Vexilar FL-8 User Manual
1
FL-8 Owner’s Manual
CONTENTS
General Description 2
Specifications 3
Unit Installation 4
Power Connection 4
Transducer Installation 5 - 8
Operation 9 - 10
Typical Indications 10 - 14
Maintenance 15
Operational Questions & Answers 16 - 20
Trouble Shooting Chart 21
Transducer Beam Angle Chart 22
Transducers 23-25
Service and Support 26
Founded in 1965, Vexilar, Inc. has a long history of bringing revolutionary technology to
the sport fishing industry. Just some of the
Vexilar firsts include: the first liquid crystal
display, the first fish alarm, the first three
color display, and the first CRT and straight
line paper graphs, for the sport fisherman.
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GENERAL DESCRIPTION
The FL-8 is a compact and lightweight depth sounder designed
for serious anglers. Besides indicating depth, the unit also shows
changes in bottom content and conditions. It can also discriminate
between large underwater targets, such as fish, and smaller targets
such as bait fish and plankton.
The unit transmits bursts of high frequency pulses, which are converted from electrical to mechanical energy by the transducer. These
"sound" pulses radiate from the transducer downward and are r eflected back up to the transducer where the energy is converted back to
electrical signals. The FL-8 then processes these signals and displays
them.
The circular display is
accomplished by attaching an
LED (Light Emitting Diode) to
a wheel, which is then spun at
a high speed in the clockwise
direction. This allows for an
extremely high speed update.
The bottom, as well as other
targets, can be displayed as
red, orange, or green to indicate strong, medium and
weak signals respectively.
The FL-8 also has an alarm, which can alert you to fish or shallow
water. The user controls this alarm so that anything that appears
above a specific depth will sound the alarm.
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SPECIFICATIONS
* Operating Voltage 10.5 - 15 Volts (12 Volts Nominal)
* Current Draw: 250mA
* Power Output: 400 Watts (Peak to Peak)
* Frequency: 200 Khz
* Resolution: 530 Segments
* Target Separation: 2.65" Min.
* Display Colors: 3 - Red, Orange, and Green
* Dimensions: 4.4"H x 6"W x 2.5"D
* Weight: 1.1 Lbs.
Depth Scales:
0-30', 0-60', 0-120', and 0-240'
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UNIT INSTALLATION
To make the FL-8 work, you must provide the unit with power
and mount the transducer in an appropriate location.
UNIT INSTALLATION
Find a convenient
place to mount the unit.
This may include a boat
seat, deck, dash, or a
portable case. Make sure
that there is plenty of
room for the unit to tilt
and/or swivel freely
without the cables binding behind the unit. Once
you have found a spot,
remove the unit from the
gimbal bracket. Securely
attach the bracket to the
mounting surface.
POWER CONNECTION
Plug the flat 3 pin connector into the back of the unit. Find the
closest source of 12 volts and run the cord to it. Keep the cord away
from sharp metal edges and avoid tight places where the cord may get
crushed. Connect the red wire to positive and the black wire to negative or ground. If the cord provided is not long enough, more can be
added. Use 18 gauge wire minimum. It is recommended that a 1 amp
in-line fuse be placed in the positive line as close to the power source
as possible to protect against any shorts in the wiring.
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TRANSDUCER INSTALLATION
There are three basic types of transducers to consider: High
Speed, Puck Style and the Ice-Ducer System.
HIGH SPEED TRANSDUCERS
High Speed transducers are
designed to be mounted on the transom of a boat. The wedged shape will
cut the water and give a clear depth
reading at any boat speed. Locate a
spot similar to the one in figure E.
Keep in mind that you need clear water
flow across the face of the transducer to
insure a clear reading at all speeds.
Stay away from rivets, ribs, or strakes
that would be just in front of the transducer. They will disturb the water and
scramble the reading. Attach the
mounting bracket to the transducer
and hold it up to the boat where you are planning to mount it (see figure E). Mark the holes on the transom, or mounting plate, so that
when the bottom of the transducer is flush with the bottom of the boat
the holes are located at the bottom of the bracket slots. This gives you
room to "fine tune" the position of the transducer and optimize your
reading after you've put the back boat in the water. Drill out the holes
and tighten the bracket down securely. Be sure to seal any holes
drilled into the transom with silicone to prevent water
from leaking into the boat. Run the transducer cord up
to the unit taking the same care as you did when you ran
the power cord. Plug the transducer connector into the
back of the unit and screw the retaining ring down tight.
