Lowrance X-15A User Manual

To turn

press

"4"

mediately

the 2nd

key.

this feature

The

paper speed

slow

that the function

To turn the

and Print

the 2nd
"7"

key.

mediately speed

the

function

When

combination of

board

and

the 2nd

press

Alternate

feature

and

key

The

paper

has been turned

entering

you

KEY

on,

then

key,

down,

press

signifying

is enabled.

Transmit

off,

simply

then

press

speed

up, signifying

number

any

on the

keys

make

a

mistake,

then 0.

simply

the

will im-

press
the

will im-

that

oft.

or

key-

This

will

clear the

if

ple,

Limit
feet
Lower
and

You

Limit

To

the

level of

or Pulse

the

page,

then

wanted

you

of 50 feet and

instead,

Limit

the

keyboard

could then

for the desired

cause the

Disbrimination,

Width at the

simply press

the

corresponding key (DISC,

5CC/MARK,
be

reprinted

keyboard.

to set a Lower

before

Key press

or

immediately.

pressed

pressing

2nd

will

be

5

press

range.

X-15A to

bottom of

2nd and

PULSE)

-

For exam-

40

the

-

0

cleared.

-

0

Lower

reprint

SCC,

and it will

INSTALLATION AND

X-15A

COMPUTER SONAR

OPERATION MANUAL

Paper

APPROXIMATE

Without

LOWER

LIMIT

RANGE

Below 840

RANGE

Below 840 0.15

(feet)

10-120

130-510 0.5

520-830 0.15

LOWER

LIMIT

(feet)

10-120

130-510 0.20

520-830

Inches Hours

Per Mm

APPROXIMATE PAPER

With

Alternate Transmit and

Inches

Per Mm

0.5

0.15 66

Saving

PAPER SPEED

Alternate

Minimum

Paper Speed

1.0 10

0.15 66

Minimum

Paper

Transmit and Print

Per

20
66

Speed

Hours

Per Roll

20

50
66

Feature

I

Roll Per Mm

—

SPEED

Maximum

Paper Speed

Inches

2.35

1.4

0.75

0.75

Print

Maximum

Paper Speed

Inches

Per Mm Per

1.4 7.14

0.8

0.75 13.3

0.75

Hours

Per Roll

4.25

7.14

13.3

13.3

Hours

Roll

12.5

13.3

LITHO

USA

988-0096-01

•LOWRANCE

12000 F,

SKELLY

ELECTRONICS,

DR,

TULSA,

OK

INC.

74128

PDF compression, OCR, web-optimization with CVISION's PdfCompressor

function

causes

other

revolution.

every

four

stylus only prints

other

revolution,

information doesn't

the "over

good

at slower

Also,

are

spread

which,

the

revolution in-

things:

problem,

printt'
records

paper

the scale

out

more,

legible.

possibility

This

is the un-

the

of the

third bottom echo

on the

of the

targets

happens

frequency

happen

on

models. Reverberation

scattered

the transmitted

by

and the

scattered

at the

paper

page. Many

interfere

that

you

mainly

units,

higher

noise marks

bottom,

in

heavy

or baitfish

causes a

to be

lines

By enabling

Print

function,

triggered only

times as

energy

amount of

as

often)

the

printed

the Transmit

the transmit-

half as

normal,

into the water

power, just

which reduces

paper speed.

paper

by using

the Alter-

stylus

This

are

num-

mak-

of

top

with fish

wish

ef-

on

but it

fre-

sig-

between

great

on the

putting

the

A

sig-

can

feature.

INDEX

Specifications
Service

Introduction

How

Installation

Transducer Selection

Basic
Suppressor

Paper Speed

GRAYLINE®

Range

Lower Limit .

Upper
Lines

Marker
Scale

End Of

Zero

How

Paper Loading

Stylus

Stylus
Do's and Dont's

Troubleshooting
Advanced

Surface

Feet, Fathoms,

Transmitter

Discrimination
Transmit

Information

It Works

Operation

Limit

Paper

Adjust

To Read

Replacement

Belt

Graphs

Replacement

Operation

Clarity

Control

Meters

Pulse Width

and Print Alternate

(SCC)

1
1

2
2

3

4
4

5
6

7

7

8
9
9

9

10
10
10

11

..14

.15
.16

.16

17

17
18

18

20

21

level whereas

the

is

(4)

should
noise

tion, simply press

noise
4,

nation) Key.
immediate

be used

is

To use the Discrimination

rejection

then

of noise

Discrimination

the bottom of
the level is entered

the

strongest

present.

desired,

the

press

There should

change

present

setting

the

highest

level and

when

only

the level of

DISC

in the amount

on the

paper

and at inter-

vals thereafter.

