Console electronics down help with fuse or circuit panel check

Hello I have a 2021 Ranger z521L w/ 300. I've had an ongoing issue where the console electronics (15" Humminbird SI) reboots when I start the engine at every fishing spot. I've also noticed the Humminbird will lose the ability to detect the Lake Master map card. I was told I needed a more powerful crank battery. I also have a 12" Solix DI and a Garmin Panoptix at the bow so I assumed that was right. I just installed an Odessy Expreme crank battery. The reboot issue on the 15" Solix was better the first time I went out but yesterday it was doing it again, also lost sight of my map card (had to pull it out and put it back in to recover) and then I hit a wave and the Solix unit just shut down and never turned back on. I have a wall outlet power adapter in my home and the Solix unit seems to be working fine so now I'm thinking I have a wiring issue with the console electronics. I found this attached page in the manual. Does anyone know where the fuse box is on this boat or if there is not one what I need to do to test the power to my console electronics? I tried to put a tester on the Solix power adapter that connects to my wall outlet (see pic) thinking I could try to replicate the same on the boat but my reader was not displaying a number (might be user error). Before I take it to C&C would like to resolve anything easy myself if anyone has a suggestion. Thanks 925-784-1387

The resolution on that diagram is very low, but if I am reading it right you have 12g feeding your bow. That is not enough to feed what you have up front. I don't know where you batteries are but the Solix at the Bow needs 12g just to feed it, and many say to go bigger than that to prevent issues.

I am not having issues with my bow electronics. The issue is with the right console electronics. Before buying the battery, i did confirm with the service manager who sold me this boat the new Rangers have dedicated 12g wiring for the bow and console electronics.

After some trial and error I was able to determine which pin holes are ground and hot. With the Humminbird wall outlet adapter I got a 12V charge in the hot hole. None of the other holes were hot. On the boat, I only got 6.7 VDC. Does anyone know what this means? Bad wiring or other? It makes sense the V are too low given how the Solix has been behaving.

I had the similar issues with my Ranger Electronic at the consul Like you. I have a 16 Lowrance live and it was a bitch to get it to power up and sometime it would lock up or just shut down. I tried many things and talked to a lot of elec. gurus. I finally did a direct wire to the battery and everything is good. I have no more problems with it. Form what I learned boat MFG are not adding the correct size wiring to provide adequate power to todays bigger electronic and multiple screen that a lot of are now using. IMO your best option is to run a power supply 10-12 gauge wire direct to battery to the graph.
Ranger 2018 520L

I installed a dedicated 12 ga marine grade wire directly from my battery to the dash and bow and it wasn't really enough. Last summer I replaced it for 10 gauge and I have not had any problems. I have a HDS 12 at dash and bow. A 16 is going to draw even more power. I have heard some manufacturers are installing an 8 ga or even 6 ga wire for electronics on new boats (Vexus? if I heard right).
There are a couple of companies out there that manufacture pre made wiring harnesses that may be the easiest for you to install since they are plug and play. They are not cheap but are very well made.
https://sonarproselectronics.com/dedicated-wire-harness
https://connect-ease.com/

:popcorn:

Yes, we just had a thread closed 10 days ago due to persistent disagreement among forum members on the best approach to low voltage problems. Brad’s memory is apparently in good shape. In summary, the methods most commonly mentioned are: stronger battery or batteries, new/larger wire direct to battery, aftermarket wiring harness. The correct answer in such situations usually is the one that works for you.

Pull the console plate, behind it you'll find 2 battery posts with #6 coming from the main breaker. There your FF's are tapped off with inline fuses. BUT (screwed up in my book), they tap with a #10 then split off to both console and bow.
On mine I changed it so each taps off the post with each leg having it's own inline fuse.

I am working with the servicemanager to test more wires before deciding to drive the boat to him for a closer look. These two wires I marked with a white circle connect to the humminbird power cable. I tested the power module pins and got 12v and thought the issue must be the wires leading to the Humminbird power adapter but they checkout out fine but when I tested the power module pins a second time they read 6v. So it has to be the wires leading to the console which are 12g or a short in the battery area.

Attachment 432981

Looks like they connected your units through the Acc switches instead of 'on' all the time. (orange wires are typically the accessory switch load wires)
If it were me, I'd connect them to the battery posts and let the main switch turn the power on and off.

