Lowrance 7 HDI transducer help
Submitted by Mick71 on Fri, 2014-05-30 13:45
I need some advice on a transducer installation, this is my second transducer that has s#@t itself, it just stops picking up a signal, I have a sneaky suspicion it got water in it somehow!!!
Both of them worked fine when first installed, but after about 15 trips with the boat, it just stops and flashes 0.0 depth with no image.
Any advice would be appreciated
____________________________________________________________________________
To fish or not to fish....
Shakespeare had it SO wrong!!!!
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Wazza79
Posts: 315
Date Joined: 23/05/11
Looks like its mounted ok.
Hi Mick!
Got the same setup on my tinnie. Haven't had any dramas yet, but have heard similar stories. Your set-up looks fine. Is it def the transducer that craps out? How did you find this out the first time?
Cheers
Wazza
Mick71
Posts: 125
Date Joined: 18/12/10
Had the exact same issue with the first..
..so I got another transducer and all worked fine, but it s#@t itself today with the exact same symptoms
To fish or not to fish....
Shakespeare had it SO wrong!!!!
Wazza79
Posts: 315
Date Joined: 23/05/11
Hmmmm...
Doesn't sound like you're doing anything wrong or different with it then?
Did you get the first one replaced as warranty?
Spitfire56
Posts: 128
Date Joined: 29/07/12
Have you selected the right transducer type
Had the same issue, make sure settings are right. Transducer type is on the cord, unit may have reset somehow
Shark1
Posts: 1084
Date Joined: 21/05/12
make sure u never switch on
make sure u never switch on the ducer out of water - it will shit itself
buy an aftermarket airmar ducer -they are sooo much better u wont believe
Busted Arse
Posts: 253
Date Joined: 02/07/10
i have same lowrance and
i have same lowrance and transducer does the same thing.
Paul H
Posts: 2104
Date Joined: 18/01/07
I have looked at this problem
I have looked at this problem on more than one boat, I suspect its a turbulence problem for a number of reasons - air bubbles forming or getting stuck on the bottom of the tranny. Its very hard to sort out.
Selecting the correct tranny on the unit does help but not always
I would have mounted it another 15cm to the left rather than behind the chine as this could cause turbulence problems. Mine only does what you describe now and then when reversing (but has been good as late) and relatively easy to sort with a power off/on, but a mates doesn't reset as easily.
Youtube Channel - FishOnLine Productions
https://www.youtube.com/channel/UCbUVNa-ViyGm_FTDSv4Nqzg/videos
fishy fingers
Posts: 1719
Date Joined: 28/04/07
Air bubbles
air bubbles forming or getting stuck on the bottom of the tranny. Its very hard to sort out.
Maybe not...I have been told (but not tried it) is to smear the face of the transducer with dishwashing detergent as this stops the bubbles sticking to the face.....worth a shot!
A-SALT-WEAPON
Posts: 103
Date Joined: 07/07/10
Mick
When you stop traveling does it go back to picking up bottom? If it does then you would have to suspect turbulence.
I had issue with my 585 may not be the same problem but it would stop reading over say 120 / 150metres. I had the wiring for my 2 sounder and gps all running through a single 10amp switch on the dash. Wired the sounder directly to the main wiring box and that fixed the issue. I don't think it the same problem but maybe some thing to have a look at.
Paul H
Posts: 2104
Date Joined: 18/01/07
Generally you'd be right in
Generally you'd be right in thinking that but many have had the issue with reading zero depth which doesn't necessarily correct upon stopping. As far as I have worked out it is a turbulence issue (in that heavy turbulence certainly appears to be the initial cause ie. such as reverse thrust) however when the turbulence ends it still has trouble re-engaging the correct depth for some reason.
In my case a power/on/off resets it on the occasions it does happen but on a mates boat this didn't work at all. We only needed depth reading at the time and were able to switch over to downscan (using the structure scan tranny) to get depth on the day. It has since been fine on the normal sounder.
In Mick71's case the tranny isn't in an ideal position behind the chine but I don't know that moving it will solve what this problem is (if he finds it reads poorly when underway and or at speed then a move may improve this side of things but the depth problem will likely remain)
Youtube Channel - FishOnLine Productions
https://www.youtube.com/channel/UCbUVNa-ViyGm_FTDSv4Nqzg/videos
RobertMc
Posts: 326
Date Joined: 19/01/09
I reckon the same as Paul if
I reckon the same as Paul if it was on my boat I would have put it closer to the centre of the boat, in the middle of that smooth section of hull so long as it wasn't right in front of the prop apart from that the install looks like it's sitting right. When you zoom in it looks like there has already been something there at some stage, maybe a old transducer??
Ian Macca
Posts: 133
Date Joined: 08/05/12
Have a read of this thread,
Have a read of this thread, very similar problems:
http://fishwrecked.com/forum/lowrance-hds8-sounder-malfunctioning
Mine does the same on a HDS 5 very frustrating
glastronomic
Posts: 892
Date Joined: 16/02/11
Maybe the display speed on
Maybe the display speed (settings)on your lowrange is either to low or to quick.
On my system (similar to lowrance) if this is set incorrect it shows the same issues.
jayce
Posts: 564
Date Joined: 10/12/11
Mine does the same. Normally
Mine does the same. Normally only when we are moving along at speed. I think it is just turbulance under there. If i stop or slow down it comes good.
Maybe try moving the position of the tranducer down the hull a bit.
Or another thing to look at is it could do with angling forward just a touch. It looks as though it may nearly be flat or angles back i anything. Perhaps you hit some weed or something that has angled it backwards.
