Can the Lowrance LMS 330C handle extreme cold????

[Reicher]

I am trying to use my lowrance LMS 330C as a GPS mounted on my 4 wheeler for Ice Fishing this year. I hooked it up last night and everything was working fine, I took it outside and set it in the drive way to get a GPS signal. It was really cold around 5 degrees so I went back inside and when I came back a couple minutes later the unit had shut down. Now when I try to turn it on it will power up and shut down after about 10 seconds. This is a 2004 unit and I am wondering if it was not designed for cold weather. I only want to use the GPS and I did not have a transducer hooked up. Will this unit work for ice fishing?

[Crooked Dave]

I sure hope it's not your unit as I just purchased a LMS334Ci for my winter enjoyment. Actually, I thought my old unit located on my boat(Gramin) went down, and since I had convinced myself that I was going to break down and buy a Vex FL-18, I thought, spend the extra couple hundred, get a unit w/ GPS that will be an upgrade from my Garmin on the boat, and still have the functionality of a Vex for ice season. I would suspect the problem may lie in the battery that unit is hooked to. Sounds like my same issue with the Garmin, but come to find out, it was a very weak battery. Garmin still works great, I got the Lowrance instead of the Vex, and now have a color unit that I can use as a back up GPS to my other Garmin unit. Tight Lines.

[JJ Mac]

Gotta agree...my bet it is a battery issue.

I know the battery on my quad is about shot.

[Reicher Unlogged]

It was the battery and not the unit. I initially ruled out the battery because it came with the lowance unit that I purchased last year and I just pulled it off the charger. Took it in to interstate batteries and they said it was bad. Now that I have a good battery the unit is working fine.

[Hawgeye Unlogged]

I have the LMS 332C and used it for ice fishing last year. I never had trouble with the temperatures and I live in ND. I have fished when the high temps of the day were -10 f and never had trouble.

Some Vexilar users will try to tell you there is a delay in the LCD graphs and they don't know what they are talking about. I have used vexilars and they are nice but would never buy one after using my LMS 332C. I know the older processors did have a delay but todays graphs do not.

It should work fine. I would recommend not to leave it in extreme cold temps for long periods of time just for safety. I use a portable ice shack and it stays in the 50's inside with the heater on.

[Brian Rud]

I used my 330 all last year on ice works great. As for the cold I have my 334 in truck and on the days when it is -20 or -30 it will come on and the screen will be dark but the lowrance color screen will generate heat and will bright. I fish outside and if you feel screen it will be warm. Do not use flasher mode on lowrance just use graf like in boat. After my buddy have seen the lowrance 4 of then have sold there flasher and bought Lowrances.

[28shooter]

What power source do you use for the 330c and 332c. Are you hooking to deep cycle battery?

[Crooked Dave]

I have a small 12 volt battery that came with the ice pack (LMS334Ci). This battery would be similar to the battery used to power a Vex or an underwater camera. Lugging around a deep cycle on ice doesn't sound fun to me, as I tried that many years ago. Check out your local bait/tackle shop that may carry electronics, and I am sure they can help you. Tight Lines

[Tommy Franjesh]

I have a Lowrance X100 C and plan on using it this year on the ice. I need to buy a portable pack for this unit. Does anyone have any advice to offer.? Lowrance has a portable pack coming available Feb. 1st, 07. It is $172.00 on their site. The other portable unit is around $80 but, does not include batteries. I think the battery on their new pack is similiar to one you would get with a vexilar.

Thanks,

Tom

[Hawgeye Unlogged]

I use a gel cell 7AH battery that is typical for this. I purchased the blue "Genz" portable box, bought an Iceducer and made my own arm for the transducer out of 3/4" pvc. I slit the pvc down the long way and slid the transducer cable through the slit. I then mounted a PVC coupler to the base of the blue Genz pack and I just slide in the pvc into the coupler to extend out the transducer long enough to get to the hole. I then can just pull out the pvc and set it on the back.

I bought the Johny ray mount for the base that matches the one I use in the boat so I can easily just remove from the boat and install in ice packet.

[reelman1]

I used a 330 and now my 332 for ice fishing down to -35f without any problems. I also have them mounted in my truck year-round and they always turn on instantly without any problems.

I also agree with hawgeye in that anybody who tells you that the Lowrance units do not have instant reading are either lieing to you or have never used one. I have used mine for 3 years now and have had a lot of people get rid of there Vexlars and Marcums and go to Lowrances for ice fihing.

[hunterguy31]

I know that the website says that the kits are unavailable until February, but I purchased one for my 334c last week at Gander Mountain - $150.00 + tax. I used it this last weekend and I think that I am going to love it.

[Brian Rud]

I just set a 332 up for a guy. Got my stuff from Cabela's: cabela's plastic base $20, cabela's soft case $20, cabela's gelcell batt and charger $25, lowrance ice transducer $65, lowrance power cord $35, all together about #165. I had to go to the store to get the stuff it is not listed on the online web page. The cabela's bag is a tight fit for the 332 but it does work. I have the Lowrance pack and it has more room for $172.95. This is the page for ordering the lowrance pack form lowrance.
http://www.lei-extras.com/store/search.asp?SearchType=Category&Category=Portable+Accessories.
Gander Mountain also has lowrance packs but I don't know the price.

I have my 334 mounted on my snowcat and atv handel bars and 332 one my ice pack. I fish Devils Lake and Lake of the Woods with Lakemaster cards in GPSs. No more drilling holes to find depth just look at GPS.

Brian Rud

[Tommy Franjesh]

It sounds like it would be easier to just buy the Lowrance Pack for $172.00. Does anyone have an X100 or X102 on Lowrance's pack?

Tom

[hunterguy31]

I posted earlier - I picked up the kit from Gander Mountain for $150.00.

[Tommy Franjesh]

I understand however, you are using a 334 C and I have a X100 C. I do not know the similarities of these units.

Tom

[I Fish GS]

The 334 and the 100c have the same sonar functions.
The 334 just has gps on it too. They will work the same on the Ice.

Brian Rud

[Tommy Franjesh]

Thanks Brian

[Brian Talvensaari]

How long will the battery last with the 334? Is there a way to turn off the GPS to save power? Thanks

[hunterguy31]

Good question - I had mine out this weekend. It lasted about 12 hours and shut down. I too am wondering if there is a way to shut off the gps to save on the battery when you are to your spot. You sure would think that you'd gain longer battery life.

[Crooked Dave]

After surfing thru my owners manual today (334Ci), I can't seem to find an option to disable the receiver / antenna on the GPS. That got me thinking.....what about that unit in the shanty? It will struggle at best to pick up any type of signal from the satellites and that #### alarm will pop on every few minutes to remind that postion has not been acquired. I had a little issue with this during the fall and running it on my tiller boat. Seemed like about once an evening it would lose postion during a haul, but then reposition when we straighted back out. I can assume (input appreciated) that the "Hide GPS Features" can cure this? I haven't fished in two and a half weeks, we gotta get some cold weather. Tight Lines

[Brian Talvensaari]

I emailed Lowrance and asked about the hide GPS. That's the only thing I found that may shut off the GPS? I'll post if they reply.

[Brian Talvensaari]

Lowrance replied and said there is no way to turn the GPS off. The battery draw is very little and the battery should last 6-7 hours?