User manual LOWRANCE X-55A - OPERATION INSTRUCTION

We backyourinvestment inquality productswithquick, expertserviceand in the United Statesand genuine Lowrance®replacement parts. Ifyou're Customer ServiceDepartyouhavequestions, please contacttheFactory ment usingourtoll-freenumber listed below. You must send the unitto thefactoryforwarrantyservice orrepair. Please call thefactorybefore sending the unit. You will be asked for your unit's serial number (shown above). Use thefollowing toll-free number: How to Obtain Service 800-324-1356 Central time, except holidays. U.S.A.only. Monday through Friday 8:00 AM. 8:00 P.M. - Your unitis covered by afullone-yearwarranty. (Seethebackofthis flyer warranty details.) Ifyourunitfailsandthefailureis not covered forcomplete that covers by theoriginal warranty, Lowrance hasa flat-rate repairpolicy There is a with the unit at thefactory. your unitand accessories packed which is 180-day warranty on all non-warranty repairsfrom the factory, isfor180days ratherthan oneyear.For similartotheoriginal warranty, but furtherdetails,please call us at theabove number. Onfactoryrepairs, weguaranteeyour unitwillbe repaired inthreeworking includeshipping time. Iffor daysfromthe timeit is received. This does not this commitment, we will extend your some reason we cannot meet warrantyfor another full year, free of charge, fromthedate of repair. Lowrance also gives youfreeUPS shipping fromanywhere in thecontinental United States both to and fromthe factoryfor allwarrantyrepairs. You canalso usetheenclosed UPS shipping labelfornon-warrantyshipments. See theinside of thisflyerfor moreinformation. flatto Remember, non-warrantyrepairs are subject Lowrance's published and 180-daywarranty.A 3workingday turnaround timeatthe ratecharges factory repair center is guaranteed.(Does not include shippingtime.) LITHO IN U.S.A. 988-0133-10 X-55A INSTALLATION AND OPERATION INSTRUCTIONS ·®LOWRANCE ELECTRONICS, INC. 12000E. SKELLY DR., TULSA, OK 74128 PDF compression, OCR, web-optimization with CVISION's PdfCompressor TABLE OF CONTENTS INTRODUCTION INSTALLATION MOUNTING POWER CONNECTIONS TRANSDUCER KEYBOARD BASICS DISPLAY MENUS HELP OPERATION AUTOMATIC SENSITIVITY RANGE UpperandLowerLimits ZOOM 1 .2 .2 11 NOTICE! This productusesthreaded nutsinside the caseto holdthe gimbalknobs ontotheunit.Thesenutswill rattle whenyoushake the unit, It'snormalfor thisto happenandshouldn't bea causeforconcern. Thisdoesn't affectthe watertight integrity of the unit. The unit won't raffle when it's installed With the gimbal knobs onto its bracket. 4 12 13 Automatic Operation ManualOperation ALARMS FISH ALARM ZONEALARM DEPTHALARMS ALARMMUTE MENU PAGE I CHARTSPEED 13 13 14 15 15 16 16 17 - GRAYLINE -- FISH I.D FISHTRACKTM DISPLAY CONTRAST .. 18 2l 21 21 20 MENU-PAGE2 ADJUSTBACKLIGHTLEVEL BACKLIGHTON/OFF SPEAKER VOLUME TURNDIGITAL BOXOFF CONSTRUCT DIGITAL BOX 22 23 24 24 24 24 25 25 25 26 26 27 27 28 28 MENU-PAGE3 CHARTCURSOR DISPLAY ZOOM BAR DISPLAY ZONE BAR DIGITAL SONAR MENU-PAGE 4 FASTRAK SELECT UNITS OF MEASURE CLEAR DISTANCE LOG MENU-PAGES ADJUST CHART SURFACE CLARITY ADVANCED SIGNAL PROCESSING (ASP) WINDOWS VIEWING WINDOWS OPTIONS MODIFYING GROUPS RESETrINGALL GROUPS 28 29 29 29 29 30 31 32 32 BROADVIEW TRANSDUCERS ANDCONEANGLES FISH ARCHES SIGNAL INTERPRETATION WATER TEMPERATURE ANDTHERMOCLINES SURVEYING A LAKE BAITFISH TROUBLESHOOTING WARRANTY FREE UPS SNIPPING MISSING PARTS INTERNATIONAL SERVICE INFORMATION 34 34 36 37 38 39 40 41 41 47 48 so si PDF compression, OCR, web-optimization with CVISION's PdfCompressor All featuresand specifications subjectto change withoutnotice. All screens in this manual are simulated. Copyright® 1994 LowranceElectronics All rightsreserved. 53 NOTES: The X-55A is a high quality, wide screen sonar with performance that is second to none in its class. Using menu featuresand "soft-key" operation, theX-55A isalso one of theeasiest-to-use sonars that Lowrance hasever built. Thewidescreen showstheundetwaterworld with highresolution and detail.The displayand keyboard are also lighted for nightoperation. The X-55Aalso hasdigitaldepth,boatspeed, surface watertemperature, and distancetravelled (log) displays. Inordertousethedigital speed, temperature, and log displays, you must purchase and install an optional ST-T (transom mount) orST-H(through-hull mount)speed/temperature sensor. SPECIFICATIONS Dimensions TransmitterFrequency (all channels) TransmitterPower (down channel) INTRODUCTION 5 7/8"H x 7 3/4W x 3 718"D 192 kkz 600 watts (p-p, typical) 75 watts(RMS, typical) TransmitterPower(left & right channels) ... 