520 c difficulties

[Muskiebait]

Hey all, I have a 520 c, the graph works great, but the temp gauge isn't reading, and the GPS doesn't work at all, any ideas... it is on a Ranger 1860 prerigged, so the transducer is in the hull. Thanks for any info.

[LMITOUT]

Lots of questions..

First, has it ever worked or is this all brand new?

Is the water temperature probe connected to the network? I'm guessing it is. The graph when new will default to the standard water temp probe that typically is part of the depth transducer or skimmer type that mounts on the outside of the transom. With my boat (Ranger) the depth transducer is mounted to the hull like yours so there is a seperate water probe and it is connected to the Lowrance Network.

A few things you can do to make sure it's working and that's to check the NEMA bus set-up. There is an option in the menus. It will show everything that is connected to the network bus. Look for the EP probe. If it is there, then you need to go back onto your sonar screen and select "overlay data" and then select that probe to be displayed on your screen. You can put it on the GPS screen too if you wish.

I'm not sure why the GPS isn't working. Does it get any signals at all or is it giving you a message that the GPS module is not responding when you go to the satellite status page?

I'm also wondering if there is power to the NEMA (network) bus. It needs 12VDC to operate. The depth transducer would work fine, but anything on the bus such as temp probes and GPS pucks wouldn't.

[Muskiebait]

Limit it sound like you may be on something, the Gps reads what you said there, and the temp just flashes and it isn't even close to the right temp. this is a brand new rig all dealer installed about 2 weeks ago. So where do I start there is a mess of wire unde there...

[rmrakt]

I would bring the rig back to the dealer....should be under warranty yet if they installed that recently.

[LMITOUT]

If taking it back to the dealer is an option, I'd have them take a look at it.

But, if you would rather learn a little more about the insides of your boat and how it's wired then now would be the time to do it.

There are two ways that the NEMA power can be supplied to the network. One way is through the 520 itself. If you trace the main power wire from the 520 down to where it's wired, you should see three pigtails in the cable. One is power for the unit itself (red,black,white wires), and one is power for the NEMA network (red,black,bare/shield wires). On mine the NEMA power wire from the 520 is taped off and not used. That is because the factory used option #2 which is to have a dedicated NEMA power wire that is tapped to a 12V source and then is connected to one of the network T's.

What you'll have to do is figure out where the NEMA gets it's power. First follow that power cable with three individual wires from the 520 and see where they go. I forgot to mention that the third wire in that bunch is for NEMA communications and it has a handful of small colorful wires. This is probably taped back too and unused. If you find that the NEMA power wire is not connected they may have used option #2 that I mentioned above.

Now you'll have to find the network T's and follow where the wires go from the tops of them. In your case you should have one for the GPS puck, one for the water sensor I'm guessing, one for the 520, and maybe one for the NEMA network power. If you have no NEMA power T and the red/black/shield wire from the 520 isn't connected then they didn't even connect the NEMA power. This is not uncommon from dealer rig jobs because they usually don't understand the LowranceNET system. The network NEEDS power to operate.

If they didn't wire it up, then you should fuse the wire with a 3A fuse and tap it to a 12VDC power source. If you do find the NEMA power wire is connected either through the 520 or through a network T, then check the fuse.

The manual also suggests using a switch for the power leads and maybe they wired it through one of your unused accessory switches which you will need to turn on/off everytime you want to run the network.

[Muskiebait]

All right I admit I am an (Contact Us Please) when it comes to this stuff, but the dealer is 3 hrs away, and I have looked behind the actual graph and it has 4 different plug ins, is it possible that these are mixed up and that is why it isn't getting the correct power?

[LMITOUT]

No, they are all different and you cannot mix and match the wires because of the way they are configured with pins, etc. Each cable can only go into it's own plug in.

Looking at the back of the graph, you want to take a look at cable connected to the PWR/Data connector. This is a fairly heavy cable and it should have the three individual pigtails coming out of it. Follow these three pigtails to see where they go.

[LMITOUT]

Any luck?

[Muskiebait]

Hey limit, I got up under the dash this weekend and just looked around, I snapped a piece off of One of the T's by accident, found out the hard way that that was for the temp sensor on the bow mount as now every thing is 32degs. I see the cable you are talking about, and they didn't hook it up. so I guess that would lead me to have to figue out the rest. any diagrams would be appreciated.thanks

[Muskiebait]

Hey limit I got power to the GPS Puck now and I am getting a fix on my position it actually aquires a position now so I must have it hooked up now, now my only question is will the temp sensor work as well, I won't be putting it in the water till this weekend, so what is your bet, do I have a temp as well or do I have to hook up something else???

[LMITOUT]

Sorry I didn't get back sooner, I missed your last post.

Sounds like you're on the right track now. You should be getting a temperature reading although it'll be the ambient air temp when out of the water. If the temp probe is on the network it should work.

Go into the menu and find the NEMA setup option. I don't recall exactly what it's labeled but that should get you in the right direction. You then should be able to see everything that is connected to the network such as the temperature probe. If the only thing you see is GPS puck, then there is either a problem with the probe, the probe cable, or the T that it's connected to.

You mentioned that you broke part of the T off but didn't say if it would be enough to really screw it up, so I can't say if that is causing the problem now or not. You might want to take the water probe connector and swap it with the GPS connector (swap the wires from T to T) and then if you lose GPS from the network, that T is shot. If you have the blue T's they can be a real pain to disconnect as I found out on my boat. I messed up a T too. After swapping the temp probe with the GPS probe, the temp should show up on the NEMA display screen that indicates what's connected to the network.

[Muskiebait]

I have a replacement T on the way so that should be here in a day or two, and then I hope I am back in business, not the the temp matters that much once you have located the fish. Thanks for all the help...