36 Sedan Bridge Owners

eFlex Nightmares

Two items - one is still a "work in progress"

Came to the boat on Friday and NOTHING worked - NOTHING. Tried complete rebooting of both AC and DC systems and nothing was happening.

Spent close to three hours with Merritt Island - local MarineMax folks simply don't know this system and apparently only one or two in the factory do. BTW, factory guy stayed late on a Friday to keep helping me - kudo's for him and Customer service.

We had to isolate which of 34 modules were bad and then I had to start removing panels in closets to get to them and remove the brown data line.

Finally, bypassed two of the modules and got AC and DC working. Both modules need replacing and they are in particularly fun spots to work in.

Bottom line, I have a call with local dealer and factory today to see what they are going to do. Will let you know.

On a second note, they did tell me how many 36 SB have been made. Here's the numbers:
2006 = 1
2007 = 107
2008 = 29
2009 = 6

Still love the boat but when this eFlex system goes crazy it is certifiably so.

Don
Time in a Bottle IV
2007 36 SB
 
Re: eFlex Nightmares

timeinabottle said:
Two items - one is still a "work in progress"

Came to the boat on Friday and NOTHING worked - NOTHING. Tried complete rebooting of both AC and DC systems and nothing was happening.

Spent close to three hours with Merritt Island - local MarineMax folks simply don't know this system and apparently only one or two in the factory do. BTW, factory guy stayed late on a Friday to keep helping me - kudo's for him and Customer service.

We had to isolate which of 34 modules were bad and then I had to start removing panels in closets to get to them and remove the brown data line.

Finally, bypassed two of the modules and got AC and DC working. Both modules need replacing and they are in particularly fun spots to work in.

Bottom line, I have a call with local dealer and factory today to see what they are going to do. Will let you know.

On a second note, they did tell me how many 36 SB have been made. Here's the numbers:
2006 = 1
2007 = 107
2008 = 29
2009 = 6

Still love the boat but when this eFlex system goes crazy it is certifiably so.

Don
Time in a Bottle IV
2007 36 SB
Click to expand...

Don,

Sorry to hear you are having problems. The system is great when it works but can be a big problem when one module goes bad. Since I went through this myself (lightning) I pulled together alot of documentation from others on this site and also put a nice cheat sheet on the modules. Go to http://www.themcgowans.me/files. The cheat sheet is Module Details.docx, it's a work in progress but does detail the different modules and their functions. You can also download the larger zip file, has lots of different details related to the e-plex system.

Which modules stopped working? You can manually control them by the buttons on the face of them. If they are pulling down the whole system, you would need to manually pull the clock wires first.

It can take some time to get replacement modules. Send me a PM if you have any questions.

Kevin
 
Last edited:
Kevin:

Great stuff - thanks!

Yes, we eventually got the bad modules identified. We did this by:

1. Generating the "System Error" on the Galley "clock" - as I learned this is actually the "master" operating device, NOT the touch screen above the TV. There are several self-diagnosing routines for the "clock." Also, another indicator that there is a problem is when it comes back and says "Streaming: Inactive."

2. Took the "clock" off the galley wall - there are four red wires to the right.

3. Disconnected the wires one a time until the System Error went away - that tells which "set" of modules. Could be four to six modules. Most 36 DB's have 34 modules - if you have the lower helm you have 38 modules.

4. Kept all the red wires out and plugged in the wire that caused the System Error.

5. Started going to the modules associated with that "set" that are scattered throughout the boat. Unplugged the brown data line one a time to see if the System Error went away.

6. Finally found the two modules that were causing the error.

7. Merritt Island folks are sending two new modules - after programming, each has to programmed uniquely - and having them replaced on my 2007 Sedan Bridge.

All in all, both Merritt Island and myself learned a tremendous amount about the eFlex system. Love it, but sure was frustrating to not even be able to get DC or AC going manually (i.e., wife was just about to start unloading fridge and freezer).

By the way, kudo's to Rick Bressner of Sea Ray Merritt Island. He stayed with me on the phone on a Friday for several hours. Thanks to Steve whom he called and walked us through the diagnostic routine - again on a Friday night after hours.

I guess this is the way we all learn. My wife and i love our 36 SB - it is the perfect boat for the two of us on Lake Lanier - north of Georgia.

