Connect Chartplotter to spare accessory wires

ceeg52

New Member
Oct 4, 2016
16
NJ
Boat Info
2006 Sea Ray 220 Sundeck
Engines
5.0 MPI Alpha
I would like to install a Garmin chartplotter using the spare accessory wires near the helm. If I do that, do the wires have power when the key is off or does the key need to be turned to the ACC position? Of course my battery switch will switched to bat 1 or 2. I want to avoid the chartplotter from powering down every time I shutdown the engine and the GPS restarting when I back the key to the ACC position. I'm trying to avoid running a long length of wire directly to the battery. That is unless I have no other choice.

Thanks in advance for any help.
Ceeg
 
I would like to install a Garmin chartplotter using the spare accessory wires near the helm. If I do that, do the wires have power when the key is off or does the key need to be turned to the ACC position? Of course my battery switch will switched to bat 1 or 2. I want to avoid the chartplotter from powering down every time I shutdown the engine and the GPS restarting when I back the key to the ACC position. I'm trying to avoid running a long length of wire directly to the battery. That is unless I have no other choice.

Thanks in advance for any help.
Ceeg
I have mine going to a switch (top left of pic) that is hot whether the key is off, accy or running. It still reboots from the voltage/amperage draw down. I think I'm going to run a dedicated power wire to the switch to stop that or look into another fix.

IMG_20210210_150914.jpg
 
I have mine going to a switch (top left of pic) that is hot whether the key is off, accy or running. It still reboots from the voltage/amperage draw down. I think I'm going to run a dedicated power wire to the switch to stop that or look into another fix.

View attachment 113924
I wired mine into the accessory switch.
It also reboots when starting the engine.
That can be a PITA but it’s nice to have the switch turn off sterio etc.
 

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I wired mine into the accessory switch.
It also reboots when starting the engine.
That can be a PITA but it’s nice to have the switch turn off sterio etc.
Stereo sure, but not the unit I'm watching my depth on. If I'm drifting while watching my depth, I don't want to lose the reading while it reboots for 2 minutes or so.
 
Guys,

You are all talking "apples and oranges". The OP has a 2006 vintage boat that has some version of EIM technology, BEH & Hawk with their 90's vintage boats are in an entirely analog world. They are wired differently.

Ceeg, your accessory switch should only be controlled by the main battery switches. But that said, unless your batteries are in good to perfect condition, your chartplotter may power down when you start your engine because all of the batteries are involved in starting the engine. Starting the engine with tired batteries can create a low voltage condition that falls below minimum volts for the device. This by the way is also a good barometer for determining when it is time to buy new batteries.

Using the accessory circuit can work, but I wouldn't recommend it; largely because the current draw is limited to whatever Sea Ray gave you. On my 280 I bypassed the EIM using the EIM's power input (+,-) to a new switched fuse block that I wired all of the electronics into. Switching this fuse block was for my convenience. The boat had a blanked rocker switch on the ash that made it easy. If you can't add a control switch you can leave it out. Each device had its own properly sized fuse and the whole block was controlled with a master switch.
 
I would like to install a Garmin chartplotter using the spare accessory wires near the helm. If I do that, do the wires have power when the key is off or does the key need to be turned to the ACC position? Of course my battery switch will switched to bat 1 or 2. I want to avoid the chartplotter from powering down every time I shutdown the engine and the GPS restarting when I back the key to the ACC position. I'm trying to avoid running a long length of wire directly to the battery. That is unless I have no other choice.

Thanks in advance for any help.
Ceeg
You have two batteries. I assume the engine starts from one of the two batteries unless you are switched to both (if there is a "both" switch position) right?
If this is the case then install a Victron Argo battery combiner for the loads you are concerned with and leave engine starting on a single battery. Your problem will go away.
Actually, the Argo can manage up to 80 amps so you could probably put all of your helm loads on it which will better help all of the helm electronics.
 

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