Hello Sully- just installed a Fantom 18X over the weekend. This is my first radar and it’s all totally new to me. I had a question about the power consumption, there is a hum under the dome when I have transmit turned off. Is this normal? Wondered if I needed to hook the power through a switch so I don’t drain my batteries when I’m not using it??
Andrew - so the 18x radar should use around 5 watts (roughly .5 amps) of power and its max consumption power in normal use is going to be 33 watts and even at the full 50 watts (roughly 5 amps ) draw, so all very low draws. When you mention having transmit turned off, I assume you mean while in the radar screen you turn it to off? There shouldn't be much noise coming from the unit at that point. Now having said that some of our clients do request the Radar to be on its own circuit/switch but I feel this is just a carry over from old days and doesn't serve much purpose these days other than when you forget to turn it on, go into your MFD and cant figure out why you no longer have a radar icon because it doesn't see the radar since there's no power to it....
The humming noise while transmit is off is a known problem at Garmin regarding the fantom x radar series. Update your software and all will be good, My 18x is now silent when not transmitting.
Great Stuff man
Hello Sully- just installed a Fantom 18X over the weekend. This is my first radar and it’s all totally new to me. I had a question about the power consumption, there is a hum under the dome when I have transmit turned off. Is this normal? Wondered if I needed to hook the power through a switch so I don’t drain my batteries when I’m not using it??
Andrew - so the 18x radar should use around 5 watts (roughly .5 amps) of power and its max consumption power in normal use is going to be 33 watts and even at the full 50 watts (roughly 5 amps ) draw, so all very low draws. When you mention having transmit turned off, I assume you mean while in the radar screen you turn it to off? There shouldn't be much noise coming from the unit at that point. Now having said that some of our clients do request the Radar to be on its own circuit/switch but I feel this is just a carry over from old days and doesn't serve much purpose these days other than when you forget to turn it on, go into your MFD and cant figure out why you no longer have a radar icon because it doesn't see the radar since there's no power to it....
The humming noise while transmit is off is a known problem at Garmin regarding the fantom x radar series. Update your software and all will be good, My 18x is now silent when not transmitting.