Raymarine display fogging

[Rich Stidger]

I have a Raymarine RL80CRC+ display that develops fogging on the screen when the screen is exposed to warm sunlight. Slowly the fog clears, but it may take an hour or more. The picture below shows the fogged area.

Have anyone else experienced this problem, and if so, what was the solution? I suspect that there is an air leak in the case and/or there is a calcium silicate moisture-absorbing pack inside that needs replacement.

Has anyone replaced such a moisture-absorbing pack themselves?

 

[juslookin]

Had this once

I had this problem once with a JRC radar. Called them, and was informed there was some kind of special hard wax that went on the inside of the screen. Sent it in to JRC, had it back in about ten days, and no more fogging.

 

[Jim Seamans]

Hey Rich,

Isn't that what you are suppose see when sailing in fog???

Got the same thing on my Garmin Chart-plotter, no idea how to get rid of it so I ignore it...goes away in about an hour..

 

[Bill Roosa]

Clearly it is water condensing on the now colder front screen. Water is not a good thing inside electronics. If the warranted has expired I'd be cracking the case at home and leaving it in the oven on warm for a few hours.

 

[thinwater]

Consider leaving it on 24/7...

... for at least a few weeks. The warmth will dry it slowly. Many deep sea chart boats keep the electronics warmed up 24/7 as they get longer life that way.

I would not open the case if the above solves it.

Is this unit in the spray or is it well protected? Perhaps something could be fitted. Perhaps a better cover when not in use (a large freezer bag worked for a unit I had with the same problem--I only covered it when I was away and it was off since the water is drawn in when it is cooling, not when it is on).

 

[RichH]

Clearly it is water condensing on the now colder front screen. Water is not a good thing inside electronics. If the warranted has expired I'd be cracking the case at home and leaving it in the oven on warm for a few hours.

or 'burying' in conditioned "silica gel" (desiccant), then finding the water entry point and then 'resealing' it. As Bill states, condensing water on the 'inside' of electronics is 'not a good thing'.

 

[Rich Stidger]

This unit was a brand new old stock that was originally bought by the government and then sold by a surplus agent on eBay. It still had a sticker on the front of the screen. I suspect it was probably purchased as a spare by the CG for one of their small boats and it sat in storage until their systems were finally upgraded. Then it was "scrapped" and sent to a surplus agency to be sold. Anyway, there is no warranty.

I could take this to a Raymarine service dealer, but I think that the logical fix would be to open the case and put the unit in a low humidity environment for a few hours and then change the silica gel packet if there is one present. Perhaps purging most of the air out of the case using nitrogen could be a possibility.

My older RL70 display had a small hole in the left bottom corner of the screen that presumably would let the unit circulate air at the inside surface of the glass. The hole was inside of the glass front and was not exposed to the outside. This RL80CRC+ does not seem to have that same hole. Maybe this hole has nothing to do with air circulation, but it is something that I noticed.

If nobody on this board has had and solved this problem, I will probably talk to a Raymarine dealer and see what they can do and what it will cost. But I suspect that their fix will be to replace a silica gel packet that I think is inside and bill me for several hundred dollars.

The unit is mounted at my helm and is covered with a plastic instrument cover when not in use. My older RL70 was inthe same location and I never had a problem with that display, nor any of the other ST50 displays in the same area.

 

[Maine Sail]

This unit was a brand new old stock that was originally bought by the government and then sold by a surplus agent on eBay. It still had a sticker on the front of the screen. I suspect it was probably purchased as a spare by the CG for one of their small boats and it sat in storage until their systems were finally upgraded. Then it was "scrapped" and sent to a surplus agency to be sold. Anyway, there is no warranty.

I could take this to a Raymarine service dealer, but I think that the logical fix would be to open the case and put the unit in a low humidity environment for a few hours and then change the silica gel packet if there is one present. Perhaps purging most of the air out of the case using nitrogen could be a possibility.

My older RL70 display had a small hole in the left bottom corner of the screen that presumably would let the unit circulate air at the inside surface of the glass. The hole was inside of the glass front and was not exposed to the outside. This RL80CRC+ does not seem to have that same hole. Maybe this hole has nothing to do with air circulation, but it is something that I noticed.

If nobody on this board has had and solved this problem, I will probably talk to a Raymarine dealer and see what they can do and what it will cost. But I suspect that their fix will be to replace a silica gel packet that I think is inside and bill me for several hundred dollars.

The unit is mounted at my helm and is covered with a plastic instrument cover when not in use. My older RL70 was inthe same location and I never had a problem with that display, nor any of the other ST50 displays in the same area.

Rich,

I have had this problem with a C-80. The fix is a new screen. The seal between the layers of the screen s compromised and when it heats it will eventually dry out but when you turn it off it cools and sucks in humid air only to start the cycle over again. I have also had this problem with Garmin and the fix is the same, replace the screen. I don't think your unit is still supported by Raymarine but give them a call anyway as they could have a used screen kicking around that may still be in good shape. They repair stuff out of warranty reasonably..

Thanks for reminding me that I need to get an RMA for my Garmin 376 that needs its SECOND screen.... Doh'!!!

 

[Rich Stidger]

Oh, no Maine Sail! That is a bad fault. I have already emailed a Raymarine service shop and I'm waiting to hear from them. I will also email or call tech service and discuss the issue with them.

