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ICON Pro LCD Display Contrast Problem

Posted: Mon Apr 26, 2021 10:15 am
by jackp
I purchased new replacement ICON Pro RPM and Speedometer gauges for my boat because my existing ICON Pro RPM gauge went bad, was continuously sounding an alarm, had black display, and the Speedometer gauge from 2012 was looking hazy.

When I installed the new ICON Pro RPM and Speedometer gauges, I thought the Speedometer gauge was not finishing the power-on-self-test. On power-on the Speedometer gauge dial pointer went full travel, then the display went blank, and one second later the needle went back to zero.

I decided to run both new ICON Pro RPM and Speedometer gauges on the bench using a 12-Volt battery for power and use the new harness that came with the new gauges.

The ICON Pro RPM gauge completes its power-on-self-test.

There is a control for CONTRAST [for the LCD display] on the ICON Pro RPM gauge that affects [the LCD display on] both gauges. Adjusting the CONTRAST controls produces an unusual outcome: the RPM gauge and Speedometer gauge change in OPPOSITE directions, that is, when I cannot read the RPM LCD display, I can read the Speedometer gauge LCD display. and vice versa.

Also, when the CONTRAST is adjusted so the Speedometer gauge LCD display can be read, I see that the Speedometer gauges was actually passing the self test and I just could not see it.

It appears that the contrast settings are out of synch between the two gauges.

Any ideas for a remedy would be appreciated.

Re: ICON Pro LCD Display Contrast Problem

Posted: Mon Apr 26, 2021 11:03 am
by jimh
Your test of the two gauges on the bench with a known source of power was a good method for diagnosis of the problem.

I do not recall observing the inverse behavior of the LCD backlighting and LCD display mode that you describe. So I don't have a magic bullet solution to offer.

In a separate article I discuss the control of the BACKLIGHTING on the ICON Pro gauges. See

Understanding ICON Pro Gauge Lighting
viewtopic.php?f=10&t=4832

Try setting the lighting control mode on the ICON Pro Speedometer gauge to be independent. Perhaps you can gain control of the Speedometer backlight or display mode. It may be in the opposite display mode from the RPM gauge; that might be in the CONTRAST menu.

I don't have immediate access to any of my ICON Pro gauges to look at this more closely.

Another possible remedy: perform a MASTER RESET on both gauges. For help in locating the MASTER RESET see my mapping of the menu structure at

Evinrude ICON Pro RPM Gauge User Interface
http://continuouswave.com/whaler/refere ... _Menu.html

Aside: I developed that map of the menu structure because in the initial documentation for the ICON Pro series gauges the literature did not provide that table of information. The map is based on an early version of firmware and might not be accurate for the latest versions.

A third possibility: perhaps there is some incompatibility in the firmware revisions on the two gauges. I recall mentions that the firmware of the RPM gauge and the firmware of the Speedometer gauge should be coordinated in some unspecified manner, but I don't have any details to share.

An anecdotal observation: in my experience the backlighting on the ICON Pro series LCD displays is an overly-complex system. At one point, I had the backlight on my ICON Pro RPM gauge fail completely, making the LCD display extremely difficult to read. I had to use a small flashlight to send light into the gauge at a oblique angle to be able to read the display, or to count on an extremely sunny day to read the display. After the boat sat in storage for about eight months with no power applied to the gauge, the problem self-remedied. What happened? I have no idea.

Another anecdote: I has a second ICON Pro RPM gauge. The LCD display on that gauge lost two horizontal rows of pixels. I removed that gauge from service. The gauge sat in a box of the shelf for two years. Eventually I powered-up the gauge on the bench for some other purpose, and I was surprised to observe the LCD display had self-remedied; no more lost rows of pixels.

Re: ICON Pro LCD Display Contrast Problem

Posted: Mon Apr 26, 2021 11:13 am
by jimh
By any chance, does your E-TEC engine have the ICON EST remote controls?

The reason I ask is there is an option for the throttle-shift lever to control ICON Pro gauge lighting. I don't remember exactly how that occurs, but I believe it is possible. This could be another variable that might explain why the two gauges show different backlighting.

