Matronics Email Lists :: View topic - GNS 430 Intermittent Screen, Cooling?

Matronics Email Lists
Web Forum Interface to the Matronics Email Lists

Get Email Distribution Too! FAQ Search Memberlist Usergroups Register

Profile Log in to check your private messages Log in

GNS 430 Intermittent Screen, Cooling?

Matronics Email Lists Forum Index -> AeroElectric-List

View previous topic :: View next topic

Author Message

email(at)jaredyates.com
Guest

Posted: Tue Apr 26, 2016 11:14 am Post subject: GNS 430 Intermittent Screen, Cooling?

I've been using a Garmin 430 for about 2 years. It worked fine for a while, but around a year ago I started to notice the screen would become unreadable at times. I don't have a photo of the condition, but I'd describe it as blotchy and a little scrambled. Googling has led me to believe that it is overheating. If that is the case, I figured it is likely due to the sun shining on the glare shield above the unit. I've tried a few heat mitigation efforts there, such as installing a passive vent above the unit, and insulation on the underside of the glare shield. Most recently I installed a 3/4" blast tube that blows a portion of my cabin vent air onto the unit. I don't have a control to know if these efforts have reduced the problem, but they have not eliminated it.



For those who know more about these boxes, here are some questions I can think of:

Is the cooling fan supposed to run all the time?  I can hear it running, but I can also hear it stop running sometimes.

I could set up some data collection to see what kind of temperatures I'm actually seeing if it would be worthwhile.  Where should I measure, and at what temperatures should it be able to operate normally?

I never had the problem before I took it to the local shop for an internal battery replacement.  How plausible is it that in that process they might have introduced a fan-related problem? Are local shops able to fix this kind of thing, or does it have to go back to Garmin?

If I have a unit-specific problem, I'm more inclined to have it repaired or upgraded to a 430w, but I'd hate to go through all of that expense if my problem is actually an airframe/installation problem.

- The Matronics AeroElectric-List Email Forum -

Use the List Feature Navigator to browse the many List utilities available such as the Email Subscriptions page, Archive Search & Download, 7-Day Browse, Chat, FAQ, Photoshare, and much more:

http://www.matronics.com/Navigator?AeroElectric-List

jbsoar(at)gmail.com
Guest

Posted: Tue Apr 26, 2016 12:30 pm Post subject: GNS 430 Intermittent Screen, Cooling?

Jared-Is this condition present when the Garmin is first powered?  If the answer is "yes," then send it back or upgrade the unit.  If the screen-viewing issue appears after the Garmin warms up/gets hot, then it is likely heat related.  If it were my installation, I'd wire the avionics cooling to run whenever any avionics are powered, via the avionics master switch, if you have one installed.  Upgrading the unit sounds like a good idea, either way.

Thank you.

On Tue, Apr 26, 2016 at 12:10 PM, Jared Yates <email(at)jaredyates.com (email(at)jaredyates.com)> wrote:

 	  Quote: 	
		  I've been using a Garmin 430 for about 2 years. It worked fine for a while, but around a year ago I started to notice the screen would become unreadable at times. I don't have a photo of the condition, but I'd describe it as blotchy and a little scrambled. Googling has led me to believe that it is overheating. If that is the case, I figured it is likely due to the sun shining on the glare shield above the unit. I've tried a few heat mitigation efforts there, such as installing a passive vent above the unit, and insulation on the underside of the glare shield. Most recently I installed a 3/4" blast tube that blows a portion of my cabin vent air onto the unit. I don't have a control to know if these efforts have reduced the problem, but they have not eliminated it.



For those who know more about these boxes, here are some questions I can think of:

Is the cooling fan supposed to run all the time?  I can hear it running, but I can also hear it stop running sometimes.

I could set up some data collection to see what kind of temperatures I'm actually seeing if it would be worthwhile.  Where should I measure, and at what temperatures should it be able to operate normally?

I never had the problem before I took it to the local shop for an internal battery replacement.  How plausible is it that in that process they might have introduced a fan-related problem? Are local shops able to fix this kind of thing, or does it have to go back to Garmin?

If I have a unit-specific problem, I'm more inclined to have it repaired or upgraded to a 430w, but I'd hate to go through all of that expense if my problem is actually an airframe/installation problem.

- The Matronics AeroElectric-List Email Forum -

Use the List Feature Navigator to browse the many List utilities available such as the Email Subscriptions page, Archive Search & Download, 7-Day Browse, Chat, FAQ, Photoshare, and much more:

http://www.matronics.com/Navigator?AeroElectric-List

Display posts from previous:

	Matronics Email Lists Forum Index -> AeroElectric-List	All times are GMT - 8 Hours
Page 1 of 1

Jump to:

You cannot post new topics in this forum
You cannot reply to topics in this forum
You cannot edit your posts in this forum
You cannot delete your posts in this forum
You cannot vote in polls in this forum
You cannot attach files in this forum
You can download files in this forum