I'll post results when I have something meaningful.

BTW, FWIW, there are a lot of web postings on the Raymarine DS500X and DS600X fishfinder screen fogging with a number of people claiming that the fix on that unit is some anti-fog application to the inside of the display and insertion/changing of silica gel packets. But I will wait to see what the Raymarine people have to say.

Thanks to all.

 

[Ted]

Rich, Raymarine went to a "Flat Rate Repair Schedule" a while back. It makes it prohibitive to have them make a simple repair to their products without going broke. In the past they've been really good about making simple repairs at no cost, even on out of warrantee items. Here's a link to their current flat rate schedule for your product. I hope they do right by you as they have for me in the past. Keep us posted with your findings.
http://www.raymarine.com/default.aspx?site=1&SECtion=3&page=1080

 

[Rich Stidger]

Ted,

Thanks. I know all about the Raymarine flat rate schedule for their electronics. I think the "flat" part is what they do to your wallet.....

Their rate schedule was the deciding factor in my buying a replacement RL80 display on eBay instead of having them repair my old one. Of course with the problem I have with fogging, maybe that was a mistake, but I didn't know that then.

 

[Maine Sail]

Rich, Raymarine went to a "Flat Rate Repair Schedule" a while back. It makes it prohibitive to have them make a simple repair to their products without going broke. In the past they've been really good about making simple repairs at no cost, even on out of warrantee items. Here's a link to their current flat rate schedule for your product. I hope they do right by you as they have for me in the past. Keep us posted with your findings.
http://www.raymarine.com/default.aspx?site=1&SECtion=3&page=1080

Wow!! I've never had them charge me a flat rate before but that is simply offensive... That means that replacing the internal button rubber, if it ripped, which takes all of about five - ten minutes, would cost $1125.00 for the RL80C... If they were doing that to me the LAST brand I'd buy next would be a Ray product....

I've had very good luck with them but this new flat rate stuff is over the top..

 

[Rich Stidger]

I had Raymarine repair my 24" 4Kw radome. They replaced the motor that drives the antenna. It was a flat-rate repair about seven years ago. I seem to remember that it was about $175 plus shipping (both ways). Now they get $975 plus shipping. Really nice.

 

[Rich Stidger]

Update on RL80CC+ Display

I just heard from a Raymarine service shop. The service manager emailed me with the following info:

[FONT=&quot]Raymarine has a flat rate repair fee for an RL80CRC which is $1125. They don't usually charge the full amount if it can be repaired easily. That amount is used as their "worst case scenario". What they would do is open up the display and dry it out in a heat oven. They then add a desiccant packet inside the display and seal it back up. It should take care of the issue but we cannot be sure what they would charge until they repair has been completed.[/FONT]

I replied to him that I had also emailed Raymarine and was going to see what they have to say. I think it is often better to have a person who is experienced with the equipment do a repair, but then again a technically savvy person can easily perform most low complexity repairs with an equal quality of repair and at a much lower cost.

Then a second reply:

[FONT=&quot]We would not perform this service. It can be a bear getting the seals back in properly and Raymarine would warranty their repair of the display. If you did send it in to them, they should call you with a more exact estimate for the repair before they actually do it.[/FONT][FONT=&quot][/FONT]
[FONT=&quot] [/FONT]
[FONT=&quot]You may just want to keep it in a warm dry house for the winter with the chart door open and see how it goes next spring. [/FONT]

Stand by, I will post Raymarine's reply and my final action.

 

[Rich Stidger]

Screen fog fix for RL80CRC

I have completed and tested my screen fogging fix for my RL80CRC. Shown in the previous posted pictures, I have had large areas of the screen develop fog on the inside which would take an hour or more to dissipate.

My fix was to open the case (19 screws +/-) and add a couple of 8gram desiccant packages that I had just baked to rejuvenate. As you can see from the pictures below, there is lots of room inside for the silica gel packets. I performed this work in a cool basement with less than 60% humidity. The cover connects to the back half of the case with 3 pull-off connectors. I was tempted to wipe the inside of the glass in the case with an anti-fog solution, but there seems to be some sort of coating on the inside so I decided to leave it alone and just add the silica gel packets. It was not difficult to align the rubber gasket between the halves of the case and tighten the screws evenly.

This past weekend I re-installed the display my boat and tested for fog re-occurrence. For two time periods of several hours each, once in the morning and again in the afternoon, I observed no fogging. It appears that the fogging problem is fixed.

 

[Gunni]

Congratulations Rich, you are a fearless DIY'er! I had a similar situation with Raymarine and their 'flat rate' for a screen lamp issue. It was an offensive charge, gouging really. It informed my decision to purchase a replacement from another manufacturer, and I got an easier to use, faster, improved MFD. There is something wrong at Raymarine corporate CS.

 

[Ron20324]

This past weekend I re-installed the display...I observed no fogging. It appears that the fogging problem is fixed.

And to think they say you "haven't the foggiest idea..." Nonsense. Good idea, Rich!

 

[DougM]

I don't know if you guys are fat fingering the rate quotes. Seems a bit stiff for sure. I sent a C70 in last summer because it was periodically conking out. The repair charge and shipping amounted to $135 at that time. Now that it is probably no longer supported by Raymarine, Plan "B" would require the purchase of something new that won't fit the opening in the panel. There goes a couple of more "boat units". (One boat unit= $1000.00).