Furuno Radar Problem

[asteven221]

I've got an old (circa 1987) Furuno radar. I am not sure of the exact model but it's a CRT job with a 24 nautical mile range. I think it's quite a common model as I have seen loads of others that look the same on numerous boats. It has always worked perfectly until a couple of weeks ago. I switched it on and it went through the countdown i.e. warm up, pressed scan to activate the radar and everything lit up as normal except there was no radar scanning taking place. Has anyone any advice on how I should go about trouble shooting it? I am pretty good with electronics, but know sod all about radar technology. Also I don't want to cook myself testing it!! Should I just bite the bullet and replace it? It has always been perfectly adequate and accurate so if it's something simple it seems a waste to through it in the bin. Any advice will be appreciated.

 

[ChrisP]

The system has 2 video cables between the scanner and the display. It's very comon for one of these cables to develope a bad connection. Could be at either end. Don't just look at them, actualy remake the connections. Both are coax cables and simple to do. Make sure you cut enough back to ensure that the plug is connecting to clean cable conductor.
This is done with the set off so the only frying should be the bacon in the galley.

 

[oldgit]

Any cop with soldering iron? (Worth a look)

Had same type of problem.The cure in my case was to remove radome cover.Inside is pcb where connecting cable terminates.Most of the many solder joints had broken away from pcb.Very obvious under magnifying glass.Well worth a quick look.Pcb was resoldered in situ,cos of all work needed to take of boat.
Suspect vibration of radar scanner head caused the damaged solder joints.

 

[davedpc]

Fried to a Crisp eh! Dave.

 

[stelican]

I have a furuno 1830 system which has a main component failure in the scanner the magnatron is ok I am going to split for parts any help?

 

[Forty_Two]

Had a similar prob with my 1830 four years ago, turned out to be the scanner motor. Take the radome off & check it is rotating. Greenham Marine can supply or fit a replacement, not hugly expensive.

 

[asteven221]

Thanks for the advice. I can't recall there being co-ax. The cable is a pretty thick multicore with a large oblong (about the size of a scart plug) plug at the display end. I think that the dodgy connection advice is probably close to the route of the problem given the amount of cables in the multicore and the rather long route from the lower helm to the radar arch. Now that I think about it I think the previous owner made a joint in it so that's possibly the first area to look at. Again. Thanks to everyone for their help.

 

[asteven221]

Thanks for the offer. I will find out the model and if it turns out that I need parts I will be in touch. Cheers.

 

[Viscount]

I've a 1720 with a fault in the radome - told it is magnetron and "mod" board - cost of both new make it silly to consider fixing. Would the bits from the 1830 be compatible do you know?

 

[asteven221]

Re: Any cop with soldering iron? (Worth a look)

Thanks for the advice. Stripped it down this weekend and found a broken connection as you suggested it might be. Well pleased as I have just saved myself a good few bob.

 

[gilly]

Hi ,

Yesterday I was helping a friend with a 'dead' radar - Furuno 1830.

As I'm a 'sparky' I thought I'd take a quick look.

On first inspection the 10A fuse on the back had blown.

Now every time you replace the fuse and switch the power on you get a short whistle (like the screens comming up) then pop the fuse goes.

Knowing nothing about radars I'm a bit stuck !

I have checked the obvious like the dome part turns freely and had a quick look at the circuit boards inside the monitor part. But nothing jumped out as a short circuit cause

Any ideas would be gratefully receieved.

Also I would like to know what / where the 'scanner' cable goes / is !

And can you power the radar up with this unplugged and the larger radar cable , as then I could rule out these two external parts ?

Hope you can help as this forum certainly seems the place to find out.

Thanks in advance

Paul

 

[Sunseekerinspain]

I have the exact same problem as below and wondered if anyone knows the problem / fix?

HR][/HR]

Hi ,

Yesterday I was helping a friend with a 'dead' radar - Furuno 1830.

As I'm a 'sparky' I thought I'd take a quick look.

On first inspection the 10A fuse on the back had blown.

Now every time you replace the fuse and switch the power on you get a short whistle (like the screens comming up) then pop the fuse goes.

Knowing nothing about radars I'm a bit stuck !

I have checked the obvious like the dome part turns freely and had a quick look at the circuit boards inside the monitor part. But nothing jumped out as a short circuit cause

Any ideas would be gratefully receieved.

Also I would like to know what / where the 'scanner' cable goes / is !

And can you power the radar up with this unplugged and the larger radar cable , as then I could rule out these two external parts ?

Hope you can help as this forum certainly seems the place to find out.

Thanks in advance

Paul