Northstar 490 ECHOSOUNDER INSTALLATION MANUAL
490 ECHO SOUNDER
Northstar Technologies
30 Sudbury Road
Acton, Massachusetts 01720
INSTALLATION MANUAL
Rev B2
Part Number G M491
www.NorthstarNav.com
Service: 978/897-0770
Sales: 978/897-6600
Limited warranty policy
Northstar Technologies, Inc., warrants the Northstar 490 to be free from defects in materials and
workmanship for a period of two (2) years. This warranty applies to the original purchaser and to any
subsequent owner during the warranty period, which begins on the date of shipment of the unit,
F.O.B. Acton, Massachusetts, to an authorized Northstar dealer.
Systems may not be returned to Northstar without a Returned Materials Authorization (RMA) number. Call the Northstar dealer or Northstar for instructions.
During the unit’s warranty period, Northstar will repair or replace, at its option, any part of the unit it
finds to be defective due to faulty material(s) or workmanship. All such repairs and/or replacements
will be promptly performed by Northstar free-of-charge to the owner, excluding freight costs
incurred in shipping to the factory. Return shipments from Northstar to points within the United
States are made via ground transportation, freight prepaid. Special shipping charges (overnight,
two-day, and so on) are the responsibility of the owner.
To be covered by this warranty, the Northstar equipment must have been in normal use. This warranty does not apply to units with defects caused by improper installation, physical damage, abuse,
tampering, lightning or other abnormal electrical discharge, or to units with defaced or altered serial
numbers, or to units repaired by unauthorized persons or repaired in a manner that violates Northstar’s recommended service procedures.
All repairs and/or replacements made under this warranty must be performed at Northstar’s facilities
in Acton, Massachusetts. Performance of warranty work elsewhere will not be authorized, and Northstar will not pay for any charges for such work. Northstar will not be responsible for payment of any
charges imposed by a Northstar dealer or other party for services requested by and/or performed for
a unit’s owner in connection with this warranty. Such services might include removal of the unit
from a vessel, inspection, packaging, handling, reinstallation, and the like.
Northstar Technologies assumes no responsibility for any consequential losses of any nature with
respect to any of its products or services sold, rendered, or delivered. The foregoing is the only warranty expressed or implied. No other warranty exists.
Table of Contents
SECTION ONE Introduction . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .1
Welcome to the Northstar 490 . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .1
Who should read this manual . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 2
Scope of this manual . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .2
Installation considerations . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 2
SECTION TWO Installing the transducer. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .5
Safety considerations. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .5
Selecting a transducer . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .6
Installation considerations . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 7
Choosing a mounting location . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .7
Installing a transducer . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .10
Maintaining a transducer . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .11
SECTION THREE Installing the 490 . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 13
Safety considerations. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .13
System components. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .14
Choosing a mounting location . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .15
Mounting the 490 . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .16
Wiring the 490 . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .17
Powering up, setting up, and powering down the 490 . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .21
Installation-test checklist . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .22
SECTION FOUR Troubleshooting and servicing the 490 . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 23
Troubleshooting common 490 installation problems . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .23
Getting technical support . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .26
Ordering replacement parts . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .27
Servicing the 490 . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .27
Returning a 490 for service . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .28
APPENDIX A Technical specifications . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 29
Glossary . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 31
490 INSTALLATION MANUAL, Revision B2 Page i
Page ii 490 INSTALLATION MANUAL, Revision B2
SECTION ONE Introduction
Welcome to the Northstar 490
An echo sounder is a device that provides information about
the water directly beneath a vessel. The echo sounder system
consists of:
• the Northstar 490 echo sounder sensor
• a Northstar navigation system such as the 961/962 or 957/
958
• a transducer
The 490 is available in two models:
• the model 490-D is a 1000-watt dual channel echo
sounder designed to be used with a transducer having
dual ceramic elements, one each for 50 and 200 kHz
• the model 490-S is a 600-watt single channel echo sounder
designed to be used with a transducer having a single
ceramic element capable of 50 and 200 kHz
In this manual, the term “490” refers to both models. For more
information about the 490-D and 490-S, see ”System
components” on page 14.