275 watts (p-p. typical) 34.4 watts (RMS, typical) Display Supertwist LCD 128 verticalx 160 horizontal 20, 480 total pixels NOTICE! The storagetemperature foryour unitisfrom-4 degreesto +167degrees Fahrenheit (-20 degrees to +75 degrees Celcius). Extended storage in higheror lowerthan specified will damagetheliquid crystal temperatures displayin your unit. Thistype of damage is not coveredby thewarranty. For moreinformation, contactthefactory's CustomerService Department oryour local service center. TOOLSYOU WILL NEED: TRANSOMMOUNT TRANSDUCER INSTALLATION: Hand-held" Drill with a variety of small bits Two (2) #12 stainless steelscrews (to attach bracket to the transomS) Marine grade caulking compound (to seal screws) SHOOT-THRU-HULL MOUNT: 100 grit sandpaper One package of theeither of thefollowing epoxies: Power Poxft, 1 oz package; Made by: Power Pox? Adhesives, Inc. or True Value® brand TRUE BOND epoxyor PLASTIC WELDERTM epoxy sold by True Value®storesor Devcon®brand PLASTIC WELDERTM epoxy. PDF compression, OCR, web-optimization with CVISION's PdfCompressor 52 MOUNTING Install the X-55A in anyconvenient location, provided there is clearance behind the unit when it is tilted for the best viewing angle. Holes in the bracket baseallowwoodscrew or through-bolt mounting. You mayneed to placeapieceof plywood on thebackofthinfiberglasspanelsto secure themounting hardware. Make certain thereisenough roombehind theunit to attachthepowerand transducer cables. How to Obtain Service We back your investment in quality products with quick, expertservice and genuine Lowrance replacement parts. If you need service or repairs, contactthe Lowrance Factory Customer Service Department atthe toll-tree numberlistedbelow. A technician may beableto solvethe problem and saveyou theinconvenience ofreturning your unit. You will be askedfor your unitsserial number. CanadaOnly. Monday through Friday 8:00 A.M. - 8:00 P.M. central Time, (CanadianCustomers Only) The smallestholethat willpassone power ortransducerplugis 5/8". After theholeis drilled, passthetransducer connectorupthroughtheholefirst, then pass the power cable down through it. After routing thecables,fill theholewith a good marine sealingcompound. Offsetthebrackettocoverthehole. Routethe powercablethrough theslot and breakoutoneoftheotherslotsin thebracket forthe transducer cable. 800-347-1014 How to Obtain Service (International Customers Only) Ifyou needserviceorrepairs, contact the dealerin the country you purchased your unit. WARRANTYREPAIR WILLBE HONORED ONLY IN THE COUNTRY UNITWAS PURCHASED. POWER CONNECTIONS The X-55A works from a twelve-volt batterysystem. For the bestresults, attach the powercabledirectlyto the battery. You can attach the power cable to an accessory or powerbuss, however you may have problems with electrical interference.Therefore, it's safertogoaheadand attach the powercable directlyto thebattery. If the cable is not long enough, splice #18 gaugewire onto it. Thepower cablehastwowires, red and black. Red isthepositivelead, black is negativeorground. Make certain to attach the in-linefuseholdertothered leadas closeto thepowersourceas possible. For example, ifyouhavetoextend thepowercabletothebattery power or buss,attachoneendofthefuseholderdirectlyto batteryorpower the buss. Thiswill protectboth theunitand the powercable in the eventof ashort. The X-55A usesa 3-amp fuse. Pleasefollowthe shipping instructions shown below onthispageif you haveto mail your unitto dealer.Forpropertesting, repair, andservice, sendabriefnote withthe product the describing the problem. Be sure to include yourname, return shipping address, and a daytime telephone number. When sending a product for repair, please do the following: 1. Alwaysuse the original shipping container and filler material the productwas packed in when shipping your product. Shipping Information 2 Alwaysinsure the parcel against damage orloss during shipment. Lowrance does not assume responsiblity for goods lost ordamaged in transit 3. Forpropertesting, repair, andservice, send abriefnotewiththe product describing the problem. Be sure to include your name, return shipping address, and a daytime telephone number. Do not usethis productwithouta 3-amp fuse wiredintothepowercable! Failureto usea 3-amp fusewill void yourwarranty. IMPORTANT! Accessory Ordering Information To orderaccessories suchas power cablesortransducers, please contact: 1. Your local marine dealer. Most quality dealers that handle marine electronic equipment should be able toassistyouwith theseitems. consultyourlocaltelephone directory for listings. Lowrance/Eagle canada, 919 Matheson Blvd., E. Mississauga, Ontario L4W2R7 or fax 416-629-3118 51 2. canadian customers only can write: 2 PDF compression, OCR, web-optimization with CVISION's PdfCompressor NOTICE! Pleasecheckthe items in the box against this list. You!hould have all of the itemsshown on this page. Ifyou are missing any of the items, pleasecall our special toll-free number: 1.800-324-1353 A RECORDED MESSAGE will request the following information. Please have it ready beforeyou call. 2. The part that's missing. 