We launched the boat after winter storage and the Hummingbird Sounder did not work. The owners manual said that a freshly launched sounder, out of dry storage, might not work for some time until it soaked. I thought a week should be sufficient to soak but it was not. Yesterday it worked fine. It has been almost 3 weeks since we launched.I do not know when it started working but do know that a week was not enough. Glad I did not purchase one.
Depth sounder
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What page of your owner's manual?
Just curious. Never saw that comment in mine, or any of the manuals they have on their site. If installed according to the factory specs, they should work as soon as you splash.
Just curious. Never saw that comment in mine, or any of the manuals they have on their site. If installed according to the factory specs, they should work as soon as you splash.
Did it get
any paint on it when it was being bottom painted, if that was done before launch. Also, if it was painted, maybe the masking tape is still on?? Just a thought. I was painting mine on Thursday and almost forgot to take the tape off!! Jack Manning S/V Victim of Fate Atlantic City, NJ
any paint on it when it was being bottom painted, if that was done before launch. Also, if it was painted, maybe the masking tape is still on?? Just a thought. I was painting mine on Thursday and almost forgot to take the tape off!! Jack Manning S/V Victim of Fate Atlantic City, NJ
I'm no expert
On all models/makes of depth sounders, but the idea that a depth sounder (transducer?) wouldn't work until it is "soaked" sounds pretty odd to me. Every depth sounder I've ever had on 5 different boats worked the instant you turned them on. I just can't think of anything about the unit that would soak up water by design. Can you tell us more about the design of your unit and its transducer that would shed more light on this seemingly unique feature?
On all models/makes of depth sounders, but the idea that a depth sounder (transducer?) wouldn't work until it is "soaked" sounds pretty odd to me. Every depth sounder I've ever had on 5 different boats worked the instant you turned them on. I just can't think of anything about the unit that would soak up water by design. Can you tell us more about the design of your unit and its transducer that would shed more light on this seemingly unique feature?
Soaked
Waren, I am not at the boat and do not have the owners manual. I do not know the model number of the display or the transducer. I suspect it is quite old, it is a Hummingbird. I do not question that others work dry, it did not have paint or masking tape on it. I repeat that I am glad I did not replace it and posted this on the slim chance that it might help someone. No, it did not fall off the truck.
Waren, I am not at the boat and do not have the owners manual. I do not know the model number of the display or the transducer. I suspect it is quite old, it is a Hummingbird. I do not question that others work dry, it did not have paint or masking tape on it. I repeat that I am glad I did not replace it and posted this on the slim chance that it might help someone. No, it did not fall off the truck.
Patrick, This is of course a strange
requirement. Consider that many trailer sailed boats are equiped with depth sounders. It would be absurd to think that the transducers would require wet storage to be able to function for a day sail. My Apelco sounder is turned on at launch each spring and is functioning properly before we clear the launch basin. Yours,I would not trust and would probably plan to change it when I next had access to it.
requirement. Consider that many trailer sailed boats are equiped with depth sounders. It would be absurd to think that the transducers would require wet storage to be able to function for a day sail. My Apelco sounder is turned on at launch each spring and is functioning properly before we clear the launch basin. Yours,I would not trust and would probably plan to change it when I next had access to it.
Why post a detrimental comment?
Do you mean to say Humminbird? It would appear that you don't have a clue about what depth sounder you have on your boat. As asked previously - on what page of what owner's manual (that you claim you read) does it say that the transducer must be soaked? Maybe it says the transducer must be in water since the signal will not travel through air? If you can't back up what you say - don't say it! That's unfair to a fantastic product in use by many sailors all over the world.
Do you mean to say Humminbird? It would appear that you don't have a clue about what depth sounder you have on your boat. As asked previously - on what page of what owner's manual (that you claim you read) does it say that the transducer must be soaked? Maybe it says the transducer must be in water since the signal will not travel through air? If you can't back up what you say - don't say it! That's unfair to a fantastic product in use by many sailors all over the world.
No chance this is true
I used to get the transducer parts from the manufacturer and assemble them as well as the electronics. There is no way the transducer must be "soaked."
I used to get the transducer parts from the manufacturer and assemble them as well as the electronics. There is no way the transducer must be "soaked."
Terminology!
As part of my job I have designed and built the odd specialist echo sounder. Transducers require intimate contact with the water before they can launch sound waves and detect their return. If a new sounder has its surface covered in a thin layer of bubbles then most likely the sounder will not operate. Such a condition can easily occur but, as the boat moves it only takes a few minutes to wash this film of bubbles away. Hence the makers cautionary note. Patrick's problem sounds more like a poor connection, either in the cable run to the sounder, or inside the unit itself. Regards.