490 INSTALLATION MANUAL, Revision B2 Page 1
SECTION ONE Introduction
Who should read this manual
Scope of this manual
This manual is for marine technicians who are installing the
Northstar 490 and connecting it with the Northstar 961/962
processor or Northstar 957/958, and a transducer.
In this manual, you’ll find information about the following:
• mounting and wiring the 490
• connecting the 490 to the Northstar 961/962 or 957/958
• installing a transducer (an overview is provided, but for
such details as wiring, see the documentation provided by
the transducer’s manufacturer)
• connecting the 490 to a transducer (see also the
Transducer Connector Instructions—GM492)
• troubleshooting and testing the system
• technical specifications for the 490
For information about obtaining technical support and
returning the 490 for factory service, see “SECTION FOUR
Troubleshooting and servicing the 490” beginning on page 23.
Installation considerations
For details about operating the 490 using the 961/962 or 957/
958, see the Northstar 490 Echo Sounder Operations Manual
(GM490).
CAUTION!
1. Check the shipping carton for any damage, and
immediately report any damage to the carrier. Save all
packing material in case you have to return the 490 to
the factory for repair or evaluation.
2. Unpack the carton, and check its contents. You should
have received:
The following list of installation considerations isn’t
a substitute for all the details in Section Three. To
ensure that you meet all critical installation
parameters, be sure to read that entire section and
follow all of its recommendations.
Page 2 490 INSTALLATION MANUAL, Revision B2
SECTION ONE Introduction
• the Northstar 490 Echo Sounder (-D or -S model)
• 10-foot (3-meter) data cable to connect the 490 to the
961/962 or 957/958
• 10-foot (3-meter) power cable for the 490
• 490 parts kit (containing transducer cable end
connector, backshell, heatshrink tubing, and the
Transducer Connector Instructions—GM492)
• Northstar 490 Echo Sounder Installation Manual
(GM491)
• Northstar 490 Echo Sounder Operations Manual
(GM490)
• warranty card
3. Fill out the warranty card and mail it to Northstar.
4. Review all of the installation requirements as outlined in
Sections Two and Three.
5. Install the transducer, then terminate the cable (see
”Connecting the 490 to a transducer” starting on page
20).
6. Mount the 490. For instructions, see ”Mounting the 490”
on page 16.
7. Connect the 490 to ship’s power and to the 961/962
processor or the 957/958. Connection information begins
on page 17.
With the vessel in the water, turn on the system and verify
proper operation.
490 INSTALLATION MANUAL, Revision B2 Page 3
SECTION ONE Introduction
Page 4 490 INSTALLATION MANUAL, Revision B2
Safety
SECTION TWO Installing the transducer
considerations
WARNING!
WARNING!
Be sure to turn the power off before starting the
installation. Further, it is highly recommended that
you keep power off while you’re performing the
installation. If power is left on or turned on during
the installation, fire, electrical shock, or other
serious injury may occur.
Be sure to ground the equipment to prevent
electrical shock and mutual interference.
Be sure the transducer outputs are tied together
before handling to avoid electrical charge build-up.
Be sure to use a 3-amp fuse. Using the incorrect
fuse can result in fire or damage to the 490.
490 INSTALLATION MANUAL, Revision B2 Page 5
SECTION TWO Installing the transducer
CAUTION!
NOTE:
Mounting the transducer requires drilling holes
through the hull; make sure the installation does not
cause the vessel to leak. A thru-hull installation
should be performed by a professional installer. Do
not attempt this unless you are fully qualified.
Do not perform a thru-hull installation of the
transducer when the vessel is actually in the water.
Immediately
to check for leaks, and don’t leave the vessel in the
water for more than three hours before checking it
again.
Northstar assumes no responsibility for improper
installation of a transducer.
Be sure that the transducer doesn’t interfere with
any of the on-board systems. Check all other
systems to ensure that their performance doesn’t
degrade when the transducer is connected.
after installing the transducer, be sure
Selecting a transducer
Northstar recommends using an Airmar transducer with the
Northstar’s 490 echo sounder.
Table 1: Northstar-recommended transducers
Manufacturer Housing Power Frequency
Airmar B250
(P/N 41-088-1-01)
Airmar B744V/B44V (with
3-wire speed)
1 kW 50/200 kHz
600 W 50/200 kHz
Page 6 490 INSTALLATION MANUAL, Revision B2
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