3. The model, serial number, and DATE AND PLACE OF PURCHASE OF YOUR UNIT. 1. Your name, shipping address, and telephone number. 4. The besttime of day to call you if we havequestions. Provided that all of the requested information is recorded and approved by our CustomerService Department, the missing item(s) will be shippeddirectlyto youfree of charge. SLOT DISPLAY UNIT GIMBAL KNOB GIMBAL KNOB RUBBER WASHER RUBBER WASHER RED GIMBAL BRACKET o 3 TRANSDUCER, BRACKET, AND HARDWARE (TRANSDUCER NOT SOLD WITH ALL X-55'S) POWER CABLE FUSE FUSE 50 OPTIONAL SPEED! TEMP SENSOR HOLDE) X-55A POWER CONNECTIONS 3 PDF compression, OCR, web-optimization with CVISION's PdfCompressor TRANSDUCER Some X-55A's are sold with a HS-WSBK transommount transducer. It can be installed on anyoutboard or stern-drive (inboarcf\outboard) powered boat. It can also be permanently installed inside the boat to "shootthrough1'the hull on some fiberglass boats. The "kick-up" mounting bracket helps preventdamageif the transducer strikes an objectwhile the boat is moving. If the transducer does "kickup", the bracket can easily be pushed back in place withouttools. TO UPSAuthorizedReturn Sent 'II.tI ELEOThONICS LOWOANCE 12000EStSKELQY DONE1 ILILSA,OK 74120 If your unit came with a transducer, read this section carefully before attempting the installation. Determine whichof the mounting positions is right for your boat. Use extreme care if mounting thetransducer inside the hull, since once it is epoxied into position, the transducer usually cannot be removed. Remember, the transducer location is the most critical partof a sonar installation. If it isn't done properly, the sonar can't uMe0H ,Dè1rp010Ar,ON 1III performat it's designed potential. tII IllhIll lluI UPSAuthorized Return Location - General 1. The transducer must be placed in a location that hasa smooth flow of water at all times. If thetransducer is to be mounted inside the hull, then the chosen location must be in the water at all times. If the transduceris not placed in a smooth flow of water, interference will show on the sonar's display in the form of random lines or dots wheneverthe boat is moving. Sen'icej KEEP THIS LABELl YOU WILL NEED IT IF YOU EVER NEED TO RETURN YOUR UNITTO THE FAcToRY FOR REPAIR. This shipping offerIs goodonly InThe continental unitedstates (excludes Alaskaand Hawaii). us 2. The transducer should be installed with it's face pointing straight down, if possible. 3. If the transducer is mounted on thetransom, make certain it doesn't interfere with the trailer or hauling of the boat. Also, don't mount it closerthan approximately onefoot from the engine's lowerunit. This will preventcavitation interference with the propeller. Typically, the transducershould be mounted as deep in the water as possible. This increases the chance that it will be in the water in high speed and reducesthe possiblity of air bubble interference. 4. If possible, routethe transducer cable away from otherwiring on the boat. Electrical noisefrom engine wiring, bilgepumps, and areators can be displayed on the sonar's screen. Use caution when routing thetransducercable around these wires. Lowrance Electronics may find It necessary to change or end our shipping policies, regulations, and special offers at anytime. We reserve the right to do so withoutnotice. Accessory Ordering Information To orderaccessoriessuchas power cablesor transducers, please contact: 1) Your local marine dealer. Most quality dealers that handle marine electronic equipment should be able to assist you with these items. Consultyour local telephone directory for listings. 2) LEI Extras, Inc. P.O. Box 129 Catoosa, OK 74015-0129 orcall 800-324-0045 (USAorders only.) PDF compression, OCR, web-optimization with CVISION's PdfCompressor 4 49 Lowrance's UPS Return Service allofourcustomersfreeshippingforall unitssenttousforrepairorservice. If you haveto send this unitto the factory, and you are in thecontinental United States, usetheenclosed UPS shipping labelforeasy,freeshipping to ourfactorycustomerservicedepartment. There are sixeasy steps: 1.CallLowrance atthetoll-freenumberonthefrontof thisflyerfora Return Lowrance Electronics and United Parcel Service (UPS) areproudto offer Shoot-thru-bull v,s, Transom Mounting Typically, shoot-thru-hull installations give excellent high speed operation and good to excellent depth capability. There is no possibility of