Matsutech HP33A

[greeny]

I appear to be having a problem with mine because it switches itself off after an undetermined amount of time. Certainly more than 20 mins and when i come back to it, it has turned itself off. It will turn back on again as normal but then does it again. It didn't do this when it was originally installed last year so something has changed. I can't find any power save type settings that would do this and don't understand why there would be any as the unit needs to be on and stay on until you turn it off.
I seem to remember some mention of this on the forums a few months ago but can't find anything.
Can anyone else remember anything or is anyone else having similar problems?
Greeny

Ok just found the post i was looking for with a google search.
I'd be interested if anyone else is reporting similar problems and any suggested fixes though.

 

[Yngmar]

The HP-33A has a input voltage display in one of its screens. Worth checking it's not just failing connection/cabling somewhere, as that would be the most likely cause.

I think Jumbleduck had a similar issue with his though. Ours has been fine and has been on most of summer (we always leave it on when anchored, unless we're trying to avoid attracting a crowd).

 

[JumbleDuck]

That message was not deleted by Jumbleduck. It was deleted by the stupid tablet interface, which interprets a tap anywhere on the edit screen as "delete this now". I'll repost tomorrow from a real computer.

 

[JumbleDuck]

Back in civilisation.

The problem with mine was not that it would switch off at random intervals, but that it would switch on at random intervals. These got shorter and shorter until it would switch itself on almost as soon as power was applied. After some investigation I established that it would actually switch itself on every time the power supply went from "off" to "on" and that thanks to a dicky connection it was flickering on and off all the time. Never off for long enough to stop the HP-33A work, but long enough to trigger its unwanted power-up.

Fixing the connection cured that, though having to power it up after a switch off by cycling the main power supply (like the VHF the GPS is fused but not switched) was a minor irritation. Then it started getting weirder and weirder and is now no use at all.

 

[greeny]

Back in civilisation.

The problem with mine was not that it would switch off at random intervals, but that it would switch on at random intervals. These got shorter and shorter until it would switch itself on almost as soon as power was applied. After some investigation I established that it would actually switch itself on every time the power supply went from "off" to "on" and that thanks to a dicky connection it was flickering on and off all the time. Never off for long enough to stop the HP-33A work, but long enough to trigger its unwanted power-up.

Fixing the connection cured that, though having to power it up after a switch off by cycling the main power supply (like the VHF the GPS is fused but not switched) was a minor irritation. Then it started getting weirder and weirder and is now no use at all.

Thanks for that, it seems I'm back to the basics then.
I'll check the supply connections as suggested as that would cause the fault I've got. I've recently re-hashed the supply bus and switching to the navigation equipment so would be surprised if it is that, but you never know, maybe I introduced a dodgy connection along the way.
After that it'll be looking at the software version etc etc. but don't really understand how needing a software upgrade would cause the fault I've got, considering it was working OK originally on the software installed.

 

[JumbleDuck]

After that it'll be looking at the software version etc etc. but don't really understand how needing a software upgrade would cause the fault I've got, considering it was working OK originally on the software installed.

I don't know whether a firmware upgrade would help me either, but it seems worth trying in case an EEPROM is slowly losing its marbles. However, since the makers flatly refused to supply firmware, I haven't been able to check the notion.

 

[greeny]

Success!
Checked the power connections I'd so carefully remade a few weeks ago and couldn't find any obvious problems but decided to remake them anyway. Wonderful, it doesn't shut down any more. There must have been a dodgy connection somewhere around he fuse block connections I think. Maybe breaking continuity at times when vibration or movement near the chart table caused it to fail. Anyway, hopefully it's fixed now.