Re: ICON Pro LCD Display Contrast Problem

Posted: Mon Apr 26, 2021 3:39 pm
by jackp
My 2012 E-TEC 90 does not have remote controls.

The ICON Pro User's Guide mentions [control of lighting] with [ICON EST] remote controls.

I'm not near the boat now. If I remember correctly, the display options on the Speedometer are only to set up the pages.

I think the idea to select independent in the lighting menu is for backlighting the display and gauge; my problem is a contrast problem.

Re: ICON Pro LCD Display Contrast Problem

Posted: Tue Apr 27, 2021 12:18 am
by jimh
If you don't think my suggestion would be helpful, then you are welcome to not try it.

If you solve the problem, please follow up with details of the remedy.

Re: ICON Pro LCD Display Contrast Problem

Posted: Tue Apr 27, 2021 6:32 am
by jackp
I'm absolutely going to try it. That was just an offhand observation. You know a BUNCH more about this gauge system than anybody else I've communicate with by far. And your menu charts are DEFINITELY going to simplify the rest of the screen programming. Thanks you for taking the time to clarify their logic.

Re: ICON Pro LCD Display Contrast Problem

Posted: Fri Apr 30, 2021 2:19 pm
by jackp
I have my gauges connected on the bench again and I can find nowhere in the menus to set the gauges display controls to “independent”. I did try to adjust the display and gauge lighting with no luck. There could be different levels of firmware because my tach menu does not exactly match the articles posted.

My tach displays 484 B6 1903 during a self test.

I think another clue is that (after a master reset to default values and even with no power) the LCD display on the tach is a white color and on my new speedometer and both my old gauges it is a green color. Changing the LCD color of the tach in the menu does not help. I suspect my “new” gauges are two different vintages.

Other than the contrast concern, both gauges function OK and I was able to set them up as required.

Re: ICON Pro LCD Display Contrast Problem

Posted: Fri Apr 30, 2021 2:45 pm
by jackp
Additionally, there is a menu setting on the [RPM gauge] to change the LCD display color. It does change the color on the [RPM gauge] but the Speedometer display just stays green.

Re: ICON Pro LCD Display Contrast Problem

Posted: Fri Apr 30, 2021 2:47 pm
by jimh
The menu structure of the ICON Pro gauges you have may not match the menu structure on the ICON Pro RPM gauge I used to construct my map of the menu structure. The menu structure could easily have been changed with a revised firmware.

I infer from this comment
...the LCD display on the tach is a white color and on my new speedometer and both my old gauges it is a green color. Changing the LCD color of the tach in the menu does not help.

that there is a new menu option for LCD display color. That sounds like a new feature.

The real cause of this problem may be from incompatibility of the ICON Pro RPM gauge and the ICON Pro Speedometer gauge to work with each other due to a different generation of firmware.

With regard to what versions of firmware have been released for the ICON Pro RPM and Speedometer gauges, I am aware that there are distinct versions, particularly version related to making the ICON Pro series gauges compatible with the E-TEC G2 engines and the legacy E-TEC engines. Gauges that have this newer firmware can be identified by a distinct behavior during configuration: the gauge asks for input for the engine type, G2 or legacy model.

As I recall, at a later date there was another firmware revision that removed the G2 option; apparently Evinrude decided to not support use of the ICON Pro series gauges with the G2.

But the above encapsulates about all I know about firmware revisions. I don't have any information to share with you about incompatibility between certain firmware levels in RPM and Speedometer gauges.

A further problem with regard to ICON Pro gauge firmware: I do not recall any method for updating the firmware in the field.

Re: ICON Pro LCD Display Contrast Problem

Posted: Fri Apr 30, 2021 2:52 pm
by jimh
jackp wrote:...I can find nowhere in the menus to set the gauges display controls to “independent”...
Some menu options are dependent on other settings, that is, they are contextual. They won't appear if the context set in some other menu removes that option.

Or, as I said already, the set up for gauge lighting and contrast was overly complicated; maybe the configuration options were simplified in later firmware revisions.

Re: ICON Pro LCD Display Contrast Problem

Posted: Fri Apr 30, 2021 4:10 pm
by jackp
The ICON Pro RPM gauge I have requires the user to initialize for G1 or G2.