damage from floating objects. It can't be knocked off when dockingor loading on the trailer. However, the shoot-thru-hull installation doeshaveits drawbacks. One, some loss of sensitivitydoesoccur, 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 layup and construction. Two, the angle of the transducer cannot be adjusted for the bestfish arches. This can be a problem on some hulls that sit with the bow highwhen at rest or at slow trolling speeds. Follow the procedure listed in the shoot-thru-hull installation section in this manual to determine if you can satisfactorily shoot throughthe hull. TRANSOM MOUNT - Assembly 1. First attach the mounting bracket's halves togetheras shown below. Next, slide the rubber pad into the space between the two slots. This pad keepstension on the bracket's latch, preventing itfrom opening at a low speed. Don't close the bracket at this time!. Authorization (IRA)number and instructions about whataccessories to return. Do not return a product to the factory without a Return Authorization (RA) Number! 2. Pack your unitand anyaccessories in theoriginal shippingcontainer, if possible.Be sure to include proofof purchaseforwarrantyverification! 3. Write a brief note detailing the problem you're having with the unit. Pleaseincludeyour name, address, and daytime telephone number. 4. Pleaseinclude payment fornon-warranty repairs. Check, money order, Visa, or MasterCard may be used. 5.Fill in your name, address, zip code, date, and RAnumber intheblanks provided on the UPS form included with your unit. 6.Attach the label to the shipping box, tear off the tab foryour receipt and give the package to any UPS driver or take the package to any UPS Customer Center. You will not be charged for this shipment. That's it! Your unit will be shipped to Lowrance's customer service department atnochargetoyou.Our normal in-plantturnaround on repairs is3workingdays. Unitsunderwarrantywill bereturned toyouatnocharge. NOTE! __ RuBBER PAD EJ 5 Lowrance will pay UPS surface shipping charges both to and from the factoryforthis unitin the event it needs repair. Yourunitis insured against loss or shippingdamage when you usethe enclosed UPS label. Lb=H PDF compression, OCR, web-optimization with CVISION's PdfCompressor 48 2. Slip thetransducer's mounting pad between the bracket's mounting "ears". Sandwich two internal lockwashersbetween thetransducer and one side of the mounting bracket as shown below. Place one washeron the other side of thetransducer. TWO WASHI WASHER LOWRANCE ELECTRONICS FULL ONE-YEAR WARRANTY 'We", "our", or "us" refersto LOWRANCE ELECTRONICS. INC., the manufacturer of this product. "You" or"your"referstothe firstperson whopurchases this product asaconsumer item for personal, family,or household use. We warrantthisproduct againstdefects ormalfunctions in materials andworkmanship, and against failuretoconform tothis product's written specifications, allforoneyear (1)fromthe date of original purchase by you. WE MAKE NO OTHER EXPRESS WARRANTY OR REPRESENTATION OF ANY KIND WHATSOEVER CONCERNING THIS PRODUCT. Yourremedies underthiswarranty willbeavailable solong asyou canshowina reasonable mannerthat any defect or malfunction in materials orworkmanship, orany non-conformity with the product's written specifications, occurred within one year from the date of your original purchase, which must besubstantiated bya dated sales receipt or salesslip. Any suchdefect, malfunction, or non-conformitywhichoccurs withinone yearfromyouroriginal purchase date will either be repaired withoutcharge or be replaced with a new product identical orreasonably equivalentto this product,atour option, withinareasonable timeafter our receiptof the product If suchdefect, malfunction, or non-conformity remains after a reasonable number of attempts to repairby us, you may electto obtain withoutcharge a the replacementof product ora refund fortheproduct. THIS REPAIR, REPLACEMENT, OR REFUND (AS JUST DESCRIBED) IS THE EXCLUSIVE REMEDY AVAILABLE TO YOU AGAINST USFORANY DEFECT, MALFUNCTION, OR NONCONFORMITY CONCERNING THE PRODUCT OR FORANY LOSS OR DAMAGE RESULTING FROM ANY OTHER CAUSE WHATSOEVER. WE WILLNOTUNDER ANY CIRCUMSTANCES BE LIABLE TO ANYONEFORANY SPECIAL, CONSEQUENTIAL, INCIDENTAL, OR OTHER INDIRECT DAMAGE OF ANY KIND. BOLT & WASHER III 1111111111111111111111 I BOLT 11111 SLEEVE Some statesdonotallowthe exclusion orlimitation ofincidental orconsequential damages, so the above limitations or exclusions may not apply to you. 3. Slide the metal sleeve over the bolt. Slip the bolt and sleeve through thebracket,washers, and transducer assembly. Place an internal tooth lock washer over the end of the bolt and thread the nut onto it. Do not tighten the nut at this time. The transducer is now ready for installation. INSTALLATION- Transom Mount 1. The transducer mustbe placed in a location that hasa smooth flow of water at all times. Air bubbles createdby themovement of the boat hull against the water interfere with thesonar signal. This causes "noise" or random marks to appear on the sonar's display. You may need to carefullyviewthewater'spath at the transomwhilethe boat is moving to determine the best location for the transducer. 