Mick71
Posts: 125
Date Joined: 18/12/10
Thanks for the tips guys
Just to clarify a couple of points.
- I have checked all the settings and they are correct
- I NEVER switch it on out of the water
- it doesn't come right at slow speeds or at rest, although it does have a couple of moments of working properly, but not often
- it goes completely bezerk when in reverse and takes a long time to come right, but I figured that will be due to turbulance
- I haven't tried to switch it off then on, I will give that a go next time, if that doesn't work I will move it as suggested by Paul H.
and if all else fails, maybe get a new Dragonfly 7
To fish or not to fish....
Shakespeare had it SO wrong!!!!
Shark1
Posts: 1084
Date Joined: 21/05/12
Seems u can move the tranny
Seems u can move the tranny down (deeper) by just unscrewing the 2bolts on the bracket maybe give that a go
but one would expect it towork if u were at standstill if it's turbulence. Wonder if it's not interference from other electronics
Mick71
Posts: 125
Date Joined: 18/12/10
I have tried it a bit deeper with no change
I would also expect interference from other electronics to be there from the first installation, but it has been running fine for a while, and I haven't installed anything else
To fish or not to fish....
Shakespeare had it SO wrong!!!!
bluemule
Posts: 97
Date Joined: 14/02/12
flashing
Hi Mick,
I had simular problems + the Gps Flashing.
1.Fixed the GPS =The battery accessory wing nut on the terminal was lose.
2. My transducer is fixed the the stern, and after our 2010 trip to Exmouth the boat some times got side on to the beach at Tantabiddie and the transducer was rubbing on the sand.The transducer developed a crack up under the mounting hole.
Not till I removed it could I actualy see the crack in it. My tempreture readout went haywire as well because of water getting in.
Jim
Mick71
Posts: 125
Date Joined: 18/12/10
Thanks Blue
I will look at the connections, but my GPS works fine, although I have noticed on a couple of occasions it did switch off by itself, probably about twice in the last 5 trips so it could be possible there is a dodgy connection
To fish or not to fish....
Shakespeare had it SO wrong!!!!
Spitfire56
Posts: 128
Date Joined: 29/07/12
What model is the trannsducer?
What have you selected
Mick71
Posts: 125
Date Joined: 18/12/10
It's the standard lowrance
83/200 and I have selected that on the unit
To fish or not to fish....
Shakespeare had it SO wrong!!!!
Spitfire56
Posts: 128
Date Joined: 29/07/12
Don't use the generic 83/200
I had the same issue when I selected the generic setting, would only work sometimes and had many issues. There should be a small label on the end of the cable with a code of some sort, that is what you need to select. On mine it's hst-dfsbl. Once I selected this it worked perfect
Mick71
Posts: 125
Date Joined: 18/12/10
I'll have a look tomorrow
the setting does have a lowrance selection, but I'll look at the cable as well, also I did a software update today so will have to go through all the settings again, it's just a pity it doesn't keep your old settings, I must learn to write them all down
To fish or not to fish....
Shakespeare had it SO wrong!!!!
Seekakkerlak
Posts: 38
Date Joined: 08/10/12
I was about to go and buy a
I was about to go and buy a HDI 7 today but after reading so many people having issues wih this unit on the internet I decided not to. I am still tempted though since they are currently on special for $800 with nothing else out there for a similar price that includes a 7" screen, downscanning, full navionics and a tranducer. Is there anyone out there who's had a good experience with the unit?
Seekakkerlak
Posts: 38
Date Joined: 08/10/12
I was about to go and buy a
I was about to go and buy a HDI 7 today but after reading so many people having issues wih this unit on the internet I decided not to. I am still tempted though since they are currently on special for $800 with nothing else out there for a similar price that includes a 7" screen, downscanning, full navionics and a tranducer. Is there anyone out there who's had a good experience with the unit?
gerrit
Posts: 26
Date Joined: 26/04/10
Seekakerlak my HDI 7 werk
Seekakerlak my HDI 7 werk soos n droom het die selfde probleem gehad maar nadat ek the trannie gereposition het werk die sounder perfect.
Cheers
Mick71
Posts: 125
Date Joined: 18/12/10
Hello Gerrit
Waar het jy hom geskyf?
To fish or not to fish....
Shakespeare had it SO wrong!!!!
Paul H
Posts: 2104
Date Joined: 18/01/07
Something else to check if
Something else to check if switching on/off by itself is not only the connection but make sure you secure the fuse holder. My GPS was switching off then back on when hitting waves and it was the weight of the fuse holder pulling down on the connection on the bumps the connection otherwise was done up tight. Cable tie around the fuse holder to stop the weight pulling on the connection sorted it out.
Youtube Channel - FishOnLine Productions
https://www.youtube.com/channel/UCbUVNa-ViyGm_FTDSv4Nqzg/videos
Mick71
Posts: 125
Date Joined: 18/12/10
Thanks Paul
...for all the advice, I think I will move the routing of the cable away from all electrical issues and also move the transducer as you have suggested.
I will also check the fuse, also I will take the power wire directly from the battery and not through a switch, maybe there is an issue there!
Cheers
To fish or not to fish....
Shakespeare had it SO wrong!!!!
gerrit
Posts: 26
Date Joined: 26/04/10
Mick sal vir jou fotos
Mick sal vir jou fotos stuur
Cheers
Mick71
Posts: 125
Date Joined: 18/12/10
PM sent
Dankie
To fish or not to fish....
Shakespeare had it SO wrong!!!!