Lowrance electronic X47TX User Manual

www.lowrance.com
Pub. 988-0151-121
X37TX and X47TX
Fish-finding & Depth Sounding Sonars
Installation and Operation
Instructions
Copyright © 2003 Lowrance Electronics, Inc.
All rights reserved.
®
is a registered trademark of Lowrance Electronics, Inc.
Marine-Tex is a trademark of Illinois Tool Works Inc.
Lowrance Electronics 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. All screens in this manual are simulated. On the cover: X47TX shown.
For free owner's manuals and other information,
visit our web site:
www.lowrance.com
Lowrance Electronics Inc.
12000 E. Skelly Dr.
Tulsa, OK USA 74128-2486
Printed in USA.
Table of Contents
Introduction...................................................................... 1
Capabilities and Specifications: X37TX and X47TX ......... 1
Installation Instructions................................................ 2
Installation Preparations.................................................... 2
Transducer Installation ...................................................... 3
Recommended Tools and Supplies.................................. 3
Selecting a Transducer Location .................................... 4
Shoot-Thru-Hull vs. Transom Mounting........................ 6
Transom Transducer Assembly and Mounting.............. 6
Trolling Motor Bracket Installation ............................. 10
Transducer Orientation and Fish Arches..................... 11
Shoot-Thru-Hull Preparation ....................................... 11
Power and Cable Connections .......................................... 15
Mounting the Sonar Unit.................................................. 16
Portable Sonar Installation .............................................. 19
Operation......................................................................... 23
Keyboard Basics ................................................................ 23
PWR/Clear (Power and Clear) ...................................... 23
Menu Up and Menu Down ............................................ 23
Up and Down Arrows .................................................... 23
Memory .............................................................................. 24
Menus ................................................................................ 24
Display – Opening Screen................................................. 24
Chart Scroll (Stopping and Starting) ............................... 25
Full Chart .......................................................................... 26
Depth Range Zoom (Automatic and Manual) .................. 26
Zoom................................................................................... 27
Sensitivity.......................................................................... 28
Grayline
®
........................................................................... 30
Fish I.D. .......................................................................... 31
FishTrack™ ....................................................................... 32
Chart Scroll Speed ............................................................ 33
Noise Reject and ASP (Advanced Signal Processing) .. 33
Alarms ............................................................................... 34
Fish Alarm ..................................................................... 34
Depth Alarms................................................................. 34
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Display Adjustments......................................................... 35
Backlights ...................................................................... 35
Display Contrast............................................................ 36
Battery Voltage.............................................................. 36
Depth Units of Measure.................................................... 36
Preset Unit (Reset All Options)........................................ 36
System Info........................................................................ 36
Simulator ........................................................................... 37
Digital Data Size for Depth and Temperature ................ 37
Troubleshooting............................................................. 38
Warranty and Service Information ........................... 41
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Introduction
Thank you for buying a Lowrance sonar! Your unit is a high-quality sonar designed for both professional and novice fishermen. All Lowrance sonars have an automatic mode that finds and displays the bottom, fish, underwater structure and more – right out of the box. All you have to do is press the on (
PWR) key.
However, if you want to fine-tune your unit, press the sonar has several powerful features you can control by scrolling through easy-to-use menus with the arrow and menu keys.
To get started with your Lowrance sonar, first read the installation section. It contains instructions for mounting the sonar unit and the transducer.
Following recommended installation practices will pay off in optimum performance of your Lowrance sonar. Improper installation can cause problems down the road, especially if the transducer is badly mounted.
After you've read the installation instructions, install the unit and accessories. Then, read the rest of the manual. The more you know about your sonar, the better it will work for you.
Take advantage of the Simulator feature. It allows you to practice operating your sonar before you get it in the water. And when you finally head for your favorite fishing hole, take this manual along for reference.
MENU UP key. The
Capabilities and Specifications: X37TX and X47TX
General
Case size: ..........................5.8" H x 4.3" W x 2.5" D (14.7 cm H x 10.8 cm
W x 6.6 cm D). Sealed, waterproof; suitable for saltwater use.
Display:............................ High-contrast Film SuperTwist LCD.
Diagonal viewing area: 4.0" (10.2 cm).
Resolution: ..........................X37TX: 128 pixels (vert.) x 64 pixels (horiz.)
resolution; 8,192 total pixels; 4-level gray scale. X47TX: 168 pixels (vert.) x 132 pixels (horiz.) resolution; 22,176 total pixels; 4-level gray scale.
Backlighting:.................. Backlit screen and keypad for night use.
Input power:................... 10 to 15 volts DC.
