Raymarine Rl70C pathfinder

[sailaboutvic]

My RL 70C plotter works fine for day at time weeks but now and then when turned on the screen goes blank or lines run in and down the screen ,some time just by turning it off and on a few times it will start to work again , other times turning it off for a while will bring it back to life .
I've checked the leads on the back and all seems ok .
Anyone else had this problem ?

 

[duncan99210]

Vic, the problem lies with the edge connector that provides the signal to the screen. I had the same problem and bought a replacement set as I couldn't see how to fix it myself without destroying the watertight seal on the unit. There is a company that offers a fixed price diagnosis of legacy Raymarine kit plus the cost of parts in addition if required: they advertise on eBay.

 

[sailaboutvic]

Vic, the problem lies with the edge connector that provides the signal to the screen. I had the same problem and bought a replacement set as I couldn't see how to fix it myself without destroying the watertight seal on the unit. There is a company that offers a fixed price diagnosis of legacy Raymarine kit plus the cost of parts in addition if required: they advertise on eBay.

Any chance of a link to the company

 

[Zing]

You can open up the case. The watertight seal will work again when reassembled as it is just a silicone rubber gasket. The screen may have just corrosion on the contacts., which you can clean. Or the LCD screen can be replaced. I did that on mine. I used a broken unit as a donor. Take a look inside.

 

[sailaboutvic]

You can open up the case. The watertight seal will work again when reassembled as it is just a silicone rubber gasket. The screen may have just corrosion on the contacts., which you can clean. Or the LCD screen can be replaced. I did that on mine. I used a broken unit as a donor. Take a look inside.

I would but I not 100% sure what part Duncan talking about , so until I get the part in my hand I think I wait .

 

[duncan99210]

Vic, the eBay listing is https://www.ebay.co.uk/i/230594092336 .

As Zing says, you can open it up and reseal it but examine your plotter carefully before attempting to dismantle it. Theres a good chance the screws keeping it sealed will be corroded and therefore difficult to remove. Once it's open, you'll find the screen: along one side of it will be a ribbon connector which is the probable cause of the problem. Remove it, clean the contacts and reassemble and it may work. If it's doesn't, then you can buy new screens off eBay. But it's not a particularly easy job as there are ribbon connectors and between the main body of the plotter: you may feel it's easier either to buy a replacement off eBay or get the Service Centre to fix it.

 

[sailaboutvic]

Vic, the eBay listing is https://www.ebay.co.uk/i/230594092336 .

As Zing says, you can open it up and reseal it but examine your plotter carefully before attempting to dismantle it. Theres a good chance the screws keeping it sealed will be corroded and therefore difficult to remove. Once it's open, you'll find the screen: along one side of it will be a ribbon connector which is the probable cause of the problem. Remove it, clean the contacts and reassemble and it may work. If it's doesn't, then you can buy new screens off eBay. But it's not a particularly easy job as there are ribbon connectors and between the main body of the plotter: you may feel it's easier either to buy a replacement off eBay or get the Service Centre to fix it.

Thanks Duncan , winter project, and thing to add to the list .

 

[TonyS]

It may sound crude but giving the top edge a blow with one's fist cures it!
About 5 years ago I left St Peter Port and had the blank screen. In frustration I bashed it and surprise surprise it came back on. It has now happened once or twice a year and the same treatment works. The last time I had to hit it twice! It is caused by the ribbon cable connection using rubber to hold the contacts together. Rubber loses it's springiness with age. It just needs to be shifted a bit. This is the same cause as the hourmeter going blank in a Volvo tacho.

 

[Graham_Wright]

Vic, the problem lies with the edge connector that provides the signal to the screen. I had the same problem and bought a replacement set as I couldn't see how to fix it myself without destroying the watertight seal on the unit. There is a company that offers a fixed price diagnosis of legacy Raymarine kit plus the cost of parts in addition if required: they advertise on eBay.

I advise against that company. I sent them an e80 plotter with a declared fault and they advised a complete replacement motherboard for £528. I declined and recovered the inspection cost (~£65) from ebay. Raymarine fixed the fault for £30!

This post refers;- http://www.ybw.com/forums/showthread.php?459712-quot-Fixed-price-repair-quot-a-warning

 

[cram007]

It may sound crude but giving the top edge a blow with one's fist cures it!
About 5 years ago I left St Peter Port and had the blank screen. In frustration I bashed it and surprise surprise it came back on. It has now happened once or twice a year and the same treatment works. The last time I had to hit it twice! It is caused by the ribbon cable connection using rubber to hold the contacts together. Rubber loses it's springiness with age. It just needs to be shifted a bit. This is the same cause as the hourmeter going blank in a Volvo tacho.

Many many years later, but thanks! I tested my radar during the day yesterday. Come night time, I just got the white lines! A soft/sharp tap near the top and I was back in action I wasn't ready to tell my spouse that we needed to spend $5000 on a new radar and plotter...