2. Make certain the chosen location doesn't interfere with the boat's trailer. Mount the transducer at least one foot from the engine's lower unit. This will prevent air bubbles from the transducer interfering with the propeller. 6 This warrantydoes NOTapply in the following circumstances: (1) when the product has been serviced or repaired by anyone other than us, (2) when the product has been connected, installed, combined, altered, adjusted, or handled in a manner other than according to the instructions fumished with the product, (3) when any serial number has been effaced, altered, or removed, or (4) when any defect, problem, loss, or damage has resulted from any accident, misuse, negligence, or carelessness, or from any failure to providereasonable and necessary maintenance in accordance withthe instructions ofthe owner's manual for the product. We reserve the rightto make changes or improvements in ourproductsfromtime totime without incurring the obligation to install suchimprovements orchanges on equipment or items previously manufactured. This warranty gives you specific legalrights and you may alsohave otherrightswhich may varyfrom state to state. REMINDER: You must retain thesalesslip orsalesreceipt proving the date ofyouroriginal purchase in case warranty service is ever required. LOWRANCE ELECTRONICS 12000E SKELLYDRIVE TULSA, OK74128 (800) 324-1358 PDF compression, OCR, web-optimization with CVISION's PdfCompressor 47 0$11: I FEET I ni .. 45.2 65.4 ;;i° 100 GROUP "I" e --0$ I fl-I :1: -- -- -- ° -- -- 12 -- 24 -- CAUTIONI CLAMPThETRANSDUCER CABLETO TRANSOM NEARTHETRANSDUCER. This WILLHELPPREVENT TIlETRANSDUCER FRDMENTERING ThE BOATIFITIS KNOCKED OFFATHIGHSPEED. 36 -I-&o 'JDIM GROUP Uji ICR LOCATION I i: II I I rt.i1itiia 63.5°F - FEET I MPH ,--. 5.4 5O.2 tewiUlu ·I '4$:f'MuJi4 3. Don't mount GROUP GOOD LOCATION jnflu! 100FT OFT GROUP if "K" 100 "L" -5;7r$ ii_______ik' the transducer directly behind strakes or ribs on the bottom of the hull. Typically, a good location on aluminum boats is between the ribs clpsest to the engine. (See above.) The port (left)side ofthetransom is preferred for mounting the transducer, howeverif this is not possible, the starboard (right) side can be usedwith good results. 4. Once you determine the best location for the transducer, hold the bracket against the transom. Thetransducer should be roughly parallel to the ground. The bottom of the hull should be about halfwaybetween the centerline of the transducerand it's bottom. (See the illustration below.) Swingthe bracket up and mark thetransomthrough the slots in the transducer bracket. Now drill two holes in the center of the slots. Use #12 stainless steel sheetmetal screws to looselyattachthe bracket to the transom. 635°F__JL \ I:T'sflg:;' :i 12.6 I I &JOLTS I 100 GROUP "M" u:e: I FEET I k r ' 51.1 "0" I I I thJSgSthSTt0 .·. 100 GROUP PDF compression, OCR, web-optimization with CVISION's PdfCompressor 46 l iooll ·flI;I'4$:)III;s.i;cj;dU 100 GROUP "N" o*an I·:4ftbk! I FEET I jrciw"'O 100 51.1 :' ' .JI I GROUP "P' BOTTOM OF BOAT 7 5. Adjust thetransducer and bracket so that the front of the transducer is slightly lower than the back. See the section on fish arches in this manual for propertransducer angles. Tighten all screws. (CAUTION: Don't overtighten the bolt that holds the transducer to the bracket. Overtightening the boltmay result in a distorted bracket which will allow the transducer to "kick-up" at high speed.) Snap the transducer bracket together by pressing the outer bracket (the one with the transducer attached) againstthe one screwed to the transom. IMPORTANT! Clamp the transducer cableto the transomclose to the transducer. This will preventthe transducer fromentering the boat if it is knocked off at high speed. t*a .Qjj sr 0.01 0.0MPH 0.OMI - ,0 100 FLAT-BO1TOM HULL DEEP-"VEE" HULL NOTE: Some aluminum boatswith strakes or ribs on the outside of the hull create large amounts of turbulence at high speed. These boats typically have large outboard motors capable of propelling the boat at speeds over 35 mph. The transducer should be mounted as far below the hull as possible on these boats. (Seebelow) Thiswill place theface of the transducer below the turbulentwater, allowing the sonar unit to work at high speeds. 