How to Troubleshoot Humminbird Transducer Problems
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- čas přidán 5. 01. 2018
- January 4, 2018
In this video I will show you how to methodically troubleshoot problems with a Humminbird fishfinder and transducer. This video will show a Humminbird Helix 7 SI GPS G2 unit, but it applies to most humminbird units and the principles behind this method could be applied to other manufacturer's products as well. (Lowrance, Garmin, Simrad, etc)
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Back Story: I have been experiencing problems with my Humminbird Helix 7 SI GPS G2 fishfinder lately. Specifically, I've noticed that the 2d sonar does not want to lock bottom and, when it does, the returns are weak. It has become nearly impossible to get a sonar return while at planing speeds (20+ MPH) and the 2D sonar sensitivity must be set to the highest setting to get a return.
This could be caused by any of the following problems:
1. Defective fishfinder unit
2. Defective transducer
3. Cracked epoxy allowing air gaps between puck transducer and hull
4. Defective Y-Cable (In applications using the AS SIDB Y Cable)
On my boat, the side imaging transducer ( XNT 9 SI 180 T ) is mouted to the transom. For 2D sonar, I use a in-hull puck ( XP 9 20 T ) transducer that is epoxied to the inside of the hull.
The procedure I will use to try and determine where my fault lies is:
1. Remove both transducer cables from the AS SIDB Y Cable
2. Connect the side imaging transducer ONLY to the Helix 7
3. Put the Helix 7 in 2D sonar mode and evaluate sonar returns
4. Disconnect the side imaging transducer from the Helix 7
5. Connect the puck transducer ONLY to the Helix 7
6. Put the Helix 7 in 2D sonar mode and evaluate sonar returns
7. Connect both transducer cables to the AS SIDB Y cable (Make sure to connect the transducers to the appropriate Y-Cable leads. They are labeled)
8. Put the Helix 7 in 2D sonar mode and evaluate sonar returns
If the 2D sonar works correctly with each transducer connected individually, but experiences problems when connected through the Y-Cable, your problem is likely to be a defective Y-Cable.
If the 2D sonar functions on the side imaging transducer, but experiences problems with the puck transducer, your problem is likely with the puck transducer. This could be a bad transducer or a cracked epoxy joint. Visual inspection of the epoxy will be necessary.
If neither transducer displays 2D sonar correctly, your problem likely lies within the fishfinder head unit. You will need to contact your manufacturer regarding sending it in for service.
I hope these tips help you out. If they do, let me know below in the comments.
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Thank you sir. Looks like I need to do the same test👍
GREAT VIDEO... THATS GOOD TO KNOW. NOT ALOT OF TROUBLRSHOOTING VIDEOS OUT THERE
Thanks! It's been driving me nuts lately, so I thought I'd shoot a video in case others are experiencing the same problem.
I would like to run my fish finder on my ski doo ( ice fishing) just for the GPS maps, what do I do with the transducer unplug it or leave it plugged in
In general, the TI units are faster in response to inputs. This is seen when quickly switching between sonar, downscan, chart, and split screens czcams.com/users/postUgkxeAxH15LxhjGlg5-CRYqjTGTEH0tbY4vk recommend The Hook units will show some lag on button pushes and screen switching. The big ticket item though is maps. If you install a mapping card such as Navionics or the free C-Map Genesis which has a lot of map detail, then moving around the map with the cursor or when running down the lake can lag significantly on the Hook units, but is seamless with the TI units.
The TI and HDS units have a MUCH faster CPU than the Hook units do. You're absolutely correct.
thank you sir for your info.
You're quite welcome. Thank you for watching
Awesome troubleshooting video brother
Thanks, brother. I'll post a follow up once I get a new Y-Cable installed.... whether that fixes problem or not.
Awesome, I have a Lowrance and have to figure out why it powers off itself sometimes lol. I did notice some corrosion in the plug and pins so maybe that's a possible reason so in the spring I'll use some electrical grease and see if it helps. Will await your follow up video bro
4 DA KIDZ Fishing there's a good chance that's part of your problem. Clean the pens and apply some Dielectric grease when you put the connectors back together that will help keep water out.
The Weekend Angler thank you, appreciate it
4 DA KIDZ Fishing anytime let me know how it works out for you
Im having trouble with my helix 7si its not showing structure on the bottom of the lake any suggestions? And also when i run wot my helix cuts off any suggestions on that also ? Thanks
Troy Sweatt where is your transducer mounted in relationship to the bottom of your boat? it almost sounds like at wide open throttle it is coming up and out of the water. If it was mounted a little too high it could also give trouble reading. There's a careful balance though, mount it too low and you run the risk of damaging the transducer by striking it on things or throwing a gigantic rooster tail behind your boat. It's hard to diagnose this any further without a picture. If you stop by my Facebook page and leave a picture of your setup I will try to help you more.
