Water in Navico display

[John7]

We have a Navico C400M which stopped responding over Easter to the switches and started to make intermittent squeaks. The log and depth displays however were OK. On disassembly drops of water were found in a number of places, with dust over the internal seal. It had been back to Navico once shortly after being installed as it was difficult at times to read with the amount of condensation in the display.
We cleaned it up and dried it in the sun. It was reassembled using silicon grease on the, cleaned, seals and over the screw heads. Clearly the venting membrane is not up to keeping the unit dry, is this a common problem to all makes or just to some? If a problem is there any thing else, other than opening it up, drying out and resealing I can do?

 

[Guest]

Just a thought, next time you open it up, see if there is room inside to place a sachet of desiccant silica gel crystals. (you can get small sachets from camera shops). It might not cure the cause but it might increase the time intervals between dissassembly and dryng out. You might also consider coating all internal parts except the LCD display with a moisture proof conformal coating, RS Components and Maplins do several products in spray cans that would be suitable. It will help prevent electrical shorting and corrossion.

An Ron Beag

 

[Avocet]

My NASA "Clipper" Instruments have started to do this after 3 seasons. Before that, my Ratheon (Autohelm) ones did it after one season. I guess it's a common problem!

 

[Modulation]

You might try a low tech solution that worked for me.
Fill a rubber hot water bottle, press it onto the unit, hold it in place with a cushion or, even better a soft pillow (provides insulation), sit and lean your back againstthe pillow (to stop the whole lot just falling).
It helps to be reading a good book - deals with boredom- but 30mins should give you a dry unit.
It does work!

Brendan

Brendan

 

[rogerm]

I don't have a Navico display but another (that escapes me for the mo').

Anyway I found a bit longer term solution was to get a little bag of Silica Gel (the little white crystals you find packed in with electronic kit etc.). Forunately there was just enough room to fit a twee bag (about 25mm sq) in the works before sealing it up again. Silica Gel can be re-activated by gently warming a bag. If sealed inside it the absorbs free moisture until 'full'. This might be quite a while if really sealed.
Roger

 

[John7]

Thanks for replies. The two things I am now thinking off is do you have to
replace the through hull units if you have to change the display and why
can't they make the displays so they are able to withstand the elements they
are built to be in?

My GPS has the same exposure and never a problem and other equipment for
outdoor use appears to withstand the weather OK so why do they make displays
so they fail to?

Could it be saving money and hoping you will have sold the boat before the problem becomes too bad?

John