Lowrance ELITE 5 SONAR, ELITE 5M User Manual

Elite 5 Sonar/GPS & Elite 5m GPS

Installation & Operation manual

Copyright © 2009 Navico

All rights reserved.

Lowrance® and Navico® are registered trademarks of Navico.

Fishing Hot Spots® is a registered trademark of Fishing Hot Spots Inc.

Navionics® is a registered trademark of Navionics, Inc.

Points of Interest Data in this unit are by infoUSA, copyright© 2001-2008, All Rights Reserved. infoUSA is a trademark of infoUSA, Inc.

Additional mapping data: Copyright© 2008 by Maptech Inc.

Navico may find it necessary to change or end our policies, regulations and special offers at any time. We reserve the right to do so without notice.All features and specifications subject to change without notice.

Visit our website:

www.lowrance.com

Navico

12000 E. Skelly Dr.

Tulsa, OK USA 74128-2486

Installation...............................................	2
Basic Operation.....................................	12
Menu operation.............................................	13
Fishing Mode (Elite 5 only)............................	15
Advanced Mode............................................	16
Restore defaults............................................	16
Pages......................................................	17
Steer Page....................................................	17
Sonar Page...................................................	17
Chart Page....................................................	18
Overlay Data.................................................	19
Sonar Operation: Elite 5.......................	20
Viewing Sonar History...................................	20
Sensitivity..................................................... .	21
Depth Range................................................ .	22
Frequency.................................................... .	23
Sonar Options menu.................................... .	23

Table of Contents
Chart Operation.....................................	25
Waypoints, Routes, Trails.............................	26
Creating a route........................................... .	27
Navigating a route........................................ .	29
To cancel navigation:.................................... .	30
Creating trails............................................... .	31
Navigating a trail.......................................... .	32
Settings Menu........................................	34
System..........................................................	34
Navigation.....................................................	36
Sonar ............................................................	38
Installation menu...........................................	39
Alarms ..........................................................	40
Units............................................................. .	40
Simulator (Advanced Mode)......................... .	40
Index.......................................................	41
Specifications........................................	42

1

Installation

Elite Series Installation

This document covers the installation of the transducer and display unit installation, which includes connecting the unit to power and installing the unit on the bracket mount. Make sure you read all the installation instructions before drilling holes in your vessel.

NOTE: This majority of this installation does not apply to the Elite 5m since it does not have a transducer. Turn to pages 9-11 for information on mounting the display unit and connecting the unit to power.

Transducer Installation

One piece bracket (Recommended Tools and Supplies — not included)

Drill	Marine grade above-or-below waterline sealant
1” (25mm) or 5/8” (15mm) drill bit	Marine grade epoxy (Shoot-thru-hull install only)
#29 (0.136”) (3mm) drill bit	Zip ties (trolling motor mount)
Phillips (Slotted-head) screwdriver	TMB-S bracket kit (Skimmer trolling motor mount)

2

A. Select a transducer location

To function properly the Skimmer transducer must be in the water at all times and in a location that has a smooth flow of water when the boat is moving.

If the transducer is not placed in a smooth flow of water, interference caused by bubbles and turbulence may show on-screen as random lines or dots. The unit also could lose bottom signal when the boat is on plane.

Installation

Good locations

Poor locations

NOTE: Mount the transducer at least one foot away from the engine lower unit.

B. Aligning Ratchets on Transducer bracket

	You will use the ratchets to ensure the	Ratchet	Bracket	Align dot and
	transducer is installed parallel to the
	ground.			dot	letter "A".
					A
	1. Insert the ratchets in the
	bracket with the letter “A”
	aligned with the dot stamped
	on the outside of the
	transducer bracket.

3

Installation

2.Slide the transducer into the bracket and temporarily slide the bolt through the transducer bracket.

3.Hold the transducer assembly against the transom. Look at the transducer from the side. If it is parallel to the ground, then the “A” position is correct.

4.If the transducer can not be adjusted so its face is parallel to the ground, remove the transducer and ratchets from the bracket. Reinsert the ratchets into the bracket, this time

with the letter “B” aligned with the dot stamped in the bracket. Reassemble the transducer and bracket and place it against the transom.

5.Check to see if the transducer will adjust so its face is parallel with the ground. Repeat this process until the transducer can be adjusted so its face is parallel with the ground.