As part of my job I have designed and built the odd specialist echo sounder. Transducers require intimate contact with the water before they can launch sound waves and detect their return. If a new sounder has its surface covered in a thin layer of bubbles then most likely the sounder will not operate. Such a condition can easily occur but, as the boat moves it only takes a few minutes to wash this film of bubbles away. Hence the makers cautionary note. Patrick's problem sounds more like a poor connection, either in the cable run to the sounder, or inside the unit itself. Regards.
Calm down guys!
I believe that the poster meant he was glad he did not buy a replacement when the unit failed to initialize, as it is now working. For the record, my Signet echo sounder's instruction book also states that the head must be soaked up to a day before it will work. As it happens, we launched on Friday evening and as of Sunday afternoon I still get a blinking '18.8' display test. I probably have a bad connection, although wiggling the one and only plug in the coax didn't make a difference.
I believe that the poster meant he was glad he did not buy a replacement when the unit failed to initialize, as it is now working. For the record, my Signet echo sounder's instruction book also states that the head must be soaked up to a day before it will work. As it happens, we launched on Friday evening and as of Sunday afternoon I still get a blinking '18.8' display test. I probably have a bad connection, although wiggling the one and only plug in the coax didn't make a difference.
Old boat, old transducer
As long as we're on this thread: I have an older boat with a depth transducer imbedded in the hull.It is not removable without cutting it out. There was no display on the boat when I got it. How can I test the transducer? The coax cable is still attached and seems to be in good shape. I'm hoping I can connect to a new display and utilize this unit.
As long as we're on this thread: I have an older boat with a depth transducer imbedded in the hull.It is not removable without cutting it out. There was no display on the boat when I got it. How can I test the transducer? The coax cable is still attached and seems to be in good shape. I'm hoping I can connect to a new display and utilize this unit.
Larry, I doubt you can use it
with a new unit. They have a lot of different design factors which will doubtless prevent you using this old transducer. If you try it and it doesn't damage your control head, I will buy you lunch. If it actually works, buy a lottery ticket because that is the about the chance that it will. Chris, lets not promote stupidity like "soaking" transducers. You may be right about bubbles but that is not what the original post said. The idea that you need to soak a transducer is preposterous and that needs to be pointed out or else it will be repeated as "truth" somewhere down the line. I have worked on highly specialized transducers used for very critical applications. I have dealt with the guys who make the essential components for transducers and it is more an art than a science. "Soaking" is a myth.
with a new unit. They have a lot of different design factors which will doubtless prevent you using this old transducer. If you try it and it doesn't damage your control head, I will buy you lunch. If it actually works, buy a lottery ticket because that is the about the chance that it will. Chris, lets not promote stupidity like "soaking" transducers. You may be right about bubbles but that is not what the original post said. The idea that you need to soak a transducer is preposterous and that needs to be pointed out or else it will be repeated as "truth" somewhere down the line. I have worked on highly specialized transducers used for very critical applications. I have dealt with the guys who make the essential components for transducers and it is more an art than a science. "Soaking" is a myth.
Chris would you quote the Mfg
instructions in regards to "soaking" ?, btw do you have the installtion instructions for the transducer that might help explain these seemingly unique directions.
instructions in regards to "soaking" ?, btw do you have the installtion instructions for the transducer that might help explain these seemingly unique directions.
As requested, here is the quote
from the Signet Scientific manual that accompanied the depth sounder on my boat. The boat is a 1987 Hunter 23 and I assume the sounder came with it as the front page of the manual carries the legend "M17290 Rev 12/86". The sounder is a Signet Mk 172. On page 14, paragraph 5.1.1 states, "TRANSDUCER" "For proper system operation, the transducer must be completely "wetted" (original quotation marks) before use. Wetting requires from 24 to 48 hours of continuous immersion in water. Coating the sensor face of the transducer with liquid detergent before launching can shorten the wetting time." The paragraph then goes on to discuss cleaning with 600 grit wet or dry or a 3M scrub pad, then states, "If cleaning is done in a dry environment (transducer removed or boat out of water), wetting time must be allowed for accurate indications to be obtained." So, to those who "know" and state that this is a myth, I suggest that you call up the manufacturers and tell them so that they can modify their literature. Shame on them for perpetuating such hocus on us poor unsuspecting yachtsfolk...or maybe they really do know their product?