Current drain: ............... 110 ma lights off; 250 ma lights on.
Back-up memory: .......... Built-in memory stores sonar settings when
unit is turned off.
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Sonar
Frequency:...................... 200 kHz.
Transducers: .................. A Skimmer
your sonar unit. Its 20° cone angle offers a wide fish detection area of up to 60º with high sensitivity settings. Operates at boat speeds up to 70 mph (61 kts).
Transmitter: ................... 800 watts peak-to-peak; 100 watts RMS.
Sonar sounding
depth capability: ........... 600 feet (180 meters). Actual capability
depends on transducer configuration and installation, bottom composition and water conditions. All sonar units typically read deeper in fresh water than in salt water.
Depth display:................ Continuous digital readout.
Audible alarms: ............. Deep/shallow/fish.
Automatic depth
ranging: ........................... Yes.
Auto bottom track:........ Yes.
Zoom bottom track: ...... Yes.
Surface water temp: ..... Yes, when transducer with attached temp
sensor is used.
NOTICE!
The storage and operation temperature range for your unit is from
-4 degrees to +167 degrees Fahrenheit (-20 degrees to +75 degrees Celsius). Extended storage or operation in temperatures higher or lower than specified will damage the liquid crystal display in your unit. This type of damage is not covered by the warranty. For more information, contact the factory's Customer Service Department; phone numbers are inside the manual's back cover.
transducer comes packed with
Installation Instructions
Installation Preparations
You can install the sonar system in some other order if you prefer, but we recommend this installation sequence:
Caution:
You should read over this entire installation section before drilling any holes in your vessel!
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1. Determine the approximate location for the sonar unit, so you can plan how and where to route the cables for the transducer and power. This will help you make sure you have enough cable length for the desired configuration.
2. Determine the approximate location for the transducer and its cable route.
3. Determine the location of your battery or other power connection, along with the power cable route.
4. Install the transducer and route the transducer cable to the sonar unit.
5. Install the power cable and route it to the sonar unit.
6. Mount the sonar unit.
TRANSDUCER INSTALLATION
These instructions will help you install your Skimmer
transducer on a transom, on a trolling motor or inside a hull. Read these instructions carefully before attempting the installation. Determine which of the installation methods is right for your boat. Use extreme care if mounting the transducer inside the hull, because once it is epoxied into position, the transducer usually cannot be removed.
Remember, the transducer installation is the most critical part of a sonar installation!
Your Skimmer transducer typically comes packaged with a one-piece stainless steel bracket for mounting it to the transom of your boat. The optional trolling motor mount uses a one-piece plastic bracket with an adjustable strap. These are "kick-up" mounting brackets. They help prevent damage if the transducer strikes an object while the boat is moving. If the transducer does "kick-up," the bracket can easily be pushed back into place without tools.
Recommended Tools and supplies
If you prefer the option of routing the cable through the transom, you will need a 5/8" drill bit. The following installation types also call for these recommended tools and required supplies (supplies are not included):
Transom installation
Tools include: two adjustable wrenches, drill, #29 (0.136") drill bit, flat­head screwdriver. Supplies: high quality, marine grade above- or below- waterline sealant/adhesive compound.
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Trolling motor installations
Deadrise less than 10
Tools: two adjustable wrenches, flat-head screwdriver. Supplies: plastic cable ties.
Shoot-through hull installations
Tools: these will vary depending on your hull's composition. Consult your boat dealer or manufacturer. Other tools are a wooden craft stick or similar tool for stirring and applying epoxy, and a paper plate or piece of cardboard to mix the epoxy on. Supplies: rubbing alcohol, 100 grit sandpaper, specially formulated epoxy adhesive available from LEI (see ordering information inside the back cover of this manual). A sandwich hull also requires polyester resin.
Selecting a Transducer Location
1. The location must be in the water at all times, at all operating speeds.
2. The transducer must be placed in a location that has a smooth flow of
water at all times. If the transducer is not placed in a smooth flow of water, interference caused by bubbles and turbulence will show on the sonar's display in the form of random lines or dots whenever the boat is moving.
NOTE:
Some aluminum boats with strakes or ribs on the outside of the hull create large amounts of turbulence at high speed. These boats typically have large outboard motors capable of propelling the boat at speeds faster than 35 mph. Typically, a good transom location on aluminum boats is between the ribs closest to the engine.
3. The transducer should be installed with its face pointing straight
down, if possible. For shoot-thru applications: Many popular fishing boat hulls have a flat keel pad that offers a good mounting surface. On vee hulls, try to place the transducer where the deadrise is 10° or less.
