Thread: Helix issues...

Page 1 of 2 12 LastLast
Results 1 to 20 of 23
  1. #1
    Member
    Join Date
    Aug 2020
    Location
    Ste Genevieve, MO
    Posts
    92

    Helix issues...

    I am bumfuzzled. I just hooked up a helix 9 in place of a helix 7. I also installed Mega 360. I tested the helix last night to make sure it was working and it was. Today, I finished the install of the M360, which was just running a ground and power. I attached the power to my accessory switch, so it could be powered off. I turned on the helix, it did not recognize the M360 (shouldnt it?) and now, when I try to shut it down, it simply "reboots". I disconnected the power at the battery and that shut it off but as soon as I reconnected the power, it came back on... Suggestions?
    2021 Phoenix 818 PRO/ 175hp Mercury Pro XS, 2 Helix 9s, Mega 360, Garmin 93sv, Livescope, Sea Clear harness.

  2. Member Wayne P.'s Avatar
    Join Date
    Jan 2010
    Location
    Charlottesville, VA
    Posts
    30,314
    #2
    You probably have a power button that sticks in the on position. Massage it some with no power connected so it centers in the cabinet hole better.
    Wayne Purdum
    Charlottesville, Va.
    Helix 12 CHIRP MEGA+ SI G3N/G4N, Helix 15 CHIRP MEGA SI+ GPS G4N
    SOLIX 12 SI/G3, Helix 8 CHIRP MEGA SI+ G4N, Ultrex 80/LINK, MEGA360,
    MEGA LIVE, LIVE TL

  3. Member
    Join Date
    Aug 2020
    Location
    Ste Genevieve, MO
    Posts
    92
    #3
    Well, it gets weirder... As I said, I just hooked up the power wire and the ground for the M360. Apparently, the black wire I tapped for ground isnt, since unplugging it allowed me to shut it off.. Hope I didnt fry the M360...

    And even running a direct ground to the battery, the helix isnt recognizing the M360. Frustrating..
    Last edited by teamroper60; 09-26-2021 at 02:08 PM.
    2021 Phoenix 818 PRO/ 175hp Mercury Pro XS, 2 Helix 9s, Mega 360, Garmin 93sv, Livescope, Sea Clear harness.

  4. Member
    Join Date
    Aug 2020
    Location
    Ste Genevieve, MO
    Posts
    92
    #4
    Update: I rechecked my power connections with the ground still temporarily connected straight to the battery. I also checked continuity to the power cord, where it plugs into the M360. Thats all good. I rechecked to make sure the transducer wiring is connected right and no pins were bent. Still not recognizing it on the helix... Im stumped. Does the 360 have to be in the deployed position for the helix to see it?
    Last edited by teamroper60; 09-26-2021 at 03:53 PM.
    2021 Phoenix 818 PRO/ 175hp Mercury Pro XS, 2 Helix 9s, Mega 360, Garmin 93sv, Livescope, Sea Clear harness.

  5. Member Wayne P.'s Avatar
    Join Date
    Jan 2010
    Location
    Charlottesville, VA
    Posts
    30,314
    #5
    Quote Originally Posted by teamroper60 View Post
    Update: I rechecked my power connections with the ground still temporarily connected straight to the battery. I also checked continuity to the power cord, where it plugs into the M360. Thats all good. I rechecked to make sure the transducer wiring is connected right and no pins were bent. Still not recognizing it on the helix... Im stumped. Does the 360 have to be in the deployed position for the helix to see it?
    The MEGA 360 is turned ON via the wet switch, it takes water or some other conductor to short out the wet switch.
    Until that happens, MEGA 360 is not detected
    When the MEGA 360 is detected, the Connected Transducer menu is changed to another set of choices all involving the MEGA 360.
    MEGA 360 by itself is the Default setting, you have to change that if another transducer is also connected via MEGA 360 Y cable.

    When a Restore Defaults is done, the unit forgets the MEGA 360 and that has to be done all over again.
    I just did a Restore Defaults with one of my units and connected the MEGA 360 and turned on their power, nothing happened with the MEGA 360 until I shorted the wet switch with a copper mesh pad, some use a wet towel or shiny penny.
    Wayne Purdum
    Charlottesville, Va.
    Helix 12 CHIRP MEGA+ SI G3N/G4N, Helix 15 CHIRP MEGA SI+ GPS G4N
    SOLIX 12 SI/G3, Helix 8 CHIRP MEGA SI+ G4N, Ultrex 80/LINK, MEGA360,
    MEGA LIVE, LIVE TL

  6. Member
    Join Date
    Aug 2020
    Location
    Ste Genevieve, MO
    Posts
    92
    #6
    Ok, thanks!
    2021 Phoenix 818 PRO/ 175hp Mercury Pro XS, 2 Helix 9s, Mega 360, Garmin 93sv, Livescope, Sea Clear harness.

  7. Member
    Join Date
    Aug 2020
    Location
    Ste Genevieve, MO
    Posts
    92
    #7
    Well, the pod is completely submerged and still not showing up as connected.. I checked that it is set to on to detect mega 360. Good lord this is frustrating...20210926_183352.jpg
    2021 Phoenix 818 PRO/ 175hp Mercury Pro XS, 2 Helix 9s, Mega 360, Garmin 93sv, Livescope, Sea Clear harness.

  8. Member
    Join Date
    Aug 2020
    Location
    Ste Genevieve, MO
    Posts
    92
    #8
    I tested the power at the plug that connects to the pod/pole and it definitely has power at the plug..
    2021 Phoenix 818 PRO/ 175hp Mercury Pro XS, 2 Helix 9s, Mega 360, Garmin 93sv, Livescope, Sea Clear harness.

