I'm having issues with my copilot. New battery in remote didn't help. Remote is sporadically turning unit on. Sometimes it has issues turning, sometimes with power and the autopilot keeps turning off. Is this typically an issue with the control board inside the head of unit?

I appreciate any input. I've just replaced a few crimps from an old splice connection and there was a small bare spot wear the copper was showing but haven't put the unit back on the boat to check it yet.

just buy a new remote. Seems that i have to buy a new one every year...

Minnkota has a tech service line at 1 800 227 6433.
Spoke to them yesterday to get information on a problem with the i-pilot anchor/spot lock feature. Seems that it is battery voltage sensitive & also requires a minimum GPS signal strength to function correctly.

Hey toms

Seems we are having the same issues on all of our toys.

MinnKota sent a new head, didnt solve the problem, I called today and now they are sending a new remote.

What sort of boat do you have?

Chapparal 230ssi. Using Minnkota powerdrive v2 with ipilot. Hds10 with ss. Going to see if the spot lock problem goes away in AM.
Tom

I found out that the futher away from the tress on the shore, the better it works, but I have had issues all over the lake.

Hi,
Are you using copilot or ipilot?
My only problem so far with ipilot is from yesterday-- with the spot lock/anchor feature-- it did not work --at all!
Trying to figure out why!!
Tom S

Did you have a strong signal when trying to lock? I have had no problem with mine locking up as long as the signal was there.

Dan,
Not sure of the signal strength. I am going to check that out in the morning, Minnkota tech also suggested checking the main battery connections(24v) part. They said the units are battery sensitive.
Also wonder if I may have inadvertently asked it to find a saved spot lock location that was to far(over 1/4 mile away?)
Could that have caused the problem.
Here is what happened. I pushed the anchor button, the motor shaft turned over a full turn and stopped. Then the anchor symbol on the hand held disappeared AND anchor did not work.
Otherwise the controls worked normally, steared left,right had all 1/2 step speeds etc.
thoughts??
Tom S

I have heard that the plastic "board" under the cover that had cutouts for all the buttons is subject to breaking.

Tom, Each of the issues you have mentioned could be part of it. They will try and relocate a previous location, but this has never hampered me in my new location as of yet. Check your connections and then your signal and then try it again giving it a minute to lock up. If the issue remains then I would say you have got a head, or control issue. Good Luck! I hope it works like it should.

I had a problem with my spot lock once where it would do a full turn, then yell at me with some chirps and just stop.

I got frustrated for 5-10 minutes and finally unplugged the motor from the battery. Waited 30 seconds and plugged it back in. It worked perfectly after that.

I don't really understand how it could be sensitive to the battery. It should be designed to deal with batteries that are losing charge.

Dan,
Thanks for the thoughts. Will make a post after I use the motor tomorrow.Hopefully it works ok. I will check the gps signal strength, make sure the 24v connections are tight. See if I can figure out how to "undue a return to saved location request- ".
LXCOACH - Minnkota says that the unit is battery sensitive, meaning that if the voltage(24v in the powerdrive v2 case) drops below a certain level(around 11+ volts-- then the functions will not work correctly. Personally I think my battery voltage is just fine. Could be a loose plug connection though, will check it out.

Thanks again for the help
Tom S

They told me the same thing about the battery. I bought the biggest battery wal-mart carries in March of this year. So I know, my battery can handle it.

When I get home and put it on the charger, its usually at 75-80% full, so Im not using that much juice.

Whats crazy is that the AutoPilot and Advanced AutoPilot features works flawless, no mater where Im at. Soon as I hit that anchor button, it chips and turns off.

Dan, Laxcoach,Ltsmash:
So yesterday I put the Minnkota powerdrive with iplot on the boat. Replugged the 24v power supply, used the remote and the anchor/spotlock worked great. Used it for over 8 hours--no problem.
NOTE: To see if the 24v battery supply may have been the problem I purposely DID NOT charge them the night before-- reconnecting the power plug from the motor to the (24v) batteries. GPS was 3/4 bars all day. I don't think magic applies here- something caused it to not work? don't know why.
Tom S

so you did nothing at it worked?

How close were you to the shore / trees when you had issues?

That right, All I did was mount it on my quick release, plug it in to my 24v battery outlet , use the remote ( at 3/4 bars and it worked just fine.
NOTE: I had had the problem on Tuesday in Flowery Branch and in the main lake up as far as old federal/vans tavern areas.
THEN: Yesterday I used it all the way from Flowery Branch to the dam. Mostly in Main lake and slightly off. Shoal creek, two/six mile etc. Anchor/spot lock worked just fine
NO where near trees, never close than 100 yds from shore..

Any help?? Maybe there is a software problem with the ipilot??

toms, just curious.... when you had your problem did you try disconnecting the power from the motor and reconnecting?

No , I did not.
I found some info at another website about this issue. If you want a link email me your email address -- and I can email a link to the site. Seems the rest of the world is also experiencing similiar occurences. Some saying that higher trolling motor speeds can cause it!(voltage drops??)) I am at tservas@bellsouth.net

Tom

I will be intrested in reading that? But like you, mine from time to time works great, but the majority of the time, it blows.

Ltsmash,
If you let me have your email address and I can send you a link. Otherwise the specific info is at crappie.com. Found it in one of their forums.
Thats for the FISH-- NOT referring to quality!!!

Well took my battery back to the place of purchase and come to find out, my brand new battery was bad.

They swapped it out and this past Sunday with 10-20mph winds my I-Pilot held us in place 99.999% of the time.

It was running a 8 & 9 out of 10 to keep us in place most of the day due to the winds, waves, and current.

How about that. Assume it was the 12v (walmart) battery that was bad?