I need a favor from an IClass owner

[John Hagins]

Please turn on your power button and then turn on your nav lights and tell me if the light on the power button goes dim. When I turn on any accessory the power light stays bright, but when I turn on the nav lights the power light and the fuel indicator red lights dim a lot. You don't even need to put in the the bow or stern light just hit the nav button.

I recently fished a night tournament and my Optima battery went dead in about 2 hours. But in a day event I have no problem.

I think there might be a short in the light system.

Thanks, John.

[Skeeter Madness]

Mine does not do that John. I think you do have an issue going on.

[phillic]

I think I may have the same problem. My motor battery runs down fairly quick between charges and now the 4th bank on my charger ( motor battery ) is out. My main power system will also sometimes throw the breaker when I turn the lights on. I'm thinking whatever is going on also contributed to the charger going out. I recently fished a tourn and each time I would crank the motor it would kill the power to my live wells ( not good ) . It turned out to be the motor battery was drained and taking all the power to crank it . Definitely something wrong

[W.O.T]

Do you have GPS? someone said that its power is always on... the other thing is the security alarm, is it always drawing power as well?

[Skeeter Madness]

I was having a similar issue until I changed the starting battery to a 800 CCA (1100 MCA) battery. No longer any issues.

[phillic]

yes I do have the GPS system and the security as well but I normally do not "arm" it. I'm wondering how the GPS could drain the system with the power off?? Good thought, . My power light does go dim when the lights are turned on..Maybe a stronger battery is the solution as suggested ?? I guess I'll try that before I do anything else since there are no dealers in my area. Thanks

[John Hagins]

Don, I have the Optima D31M which has 900CCA but I don't understand why the power light dims when I turn in my NAV lights. And like I said originally, that is without the bow or stern lights installed; only the dash itself.

I can turn on both sonar units (w/GPS) and my courtesy lights and the power switch light doesn't dim at all.

But when I turn on the NAV lights (by themselves) the power switch light dims.

I have no power issues during the day, just at night??

John.

[Skeeter Madness]

I guess maybe I'm just lucky John. Wish I could help you more, but I'm out of ideas.

[basstrix]

John,

I have 20-i and the backlights on the keypad or nor any other lights change when I activate the nav lights.....with or without the nav lights installed. Sounds like you've definitely got an issue somewhere in the circuit.

Regards,
BT

[Doug Vahrenberg]

I checked with my contacts at Skeeter and here is what they told me: This is normal; we have it set so that when operating at night, using the nav lights, the L.E.D. lights on the switches are dimmed when the nav light switch is on so as to not be so bright and hurt your night vision. Just like the dial on the radio in your truck dims when you turn on the headlights.

This might keep you from making a wasted trip to your dealer.

[ChrisH]

makes sense. i have to turn the backlight all the way down on my GPS so i dont blind myself while im fishing at night

[John Hagins]

Good information, thanks Doug!!! You're right, it will save me a trip to the dealer!!

John.