECT THE POWER PLUG ON THE GENETRON AND TAKE A READING WITH A MULTI METER ON THE PLUG. THE DEVICE THAT READS VOLTAGE INSIDE THE GENETRON IS PRETTY SIMPLE AND IT WOULD BE VERY RARE THAT IT WOULD FAIL. SO WHEN IT STARTS SQUAWKING AT YOU DO THE MULTI METER TRICK AND SEE IF IT CONFIRMS WHAT THE GENETRON IS TELLING YOU. IF IT DOES CONFIRM START CHECKING THE POWER LINES GOING BACK TO THE BATTERY. ALSO CHECK OUTPUT WITH THE METER AT THE POSTS ON THE BATTERY. DICK KNUTSON GENETRON

[Jason]

Thanks for the help Dick I will try this and if the problem continues I will contact you again

JASON