from the Signet Scientific manual that accompanied the depth sounder on my boat. The boat is a 1987 Hunter 23 and I assume the sounder came with it as the front page of the manual carries the legend "M17290 Rev 12/86". The sounder is a Signet Mk 172. On page 14, paragraph 5.1.1 states, "TRANSDUCER" "For proper system operation, the transducer must be completely "wetted" (original quotation marks) before use. Wetting requires from 24 to 48 hours of continuous immersion in water. Coating the sensor face of the transducer with liquid detergent before launching can shorten the wetting time." The paragraph then goes on to discuss cleaning with 600 grit wet or dry or a 3M scrub pad, then states, "If cleaning is done in a dry environment (transducer removed or boat out of water), wetting time must be allowed for accurate indications to be obtained." So, to those who "know" and state that this is a myth, I suggest that you call up the manufacturers and tell them so that they can modify their literature. Shame on them for perpetuating such hocus on us poor unsuspecting yachtsfolk...or maybe they really do know their product?
Interesting thread
I leave my 32 in water year round and short haul for bottom cleaning and paint but this year I hauled for the winter and when it went back in the water the same thing happened to my Autohelm depth sounder it said I was in real deep water and I was in 5 feet but the next day all was well I'm thinking when I cleaned it while out of the water now it needed a good SOAKING? strange
I leave my 32 in water year round and short haul for bottom cleaning and paint but this year I hauled for the winter and when it went back in the water the same thing happened to my Autohelm depth sounder it said I was in real deep water and I was in 5 feet but the next day all was well I'm thinking when I cleaned it while out of the water now it needed a good SOAKING? strange
I was a production manager
for a company which made many highly speciallized and critically evaluated acoustic sonar units each of which had numerous transducers. I worked directly for several years with designers and makers of the inner working parts of transducers and we assembled them under the guidance of those who have forgotten more about transducers than I ever knew. I never heard of "soaking" or "wetting" the surface. If it was really necessary, I am quite confident that I would have heard of it.
for a company which made many highly speciallized and critically evaluated acoustic sonar units each of which had numerous transducers. I worked directly for several years with designers and makers of the inner working parts of transducers and we assembled them under the guidance of those who have forgotten more about transducers than I ever knew. I never heard of "soaking" or "wetting" the surface. If it was really necessary, I am quite confident that I would have heard of it.
Semantics
"Wetting" is not "Soaking". The point is to get a total immersion. No air bubbles on the surface to cause faulty soundings. I'm not an engineer, but if I understand the technology, a depth sounder is simply a sonar unit. If there are air bubbles on the surface, the unit won't read the echo correctly. Someone correct me if I'm wrong. With internally mounted sounders, immersed in oil, it's important that there is no air between the sounder surface and the hull, for the same reason. Larry Wilson
"Wetting" is not "Soaking". The point is to get a total immersion. No air bubbles on the surface to cause faulty soundings. I'm not an engineer, but if I understand the technology, a depth sounder is simply a sonar unit. If there are air bubbles on the surface, the unit won't read the echo correctly. Someone correct me if I'm wrong. With internally mounted sounders, immersed in oil, it's important that there is no air between the sounder surface and the hull, for the same reason. Larry Wilson
I'm not sure what it is, but
we seem to be learning something here. It may be that the older units needed longer? Clean water contact is obvious, and maybe these older units had a transducer housing material that was slightly porous and trapped air? We don't know, but clearly the manufacturers felt that there was a need for prolonged immersion before accuracy was obtained. Like most of us here, I am no expert so I must follow the manufacturer's instructions. Those of us who ARE experts are insisting that the manufacturers are wrong... I have a problem with that picture! Let us at least be open to the notion that some units, particularly earlier ones from 20 or so years ago, may require prolonged wetting before giving reliable results. After all, the Signet manual specifically states "24 to 48 hours." Fair winds Chris
we seem to be learning something here. It may be that the older units needed longer? Clean water contact is obvious, and maybe these older units had a transducer housing material that was slightly porous and trapped air? We don't know, but clearly the manufacturers felt that there was a need for prolonged immersion before accuracy was obtained. Like most of us here, I am no expert so I must follow the manufacturer's instructions. Those of us who ARE experts are insisting that the manufacturers are wrong... I have a problem with that picture! Let us at least be open to the notion that some units, particularly earlier ones from 20 or so years ago, may require prolonged wetting before giving reliable results. After all, the Signet manual specifically states "24 to 48 hours." Fair winds Chris
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