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PUCK STYLE TRANSDUCERS
There are three ways in which a Puck Style
transducer can be mounted. It can be mounted InHull, on an electric trolling motor, or portable
(with a suction cup or on an arm of some type).
IN-HULL MOUNTING
This method, gluing the transducer to the hull, gets the same
results as if you were using the High Speed transducer only there are
no holes to drill in the boat and there is no transducer on the transom
to get damaged by impact.
Finding the best location for the transducer before mounting is
critical. Choose a flat smooth spot near the center of the bilge and
near the back of the boat. It is a good idea to make a "test run" before
you permanently install the transducer to make sure that you can
indeed get a reading through your hull, and when the boat is on
plane. Put about a half inch of water in the bilge and hold the transducer in the intended location. Move the transducer around until you
get the best reading. Mark the spot.
To install the transducer clean the spot of mud and oil. Using an
epoxy or silicone glue make a puddle about the same diameter as the
transducer on the hull. Place the transducer in the glue. Press it down
firmly, gently twisting it back and forth, making sure that there are no
air bubbles in the glue between the transducer and the hull. Let the
glue dry completely before turning the unit on.
Run the transducer cord up to the unit taking the same care as you
did when you ran the power cord. Plug the transducer connector into
the back of the unit and screw the retaining ring down tight.
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PUCK STYLE TRANSDUCERS
There are three ways in which a Puck
Style transducer can be mounted. It can be
mounted In-Hull, on an electric trolling
motor, or portable (with a suction cup or on
an arm of some type).
IN-HULL MOUNTING
This method, gluing the transducer to the hull, gets the same
results as if you were using the High Speed transducer only there are
no holes to drill in the boat and there is no transducer on the transom
to get damaged by impact.
Finding the best location for the transducer before mounting is
critical. Choose a flat smooth spot near the center of the bilge and
near the back of the boat. It is a good idea to make a "test run" before
you permanently install the transducer to make sure that you can
indeed get a reading through your hull, and when the boat is on
plane. Put about a half inch of water in the bilge and hold the transducer in the intended location. Move the transducer around until you
get the best reading. Mark the spot.
To install the transducer clean the spot of mud and oil. Using an
epoxy or silicone glue make a puddle about the same diameter as the
transducer on the hull. Place the transducer in the glue. Press it down
firmly, gently twisting it back and forth, making sure that there are no
air bubbles in the glue between the transducer and the hull. Let the
glue dry completely before turning the unit on.
Run the transducer cord up to the unit taking the same care as you
did when you ran the power cord. Plug the transducer connector into
the back of the unit and screw the retaining ring down tight.
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THE ICE-DUCERTMSYSTEM*
The Ice-Ducer system provides a
quick and easy way to set up the transducer for ice fishing. All of the adjustment needed to find the true perpendicular point is done automatically. T o use the
Ice-Ducer, simply adjust the transducer to
the desired depth and drop the assembly
in the ice hole.
*Patent # 5,546,362
There are three main components to
the Ice-Ducer system. They include the
transducer, float, and the stop. The transducer comes assembled with
the connector already installed. The stop is put on by passing the
transducer cord through the slit in the side of the stop. Make sure that
the tapered or rounded end is facing down, toward the transducer.
The float is installed between the stop and the transducer by, again,
passing the transducer cord through the slit in the side. Make sure the
countersunk hole is facing up towards the top.
To use the Ice-Ducer, adjust the stop to allow the transducer to
float at the desired depth. A six inch minimum is recommended in
order to make sure that the transducer will indeed be pointing straight
down. The most it should be don is to the bottom of the ice hole. If
the transducer is below the bottom of the ice it can cause tangling
problems when bringing in fish.
If you run into problems when using the Ice-Ducer and you can't
see your bait try this; Rub the bottom of the transducer with water to
eliminate any residue or air film. This insures good contact between
the transducer and the water. Check the length of cord between the
float and the transducer to make sure there are no kinks in the cord
that will cause the transducer to shoot off to the side
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