C. Assembling the Transducer bracket

After determining the correct position for the ratchets, loosely assemble the transducer and bracket assembly.

Metal washer	Metal washer
Lock nut
Rubber washers	Bolt
Ratchets

4

Installation

D.Attaching the Transducer to the Transom

1.Adjust the transducer so its face is parallel with the ground and its center line is even with the bottom of the boat hull.

2.Hold the transducer and bracket assembly against the transom. When the transducer and bracket are properly aligned mark its position on the hull.

3.Drill the mounting holes for the transducer bracket.

Use a #29 bit (for the #10 screws).

Routing cables

When mounting your transducer, make sure to leave some slack in the cable near the transducer. If you need to drill a hole in the transom to pass the connector through, the hole size will depend on the connector on the end of the transducer’s cable.

E. Make a test run to determine the results

After the transducer is installed make a test run to ensure the transducer is installed properly. Use the slots in the transducer mounting bracket to loosen the screws and slide the transducer up

or down, if adjustments are necessary.

5

Transom

Bottom of Transducer face must be hull. parallel with the ground

Run the cable over the bolt and through the bracket.

Do not over tighten the lock nut; otherwise transducer may not kickup if it strikes an object.

Installation

Shoot-thru-hull Skimmer and Pod transducer installation

Before attempting any installation on boats with flotation material sandwiched within the hull, consult the boat manufacturer. In a shoot-thru-hull installation the transducer is epoxied to the inside of the boat hull.

A transducer can not shoot through wood or metal hulls. Wood and metal hulls require either a transom mount

	or thru-hull installation. For shoot-thru-hull applications		Transducer
	many boat hulls have a flat keel pad that offers a good	Transducer epoxied to hull
	transducer mounting surface.
			Epoxy
	Make sure the Skimmer transducer is oriented so the
	nose of the transducer is facing the bow (front) of the
	boat. If the transducer has a built in temp sensor, it		Hull
	will only show the temperature of the hull, not the water	Keel pad
	temp.

WARNING: Do not remove material from the inner hull. Careless grinding on the hull could damage hull integrity. Contact the boat dealer or manufacturer to confirm hull specifications.

Before you epoxy the transducer to the hull, make sure the area is clean, dry and free of oil or grease.

The surface of the hull must be flat so the entire transducer face is in contact with the hull. Also, make sure the cable is long enough to reach the sonar unit.

On vee hulls try to place the transducer where the dead rise is 10° or less.

6

Installation

To use shoot-thru-hull installation:

1.Sand the inside surface of the hull, where the transducer is to be epoxied, and the face of the transducer. Sand the hull until it is smooth to the touch. The sanded area should be about 1-1/2 times the diameter of the transducer.

2.After sanding, clean the hull and the face of the transducer with an alcohol wipe to remove any dust.

3.Apply a thin layer of epoxy (about 1-16” or 1.5 mm) on the face of the transducer and the sanded area on the hull. Be careful when mounting a transducer inside a boat hull. Once epoxied into position, the transducer can be very difficult to remove.

4.Press the transducer into the epoxy, turning it to force out any air bubbles from under the transducer face. Make sure there are no air pockets in the epoxy layers.

5.Stop pressing when it bottoms out on the hull. Apply pressure to hold the transducer in place while the epoxy sets. Be careful not to move the transducer while the epoxy is setting. Allow the epoxy to set before moving the boat.

6.When finished, the face of the transducer should be parallel with the hull with a minimum amount of epoxy between the hull and transducer.

Sand transducer face and mounting location

Apply epoxy to transducer face and mounting location.

Epoxy Hull

Epoxy transducer to hull.

7

Installation

Trolling motor Skimmer and Pod Installation

The TMB-S trolling motor bracket (Part No. 51-45) is an optional accessory and is available through LEI Extras at www.lei-extras.com. The TMB-S bracket is used to attach a one-piece bracket skimmer transducer to a trolling motor. The Pod transducer does not need a TMB-S trolling motor bracket to be installed on a trolling motor. It only needs a hose clamp (adjustable strap).