The Discrimination

be disabled at

-

0

Press:

2-——

2'I-

Figure

DISC.

Enter a Discrimination

level of 2.

-

2

--• -

40

ing

Example:

Result:

Transmit and

When

using

or if

water,

serve
slow
than

However,

"over

get

you

paper,

the

paper speed

the automatic

when

print'

heavy printing

difficult to read.

also be lost

A feature that

the X-15A

is the Transmit and

time

any

DISC

-••--— ______

Print Alternate

the X-15A in

wish to

it

due to this.

be desirable

may

system

doing so, you may

or

very

an area that is

over

Much detail can

is available on

value

severe

func-

from 1 to

(Discrimi-

be an

The

paper.

is

printed

each time

-function can

at

by press-

--

2

deep

simply

con-

even more

allows.

dark,

Print Alternate
when

activated,

to

print every

stead of

accomplishes

1. Since the

every
recorded

have

therefore

attainable
speeds.

bers

them more

ing

2. Reduces the

"wrap-around".
desirable occurrence

second or

printed

or middle

times this can

or other
to see.

3. Reduces the reverberation

fect. This

lower
can

quency

is

heavy,

caused

nal

becoming trapped

the surface

usually
plankton layers

schools. This
many
page.

and

is

to

ter

many
less

(same

not

amount of noise seen.

4. Slows

nificant amount of
be saved

nate Transmit and Print

21

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resolution.

For

example,

transmitter
selected,

control is rotated to
transmitter

850

ps. Returning

control to minimum will restore

unit to a 50

length.

The X-15A will

transmitter

tom of the

ride the

distinguish

pulse
printed

will

to 100

initial

played

micro-computer.

from the other information

on the

P-100

print

micro-seconds.)

pulse length

as P-SO.

To set the initial transmitter

pulse length, simply press

keyboard
desired and then

PULSE

key.

the initial transmit

150

micro-seconds,

-

PULSE. This will override the

micro-computer's

set the initial transmitter

to 150 micro-seconds.

length
P-iSO will be

of the

paper

has been confirmed.

try

When

an initial transmit

is

length

set,

fixed for all

changed.)

To return control back to the

micro-computer, press

and the
the initial

Example:

Result:

micro-computer

pulse length.

Press:

1

PDF compression, OCR, web-optimization with CVISION's PdfCompressor

if a 50

pulse length

and the

pulse length

paper

Suppressor

pulse length

the

transmitter

ps

display

when

initial

ps

is

maximum,

would be

Suppressor

pulse

the initial

at the bot-

over-

you

To

the initial transmitter

the

paper,

the

(if

graph

is set

pulse

A 50

would be dis-

us

on the

the initial

For

to

depth settings

pulse length

press

example,

pulse length

press

selection and

printed

signify

this

length

the

to

set

- 5 -

1

pulse

at the bottom

that the en-

(Note:

pulse

will be

until

-

0

PULSE

will select

Set the initial transmit

-

PULSE

to 100

pulse length

micro-seconds.

-

-

0

0

the

the

---—-bO-—-F-ILU

Figure

—

Ia—-—

2L1---——.-—

39

—•---••-—- —.

-•-—--

Discrimination

Noise

pulses

complaint

about sonar

had the

system
quite

from the

Pulse

to the

patented

for

effective at

display.

Width.)

Suppression

it increases the

which decreases

length
and causes

to

together

0

instead of
installed in the X-15A's

micro-processor
process
ceiver,

are noise and eliminate
then
echoes.

ted

increased,
high

munity

to

Discrimination is a

the

determine which

print only

this

Using

pulse

resolution and

can be achieved.