I would check a couple more things if the problem is still persisting. The wires coming into that terminal block look to be a 10 gauge wire that feeds all those connections. I assume that there you have 12 v and it is pretty good. Next thing I would check is that you have a good 12v at the first side of the fuse terminal. Next thing I would do is with the fuse plugged in you check to see if there is 12 v on the other lug of the fuse. There is a little opening on the back side of a blade fuse where you can probe with a multimeter. Next would be to check the pins again on the cable that connects to the Hummingbird. I think that what I would wonder is that there may be some corrosion in the fuse area or where you connection is made from the red wire off the terminal block to the power cable for the device which is causing a low voltage issue. If this is a crimped or twisted connection it definitely could cause issues. I would try soldering these connections if you could. I could also be reasonable t check the grounds and make sure those connections are good. A bad ground connection could also cause the lower voltage. A good 12v with a bad ground would definitely read in the 6 v range.

If you go the direct wire off the battery make sure you include a good in-line fuse and solder those connections with some heat shrink over that connection.

My issue seems to be resolved. Wish I had some smart solution to share. I noticed the power module was testing 12v even though the Hummingbird power cable was not. I just reseeded the source positive and ground wire TO the power module and the problem went away. No issues fishing 8 hours on Saturday. Thanks for all the suggestions. The service manager said if I ran a dedicated line the on off switch would not work right not sure I want to go there.

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Originally Posted by grhodes674

My issue seems to be resolved. Wish I had some smart solution to share. I noticed the power module was testing 12v even though the Hummingbird power cable was not. I just reseeded the source positive and ground wire TO the power module and the problem went away. No issues fishing 8 hours on Saturday. Thanks for all the suggestions. The service manager said if I ran a dedicated line the on off switch would not work right not sure I want to go there.

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:thumb up2:

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Originally Posted by jstbass

I had the similar issues with my Ranger Electronic at the consul Like you. I have a 16 Lowrance live and it was a bitch to get it to power up and sometime it would lock up or just shut down. I tried many things and talked to a lot of elec. gurus. I finally did a direct wire to the battery and everything is good. I have no more problems with it. Form what I learned boat MFG are not adding the correct size wiring to provide adequate power to todays bigger electronic and multiple screen that a lot of are now using. IMO your best option is to run a power supply 10-12 gauge wire direct to battery to the graph.
Ranger 2018 520L

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No need for this Ranger for 2021 has already did it for you. They already have dedicated 6 gauge wires running to console and front with 30 amp breaker in the back.

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Originally Posted by bass.man65

No need for this Ranger for 2021 has already did it for you. They already have dedicated 6 gauge wires running to console and front with 30 amp breaker in the back.

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Ranger does not run a dedicated 6 gauge wire to the front. It's a 12 gauge wire as depicted on schematic posted by grhodes674. I would suggest you have a loose connection on your console unit. I would also suggest you remove your bow panel and examine the wires to the terminal strip. If you have the 12 gauge wires as shown on schematic, you have issues. The Ranger OEM 12 gauge wires are sized for 1 bow unit, grossly undersize for 2 units. Garmin requires 8 Gauge wire on 20 ft. run.

Does anyone have a suggestion for re-wiring help in the 94551 area?

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Originally Posted by electritek

Ranger does not run a dedicated 6 gauge wire to the front. It's a 12 gauge wire as depicted on schematic posted by grhodes674. I would suggest you have a loose connection on your console unit. I would also suggest you remove your bow panel and examine the wires to the terminal strip. If you have the 12 gauge wires as shown on schematic, you have issues. The Ranger OEM 12 gauge wires are sized for 1 bow unit, grossly undersize for 2 units. Garmin requires 8 Gauge wire on 20 ft. run.

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You are 100 % wrong I just got done rigging a 2021 521L for a tour pro and it is already wired with 6 gauge wire as a matter a fact it is in the picture on post 10 and that is run on it's own 30 amp breaker.

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Originally Posted by bass.man65

You are 100 % wrong I just got done rigging a 2021 521L for a tour pro and it is already wired with 6 gauge wire as a matter a fact it is in the picture on post 10 and that is run on it's own 30 amp breaker.

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You are partially correct. There is a 6 gauge wire landed on the 30 amp breaker and it goes directly to the console terminal board. From that connection forward to the bow terminal board it's a 12 gauge wire as depicted in schematic. I have had a 2018 521 L and presently have a 2020 521 L. Electrical schematic is very accurate, it clearly shows a 12 gauge wire. If an owner wishes to add a second graph on front deck, a 12 gauge wire is insufficient.

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Originally Posted by grhodes674

Does anyone have a suggestion for re-wiring help in the 94551 area?

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If you aren't really handy with electrical issues you might post on Garmin sonar forum. JR19 pretty much has a handle on wiring issues.