Garmin (Airmar) DST 800Triducer Failure

[lrclough]

After replacing my 23 year old Datamarine instruments a little over a year ago with a Garmin instrument package, the Garmin (Airmar) DST 800Triducer is failing. It works about 60-70% of the time but otherwise it slowly blinks showing the last depth it could read.

I have checked all the connections and the rest of the system (including my older 4008 GPS and the GMI displays) all work fine.

Garmin support says that it does not repair Airmar and that the unit is now out of warranty after one year and one month.

I see from the specs that for the triducer, the depth puts out only 100W as opposed to 150W for the DT800. However the failure to read is not depth related. Having Google the DST800 I see other posts with similar problems. Are there any solutions?

Given how poorly paddlewheel speed sensors perform I am thinking about dropping that feature but the DT800 says it is for 16-24 degree dead-rise

[colemj]

The DT800 comes in several flavors of tilted element. You can get 0* like a normal one, or 12* or 20* tilt for different deadrises.

Talk directly to Airmar - I know they have had failures of the triducer and may work with you to solve yours regardless of Garmin.

Mark

[Cavalier]

I had same unit, albeit with the Raymarine STNG interface. My temp and speed just dropped out after 10 months or so. It was intermittent initially then just finally died. Raymarine replaced it without question but I strongly feel that the problem lay in the potting of the unit - corrosion somewhere in the interface electronics. The STNG connector was fine electrically, so I assume that there was some issue internally. The CAN transceiver internally is digital, so I suspected that the error lay in either a poor internal PSU or corrosion.

The replacement unit has functioned fine since I received it 8 months ago.

Sent from my RM-860_nam_usa_100 using Tapatalk

[lrclough]

I've contacted Airmar but no response.

I have ordered a new DT 800 (no S) through Ebay since Garmin does not seem to offer a new DT 800 with less than a high amount of deadrise.

We'll see how it does.

[MarkSF]

I hope you have eliminated growth on the sensor, and the surrounding hull, as a cause - or you're in for a disappointment.

I can practically track when I need to get the bottom cleaned, from the error in my DST800's paddle reading.

[Cavalier]

Originally Posted by MarkSF

I hope you have eliminated growth on the sensor, and the surrounding hull, as a cause - or you're in for a disappointment.

I can practically track when I need to get the bottom cleaned, from the error in my DST800's paddle reading.

+1. I've found that any retardation or disruption in the flow over the hull around the transducer due to fouling, causes the paddle to run slower.