Computer/electrics experts?

fisherman

fisherman

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My onboard computer displays all sorts of capricious behaviour, some not amusing, which could not be duplicated by the repair people ashore. If it is a power supply problem, can I clean it up? 24volt.
 
Can it be cleaned up. Yes. but as the previous poster has stated without a few more clues we are in the dark so to speak.

What computer.
What power arrangements
what problems and under what circumstances and can you reproduce it aboard
 
It's a shuttle, with 24v psu, running maxsea 2d /3d bathymetric wossname. Sometimes it says it was not shut down properly, (it's a liar), sometimes on switch on it acts as if I'm left clicking all over the screen, even after unplugging the mouse and keyboard. It was at the repair shop for a long time, they could not make it go wrong, so I wonder if my power is 'dirty' in some way, it comes off my main service batteries via consumer unit and MCB. Aha! I think it shares the mcb with something else, could be a cause?
 
Do you have a GPS connected? The "clicking all over the screen" problem is a common fault with some (usually USB) GPS receivers. Windows sometimes thinks it is a 'Pointing Device' (like a Mouse) with the result observed. This can usually be fixed by unplugging and replugging the GPS. If not, then disconnect the GPS and go into Device Manager and disable the rogue pointing device (but not your touchpad (or mouse)).
Once you have got the machine working properly, don't Shutdown each time, use Hibernate and then all your settings are saved 'as is' rather than starting again each time you start up.
 
I'm with JollyRoger on this - unlikely to be a power issue, and more likely hardware. Unlike Jolly Roger, I would be inclined to uninstall the mouse/touchpad, and the GPS, and let it find them again.

Uninstall and install separately, GPS first. After uninstalling the GPS, and leaving it disconnected, see how things go. If it behaves, you've found the problem. Reinstalling the GPS will either sort things out, or give the same problem.... but at least you will know what it is, and can report back.

When you look in Device Manager, keep an eye out for yellow question marks, (might be exclamation marks). These suggest that something isnt installed properly, so should be uninstalled to let windows find it again.

Might be worth looking in device manager first to see how the GPS and mouse/touchpad are installed, and for any yellow question marks, then report back.

Richard
 
We had a similar problem on my last vessel - and that was a Wheelmark system costing £'000s. The only answer we could find was to let the PC side boot up first so it detected the mouse as normal and then turn the GPS on.

W.
 
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I would be inclined to uninstall the mouse/touchpad, and the GPS, and let it find them again.

[/ QUOTE ]

I think you will have serious problems doing anything else if you uninstall the touchpad (or mouse), unless you are very familiar with all the necessary keyboard shortcuts to control the cursor!
 
Aha again. The GPS is connected via an opto lead, but the sounder comes in through an opto adaptor to USB, the datastream from either probably pulses at the same rate as the screen 'clicks'. It has been suggested I should install the card for another opto input: still waiting for the supplier to get back to me. I'll have a grope round in device manager as well. Of course the repair people did not have the GPS or sounder, neither do I to run it at home.
 
"Of course the repair people did not have the GPS or sounder, neither do I to run it at home. "

clearly suggests that one of these is the problem, (but with computers, what is clear is not always the case /forums/images/graemlins/smile.gif )
 
Thanks everyone, next time it happens I'll switch off things til it stops, and ring the supplier again for the opto lead input. They claim to know this system, but could only suggest a mouse or keyboard problem.
 
I have just bought & installed a Shuttle PC (X27D - v low power dual core Atom). I was worried about spikes and voltage fluctuations, so I bought a power conditioner meant for car PCs (http://linitx.com/viewproduct.php?prodid=10754). Cars present a similarly dirty supply as boats - huge inductive loads causing brown outs and big voltage spikes. This is for 12V systems - I don't know whether 24V ones are available.
So far, so good.
It also powers a separate set of USB ports I use for high power wi-fi and wireless broadband adapters, and manages start-up and shut down elegantly.
 
In 6 years, I've never had a problem with a laptop on a boat which was due to power problems. I have had them plugged into modified sine wave invertors, and 12v sockets, so I dont think it could get much worse.

Having said that, I suppose someone will come along and say that all I am doing is charging the batteries, and the batteries are providing the power... MMM!
 
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