Both the ICON Pro RPM gauge and the ICON Pro Speedometer gauge work. I very seldom look at the Speedometer LCD. I do sometimes look at the RPM gauge LCD for engine hours or engine temp. I’ll probably just install them in the boat and set the RPM gauge LCD for best visibility.

These ICON Pro gauges are on a Montauk 17. The dial pointer indicators are what I use almost exclusively.

Re: ICON Pro LCD Display Contrast Problem

Posted: Fri Apr 30, 2021 5:17 pm
by jackp
jimh--Thanks for all the information. It made the learning experience much more tolerable.

Re: ICON Pro LCD Display Contrast Problem

Posted: Sat May 01, 2021 7:51 am
by jackp
The newer book that came with the newer ICON PromRPM gauge had a insert in the back with a flow chart of all the settings.

Re: ICON Pro LCD Display Contrast Problem

Posted: Sat May 01, 2021 9:33 am
by jimh
jackp wrote:The newer book…had a insert in the back with a flow chart of all the settings.

Yes, I believe Evinrude added the flow chart for the menu organization in the later editions of their User Guide publications. As a very early adopter of the ICON Pro gauge system, the Evinrude literature at that time did not have a map of the menu settings, and that is why I created my own.

Also, regarding the ability to select a color for the LCD display: I believe that feature was always available in the gauges as made by their OEM, FARIA, but for some reason the firmware used in the Evinrude ICON Pro series gauges did not support changing the display color. Apparently in the more recent revisions of the firmware for the ICON Pro gauges Evinrude decided to add the ability to select the LCD display color. I believe the color is selected by adjusting the color of the backlighting lamps, which are most likely LED lamps, and apparently LED lamps that can produced different color light.

ASIDE: for advice on adding in-line images to posts with image files uploaded to and hosted by the forum, please see this article on those subjects in the INTRODUCTION TO THE FORUM SOFTWARE sub-forum:

Maximum Image Size
http://continuouswave.com/forum/viewtopic.php?f=1&t=5876

Adding Image to Post
viewtopic.php?f=1&t=2569

Re: ICON Pro LCD Display Contrast Problem

Posted: Sat May 01, 2021 11:14 am
by jimh
jackp wrote:...I can find nowhere in the menus to set the gauges display controls to “independent”...


The "program map" or what I would call the menu map for the c.2016 version of an ICON Pro RPM gauge can be downloaded from Evinrude at

https://www.operatorsguides.brp.com/Ope ... 5%20EN.pdf

Refer to the unnumbered pages following page 148 at the lower left.

The map indicates that the setting "INDEPENDENT" is available from this path:

EDIT MENU ---> LIGHTING ---> SOURCE

The options listed are BUS DATA, INSTRUMENT, or INDEPENDENT.

I hope this detailed pointer will help you locate the selection for INDEPENDENT for the gauge lighting menu that I mentioned in my initial advice.

Also, from that same document on the ABOUT THIS GUIDE section:

IMPORTANT: All tachometers use the program
PGF484. At startup, the instrument will display this
information along with the revision build number.


In my article on the menu map in my early version ICON Pro RPM gauge, I note the software version:

The ICON Pro RPM Gauge was using software version PGFT47N Rev A 4/27/2011, which was an early release of the product software, when this article was prepared.


In contrast:

jackp wrote:My [ICON Pro RPM gauge] displays 484 B6 1903 during a self test.


I would infer that the later-version User Guide is more appropriate for your gauge than the one I created in 2012 for my much earlier gauge.

Re: ICON Pro LCD Display Contrast Problem

Posted: Fri Sep 16, 2022 11:59 am
by BenjaminNielsen
I have the exact same [problem with my newly-purchased Evinrude ICON Pro RPM gauge and Speedometer gauge].

Re: ICON Pro LCD Display Contrast Problem

Posted: Fri Sep 16, 2022 6:16 pm
by jimh
I am NOT aware of any new information regarding setting the CONTRAST of the LCD display of the Evinrude ICON Pro RPM or SPEEDOMETER gauges.

BENJAMIN’—

Q1: What is the firmware revision on your recently purchased gauges?

Q2: what is the problem?