Modules are supposed to be replaced this week while I'm out of town. Will send a post on the final solution when we are back up and running.

all the best...

Don
Time in a Bottle IV
2007 36 SB
 
HELLO, MY SCREEN LCD STILL FREEZES, I DO NOT KNOW IF THIS CAUSES A PROBLEM, I HAVE BOUGHT A FRIDGE MODE DC FOR THE COCKPIT IN THE MONTH OF JUNE AND THE CONNECTION IS RED WIRE ON PORT IGNITION AND BLACK WIRE ON THE WALL BEHIND THE PANEL LCD. WHEN THE SCREEN IS ON THE SLEEP MODE SOMETIME IS FREEZE AND i TAKE A LOT OF TIME BEFORE BACK TO NORMAL(1 TO 8 HOURS) IS WHAT THE FRIDGE?? I HAVE BOUGHT THE BOAT LAST WINTER, FREEZE SCREEN HAD SOME TIME AND I HAVE CHANGED THE BATTERIES.

IS WHAT YOU HAVE CHANGED MANUALLY ON LCD SCREEN AC / DC FOR THE FRIDGE AND FREEZER IN THE KITCHEN??

ACS330 MA ENVOY OF THE DOCUMENTATION FOR THE REBOOT THIS SYSTEM BUT NOTHING CHANGED BUT THE SHORE POWER IS OFF MODE HOWEVER IN THE MAIL FOR KEVIN THERE FOR THE DOCUMENTATION, I SEE THAT DO NOT CLOSE THE SHORE POWER DURING THE REBOOT! THANK YOU FOR YOUR HELP JOHN-JOHN

EXCUSE THE FAULT I HAVE ALWAYS A TRANSLATOR
 
Hello Everyone,

I'm looking for information on hooking up cable/Internet at the dock. I'm in an area where I get no over the air tv stations and using an air card for Internet (regardless of carrier) is not an option.

Can someone tell me if the coax cable behind the salon TV needs to be split and then run to a router and cable box? I'm a bit confused as I thought that the white coax cable ran up to the GloMax antenna. Or perhaps everything is integrated some how.

Other than that I haven't found any other cable inputs inside the boat.

Thanks,
Pat
 
Don,

You can manually override the AC systems using the breaker panel behind the TV. If I remember properly, you press the LED to turn on the circuit when the E-Plex system is not working.

Kevin
 
Pat,

Both the GloMax input and the input by the shore power go to the GloMax controller next to the stereo. The feed to the boat is based on the setting of the GloMax controller. When on, the TV's are connected to the GloMax, when off the TV's are connected to the shore input.

I would put a splitter on the shore power side (near the GloMax controller) for the modem/cable box, wouldn't matter if GloMax controller is on or off. Another option would be to split the cable going to a TV, will only work when the GloMax controller is turned off.
 
Hi Kevin, thanks very much for the explanation..This makes much more sense now.

Pat
 
I think I FINALLY FOUND THE PROBLEM OF MY TOUCH SCREEN, SCREEN WORKS WITH THE HEAT RELEASE BY THE FINGERS AND IT DOES VERY HOT IN THE BOAT CAR WINDOWS TO FRONT OF BOAT ARE THE SUN, I'LL BUY ONE CANVAS COVER FOR THE TWO WINDOWS OF THE BOAT, I HOPE TO HAVE FOUND THE PROBLEM, JOHN-JOHN
 
If I have my boat next year, that is one upgrade I am going to do.......adds at least 5 degrees to the boat from the windows as with any boat with windows
 
ePlex System

Kevin:

Unfortunately that didn't even work. I was aware of the overrides but the system got so "fried" from the bad modules that it wouldn't allow the overrides to work.

To manually operate AC and DC we had to isolate those bad modules that were "confusing" the ePlex and then disconnect the brown data cable to them. If you need to use the lights you can then manually hit the little itty-bitty white button on the module to turn lights on and off.

Like I said, it locked down the whole boat. However, MarineMax under the auspices of Sea Ray came out this week and replaced the modules. I'm headed to the boat this afternoon (Saturday) to check things out.

As an Engineer I'm acutely aware of the conundrum where the more gadgets you put on the toilet the more functionality it may have. However, it also increases the chances of stopping the whole thing up. :)

Anyway, I think we got it fixed but it sure was frustrating to not be able to get ANYTHING manually fired up. The ePlex system kept confusing everything else so you had to take it off line to work the manual controls.

