Help with transducer wiring!!

[snowy23]

Hey folks, need help with transducer setup. I'm installing an older hummingbird fishfinder on a 17' bayliner recently restored(somewhat). It had a transducer mounted at time of purchase but no control unit. The wire on the hunningbird transducer is 2 stranded and is too short to reach my dash. The other that came with the boat is 3 stranded. Can I use the 3 stranded wire to splice an extension onto the 2 stranded and just use two of the wires? Seems like it should work. Any help would be greatly appreciated. I've learned a lot reading all the other posts regarding transducer mounting etc. Really a great place to learn everything about boating.

 

[Silvertip]

Re: Help with transducer wiring!!

Yes -- you can use two of the three wires to extend the cable. Slide a couple pieces of heat shrink tubing over the cables and individual wires before you splice them. When finished with soldering, shrink each individual joint and then the main cable.

 

[snowy23]

Re: Help with transducer wiring!!

Silvertip : thanks for the help. Haven't done much soldering. Any tips on doing it neatly?

 

[Silvertip]

Re: Help with transducer wiring!!

You are dealing with sensitive electroics. Wire nuts are not the way to splice these wires. Twist the wires together, heat them with the iron and add solder. Add the solder to the joint, not the iron. Practice on some scraps. Let the iron get hot before attempting to work. Then apply the heat to the joint. When the joint is hot enough to melt the solder, add solder until the wires are fully covered. A pencil style soldering iron is just a couple of bucks and is available at Radio Shack or in the electrical department at Lowes, Home Depot, etc. Be sure the solder is "Rosin Core" not Acid Core.