(The Suppressor

are

the

most often received

units. Lowrance has

Suppression

many years

eliminating

(See

The

only

system

transmitter's

targets

merge

that are close

into

two distinct

that

output

from the re-

the

legitimate

concept,

does not have to be

therefore records with

high

Control

be used with the Discrimination to

cancel OUT
noise whenever

not

required.)

heavy

interference or

high

There are four levels of Dis-

crimination that can be used. The
lowest value

is the weakest

(1)

20

———-

largest

29-—-

which is

noise

Transmit

drawback

is that

pulse

resolution

one "blob"

images.

program

enables

it

signals
them,

to

the transmit-

noise im-

may

resolution is

SPECIFICATIONS

Depth Ranges:

Feet, fathoms,

Operating Frequency:

192 kHz
second); accuracy

percent.

Pulse

(duration

(192,000 cycles per

Length:

of

(30-2000gs programable)

Operating Voltage:

Minimum: 10 volts DC
Maximum: 15 volts DC

Operating

0.7 to 1.8

printing density

power.

Output

1600 watts

(200

Weight:

8.5 lb.

Dimension:

With Gimbal Mount:
Width

Height

Depth

Instrument

Width

Height

Depth

NOTICE

Periodically

Current:

amps depending

Power:

watts

(3.9 Kg)

-

12¼"

-

9"

-

6%"

-

101/4"

-

8¼"

-

6%"

ducer Face with
to remove

any

collect Oil and dirt on the face

—

X-15A

meters.

is within 0.6

pulse):

typical peak-to-peak.
RMS)

Only:

wash the Trans-

oil

200-l000ps

and

output

and

soap

film that

on

water

may

will reduce

sensitivity

prevent sounding.

GOT A PROBLEM? LET US

HELP!

If

have a

you

sonar

unit,

chance to

for

repair.

Assistance can often be ex-

tended

Write or call one of our Authorized

Service Centers or the Lowrance
Electronics, Inc.,

vice

(Toil-free 1-800-331-3889).

are
partment may

by telephone

Department

Please detail the

experiencing.

the inconvenience of

unit.

your

If

it is determined that

must be

structions will be
SCHEMATIC DIAGRAM AND

PARTS LIST
Diagram

Lowrance TRUELINE RECORD-
ER,

Lowrance

East

homa 74128. Be sure and

returned,

Should

and

send

Skelly

problem

please give

before

help

or letter.

Customer Ser-
in

Tulsa,

problem you

Our Service De-

be able to save

returning

full

provided.

desire a Schematic

you

Parts list for

to PARTS

$1.00

Electronics, Inc.,

Drive, Tulsa,

the Model Number and Serial

Number of
INSTRUMENT

your

SONAR

NOTE: This sonar uses LPG -605 Chart

or

may

with

even

your

us a

sending

OK.

unit

your

shipping

your

LIST,

12000

Okla-

give

Paper.

it in

you

in-

us

1. INTRODUCTION

The Lowrance X-15A is a

sophisticated recording depth
sounder. Thanks to a micro-com-

the X-1 5A can do more than

puter,

other sonar unit in its

any
range plus many

more. Thanks to a
board,

at

changing

tom
boat

unit's
upper

full control of the

your fingertips

demands of

conditions,

speed.

sensitivity, suppression

and lower

that cost much

waterproof key-

to meet the

water

You can select the

depth range, pa-

per speed, GRAYLINE,
more features. The

Lowrance variable

system

Discrimination feature not

combined with

ters out false
torting

synchronized
function to

the real

provide

patented

suppression

signals

ones,

with the

clear

without dis-

highly

price

system

and

bot-

and

level,

many

varying

depth,

the new

only

but is

GRAYLINE

signals

fil-

under all conditions.

2. HOW IT WORKS

When the unit is turned

electronically

drives a
the

right edge

The

per.
belt.

When the

of the

paper

made. This is called

and

mark,

of the water. The

Figure

regulated

lightweight

of the

is attached to this

stylus

stylus

a

small mark is

represents

1

GRAPH

PAPER

belt located at

stylus

recording pa-

is at the

the zero

the surface

an

on,

motor

top

continues

TRAVEL

move down the

to

while the sound

paper

traveling through

when an echo is

lus makes another mark on the

The

paper.
which reflected the echo can be

read in feet
tion on the

is

scale

printed

The

paper speed

a variable

by

the

detected,

depth

by comparing

paper

on the

speed

one revolution of the

narrow mark will be made

very
the flexible

stylus,

of the

edge

pulse

water,

of the

object

to the

depth

paper.

is controlled

motor.

stylus

but the

is

and

the

sty-

its loca-

During

a

belt,

by

paper

will move a small amount before
the next revolution. Each mark will
blend into the one before so that a

composite "picture"

will

be

made,

one

of the

tiny

target

mark at

a time.

