HDS 5 transducer

[mr300z87]

Hi all I am looking for advise as to what to do to get my Lowrance HDS 5 chartplotter/fish finder to read depth through the hull. I bought this unit used for my SeaRay project boat. See signature file. I do not fish so the primary function will be chartplotter and depth. It came with a brand new transducer meant to be transom mounted but since I an not interested in bottom detail or finding fish I figured I would just glue it to the hull in the bilge like a did with the transducer for my other Lowrance elite 4 that was in my other boat which read the bottom depth just fine. After reading about the best ways to mount in the hull I started by using a big wad of sticky tak just to test the location. This gave me no reading, next I dropped the transducer over board and could see the bottom so I know it works. I can hear it clicking also. Next on the list was to fill a zip lock bag full of water lay it in the bilge and place the transducer on it but still no bottom depth reading. From what I can tell from going through the set ups in the unit the transducer works 200/50 hertz frequency. Not sure why this same setup worked in my other boat and not this one. Thicker hull? Different frequency transducer?

Since I do not really want to pull the boat out to nor do I really want to drill holes in my transom to install and mount the transducer I was thinking I would just buy a transducer designed for through hull but since this unit is an older model I need to make sure to get something that will work. Does anybody know or can recommend a transducer that will read depth through the hull. Remember I am not into fishing to so all the fancy new stuff is not necessary as all I need is a depth reading on my chart. Tomorrow I am going to try and reach Lowrance tech support. As always any advice is greatly appreciated.

Mike

 

[dingbat]

No difference between a transom mount and a shoot thru from an electronics standpoint.

You must have one layer of solid fiberglass between the transducer and the water.

Guessing you have an air space between layers or a cored hull.

 

[mr300z87]

"You must have one layer of solid fiberglass between the transducer and the water.

Guessing you have an air space between layers or a cored hull."

i understand what you are saying the boat is an older Sea Ray it does not have a cored hull and to make this even more confusing is the Lowrance 4300 depth finder that was factory installed 27 years ago has a through hull transducer glued to the hull in the same spot I tested with the bag full of water. The depth finder works fine although the plastic overlay that covers the display is cloudy and I can barley see the display. I wish there was a way to use that transducer on my plotter.

 

[dingbat]

Ok then..... the transducer ticking part isn't good.

The pulse of a transducer is outside the range of human hearing. What you are actually hearing is the pulse generator over driving the transducer. The product of poor design and typically a compromised transducer.

Stick the transducer in a bag and turn the gain to full. If you don't see a change between 0 and full gain you have a transducer problem.

 

[mr300z87]

Thanks for the quick response. As I stated in my original post the transducer I go when I purchased this unit was brand new still in platic bag and tied up as a factory would have done. I do not know if it came originally with this unit. I do know that thing do fail right out of the box so I can not rule it out. Also stated in my original post when I place the transducer over the gunnel and and into the water I do get a reading. So I know it is doing something. Not sure I undertand what you mean by "Stick the transducer in a bag and turn the gain to full. If you don't see a change between 0 and full gain you have a transducer problem" could you please elaborate?

Another note is I have not mounted the transducer with any kind of permanent methods yet just using test methods I have read about on this and other boating sites. In my other boat I have the transducer glued down with caulk and it had always worked.

 

[mr300z87]

Hello all I wanted to follow up on the thread, last week I was on vacation but my wife had to work love it when that happens, this gave me a chance to get some items check of the to do list. One of the first was to get this transducer/Chartplotter issue sorted out. I said screw it and decided to just glued the transduce into the bilge even though my tests did not work. I used some thing that was only semi permanent kitchen and bath adhesive caulk from HD, it cured for 2 days before I had a chance to get back to the boat but low and behold I could now see the bottom. Not sure why the suggested testing methods I tried did not work for me but I am glad it is working now.



3.9ft from the keel to the bottom in my slip

 

[mr300z87]

No Title

Trying to figur e a new way to post pics since the PB change

 

[dingbat]

Trying to figur e a new way to post pics since the PB change

i assume that's you sonar on the right....looks like you've still have some work to do

 

[mr300z87]

That is the sonar on the right, I have set like that as the only way the older HDS 5 will show depth is to have sonar on as a split screen mode. Since I am not fishing and only interested in seeing the water depth and the chart I have the sonar window as small as possible. The newer Lowrance unit I had on my other boat allowed the depth to be displayed without showing the sonar screen so I did not have to use split screen. Trying a new way to post pics so sorry for the double pic is if works.
https://farm5.staticflickr.com/4239/35565268071_5592033937_c.jpg

 

[mr300z87]

The link works but it wont show like when done by posting the url from Photobucket before their change. Can anyone assit with how to post pics from Flickr?

 

[dingbat]

Have you tested the installation at speed?

The amount of "noise" showing up on your sonar at rest really makes me wonder

 

[mr300z87]

yes it showed the depth no problem at speed and the depth matches the depth shown on the OE installed Lowrance 4300 depth finder. Next time out I will make the sonar window bigger while I am out at out tie up spot and take another photo to post. Since I have never paid any attention to the sonar other than the depth I am not sure what is supposed to look like.

 

[mr300z87]

Just trying to post photos from MS one drive. This has nothing to do with my thread but it is the tow vehicle for my Sea Ray, HEMI power!!!!!


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