Re: T&T: Transducer mounting
In a message dated 2/19/08 12:01:09 AM, Roy writes:
Has anyone tried to mount a shoot thru the hull type puck transducer and
has good luck with such?
I have mounted two Humminbird transducers on the interior of the hull by
simply embedding them in a blob of silicone sealant. The instructions that came
with them suggested using epoxy resin but I tried the silicone first as a test.
It worked so well that I've never upgraded the mounting to epoxy.
Several things to think about:
-
If you use silicone, you can remove the transducer by simply pulling it
off the hull. If you use epoxy, you have to break up the transducer. -
The transducer should be mounted in a protected place so you don't
accidentally kick it. But if you do, you can always use another glob of silicone and
remount it. -
Despite warnings to the contrary, you can use two depthfinders at the same
time and get accurate readings on both. At least I can using a Humminbird SX
100 and a Humminbird Pirhana. It was easier and cheaper to simply buy two
depthfinders than to use a more expensive single unit and a remote indicator.
Larry Z
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This is done quite regularly in fiberglass boats. A couple of points to
consider. First the location must be solid glass with no voids or coring
material so the signal can pass through. You can test possible locations by
taking a large zip lock bag and filling with water and placing that in the
location where you want to place the transducer. Then simply place the
transducer on top of the bag (in direct contact with no air in between) and
test it out. Keep the bag wet on the outside to help with good contact. Try a
few locations and compare the results. Vary the gain of the depth finder if
possible and see which locations give you the best results with low gain.
To permanently mount the transducer, most manufacturers recommend a hard
material like epoxy. If you want to remove later you can normally tap with a
hammer to break it out. However as noted by someone else many people use
silicon or 5200 or 4200 and many say this works well too. Whatever material
you use, it is important to insure there are no air voids in the material
between the hull and the transducer face. As you bed the transducer you can
slide and twist to insure that it has good contact. Also note that the face of
the transducer should be horizontal in your boat's normal running attitude so
pick a hull location accordingly.
You can sometimes build up material if your hull is not horizontal but if it
is too far off this may not work. Another option is to put a tank in place as
referred to in another post. This can simply be a large diameter tube cut so
it fits flush with the hull and is vertical. Seal it in place with epoxy,
silicon, 4200 etc. The transducer is placed inside that with some medium to
cover it (mineral oil is often used but it could be water) Once the transducer
is in place a cap is placed on it to hold the liquid medium in place.
Some of the manufacturers' installation instructions or websites cover some of
this and have tips.
Try www.airmar.com who manufactures many of the transducers commonly used.
From: LRZeitlin@aol.com> Date: Tue, 19 Feb 2008 10:20:35 -0500> To:
trawlers-and-trawlering@lists.samurai.com> Subject: Re: T&T: Transducer
mounting> > In a message dated 2/19/08 12:01:09 AM, Roy writes:> > > > Has
anyone tried to mount a shoot thru the hull type puck transducer and > > has
good luck with such?> > >
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Larry wrote:
- Despite warnings to the contrary, you can use two depthfinders at the
same
time and get accurate readings on both. At least I can using a Humminbird SX
100 and a Humminbird Pirhana. It was easier and cheaper to simply buy two
depthfinders than to use a more expensive single unit and a remote
indicator.
Reply;
This is very interesting. I have been struggling with this issue this
season and have heard the opposite from the "transducer pundits" at Gemeco
www.gemeco.com/. I wanted to replace a smart transducer that runs at 235
kHz because it is such low power that it has been useless to us. We run it
as a second backup depth finder. I wanted to install and run a second high
power sounder. I thought that I could use two sounders and transducers that
can run at 50 or 200 kHz and run one at 50 and the other at 200. The answer
was a big "Oh No you don't" because the Airmar transducers are all pinging
at 50 and 200 at the same time and it is the unit that distinguishes. OK,
so they hear each other I will still have two sources of depth, right? "Oh
No you whooten" was the voice of authority. You would have nothing but
interference because they each need to hear the right ping at the right
time. The bottom line was that since I already had a 50/200 sounder and
transducer I could not have another unit onboard that ran 50 or 200. That
does not leave too many options.
I gave up on that project. Has anyone else had Larry's success?
Eric Thoman
Abyssinia
Tuesday, February 19, 2008, 8:21:30 AM, Kim wrote:
KBET> Larry wrote:
KBET> 3. Despite warnings to the contrary, you can use two depthfinders at the
KBET> same
KBET> time and get accurate readings on both. At least I can using a Humminbird SX
KBET> 100 and a Humminbird Pirhana. It was easier and cheaper to simply buy two
KBET> depthfinders than to use a more expensive single unit and a remote
KBET> indicator.
KBET> Reply;
KBET> This is very interesting. I have been struggling with this issue this
KBET> season and have heard the opposite from the "transducer pundits" at Gemeco
KBET> www.gemeco.com/. I wanted to replace a smart transducer that runs at 235
KBET> kHz because it is such low power that it has been useless to us. We run it
KBET> as a second backup depth finder. I wanted to install and run a second high
KBET> power sounder. I thought that I could use two sounders and transducers that
KBET> can run at 50 or 200 kHz and run one at 50 and the other at 200. The answer
KBET> was a big "Oh No you don't" because the Airmar transducers are all pinging
KBET> at 50 and 200 at the same time and it is the unit that distinguishes. OK,
KBET> so they hear each other I will still have two sources of depth, right? "Oh
KBET> No you whooten" was the voice of authority. You would have nothing but
KBET> interference because they each need to hear the right ping at the right
KBET> time. The bottom line was that since I already had a 50/200 sounder and
KBET> transducer I could not have another unit onboard that ran 50 or 200. That
KBET> does not leave too many options.
KBET> I gave up on that project. Has anyone else had Larry's success?
I expect that a 50/200 transducer will accept either 50KHz or 200KHz
excitation from the sounder, and output pulses of that frequency.
However, it will receive pulses of both frequencies - but the sounder
may filter out the frequency it is not using, so things may work.
I've used two sounders (probably both 200 KHz) at the same time. As
the sounders won't use exactly the same pulse repetition rate, each
should display its own echos correctly, but will show the echos from
the other sounder wandering around the screen.
--
Peter Bennett, VE7CEI Vancouver, B.C., Canada
Ennos 31 "Honeycomb"
GPS and NMEA info: http://vancouver-webpages.com/peter
Vancouver Power Squadron: http://vancouver.powersquadron.ca