Pad
Left, vee pad hull; right, vee hull. A pod style transducer is shown here,
but the principle is the same for Skimmers inside a hull.
Strakes
4. If the transducer is mounted on the transom, make sure it doesn't
interfere with the trailer or hauling of the boat. Also, don't mount it closer than approximately one foot from the engine's lower unit. This will prevent cavitation (bubble) interference with propeller operation.
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°
5. If possible, route the transducer cable away from other wiring on the
location
Transom
centerline
boat. Electrical noise from engine wiring, bilge pumps and aerators can be displayed on the sonar's screen. Use caution when routing the transducer cable around these wires.
CAUTION: Clamp the transducer cable to transom near the transducer. This will help prevent the transducer from entering the boat if it is knocked off at high speed.
Good location
Poor location
Good
Poor angle
Good and poor transducer locations.
Good location
How low should you go?
For most situations, you should install your Skimmer transducer so that its centerline is level with the bottom of the boat hull. This will usually give you the best combination of smooth water flow and protection from bangs and bumps.
Transducer
Hull bottom
Align transducer centerline with hull bottom.
However, there are times when you may need to adjust the transducer slightly higher or lower. (The slots in the mounting brackets allow you to loosen the screws and slide the transducer up or down.) If you frequently lose bottom signal lock while running at high speed, the transducer may be coming out of the water as you cross waves or wakes. Move the transducer a little lower to help prevent this.
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If you cruise or fish around lots of structure and cover, your transducer may be frequently kicking up from object strikes. If you wish, you may move the transducer a little higher for more protection.
There are two extremes you should avoid. Never let the edge of the mounting bracket extend below the bottom of the hull. Never let the bottom – the face – of the transducer rise above the bottom of the hull.
Shoot-thru-hull vs. Transom Mounting
In a shoot-thru-hull installation, the transducer is bonded to the inside of the hull with epoxy. The sonar "ping" signal actually passes through the hull and into the water. This differs from a bolt-thru-hull installation (often called simply "thru-hull"). In that case, a hole is cut in the hull and a specially designed transducer is mounted through the hull with a threaded shaft and nut. This puts the transducer in direct contact with the water.
Typically, shoot-thru-hull installations give excellent high speed operation and good to excellent depth capability. There is no possibility of transducer damage from floating objects, as there is with a transom­mounted transducer. A transducer mounted inside the hull can't be knocked off when docking or loading on a trailer.
However, the shoot-thru-hull installation does have its drawbacks. First, some loss of sensitivity does occur, even on the best hulls. This varies from hull to hull, even from different installations on the same hull. This is caused by differences in hull lay-up and construction.
Second, the transducer angle cannot be adjusted for the best fish arches on your sonar display. (This is not an issue for flasher-style sonars.) Lack of angle adjustment can be particularly troublesome on hulls that sit with the bow high when at rest or at slow trolling speeds.
Third, a transducer CAN NOT shoot through wood and metal hulls. Those hulls require either a transom mount or a thru-hull installation.
Fourth, if your Skimmer transducer has a built in temp sensor, it will only show the temperature of the bilge, not the water surface temp.
Follow the testing procedures listed in the shoot-thru-hull installation section at the end of this segment to determine if you can satisfactorily shoot through the hull.
TRANSOM TRANSDUCER ASSEMBLY AND MOUNTING
The best way to install the transducer is to loosely assemble all of the parts first, place the transducer's bracket against the transom and see if you can move the transducer so that it's parallel with the ground.
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1. Assembling the bracket. Press the two small plastic ratchets into the
sides of the metal bracket as shown in the following illustration. Notice there are letters molded into each ratchet. Place each ratchet into the bracket with the letter "A" aligned with the dot stamped into the metal bracket. This position sets the transducer's coarse angle adjustment for a 14° transom. Most outboard and stern-drive transoms have a 14° angle.
Dot
Align plastic ratchets in bracket.
2. Aligning the transducer on the transom. Slide the transducer
between the two ratchets. Temporarily slide the bolt though the transducer assembly and hold it against the transom. Looking at the transducer from the side, check to see if it will adjust so that its face is parallel to the ground. If it does, then the "A" position is correct for your hull.
If the transducer's face isn't parallel with the ground, remove the transducer and ratchets from the bracket. Place the ratchets into the holes in the bracket with the letter "B" aligned with the dot stamped in the bracket.
Reassemble the transducer and bracket and place them against the transom. Again, check to see if you can move the transducer so it's parallel with the ground. If you can, then go to step 3. If it doesn't, repeat step 2, but use a different alignment letter until you can place the transducer on the transom correctly.
