Does anyone have experience with replacing or rebuilding a Signet SL 80 instrument head. The factory can replace for $650. They may be able to repair as well. My real question is can I leave my wiring and transducer and my wiring and paddle wheel in place and hook a lowrance or Garmin head to it? I've tried to purchase a used SL 80 but have had no luck. Any ideas? Oh, my vessel is a O'Day 272LE. Thanks.
Signet SL 80
- Thread starter BoonMcGee
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We had our signet depth sounder repaired this year. Ended up being $200. Send an e-mail to their repair service and they can give you an estimate, but the real estimate comes once you send the unit to them to look at. You can leave the transducer and paddle wheel in place, just send the head.
When i upgraded to a Garmin chartplotter, I could NOT use the same transducer, so it depends on what you replace with....check specs and accessories of what you are looking to replace the heads with for more details on the type of connection and NMEA compatability....
When i upgraded to a Garmin chartplotter, I could NOT use the same transducer, so it depends on what you replace with....check specs and accessories of what you are looking to replace the heads with for more details on the type of connection and NMEA compatability....
Thanks, Apex. The path of least resistance is to repair but the fellow at Signet remarked that they're running out of parts for the older units. He really sounded negative about repairability but I plan on sending it unless someone comes up with a working unit. He suggested replacing with a new model head for $650. I'm hoping to not have to spend that much. I was on a 28 a week ago. Really nice layout. Your cockpit is a little more spacious, too. Thanks for your help.
Call Pop's Circuits before you spend that money, and see what they think. They repair all things electrical. The autopilot on my 272LE was inop when I bought it 6 years ago. I troubleshot it down to thinking I had a bad voltage regulator in my control head (I wasn't getting 12VDC out to my wheel drive auto pilot motor). I talked to them, and ended up sending them just the control head for repair. I paid $125 for the part (expensive due scarcity) and $125 for the labor. 3 seasons later and the autopilot still going strong.
At the very least it's worth a call. Popscircuits.com
Phone 828-449-8549
Not affiliated, just a happy customer!
At the very least it's worth a call. Popscircuits.com
Phone 828-449-8549
Not affiliated, just a happy customer!
If they are out of parts, they are put of parts and nothing you can do about that. Different Instrument manufactures are not interchangeable, so forget that.
If you pay for the replacement chances are your electronics will be upgraded with more current guts and in the long run, it will be easier to just put the new head back in place and hook it up in comparison to buying a whole new system which will require that you remove what you have and start over.
If you pay for the replacement chances are your electronics will be upgraded with more current guts and in the long run, it will be easier to just put the new head back in place and hook it up in comparison to buying a whole new system which will require that you remove what you have and start over.
Thanks for all the good advice. I removed my Signet head today. Found an inline fuse with a broken filament. Upon replacing, it works as new. Now that's a repair I can afford!
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