Due to the

this unit

operation
parts.

"Basic

everything
necessary

wide
you

-

Sensitivity, Suppression, Paper

Speed,

few

Will be

tions.

mastered the basic

the

has,

section

The first section is

Operation"

that is

to use

variety

how to use the basic controls

special

X-15A,

of situations. It will tell

GRAYLINE,

functions. This section

adequate

However,

you may.

some of the features described in

PULLEY

DRIVE

sTYLUs

DRIVE

STYLUS

PULLEY

2 19

features that

many

this manual has the

into two

split

entitled

and covers

absolutely

the X-1SA

Range, plus

in

a

for most situa-

once

B ELT

have

you

operation

wish to

of

try

a

the

Suppressor

down to minimum when

for fish.

However,

to have

resolution is not a concern. When
using

easier for the unit to detect a

er

bottom or from fish. This is called
"Probability

The

longer pulse

a sonar in

pulse coming

probability

able to detect an echo
from

deep

cause the further the sound
has to

comes.
length,

travel,

By broadening

in

is transmitted and it is easier for

the receiver to detect it.

For this

in the X-15A

puter

increases the initial

unit

the
set

pulse length

the unit when the
trol is turned to

initial
same rate as the

ample,

to 260

pulse length
the LOWER LIMIT is set

feet,
would be 390 is.

600 feet and

as

the

by

LOWER

LIMIT
(feet)

10

20
30

40-200

From 210 feet to 600

pulse length

with the LOWER LIMIT set

feet,

the initial transmit

control turned

looking

it is

helpful

sometimes

width when

it is

deeper

water,

long-

back from the

of Echo Detection".

of the unit

water is diminished be-

being

returning

pulse

the weaker it be-

the

essence,

reason,

a

the micro-com-

automatically

pulse

deeper

operator. (Note:

lower limits are

is the

pulse length

Suppressor

minimum.)

pulse

larger signal

length

Initial

con-

INITIAL

TRANSMIT

PULSE
WIDTH

(micro-seconds)

110
130
160

200

the

feet,

increases at the

depth.

For ex-

the initial transmit

would be 260

pa

to 390

pulse

Finally,

below,

from

the initial

pulse length

micro-seconds.

The transmit
be increased from
at

any

pressor
maximum amount of

added to the initial transmitter
pulse length

micro-seconds. In other

the LOWER LIMIT is

and the

feet,

rotated to the maximum

the transmitter

be 1220 micro-seconds.

initial +

Earlier,

tionship
target

increases,
resolution is

the

of

pulse

olution

The X-15A allows

advantage

of

possible
transmitter

from what the
selects
Limit.

The initial

length
2000

ps by

board.
mitter

pulse

three inch

50

ps

a

half,

pulse

length

resolution! No other

corder in
give you

the

initial transmitter

the

suppressor

used to

If

creasing
Discrimination function described
below can be

noise and

remains at

pulse

the initial

time

by rotating

control clockwise. The

pulse

is

approximately

set to 420

Suppressor

pulse length

=

800

1220.)

we talked about the rela-

between

separation.

width is

becomes much better.

pulse length

As

pulse length

target separation

degraded. However,

decreased,

you

of

this fact

to

override the initial

pulse

length setting

micro-computer

according

can be set

By setting

resolution is

is

equivalent

and 30 s initial

the market

this feature. After

to the Lower

transmitter

from 30 s to

entering

width to

is

it on

the

100

to an

equal

graph

today

initial trans-

to

pulse length,

control can still be

cancel out noise

the

pulse length

used to eliminate

still have

good

600

can

length

point

the

Sup-

length

800

words,

control is

position,

would

(420

and

or

res-

to take

by making

pulse

the

key-

a

s,

obtained,

inch and

transmit

one inch

re-

can
setting

in-

by

or the

if

if

it

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