2 transducers one fishfinder and a switch (for front or rear transducer)

[whiteknight]

Has any one did this,looks to me all a guy would <br />need is a few connectors,a chunk of sonar cable and one extention cord(so you dont have to cut your transducer wires)a small junction box and a DPDT switch, (tie the shields together in junction box)I'm thinking of doing this on the garmin 250 they only have 3 wires including the shield.<br />All the manufactures I talked to they all agree that 2 fishfinders on a boat will cause interferiance (smaller boats 17')I was going to get 2 but they took the wind out of my sail.<br /><br /> ok let me have it why this is dumb or wont work<br /> The switch would be for either the front or the rear transducer.

 

[Ralph 123]

Re: 2 transducers one fishfinder and a switch (for front or rear transducer)

Here you go bud. You can buy it off the shelf:<br /><br /> http://www.humminbird.com/retail/ca...inbird&category_name=Transducer+Switch&Page=1

 

[whiteknight]

Re: 2 transducers one fishfinder and a switch (for front or rear transducer)

Ralph,Thats just what im looking for. I wonder if the wireing configuration is the same as the garmin and also the connectors.<br />Surely Garmin makes one of those puppy's but i have'nt found one yet, just started this maddness today though, <br /> Thanks a lot for that info.

 

[Ralph 123]

Re: 2 transducers one fishfinder and a switch (for front or rear transducer)

Garmin has to make one. Just send them an email or search the on-line suppliers here on iBoats for one. If it turn out for some crazy reason they don't just ask them for advice on making your own.

 

[whiteknight]

Re: 2 transducers one fishfinder and a switch (for front or rear transducer)

Thanks Ralph,I just Emailed them with a pic of what i wanted lets see if they live up to there customer satisfaction reputation.

 

[Boatist]

Re: 2 transducers one fishfinder and a switch (for front or rear transducer)

Whiteknight<br />Why do you feel you need two transducers????<br />You can always just switch the cables.<br />I would understand if you wanted two fishfinders one to use when running,<br />and one to use when running the trolling motor up front. <br />In fact many bass boats are set up this way.

 

[whiteknight]

Re: 2 transducers one fishfinder and a switch (for front or rear transducer)

boatist, I would like two, one on troller,one on rear,when i lift up front troller I would like to hit the switch for rear transducer.<br />Somtimes I do a lot of hole hoppin and dont want to mess around with changing cables,I know its not a big deal but the switch i think would make it a little nicer.<br />when fishing for crappie you need to keep sonar above the barrel it is easier to do this from the front troller.<br /> As far as needing it,I guess I dont need any transducers or even a boat but its kinda nice to have. <br />(I do want to run with the rear transducer)<br />Thanks

 

[waterinthefuel]

Re: 2 transducers one fishfinder and a switch (for front or rear transducer)

Boatist, I think it's a fabulous idea. It beats having to purchase two depthfinders. The switch is great, someone needs a big hug for inventing that thing!

 

[Boatist]

Re: 2 transducers one fishfinder and a switch (for front or rear transducer)

WhiteKnight<br />I guess I have not done a lot of crappie fishing. <br />Mostly fish Black Bass, Stripers, Salmon, Sturgeon, Ocean Bottom fish.<br />I do not know the term above the barrel. When bass fishing we use two depthfinders.<br />With one transducer a shoot thru hull in the stern and the other shoot thru hull up front.<br />In shallow water under about 30 feet can run both units. <br />In the winter cold or the summer heat when must fish below 30 feet <br />the two do interfeer so must turn one off.<br />I guess if you run your trolling motor from the back with a cable or remote control <br />then it might make since.<br />I do not think I have ever caught a Black Bass that was in the cone angle <br />of the transducer, since that is only right under the boat.<br />In 30 feet of water it a 10 foot circle right under the transducer.

 

[whiteknight]

Re: 2 transducers one fishfinder and a switch (for front or rear transducer)

Boatist,after calls and checking to get a switch made,it will cost about a $120.(doing it myself)each connector cost about 9.00 extention cord about 35.00 anyhow long story short a new garmin 240 cost 199.00.<br />Good info you gave on interfierance,i didnt think in shallow water that it would effect each other.<br />so it looks like i will just get 2 finders and be done with it.The barrel means right above a pack of fish,the front transducer goes right on electric trolling motor and you put 2 fishing lines down right there. There is a guy in florida that makes wires and switches for garmin (jims electronics)kind of on the side guy.<br /><br />Besides all that this is one reply i got back from Garmin.<br /><br />Thank you for contacting GARMIN International. <br /> <br />I would be happy to assist you with this, however Garmin does not make a switch for two units to use the same transducer, we also do not recommend splitting the transducer signal between two units since you lose some of the signal strength when split. <br />The best way to have two units on the boat is to run one unit at a time with separate transducers.<br /><br />With Best Regards, <br />Kristi Jamison<br />GARMIN International<br />Senior Product Support Specialist<br />techsupp@garmin.com <br />800-800-1020 <br />913-397-8200 <br />913-397-0836 fax <br /><http://www.garmin.com/>

 

[Ralph 123]

Re: 2 transducers one fishfinder and a switch (for front or rear transducer)

I guess this is one case where HB has one up on Garmin

 

[Boatist]

Re: 2 transducers one fishfinder and a switch (for front or rear transducer)

WhiteKnight<br />Thanks for the info. I guess you run your trolling motor from your helm station so you can see the transducer output from the trolling motor.<br /><br />The boat I was talking about where we ran two depth finders up to 30 down without problems is a 19 foot bass boat. If you would like to be able to run two fish finders at the same time without interference you can angle your front transducer foward a little and that would help. However when you turn your trolling motor view would change also. The back transducer you can really not point back without losing your high speed performance.<br />Good luck hope it works for you.

 

[waterinthefuel]

Re: 2 transducers one fishfinder and a switch (for front or rear transducer)

Whiteknight, of course they are going to tell you not to split the wires. If that lady wouldn't tell you to buy two she probably wouldn't have a job. Ask someone who won't gain a sale and who's paycheck isn't riding on your purchase. You'll get an unbiased, non-salesman related response.

 

[BassMan31]

Re: 2 transducers one fishfinder and a switch (for front or rear transducer)

WhiteKnight, I have also thought of doing this but I have a HB that has a swivel base so if i am in the front of the boat i just spin it around. I do however have a friend who has 2 transducers with a switsh installed. I am unsure of the brands but will contact him and post any pertinant info. By the way what is a spdt switch just for my knowledge.<br />bassman31

 

[whiteknight]

Re: 2 transducers one fishfinder and a switch (for front or rear transducer)

Bass man thanks for info, a spdt(single pole double throw) is a switch like a 3 way it has a common and 2 places the electric can flow (common to a wire or common to a different wire or in our case fishfinder to front transducer or fishfinder to rear transducer.A person can get switches and stack them.A double pole double throw (DPDT)switch<br />would actually be the switch i was thinking about using.