Hey there nice video. I just bought a used boat with 797c2 gps si. 2d sonar works fine but when i go to use si the screen is black. I did a factory reset and the screen for si was still black. What else could be the problem? Thanks.
I have this same problem with my Helix 9 SI on a used boat I purchased. Can get 2d sonar great but SI and DI are black. I had someone tell me they had this issue and the transducer was toast. I hoping that isn't the case, but still trying to figure out the issue.
Good video. Maybe you can help me. I'm not getting any power to the unit. When I looked at the power supply end that connects to the fish finder the top pin in the plug is long and the bottom pin is only about 1/16 of an inch. Are both of your pins long in the power supply plug?
Thanks. Yes, both pins are equal length. Sounds like one of yours has broken or shoved back into the power cord.
@@TheWeekendAngler Thanks. I'll see about getting another supply cord.
@@RadReelingFishing I'm not sure which model you have, but if it takes the standard PC-10/PC-11 power cord, I highly recommend spending the extra couple bucks and getting the PC-11 cord. It has a built in filter that helps to reduce noise spikes that cause distortion in your readings.
THANKS
I am also thinking of using a glue mounted transducer to run at higher speeds, is this the reason why you use that transducer?
Yes. When on plane and running at high speed, the side imaging transducer comes up and out of the water. During that time, down and side imaging is not possible. The Puck transducer epoxied to the hull allows you to still have 2d sonar at full speed. I can get a solid lock on the bottom at speeds in excess of 60mph.
I have only a puck transducer installed and after some rough water, it stopped reading the correct 32 feet and started reading 900 feet. Checked the puck and it is not dislodged or loose. Any advice?
U find a fix?
Bought a Humminbird 405SX Singlebeam Unit at a garage sale and it worked well. I am a novice at boating. We have hot summers here in North Central Texas and I noticed a black tar-like substance oozing out of the round hole on the Transducer pointing away from the Transom. Can I reseal it & with what; and/or is it ruined? I really did enjoy your video, thank you. Appreciate any help with this problem.
I am not familiar with that specific model but I did a quick Google search for you it looks like the transducer would be difficult to find if you needed a replacement one. I would probably use a product like 3M 4200 to seal the transducer and run it until it goes out
@@TheWeekendAngler Thank you for replying so quickly. I have a tube of Flex Glue that’s supposed to be a “Rubberized Waterproof Adhesive “made for use on Boats. I thought I would give it a try; any thoughts about that? Appreciate your help and time, thank you.
I am having a problem with my Helix 9. I am not getting any readings at all on sonar, down and side imaging. All I get is speed and temp. Sometimes I get a very blurry image on DI. Even when my boat is not moving
I am having the same issue, have you found any fix for that?
I had that problem on my Helix 7. I had changed some advanced mode settings and started intermittently having problems with none of the readings working. I reset to factory defaults and didn't change any advanced settings and it appears to be working properly again. This happened today so I will have to see if it continues to work the next time I go out.
@@stevep1062 far out your a legend - spent an hour cleaning everything with vingegar was about to give up - reset the setting and I’m fairly sure it works again - can’t be sure until I’m actually over water but actually getting readings again for once when before it was just a blank screen 🙏🏼🙏🏼🙏🏼
So eventually you changed the Y cable and that fixed your problem? Wow. I didn't think a cable would go bad...
FishDonkey yes the Y cable turned out to be the culprit.
Why are you changing from one transducer to another ? Can't you do a Humminbird switch?
Thomas Bridges I don't run the switch. I use the AD-SIDB Y-cable. That uses the in hull puck transducer for 2d sonar and the side imaging transducer for down and side imaging.
I connected each transducer individually to determine whether my problem was with the Y-cable or a transducer.
The Weekend Angler, I use HELIX: 720101-1 (9 M SIDB Y) Y-Cable and the XP 9 20 shoot through the hull transducer and it works great (always reads bottom at full speed). At first, I used another Y cable, but it was not compatible with my helix 10 mega chirp. Hopefully you got yours working now.
My helix 10 looses bottom and wont read depth then it will then it wont I'll order new y cable side and down work fine just randomly loosed bottom. Read somewhere there was an update to correct some similar issues?
Humminbird has put out a few updates that are supposed to help with that. I'll be honest though, I never saw a huge improvement.
The one thing I did that seemed to make the biggest difference was to run a 10ga wire (positive and negative) directly from the unit to the battery. However even that doesn't make it read bottom 100 percent of the time.