6. Route the transducer cable to the sonar unit. Keep the transducer cable away from other wiring on the boat, if possible. Electrical noise from enginewiring or bilge pumps can be picked up on thetransducer cable. Thiscanshow up as unwanted interference on the sonar display. 7. Make a test run to determine the results. If there is interference on the displaywhen running the boat at high speed, try lowering the transducer's bracket as shown at right. 8 rr ja:· FEET I GROUP "A" F H, GROUP "B" J ani;ra I I I -- I 45.2 65.4 2D$DI MPH I I IMILESI 5.4 2.0 GROUP "C" GROUP "D" OMih:· I FEET I 51.1 T--. I JOLTS I 12.6 100 GROUP "E" GROUP Cr a "P 100 100 GROUP "G" 45 GROUP "K" PDF compression, OCR, web-optimization with CVISION's PdfCompressor If youfind noiseinterference from an electrical instrument, trolling motor, pump, or radio,tryto isolatethe problem.Youcanusually reroutethe sonar unit's power cable and transducer cable away from the wiring that is causing the interference. VHF radio antennacables radiate noise when transmitting, so becertain to keep thesonar's wiresawayfromit. You may need to routethe sonar unit'spower cable directlytothe batteryto isolate it from otherwiringon the boat. If no noisedisplayson thesonarunitfromelectrical equipment, then make certain everythingexceptthe sonar unitisturned off, then startthe engine. Increase the RPM with the gearshift in neutral. If noise appears on the display, the problem couldbe one ofthreethings; sparkplugs, alternator, or tachometerwiring. Try using resistor spark plugs, alternator filters, or routing the sonar unit's power cable away from engine wiring. Again, routing the power cable directly to the battery helps eliminate noise problems. Makecertain to usethe in-linefusesupplied withthe unitwhen wiring the powercableto the battery. When no noise appears onthe sonar unitafterall ofthe above tests,then the noise source is probably cavitation. Many novices or persons with limited experience make hastysonar installations whichfunction perfectly in shallow water, orwhentheboatis at rest. In nearlyall cases, the cause ofthe malfunction will be the location and/orangleofthe transducer. The faceof the transducer must be placed ina location that hasa smooth flow ofwaterat all boat speeds. Read your transducer owner's manual forthe best mounting position. SHOOT-THRU-HULL INSTALLATION 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 passthrough solid fiberglass. A successful transducer installation oan be made on hulls with flotation materials (such as plywood, balsa wood, or foam) between layers of fiberglassif the material is removed from the chosen area. For example, some manufacturers use a layer of fiberglass, then a core of balsa wood, finishing with an outer layerof fiberglass. Removing the inner layer of fiberglassand the balsawoodcore exposes the outer layerof fiberglass. The transducer can then be epoxied directlyto the outer layerof fiberglass. After the epoxy cures, the hull is watertight and structurally sound. Remember, the sonar signal mustpassthrough solid fiberglass. Any air bubbles in the fiberglassor the epoxywill reduceor eliminatethe sonar signals. To choose the proper location for thru-hull mounting, anchortheboat in 60 feet of water. Add a little water to the sump of the boat. Plug the transducerinto thesonar unit, turn it on, then hold thetransducerover -- FILL WITH EPOXY,J?1 ) EpoxyTO HULL FIRST-- -a INNER HULL OUTER HULL WINDOWSSUMMARY All of the windowgroups used by the X-55Aare shown on the following pages. To view these groups, simply press the WINDOWS key, then repeated pressthe downarrow key. This will "cycle" the unitthrough all groups. Remember, eachgroup can be customized, however the group will revert to theonesshown onthese pages whentheunitis turnedoff. the side of the boat. Adjust the sensitivity and range controls until a second bottom echo is seen on the display. (you will need to turn the automatic function off on L.C.G. units.) Don't touch the controls once they've been set. Next, take the transducer out of the waterand place it in the water in the sumpof the boat. Observe thesonar signal to see if there is a noticeable decrease in sensitivity. The second bottom signal may disappear and the bottom signal may decrease in intensity. Move thetransduceraround to find the best location. If the sensitivity control has to be increased greatlyto compensate, then the transducer should be mounted on theoutsideof the hull. If not, then mark the location that shot through the hull the best and follow the instructions on the next pages for a shoot-thru-hull mounting. PDF compression, OCR, web-optimization