Ratchets
Insert bolt and check transducer position on transom.
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3. Assembling the transducer. Once you determine the correct
position for the ratchets, assemble the transducer as shown in the following figure. Don't tighten the lock nut at this time.
Metal
Nut
washer
Rubber washers
Assemble transducer and bracket.
Metal washer
Bolt
4. Drilling mounting holes. Hold the transducer and bracket assembly
against the transom. The transducer should be roughly parallel to the ground. The transducer's centerline should be in line with the bottom of the hull. Don't let the bracket extend below the hull!
Mark the center of each slot for the mounting screw pilot holes. You will drill one hole in the center of each slot.
Drill the holes using the #29 bit (for the #10 screws).
Transom
Transom
Position transducer mount on transom and mark mounting holes.
Side view shown at left and seen from above at right.
5. Attaching transducer to transom. Remove the transducer from
the bracket and re-assemble it with the cable passing through the bracket over the bolt as shown in the following figures.
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Route cable over bolt and through bracket. Side view shown at left and
Flat-bottom hull
seen from above at right.
Attach the transducer to the transom. Slide the transducer up or down until it's aligned properly with the bottom of the hull as shown in the preceding and following figures. Tighten the bracket's mounting screws, sealing them with the sealant/adhesive compound.
Adjust the transducer so that it's parallel to the ground and tighten the nut until it touches the outer washer, then add 1/4 turn. Don't over tighten the lock nut! If you do, the transducer won't "kick-up" if it strikes an object in the water.
Bottom
of
hull
Align transducer centerline with hull bottom and attach to transom.
Deep-"vee" hull
6. Route the transducer cable through or over the transom to
the sonar unit. Make sure to leave some slack in the cable at the
transducer. If possible, route the transducer cable away from other wiring on the boat. Electrical noise from the engine's wiring, bilge pumps, VHF radio wires and cables, and aerators can be picked up by the sonar. Use caution when routing the transducer cable around these wires.
WARNING:
Clamp the transducer cable to the transom close to the transducer. This can prevent the transducer from entering the boat if it is knocked off at high speed.
If you need to drill a hole in the transom to pass the connector through, the required hole size is 5/8".
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Caution:
Flat washer
If you drill a hole in the transom for the cable, make sure it is located above the waterline. After installation, be sure to seal the hole with the same marine grade above- or below-waterline sealant/adhesive used for the mounting screws.
7. Make a test run to determine the results. If the bottom is lost at
high speed, or if noise appears on the display, try sliding the transducer bracket down. This puts the transducer deeper into the water, hopefully below the turbulence causing the noise. Don't allow the transducer bracket to go below the bottom of the hull!
TROLLING MOTOR BRACKET INSTALLATION
1. Attach the optional TMB-S bracket to the transducer as shown in the
following figure, using the hardware supplied with the transducer. (Note: The internal tooth washer is supplied with the TMB-S.)
Bolt
Attach motor mounting bracket to transducer.
Internal tooth washer
Nut
TMB-S bracket
2. Slide the adjustable strap supplied with the TMB-S through the slot
in the transducer bracket and wrap it around the trolling motor. Position the transducer to aim straight down when the motor is in the water. Tighten the strap securely.
3. Route the transducer cable alongside the trolling motor shaft. Use
plastic ties (not included) to attach the transducer cable to the trolling motor shaft. Make sure there is enough slack in the cable for the motor to turn freely. Route the cable to the sonar unit and the transducer is ready for use.
Transducer mounted on trolling motor, side view.
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TRANSDUCER ORIENTATION AND FISH ARCHES
If you do not get good fish arches on your display, it could be because the transducer is not parallel with the ground when the boat is at rest in the water or at slow trolling speeds.
Partial fish arches
Transducer aimed
too far back
Full fish arch
Transducer angles and their effects on fish arches.
Proper transducer angle
Transducer aimed
too far forward
If the arch slopes up – but not back down – then the front of the transducer is too high and needs to be lowered. If only the back half of the arch is printed, then the nose of the transducer is angled too far down and needs to be raised.
NOTE:
Periodically wash the transducer's face with soap and water to remove any oil film. Oil and dirt on the face will reduce the sensitivity or may even prevent operation.
SHOOT-THRU-HULL PREPARATION Hulls With Floatation Materials
The transducer installation inside a fiberglass hull must be in an area that does not have air bubbles in the resin or separated fiberglass layers. The sonar signal must pass through solid fiberglass. A successful transducer installation can be made on hulls with flotation materials (such as plywood, balsa wood or foam) between layers of fiberglass if the material is removed from the chosen area.
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