Standard Horizon CP - power usage

[Georgio]

Does anyone here have real-world power usage figures for the CP300 and CP500. The Standard horizon website gives some numbers that are presumably worst-case and based on the screen being set to max brightness. My understanding is that much of the power usage on chartplotters comes from running the LCD screen. I have contact SH directly but got no response

As I would be fitting a CP at the chart table I would possibly only need to have the brightness at 30 - 50% of the maximum.

It would be very helpful to me if he owner of a CP3/500 could let me know what it uses.

Apologies if you think I am being overly @nal about this but it could make a significant difference to my daily power calculations when heading offshore.

 

[Leighb]

Hi,
I do have some figures, but they are on the boat. If you are not in too much of a hurry I can check next time I am there, won't be until next week as we have to go to London on baby sitting duty tomorrow.

As it happens I have 300 and 500, one on deck and the other down below so can switch each on separately and see the discharge on the ammeter.

Will let you know when I have done it.

 

[Leighb]

Hi,

Had some time on the boat on the way back from London.

Results
Plotter Max backlight Min backlight
CP500 1.0A 0.5A
CP 300i 0.8A 0.4A

GPS aerial for CP500 0.1A

I don't know if they draw any more current when actively following a route etc, these figures were just stationary in the marina.

You would need max backlight if the plotter is on deck, minimum is a bit dark unless your cabin is very dark, but 50% would probably be OK

Hope this is useful.

 

[Refueler]

Does anyone here have real-world power usage figures for the CP300 and CP500. The Standard horizon website gives some numbers that are presumably worst-case and based on the screen being set to max brightness. My understanding is that much of the power usage on chartplotters comes from running the LCD screen. I have contact SH directly but got no response

As I would be fitting a CP at the chart table I would possibly only need to have the brightness at 30 - 50% of the maximum.

It would be very helpful to me if he owner of a CP3/500 could let me know what it uses.

Apologies if you think I am being overly @nal about this but it could make a significant difference to my daily power calculations when heading offshore.

You are correct that the LCD screen and backlight do constitute a major part of the power consumption. Dropping backlight down to lowest level can halve your power need. Most plotters will run at 750 - 900mA with full BL on, dropping to 350mA on minimum. The active antena's don't incur as much as you'd expect but with external antena's it's worth noting that many plotters, even when switched off - antena stays live. So disconnect completely your plotter when not in use - or fit a full off power switch in line.