mounting a transducer

[seasidesix]

i've been told i can mount a transducer for a depth sounder inside my boat in some kind of pvc tube with vegtable oil ?? any ideas

 

[rnsi]

Re: mounting a transducer

Is this for a temporary mount?

 

[moderator1]

Re: mounting a transducer

Moving to Electronics.

 

[thrasher]

Re: mounting a transducer

What has this got to do with the question that was asked?

 

[maxturbo]

Re: mounting a transducer

Hey speaking of transducers mine is mounted on the transmon. But its filled with those barnicles. What can i use to clean them off without harming the plastic?

 

[Chris1956]

Re: mounting a transducer

You can mount a transducer inside the hull, but only if the hull is solid fiberglass and relatively thin. You may place it in a "bubble" of plastic or PVC pipe, epoxy it ot the hull or simply mount it flush and keep it wet.

I installed the transducer flat on the hull of my 19' SeaRay I/O there was almost always enough water in the bilge to keep it wet. I needed to toss a 1/2 cup of water on it if we had a long dry spell. it does not need to be submerged, just wet! Oh yeah, there are no barnacles in the bilge.

 

[stevens]

Re: mounting a transducer

Google is your friend!

http://www.oceandata.com/support/install/install-inhull.htm
http://www.vexilar.com/pages/support/support_tips.html
http://yachtvalhalla.net/articles/transducer/transducer.html

Almost any transducer (even the transom-mount types) can be mounted inside the hull and made to shoot the beam through the hull. The transducer can either be epoxied straight to the hull or be suspended in some medium (i.e. water, propylene glycol, oil) that would carry the signal between the transducer and the hull. The hull itself must also be a good transmitter, i.e. solid fibreglass without coring or laminate in that particular location (remove it if you have to).

Finally, the location is important, you want to pick a location free of turbulence or air-bubbles. To find the right location, some manufacturers recommend that you temporarily put the transducer inside a water-filled plastic bag, make sure it points in the right direction, and move it around until you find a spot that works, at speed. Then, epoxy it in, or build a container that will house the transducer and surrounding liquid.

 

[daniel2229]

Re: mounting a transducer

SeaSideSix,

My kids got me Hummingbird for Father's Day. I hooked up the power and took it out to the lake. Went to an inlet and dropped the transducer over the side and took readings in water wher I pretty much knew what was below me. Then I placed it just under the oil pan of the engine and covered it with a couple of buckets of water. Ran around for the afternoon and felt confident I was getting nearly the same reading as when it was directly in the water.

I went home and waited a day so the bilge would dry. I got one of the marine epoxies that is slow curing so no bubbles would form and block the signal. I then squished the transducer into the goop and let it setup.

My readings are good. The only thing I can't get is the water temp cause it just reads the bottom of the boat and not the water. I routed the wires along the side of the boat away from other electronics.

I love having it. Now if I could only get the fish to cooperate!

Daniel