Installing transducer on trolling motor:

1.	Using the components supplied with the TMB-S		Internal tooth
			washer
	bracket attach the skimmer transducer to the	Bolt	Plastic bracket
	bracket as shown in the diagram.
2.	Slide the adjustable strap (hose clamp) through
	the plastic bracket on the skimmer transducer or		Lock
	through the Pod transducer slots and then slip		nut
	the strap around the trolling motor.		Flat washer

3.Position the transducer so its face is pointing straight down when the trolling motor is in the water.

	The top of the Pod
transducer is curved to fit		Position the transducer
the contour of the trolling		to so its face is pointing
motor, so you do not		straight down when the
need a TMB-S mounting		trolling motor is in the
	bracket.	water.

8

4.Tighten the adjustable strap securely to the trolling motor. Make sure there is enough slack in the transducer cable for the trolling motor to turn freely.

Installation

Adjustable strap

Plastic ties (not included)

Transducer

cable

Mounting display unit

Before mounting the display unit mount, make sure there is nothing in the area that will obstruct the display unit when it is installed on the bracket.

9

Installation

To install bracket mount:

1.Place the bracket on the desired mounting surface and mark the four mounting holes. If you want to run the unit’s cables up through the mounting surface, make a mark in the center of the bracket mounting surface.

2.Drill pilot holes for the four mounting holes. If desired, use a 1-inch (25mm) bit to drill the center cabling hole in the mounting surface.

3.If you are running the cables up through the mounting surface, push the cables through the mounting surface and then pull them through the cabling hole in the center of the bracket.

4.Align the mounting bracket with the four mounting holes and use the supplied screws to fasten it to the mounting surface.

5.Connect the display unit to the bracket mount.

Connecting to Power

1.Connect the black wire to a ground.

2.Attach a 3 Amp fuse to the end of the power wire and then connect the fuse to the positive

(+) terminal on the battery.

3.Connect the Power cable to the Power port on the back of the display unit.

NOTE: Use 18 gauge wire to extend the power or ground wires.

10

Power port

Red (power) wire

3 Amp fuse

Black (ground) wire

12V

Installation

External GPS port

Speed/temp port; also used for NMEA 0183

Optional temp sensor

Optional paddlewheel speed/temp sensor

11

Basic Operation

PAGES: Opens	ZOOM Keys: used to zoom in/zoom
pages menu;	out; press and hold both keys to
allows you to	create Man Overboard waypoint
select a page to
view	KEYPAD:
	controls cursor &
	selects items on
	menus
	MENU: Opens
	settings, context
	and page menus
	ENTER: finalizes
	menu selections;
	save waypoint at
	cursor position
	microSD CARD
	SLOT: insert
	microSD card here

LIGHT/POWER: controls backlight level and turns unit on/off

Getting Started

		To turn on/off the unit,
	Turn unit on/off	press and hold the Light/
		Power	key	for		three
		seconds.
	Man Overboard	Press the zoom in and zoom
		out keys at the same time
	waypoint	to set a Man Overboard
		waypoint at your location.
	Adjusting	This unit has 11 backlight
		levels. Press		the	Light/
	the backlight	Power	key	to		switch
		backlight levels.
	Muting Audio	Select Mute Audio from the
		System	menu	and		press
		Enter.
		Select GPS Source from the
	Selecting a	System	menu	and		press
		Enter.	Select		internal
	GPS Source
		or external		and		press
		Enter.

12

Basic Operation

Menu operation

This unit has four page screens: Steer, Sonar, Chart/ Sonar and Chart.

Pages menu

Page context menus

The Sonar, Chart/Sonar and Chart pages have menus that can only be accessed when those pages are displayed.

Sonar Page (Elite 5 only)

Chart/Sonar page (Elite 5 only)

							Settings menu
									Chart page
Steer page

Sonar menu

Chart or sonar menu will appear depending on which panel is active. Press the Pages key twice to switch active panels.

Chart menu

13

Basic Operation

Settings menu

Accessing menu items

The keypad and enter key are used to select menu items and open submenus. Use the keypad to highlight the desired item and press Enter.

Making adjustments

There are several menu types used to make adjustments to options and settings, including scrollbars, on/off features and dropdown menus.

Scrollbars

Select the scrollbar and press the keypad left (decrease) or right (increase).

On/Off features

Select an on/off menu item and press Enter to turn it on/off.

Dropdown menus

Press the keypad up/down to select the desired item and press Enter.

14