Thanks for the feedback and Happy Boating.

Don
Time in a Bottle IV
Lake Lanier, GA
 
I had a great weekend on the boat, everything was working great with the exception of my depth finder on my new vessel view. Sunday night we are cleaning the boat to go home for a few day , my wife is in the galley and went to turn on the light for the galley using the screen above the sink. She pushed galley lights and the vent can on. push vent and the cabin lights came on, ect. ect..Every switch we pushed something Else would turn on or off. the main screen on the eplex worked and so did the light switches. After messing around with it for awhile I decided to try a reboot of the eplex to see if that would help. Not sure why but every thing started to work , I even checked my depth finder and it stated to work.

I love this boat but this electronic package will be the death of me.
Craig
 
ePlex mess up

Craig:

Welcome to the world of electronics :)

It is a touchy thing. Remember that it is the "clock" - display at the galley - that is the Master device in the ePlex system. The touchscreen display above the TV is slaved to the clock. There is a function to reprogram the modules at the clock. That is always an option - may take about 15 minutes.

I also love the boat - great size and form factor for my wife and I on Lake Lanier. However, as a "recovering Engineer" myself I know that every new gadget and feature comes with its own problems. That said, in the electronics industry there is a concept called "infant mortality" - if an electronic device runs for a week it should run for years and years. I'm not sure why the ePlex system decides to act up occasionally.

Take Care and Happy Boating

Don
Time in a Bottle IV
Lake Lanier, GA
 
Coax Cable to Glomax

Hi Folks,

Has anyone ever had to actually connect the coax cable coming up out of the Glomax mount to the female connection within the antenna itself?

After quite a bit of troubleshooting of seeing all snow in locations where everyone around me receives channels, I finally went up top and removed the antenna only to find that the coax cable was never connected to the antenna. The problem I am finding is that the female connection is probably 1.5 inches or so inside the mount on the base of the antenna and there is physically no way to secure the connection by hand. I would guess the diameter of the base on the antenna is < 1 inch and there is no way to get fingers in there.

Anyone know how to make this connection? Does the antenna somehow have to be taken apart or do I need some kind of long male to female coax adapter?

Hopefully this makes sense.

Thanks,
Pat
 
Hi Pat,

I don't know the answer, but thanks for giving me this tip. My Glomex reception really SUCKS in the middle of downtown San Diego. Doesn't seem right. I guess they could've for forgot to hook it up when they put the hard top on. They actually did forget to hook up my trackvision. On delivery day, we found the cable stuffed into the holes in the side going up to the roof. It wasn't even fished to the dish. I don't get networks on the dish, so it would be nice if the Glomex worked to at least get a few of them.
 
Hi All,

In the October issue of Boating, on page 30 is an article called "Alternating Current". It talks about how to switch from short power to genset - and back - safely. I tried to find the link to post it here, but couldn't. Everything seems reasonable in the article, except #4. It reads "...When the generator is shut down, close its intake seacock to prevent water from being forced up into the cooling system should you head out again."

I have never shut the seacock when I am out, and almost never run the generator when I'm cruising. I usually only run it at anchor, when I need power. Does anyone else shut the seacock if they're not using their genset while cruising?

Kevin
 
Just as a habit.....I do to generator, a/c and waste while underway........If I will use, I open prior to leaving the dock except waste.
 
ePlex Hint and General Maintenance Question

Fellow 36 DB'ers:

Two items:

First, in case anyone hasn't seen my previous posts on the ePlex system - I've had some true "adventures" with it - to reset it when the screen is blank or locked up go to the main battery switch un bulkhead forward of engines and turn off and back on.

Also, please note that the ePlex "clock" freezes with low voltage. Had some real fun this weekend when a battery or two went bad and I couldn't get generator going because couldn't get to ePlex to turn on the solenoid switch.

Second, has anyone seen a worksheet or preferably Excel spreadsheet that lists all the various maintenance items one should do to the boat weekly/monthly/annually/etc? If anyone has one would love to get a copy of it. Was going to put one together but don't want to reinvent the wheel if somebody already has one.

Happy Boating!

Don
Time in a Bottle IV
Lake Lanier, GA
 
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