with CVISION's PdfCompressor 44 9 TRANSDUCER LOCATION (HIGH SPEED) TRANSDUCER LOCATION (TROLLING SPEED) 2. Electrical noise fromthe boat'smotorcaninterfere with the sonar. This causes the sonar to automatically increase its Discrimination or noise rejection feature. Thiscancausetheunitto eliminate weakersignals such as fish or even structure fromthe display. Tryusingresistorspark plugs or routing the sonar unit's power and transducercables away from other electrical wiring on the boat. No fish arches when the Fish ID feature is off: 1. Make certain transducer is pointing straight down. This is the most commonproblem ifa partial arch is displayed. See the Fish Arch section in your owner's manual for more information. 2. The sensitivity maynot be high enough. In orderfortheunitto display afish arch, it hasto beableto receive thefish'sechofromthetimeitenters theconeuntil itleaves. Ifthe sensitivity isnot highenough, the unit displays the fish only when it is in the centerof the cone. 3. Use the Zoom feature. It is much easierto displayfish arches when zoomedin on a small range of waterthan a large one. For example, you will have much better Iuckseeingfish archeswith SOto60 foot rangethan a a0to 60foot range. Thisenlarges thetargets, allowing thedisplay to show muchmoredetail. 4. The boat mustbe moving at a slowtrolling speed to seefish arches. If the boat is motionless, fish stay in the cone, showing on the display as straight horizontal lines. SANDTHIS SURFACE Shoot-thru-hull Installation 1. Make certain the area is clean. dry. and free of oil or grease, then sand both the inside surface of the hull and the face of the transducer with 100 grit sandpaper. The surface of the hull mustbe flat sotheentire transducerface is in contactwith the hull priorto bonding. SPREAD NOISE A major causeof sonar problems is electrical noise. Thisusually appears onthesonar'sdisplay as randompatterns ofdotsor lines. In severecases, it can completelycover the screen with black dots, or cause the unit operate erratically, or notat all. 2. Follow the instructions on the epoxy package and mix it thoroughly. Do not mix it too fast, as it will cause bubbles to form in the epoxy. (NOTE! Use only the epoxiesspecified on page 1 ofthis manual! Failure to use one of these epoxies may result in poor sonar performance!) Apply a small amounton the face of the transducer as shown above, then spread a small amount onto the sanded areaon thehull. Place the 10 Toeliminateor minimize theeffects ofelectrical noise,firsttrytodetermine the cause.With the boat at rest in the water, thefirst thing you should do isturn all electrical equipment on the boat off. Makecertain the engine is off, also. Turn your X-55A on, then turn off ASP (Advanced Signal Processing). There should be a steady bottom signal on the display. Now turn on each pieceof electrical equipment on theboat and viewthe effect on thesonar's display. Forexample, turnon thebilgepump and viewthe sonardisplayfor noise. If no noiseis present, turnthepump off, then turn ontheVHF radio andtransmit. Keep doingthisuntil all electricalequipment hasbeen turned on, theireffectonthesonardisplaynoted, then turned off. 43 PDF compression, OCR, web-optimization with CVISION's PdfCompressor terminals or wiring on the terminals are corroded, or the battery needs charging. Unit freezes, locks up,or operates erratically: 1. Electrical noisefromthe boat's motor, trolling motor, or an accessory transducer maybe interfering withthe sonar unit. Rerouting the powerand cables away fromother electrical wiring on the boat may help. Routethe sonar unit's power cable directlyto the batteryinstead of through a fuse block or ignitionswitch transducerintothe epoxy, twistingand turning itto force any air bubbles outfrom underthetransducerface. The face of thetransducershould be parallel with the hull, with a minimum amount of epoxy between the hull and transducer. After the epoxy dries, routethe cableto the X-55A. KEYBOARD The keyboard haskeys arranged in twoverticalcolumns plus a horizontal rowat the bottom. The keys in theleftcolumn are usedto enter numbers and menu selections. The keys in the right column activatethewindows feature and the basic sonar functions. The menu key in the bottom right cornerof the keyboard activates thefirst menu page. The keys along the bottomof the screen are used to activate the alarm menu, stopthe chart, and make menu selections with thearrow keys. WINDOWS - This key givesyou access to thewindowsmode, which lets you customize displays. SENS - Press this key to adjustthe unit's sensitivity. RANGE - Thiskey lets youadjustthe range whenthe unit is in the manual mode. 2. Inspect the transducer cablefor breaks, cuts, or pinched wires. 