  9. Member
    Join Date
    Jan 2017
    Location
    Georgia
    Posts
    325
    #9
    What is exact model Helix 9? What version software is installed?

    Quote Originally Posted by teamroper60 View Post
    Well, the pod is completely submerged and still not showing up as connected.. I checked that it is set to on to detect mega 360. Good lord this is frustrating...20210926_183352.jpg

  10. Member
    Join Date
    Aug 2020
    Location
    Ste Genevieve, MO
    Posts
    92
    #10
    The helix is a Helix 9 chirp mega di+ gps g4n

    Software version 2.480

    The mega 360 is connected to a XTM 9 HW T via a 9M360 2 DDI Y cable.
    2021 Phoenix 818 PRO/ 175hp Mercury Pro XS, 2 Helix 9s, Mega 360, Garmin 93sv, Livescope, Sea Clear harness.

  11. Member
    Join Date
    Aug 2020
    Location
    Ste Genevieve, MO
    Posts
    92
    #11
    Im beginning to suspect the y cable is bad.. Even though I am seeing temp, the connected transducer list doesnt show this transducer, at least not by model name. Should it? I know the helix 7 this replaced showed the model by name
    2021 Phoenix 818 PRO/ 175hp Mercury Pro XS, 2 Helix 9s, Mega 360, Garmin 93sv, Livescope, Sea Clear harness.

  12. Member
    Join Date
    Aug 2020
    Location
    Ste Genevieve, MO
    Posts
    92
    #12
    Also, is there a way to test output from the m360 transducer cable?
    2021 Phoenix 818 PRO/ 175hp Mercury Pro XS, 2 Helix 9s, Mega 360, Garmin 93sv, Livescope, Sea Clear harness.

  13. Member
    Join Date
    Aug 2013
    Location
    Warner Robins, GA
    Posts
    94
    #13
    With the M360 powered on and submerged, is the transducer head rotating (on)? You only need to lay a very wet rag/paper towel across the wet switch as Wayne said earlier to make it come on ( start rotating). The Helix will not detect it if its not rotating. Additionally, you can bypass the "Y" cable and plug the 360 or the external transducer directly to the Helix 9- does it detect either one that way? Good luck.

  14. Member
    Join Date
    Aug 2020
    Location
    Ste Genevieve, MO
    Posts
    92
    #14
    No, the head is not rotating. I am guessing the wet switch is tge 2 copper pieces on too of the pod?

    I havent tried connecting it directly, that is my next step as it would eliminate the y-cable as a source of the issue
    2021 Phoenix 818 PRO/ 175hp Mercury Pro XS, 2 Helix 9s, Mega 360, Garmin 93sv, Livescope, Sea Clear harness.

  15. Member
    Join Date
    Aug 2013
    Location
    Warner Robins, GA
    Posts
    94
    #15
    The wet switch are on top of the pod, two small silver dots.
    I also recommend you install the latest Helix 9 software version 2.660 located here:
    "
    https://www.humminbird.com/support/software-updates/HELIX-9-CHIRP-MEGA-DI-PLUS-GPS-G4N-v-2-660".

  16. Member
    Join Date
    Aug 2020
    Location
    Ste Genevieve, MO
    Posts
    92
    #16
    If the head has to turn for it to be recognize the 360, it sounds like the issue is in the power or the wet switch. I will have to look a little closer at those.
    2021 Phoenix 818 PRO/ 175hp Mercury Pro XS, 2 Helix 9s, Mega 360, Garmin 93sv, Livescope, Sea Clear harness.

  17. Member
    Join Date
    Aug 2013
    Location
    Warner Robins, GA
    Posts
    94
    #17
    The M360 has to rotate (powered on and working) before the Helix will recognize it. Then you will have Mega 360 sonar options displayed under connected transducer and it will show up under your Accessory view as Connected. Some folks have said they needed to clean (Dawn dish soap??) their wet switches to get their 360 to work, I did not and have had mine for over 18 months. My M360 is wired to my "A" accessory power switch located under my front bow panel on my 2004 Ranger 519, that way I can easily control power to it separate from my Helix 12 Mega DI G3 and my Ultrex with built-in Mega DI transducer.

  18. Member
    Join Date
    Aug 2020
    Location
    Ste Genevieve, MO
    Posts
    92
    #18
    I put a wet paper towel on the wet switch and can hear a faint noise coming from it, (almost a whistling sort of sound) but it isnt turning. Its not a grinding noise or anything of that nature. It continued after I took the towel off of it. I noticed the head seems to be "engaged" with something when the noise is present. When I turn power off to it, the noise stops and the head appears to be free, so it must be getting power..

    I am updating the helix's software now but since the head isnt turning, I dont expect a different result.
    Last edited by teamroper60; 09-26-2021 at 09:48 PM.
    2021 Phoenix 818 PRO/ 175hp Mercury Pro XS, 2 Helix 9s, Mega 360, Garmin 93sv, Livescope, Sea Clear harness.

  19. Member
    Join Date
    Aug 2013
    Location
    Warner Robins, GA
    Posts
    94
    #19
    Sent you a Private Message with an offer to help via phone tomorrow if you would like.

  20. Member
    Join Date
    Aug 2020
    Location
    Ste Genevieve, MO
    Posts
    92
    #20
    I got it and replied. Thank you!
    2021 Phoenix 818 PRO/ 175hp Mercury Pro XS, 2 Helix 9s, Mega 360, Garmin 93sv, Livescope, Sea Clear harness.

Page 1 of 2 12 LastLast