Running standalone (with no external sensors) the new Lowrance HDS 8 uses the following amount of power:
| Standby ('off') | 0.4 W |
| Booting (display 100% backlight) | 14 W |
| Standby | 5.0 W |
| Chart display (brightness = 1, backlight off) | 5.0 W |
| brightness = 2 | 5.0 W (usable at night) |
| brightness = 3 | 5.1 W |
| brightness = 5 | 5.7 W (usable in cloudy day) |
| brightness = 8 | 8.9 W |
| brightness = 10 | 13.3 W (max, very bright even in sun) |
Enabling the sonar added 2 to 3 Watt. In fact the sensor usage is the only difference between Standby and running with the backlight very low or off.
This was all measured at the wall plug using a laptop AC to 12 V DC converter and a Voltcraft Energy Check 3000. Actual power use measured at the DC input should be about 15% lower still.
All in all I am extremely satisfied with this new plotter -- Excellent functionality, great NMEA 2000 interfacing, great screen, cheap charts, all for a very reasonable price. I got mine from JG Tech in the UK.
