Simrad instrument collapse

[Muddy Waters]

I have a 6yr old Hanse 370 which I bought new with Simrad CX33 chartplotter x 2 and IS12 Data &Combi plus wind x 2 and also AP25 autopilot. About 6 months ago, one chartplotter gave up and displayed a totally blank screen and since then all instruments, except autopilot, have stopped functioning properly. Sometimes no speed, sometimes no wind. Depth seems to be OK most of the time and autopilot OK except needs wind. Warranty was 5years, and replacement instruments are all NMEA2000 and so not compatible. I am facing huge cost to replace all.
Any thoughts please.

[Lake-Effect]

Simply put, you need to find out exactly what's failed fully/partially and what's OK. Do you know why the one CX33 failed? Have you taken it in for service?

Hard to recommend specific tests without seeing your system diagram. If you're unsure of how to test each device separately, it might be worth paying someone for a couple of hours of testing. Any Simrad servicing dealers in Sydney?

[GordMay]

Greetings and welcome aboard the CF, Muddy Waters.

[Muddy Waters]

Originally Posted by Lake-Effect

Simply put, you need to find out exactly what's failed fully/partially and what's OK. Do you know why the one CX33 failed? Have you taken it in for service? Hard to recommend specific tests without seeing your system diagram. If you're unsure of how to test each device separately, it might be worth paying someone for a couple of hours of testing. Any Simrad servicing dealers in Sydney?

Thanks for your reply. I don't have a wiring diagram but have had two guys look at it. The more recent suggested that when you have intermittent problems with different instruments it is likely the system has collapsed. Yesterday I had no wind on any instrument. I had depth and speed but only on the Combi and not on the Data or plotter. Previous day all was working. On other occasions wind and speed have been intermittent, functioning properly after a while.
I have dismounted each instrument to check wiring and all seems OK although I am somewhat dismayed by the fineness of the wires. There was no evidence of any water or other corrosion but I did give the exposed wires a shot of silicone spray. Prior to digital electronics, intermittent performance would definitely be a wiring problem. Now I have no idea, I think the gremlins have got in.

[44'cruisingcat]

No expert, but to me that sounds like a bad connection on a NMEA network line.

[DeepFrz]

Check all your power wiring. Have you tried a full system reset. I would like to know what the guys meant by "system has collapsed". Not a phrase I would use in troubleshooting a network problem. If a system reset doesn't work (you may have to do full reset on each piece of equipment, chart plotters and combi instruments and autopilot) start disconnecting things one at a time.

[colemj]

These are NMEA2000 instruments (Simnet), so I don't know what "the system has collapsed" could possibly mean. It doesn't make any technical sense.

I also don't know how you saw the fineness of the wires, since the connection cable wires and connectors should all be integral. Even if it is wired with terminal connectors, 18g wire is normal size for this application.

Like mentioned, this sounds like a connection issue. If your connections are not integral cables, you should check them for continuity and corrosion on the connection points. If they are integral cables, look for one that is pinched or has a nick in it.

You also could have a faulty transducer putting enough errors on the network to disrupt the others. You should either get software to analyze the network, or get a technician on board with a network analyzer. Alternately, your chartplotter or instruments may have basic network monitoring functionality that would show bus errors. If you see bus errors, start disconnecting transducers one at a time until they disappear.

BTW, new standard NMEA2000 instruments are compatible with your old ones. The only difference is the connectors - your Simnet connector vs. the standardized micro-C connector. You can intermix the two easily using Simnet-MicroC cables.

Mark

[pitlaw]

I have a new Simrad NMEA 2000 suite of instruments. Recently I had a system crash such that the chartplotter was freezing and then at times blacking out. Turned out to be a faulty wind transducer that was crashing the main backbone of the net. I had a certified Simrad tech fix it quickly under warranty. You may have one thing in your system that is crashing the net.

[witzgall]

I would suggest getting a technician to troubleshoot the system, that is VERY experienced with Simnet.

Chris