C70 Chartplotter

[Ziffius]

My c70 just died, switched it on this morning and I couldn't see the screen hardly - not enough to find the right button to put it back to day mode- I assumed I had left it in night mode. After a few button pushes I gave up and powered down at the main CB panel but when I switched it back on it is completely dead - no responses or bleeps to any of the buttons . The manual says to check the fuse. Anyone know if there is an in line fuse somewhere. I don't want to take plotter panel off yet as I am at sea. It's on a Bav 39


Edit, just checked the back and there is power to the unit so I suspect it is deceased unless there is a fuse inside it - been meaning to open it up for ages to reseat the screen ribbon cable. Will have to look at what I can replace it with unless I find a cheap working c70 out there

[Topic split from old thread by Nigel]

[dawntreader]

Doubt if it is a 'fuse' problem as it would have just died immediately. As there appears to be no other option, try the ribbon cable 'fix', the unit is easily dis-assembled. Although I didn't have the same symptoms as you, taking it apart and refitting did it for me when I lost my screen to blue/white mush with horizontal black lines 

Note: my ribbon cable was too tight to remove but just playing around with the thing may resolve the issue - it did for me

[Salty]

If you think it has "deceased" then you have nothing to lose and everything to gain by opening it up and taking a look

[Ziffius]

Opened it up, can't see anything obvious unfortunately - looks like I will need new radome as well as the new models won't work with the old radome, not sure why - progress!

[Ziffius]

So whilst at anchor for the last few days I had the unit off and disassembled and the hole in the binnacle taped over. Moved the boat out and found the autopilot control dead - wondered if I needed chart plotter plugged in to the sea talk network for it to work. So plugged it back in but found a cable had come off the ap control hence the reason that wasn't working. Miraculously the c70 is alive again.

Except the chart card doesn't seem to work as no detailed display and the radome plug was being a real pain to plug back in - found that 2 thin pins were not aligned properly and despit carefully adjusting them the plug would not go in. Eventually they broke so no radar anyway.

I'll post what replacement I end up with.

[tiger79]

Edit, just checked the back and there is power to the unit so I suspect it is deceased unless there is a fuse inside it

Moved the boat out and found the autopilot control dead - wondered if I needed chart plotter plugged in to the sea talk network for it to work. So plugged it back in but found a cable had come off the ap control hence the reason that wasn't working. Miraculously the c70 is alive again.

I'm bewildered.

[Salty]

If your C70 is powered from the Seatalk network, then it's likely that the cable you found unplugged from your autopilot had broken the circuit and hence no power to your chart plotter. As for the lack of input from the chart card, it's likely that the contacts on the card or more likely on the card reader are dirty or corroded. You might manage to clean those contacts sufficiently to get it working by repeatedly inserting and removing the chart card, or with very gently wiping the card reader contacts with some very fine wet and dry sand paper supported on the end of some stiff card.

[Ziffius]

Hi salty, the ap disconnect was just a result of its own power lead dropping out when I was opening up the console. Will have a go at the chart card contacts.

[Ziffius]

I think this c70 is trying to tell me something - the chart card isn't being read as one of the pins seems to have got bent, how that is possible I have no idea as I haven't been poking around down that deep slot where they are and the chart card is well aligned by the housing when you slide it in. Going to dismantle the thing again to see if I can get to the pins the back way and straighten that one

[Salty]

............Going to dismantle the thing again to see if I can get to the pins the back way and straighten that one

If it's anything like my old RL70, then I don't think it's possible to get to the pins from the back, probably part of the water proofing of the instrument.