radar - chartplotter power drawn. Switch?

Billjratt

Billjratt

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I'm measuring (Avo-8) the power consumed by a Garmin 4008 with GPS and 18HD radar attached.
0.9 amps for plotter/gps under normal chart use.
2.1 amps with the radar on standby.
3.2 amps with the radar transmitting.
So, I can halve the power used on standby (at the cost of a longer startup) by fitting a switch in the radome power cable. Anyone else done this or have an issue?
I normally don't have the current (Kelvin-Hughes Kingfisher) radar on until I need it for assessing other traffic or poor vis. and would like to do the same with the replacement, while still using the chart functions.
 
I stand to be corrected, but surely you do not need a switch for this, as the Garmin radar is by default off. A software function warms it up to standby and you then press a function to make it transmit.

By putting a switch in you take it off standby so would have to go through warmup again. If you want to draw less current use the Garmin unit to turn the radar off.
 
I'm not clear as to what the objective is, and feel uncomfortable about your trying to reduce 'power' through an in-line switch in the radar cable.

Reduction of power (amps) to an electronic component will result in that component just not working, and will be quite difficult to make happen.

If you mean switching off the current in-line , what is that going to achieve ? You might as well not switch it on at the normal switch.

Where does the 'less power' = "longer start-up" suggestion come from ?

Or have I missed something please ?
 
Yes, you'e both missed the point.
The radar is ON by default (but not transmitting). In this mode, it takes 1.1 amps or so. This is normal standby, with the magnetron warmed ready for instant activation.
NO the switch is not for a resistor it is to disconnect the radome from the power supply totally, thus saving the standby current. I did stipulate that I was prepared to accept a long startup.
When the radome is powered off, the display senses the loss of ethernet data and presents a window with an "accept" button, and radar options disappear from the Menu tabs.
It automatically detects the ethernet activity when power is restored and offers the usual radar options.
In order for the radar to be fully controlled by the display, there would need to be a relay inside and the power drawn from the display rather than the common powerbus as at present.
From a technical point of view, radar is just an optional extra, like fishfinder,ais etc.etc. There's no reason for it to affect anything, I just can't believe that I'm the first person to be annoyed at the waste of battery power when sailing.
Having re-read this thread, it looks as if I need another switch panel with individual circuits for each device instead of the basic "instruments" which does the lot, and it needs to be at the wheel instead of at the chart table. Is that your solution too?
 
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after that explanation, I see what you want to do and understand. It's not a reduction of power, it's switching off, and that makes sense. I wonder if breaking into the cable is the best answer for the new ON/OFF switch - perhaps where the supply is taken off the bus bar ?
 
I am really confused, but you guys seem to understand this so could you please explain.

I have a Garmin radar setup as well. When I turn the plotter on , I have just a plotter I assumed. If I want radar I have to press another button on the garmin unit. This powers up the radar but puts it in standby. Once it has warmed up I then have to press something else to make it transmit. When I want it to stop transmitting I can put it to standby or turn it completely off.

How is a switch anywhere going to improve this? Surely off draws no power, standby draws a little more, and on draws the most?

Thanks in advance.
 
SolentBoy said:
I am really confused, but you guys seem to understand this so could you please explain.

I have a Garmin radar setup as well. When I turn the plotter on , I have just a plotter I assumed. If I want radar I have to press another button on the garmin unit. This powers up the radar but puts it in standby. Once it has warmed up I then have to press something else to make it transmit. When I want it to stop transmitting I can put it to standby or turn it completely off.

How is a switch anywhere going to improve this? Surely off draws no power, standby draws a little more, and on draws the most?

Thanks in advance.
Click to expand...

The 4008 doesn't work that way - as soon as the radar senses power on the Garmin network, it warms up and goes into Standby.

Which Garmin units do you have?
 
Hi,

I do have a similiar setup on my new boa:. Garmin 5008 and Garmin 18HD radar.
Actually the ethernet cable is separate from the power cable and the radar must be connected directly to the power.
When you switch-on the chartplotter, the radar goes through a warm-up sequence and then remains in stand-by.
I too think this is completely unnecessary, just a waste of energy. ;)

On my special request I got a separate switch on the radar power cable installed by the boat builder (boat is just beeing finished and will be dipped into the water next week) to overcome this problem.
When you have a look into the Garmin manual it acutally states that a connected radar will be warmed up and put into stand-by when you switch the chart plotter on.
I think Snooks from the forum here has the same setup and he reported in one thread that in 80% of the time the chartplotter will recognise the radar when switched on later. In the other 20% one must re-power the chartplotter which seems fair enough for me as I will use the radar very rarely.

For the above reasons I will have the same switch setup for my separate AIS unit as I do not need this information when I am racing around the cans... ;)

regards,
jow
 
At the risk of stating blooming obvious I assume there really is no way to switch it off completely via the plotter ?

I only ask because Raymarine works exactly the same way on startup but C80 has option to switch off rather than leave in standby
 
PembrokeshirePromise said:
At the risk of stating blooming obvious I assume there really is no way to switch it off completely via the plotter ?
Click to expand...

Apparently not, according to the manual.

PembrokeshirePromise said:
I only ask because Raymarine works exactly the same way on startup but C80 has option to switch off rather than leave in standby
Click to expand...

Does it? On my C-series, I have to manually turn the radar on, it doesn't automatically come on with the plotter.
 
pvb said:
Does it? On my C-series, I have to manually turn the radar on, it doesn't automatically come on with the plotter.
Click to expand...

Mine automatically starts in standby mode - pretty sure.
I can then switch it off to save power or switch it on to use. It costs c. 2amps to be in standby from memory - so I try and remember to switch it off if I know I don't want it.
 
It seems I have misunderstood the way mine works. Having looked at the manual in detail, mine is in standby as well!

I am going to take a different approach though. On several occasions where I have found a feature that was missing (especially if Raymarine had it) I have passed the info to Garmins support team and they have added the feature in their next software update. These update come out quite regularly.

I shall do the same with this one and hopefully they will make "go to standby at power up" an option rather than the default.
 
Billjratt said:
Good response from Garmin support group : most customers have the devices on separate breakers anyway, so no groundbreaking stuff here.
Click to expand...

I sent the suggestion to Garmin Europe. The reply I got was that they thought it was a good idea for the sailing marketplace, and would pass it on to the development team.
 
My Gramin radar is has a seperate switch on its power feed from my switch panel. No issues. When I switch it on the 3006c plotter recognises it.

Keeps the power consumption low.

Go for it.

chris
 
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