Running NAV system with mast down

[YukonRon]

Is it safe to start up the Garmin chartplotter with the mast down if the radar is not put in transmit mode? Our R25sc has the Garmin 5212, and when I turn it on I hear a growling sound that sounds like the radar rotating, perhaps to do a warm up or initialization. Is that really what I'm hearing, and if so is this short period of ration harmful to the moving parts to run with the radar laid down horizontally? We store the boat on the trailer under cover, and I like to be able to turn on the chart plotter to check settings or do updates etc without having to put the mast up first. Is this something I need to worry about?

 

[bill46]

Radar should not run unless turned on.
When I transmit i can hear it spinning up.

 

[YukonRon]

I would agree, except that I hear the same "spinning-up" sound for a minute or so when I power on the chartplotter. It doesn't continue as it does when hitting the "transmit" button. This is why I was wondering if it is a short warm-up or initialization. Or if this is normal. Do others get this at power-up too?

 

[BradOwens]

The radar will spin up for a minute or so when first turned on. I don't think it will hurt it to spin while tipped down since it is designed to handle rough side to side movement when rolling in heavy seas. To be safe though, you may want to check the radar menu to see if there is a way to disable the warm up mode or whatever Garmin calls it. If you can't find anything in the menu, a call to Garmin support may be a good idea.

 

[YukonRon]

Thanks Brad, good point about spinning in rough seas, hadn't thought of that. I will call Garmin if I don't get a definitive answer here. Maybe from the Rt factory guys? Andrew?

 

[rackline]

Hey Ron - Please share what you learn because I've wondered the same thing. And the Garmin in my 29 powers up whenever I turn on the house battery switch. It's annoying that it does this without having to use the power button on the unit, and that it doesn't run through a breaker on the panel.

 

[plewis]

In response to rackline's comment; auto power on is an option on both the VHF and the Chartplotter. Refer to the manuals under system settings.

 

[YukonRon]

Our R25sc has breaker switches on the 12v panel at the helm for GPS/CHARTPLOTTER, for AUTOPILOT, and for NMEA 2000. I turn on the HOUSE bank switch, then I turn on the NMEA 2000 backbone breaker, then the other breakers, then I power up each individual unit. My 5212 chartplotter is not set to start up automatically. I don't usually turn the radar on to transmit until I'm under way and need it.
My VHF is not on a breaker, and it IS set up to power on automatically when the HOUSE bank switch is turned on. I like it this way so I don't forget.
I haven't got a definite answer yet about running the radar sideways, so I guess I will need to call Garmin.

 

[Red Raven]

Hi Ron,

I have similar setup to your boat with breaker switches for the chartplotter etc. I also keep the mast down in the winter and I often fire up the chartplotter and hear the initial spin up etc. Other than the fact that the radar doesn’t work properly in this arrangement 😀 I have had no problems after turning on the chartplotter in the garage with the mast down several times each winter. No gaurentees but no issues so far.

Curt

 

[YukonRon]

I finally called Garmin support today on this. He did confirm that the radar does spin up briefly to do a "self check" when the chartplotter is powered up. Just so the system knows that everything is functioning and communicating ok.
He was not aware of any instructions or restrictions from Garmin to say that you should not run your radar in the mast down position (i.e. sitting vertical, 90 degrees to its normal angle of operation). He did not think it would be harmful, but had never been asked this before so had nothing really to go on. So he then went on to cover his ___ by saying you might not want to do it a lot, or disconnect the cable so it doesn't power up, etc... but it should be OK... but don't do it long if you don't have to....but it shouldn't hurt anything...etc, etc.
So, not really a definitive answer, except that he has definitely never heard that it is bad. I guess that's something.

 

[rackline]

In response to rackline's comment; auto power on is an option on both the VHF and the Chartplotter. Refer to the manuals under system settings.

Thanks plewis! I thought I had poked around all the settings, somehow I had missed this. Of course, I could have looked in the manual!

Merry Christmas!

Chris