Random depth numbers on Raymarine ST60 Tridata

[Subversion]

Hi all, this is my first post here, and of course I have an issue and no solution. I do post a lot on Hisse et Oh, French speaking forum, but can't manage to find a solution for this particular issue, maybe you guys could help me:

I'm experimenting some issues with the depth on my Raymarine ST60 Tridata.
My Raymarine setup consists in:
- 1 ST60 Tridata
- 1 ST60 Wind
- 1 ST4000+ (tiller), linked with Geonav 4C GPS

My boat is a 1993 Gib’sea 302 Plus

Here’s the full story. Since I bought the boat, depth never worked, showing «DEPTH --- « without blinking (boat in and out of the water, same issue).

- I thought it was the old airmar through hull transducer or the old wiring to the screen (since I couldn't hear the transducer ticking), so I just replaced everything with a new airmar P79 inhull transducer and complete new wiring up to the screen (a 5pin connector is originally mounted on the wire). Wire length is 14 meters.

- I glued the new tranducer with silicone to the bottom of my GRP hull far ahead the keel. The echo zone on the hull is all clean, no silicone leftovers in the field.
- I filled the pot with olive oil and fastened the transducer. It should be enough oil since it poured when I fastened the transducer to the pot.
- The 5 pin connectors on the wire seems properly connected and secured.
- The excess of wire (+-10 meters) is rolled 50cm away from the transducer.
- The 3 spades seem properly secured on the screen. The 3 connectors seem perfectly clean.

This is what I get(transducer fastened in the pot, tranducer in a water bucket, transducer in the water close to the boat (knowing that depth is 2,30 meters at this exact place):

When I turn the electronics on:
- At first, «DEPTH ---« appears, without blinking
- After 5-10 minutes a crazy number appears, like «DEPTH 96,20 meters» without blinking
- 30 sec/1 minute after, the number freezes and DEPTH starts blinking.
- After +-30 minutes, the number will drop (example 30,20m, still far away from the reality) and re-freeze, with DEPTH blinking.

WHEN I TURN THE ELECTRONICS ON AND DON’T WAIT FOR A NUMBER TO APPEAR:
- If I try to unplug the 5 pin connectoir on the wire, the 3 dashes will be replaced by changing numbers (changing every second, still crazy figures…70m, 90m, 80m…), DEPTH not blinking.

- When I replug the 5pin connector: After like 20 sec, the number will freeze and DEPTH will blink again.

Offset value is on zero.

Any idea where to start?

Thanks in advance,
Julien

 

[RichardS]

Have you contacted Raymarine?

Richard

 

[Rafiki]

crazy numbers appearing , especially if they count down or up can be the result of static electricity.
If you rub the screen with a cloth does it give a sensible reading?
Are you using the correct Seatalk cable to provide the power to the instrument?
Do you still have the original thru hull fitting? If so you could try buying a new thru hull transducer, or buy a second-hand one which you know is working and you know works with ST60........ by chance I have one I'm selling on ebay, if you contact me then maybe we could agree a price but before sending it to you I would rig it up on my ST60 to prove it works and send you a photo, but cant do that until the end of next week.

 

[earlybird]

Is the new transducer ticking, by holding close to your ear or light feel with finger-tips? If not then I would suspect a fault in the instrument head.
Further thought; is a log transducer also connected? If not, the log/speed section will function only as a slave device, but I'm unsure if this would affect the Tridata depth section.
As a slave, it would be looking for data on the seatalk bus from another insrument. Might be worth trying.

 

[Subversion]

Hi Guys, thanks for your answers:
- RichardS: No, I've not contacted Raymarine yet
- Onia: If I can't find the issue on Saturday, I'll get back to you. At this point I suspect inferences of some sort: a long part of the wire is rolled, then runs close to the fridge compressor, goes up to the chart table with some electrical wires, 10cm away from the 12/220v converter and the solar panel regulator, then the cable runs at the back of the chart table close to the CP player, VHF, Navtex, then runs into the ceiling with the other ray marine wires up to the instruments in the cockpit.
- earlybird: your suggestion is my second option. the new transducer including new wiring does not tick, and I had the same issue with the old transducer and wiring. So I'll also check all the sea talk connections to ensure they look clean. The only depth/speed device is my Tridata. I will check if it's in master mode just to be sure, but I assume speed would not work if it was in slave mode. On the other hand, a former boss told me to never assume anything...

 

[Rafiki]

Try reducing the length of the wire from the transducer to the instrument ( but do leave some spare), however if it is the proper wire provided by Airmar it should be shielded and not suffer from interference, after all in most boats wires run very close together in conduits.