Pixelated Chart Plotter

Pat

Active member
Joined
Mar 7, 2017
Messages
33
Fluid Motion Model
R-21 EC
Vessel Name
Sea RV
Wonder if any one has had this problem, and possible fixes
I've had a recurring problem with my Garmin 7612xsv chartplotter. It pixelates when it gets warm or overly warm. I had mentioned it to Garmin support last summer as an aside when they were assisting with another issue, and was kind of shined on about it. At the time it appeared to happen sporadically. Last week I plugged the boat into shore power, which turns on the chart plotter and was working on the boat when the plotters alarm went off. I quickly pulled the screen cover off and the screen was pixelated and very warm. It struck me that the problem tended to appear after long hours of use last summer, so it was more likely for the plotter to be warm. I'm usually fishing off the coast in Northern California with the temperatures rarely over 80 degrees.
I called Garmin support again and asked about the problem suggesting that the unit might be over heating. Tony confirmed that over heating would cause the problem and suggested that the cavity it was mounted in might be to small. Well it seems fairly large to me about 7" X 20" X 40" and has two 3" fans allowing venting from the top, plus the fact that the ambient temperatures are pretty moderate where I usually am. It doesn't seem right to me that the screen should be having this issue.
I also talked to Ronnie from Cutwater who hadn't ever heard of this happening. He thought that the fans might cause it but I only use them first thing in the morning to defrost the windshield and don't recall having the problem in the mornings.
My boat is a 2017 Cutwater 28.
 
i have a 5212 in a cutwater 28 and it gets warm but nothing more than any other electronic equipment.

the two fans on my boat that are on the dashboard that help clear the windscreen of condensation actually pull the warm air from the locker where the garmin unit is installed. you could try running the fans to see if the temperature drops.

have you opened the mirror locker in the head and is the space very warm behind the console?

I wonder whether you are using your plotter in a certain way thats driving a lot of CPU usage causing a lot of heat (3 screens being displayed, chirp deptsounder, radar and satelite imagery etc)?
 
I have the same chart plotter installed in a 2016 26 Cutwater which would be the same installation.I have never had that issue and I have had it on with ambient temperatures in the 90's. The space it is mounted in seems adequate. My first question is what does plugging your shore power in have to do with turning your plotter on ? Your plotter should come on when you turn it on with the power button. Does your plotter stay on all the time? I have to physically push the power button to power it up. I honestly don't know if the unit is on all the time if that will cause a heat issue.
 
Thank you for the replies. My usual view is the depth sounder and the chart. No satellite. Not particularly intensive use. Whenever I plug in shore power the chart plotter turns on. It's kind of a nuisance, but I thought this was typical.
 
It was a faulty chart plotter. Contacted Port Boat House they referred me to Garmin and rebuilt unit will be in the mail Monday 4/16.
 
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