www.iFourWinns.com

Just finished mounting my GPS and used the fuse panel under the console to power it. Everytime I restart the engine, the GPS would power off and I'd have to turn it on again. If there a connection on the fuse panel which will always power the GPS no matter what? I have an 03 Horizon 180. Thanks.

My best guess is that your starter is drawing a lot of power when you crank it and its causing your unit to shut itself down. Perhaps wiring direct to the battery, but you better ALWAYS remember to turn it off when you leave the boat.

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Current Boat:
2004 Sea Ray 320 Sundancer "Nauti Luvin'"

Previous Boats:
1999 298 Vista "Seas The Day"
2008 H200SS "Nauti Luv"
2006 Tahoe Q4

I had a similar problem. The Garmin Fishfinder would stay on, but the Navman plotter would turn off every time I started the engine; it's clearly more sensitive to voltage drop than the fishfinder. Both are wired to (seperate fuses) on the same auxillary fuse box. I got around the issue by fitting a small domestic alarm lead acid sealed battery and a diode. The small battery always provides (fused) +12.6 V to the chartplotter. The power supply from the boat battery has the diode in line. That prevents the starter from drawing any current from the small battery. OK, there is a voltage drop across the diode, so the small battery never sees the full voltage from the alternator, but it remains charged. it's been on my boat for a few years now, no problem with it.

Graham

Along the same lines as Graham said. If you want to "fix" the issue, I would install a deep cycle just for your helm, stereo, etc. Then have a separate starting batt.

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Walt B
"Debt-Charged"
Black '07 H210SS
6.2L Bravo One turning a 21P HIFive
Wakeboard Tower with Perfect Pass Stargazer version
Missouri River; Kansas City, Mo.