3.Checkboth the transducerand powerconnectors. Makecertain bothare securelyplugged in to theunit. Weak bottomecho, digital readings erratic, or no fish signals: 1. Make certain transduceris pointing straight down. Clean the faceofthe transducer. Oil, dirt, and fuelcan cause a film to form on thetransducer, reducing its effectiveness. If thetransducer ismountedinside the hull, be sure itisshooting through onlyonelayeroffiberglass andthat itissecurely bonded tothe hull. Do NOTuseRTVsilicone rubberadhesiveorMarinetex 2. Electrical noise fromtheboat'smotorcaninterfere with the sonar.This causesthe sonar to automatically increase its Discrimination or noise rejectionfeature. Thiscancause the unitto eliminate weakersignals such as fish or evenstructurefrom the display. 3. Thewater may be deeperthan the sonar's abilityto find the bottom. If the sonarcan'tfindthebottomsignal whileit'sin the automatic mode,the digital will flashcontinuously. Itmaychange the rangeto limitsfar greater are thanthewateryou in. Ifthishappens,placetheunitinthe manual mode, then change the rangeto a realistic one, (for example, 0-100 feet) and increase thesensitivity. Asyou move intoshallowerwater, a bottom signal shouldappear. 4. Checkthe battery voltage. If the voltage drops, theunit's transmitter poweralso drops, reducing its ability to findthe bottomor targets. ZOOM- The X-55A gives you2Xand 4Xzoom capabilitywith this key. AUTO - This turns the automatic featureoff and on. MENU - Press this key to show the menus and gain access to most functions. CLEAR - This key clears menus and erases entries from the screen. ALARM- Press thiskey to activate anyof the sonar alarms. STOP - When this key is pressed, the chart stops scrolling. This doesn't affectthedigital display, however. weakbottomecho while boat is moving Bottom echo disappears at high speeds or erraticdigital reading or ARROWKEYS - These keys are used to makemenu selectionsand to moveobjectson the screen. ON - The ON key turns the X-55Aon. 1. The transducer may be in turbulent water. It must be mounted in a smooth flow of water in order for the sonar to work atall boat speeds. Air bubbles in thewaterdisrupt the sonar signals, interfering with its abilityto find the bottomor othertargets.Thetechnical termfor this is Cavitation. 42 OFF- Press and HOLD the Off key to turn the X-55A off. PDF compression, OCR, web-optimization with CVISION's PdfCompressor 11 DISPLAY- General The lights are turnedonforapproximately tenseconds whenthe X-55Ais firstturnedon. Menus appearatthesametime. keepthelights on, press To thekey adjacent to the Lightlabel. It controlsthe backlighting used on the displayand keyboard. If youdon'twantthe lights on, waittenseconds and the lights will automatically turn themselves off. The menus will also disappearafter ten seconds, or you can turn them off by pressing the CLEARkey at the bottom of the screen. The most efficient way to becomeacquainted with a bodyof water is to survey it with your X-55A. Start with a map of the lake, if possible, and indicate the promising spotsin relation to landmarks on shore. As you go aboutyour survey, yourX-55Awill tell youthedepth and type of bottom. It will also reveal suspended fish. Keep afewmarkerbuoys in the boat, ready totoss overboard. When the X-55Aindicates a school offish, throwthe buoyout. Withtheschoolthus marked, youcanmake yourturnand come backto fish inexactlytheright spot. Thisis essentialwhen you'refarfromshore on abig lake.Unlessyou marktheschool of fish whenyou're over it, you may not be ableto find it again. TheMetric label at the topof thescreen works thesameway. Pressthe key adjacentto the Metric labelto changethedepth from feetto meters. This also changes thetemperature displayto degrees Celsius, speedto knots, and log to kilometers on theX-55A. TheDisplay menu at the bottomofthescreen lets youadjustthedisplay's contrastfor the bestviewing angle. Pressing the leftarrow key decreases the contrast,the right arrow increases it. After setting thecontrast for the best viewing angle, press the CLEAR key to erase the menu or wait approximatelyten seconds and itwill automatically erase. Seethe Display Contrastsectionfor moreinformation on thisfeature. WhentheX-55Ais firstturnedon, thedisplaywillappearsimilartotheone at left. The word"AUTO" intheupperleft corner ofthe display indicates the automaticfeature ison.Thedigitalbottomdepth alsoshows inthisbox. BAIT FISH Theimportance ofbaitfishtosuccessful fishing can'tbeoveremphasized. They are the principle food of all game fish in mostwaters. Baitfish aretheplankton feeding foragefish, suchas minnows and shad. They can also be the young of game fish, suchas crappies, bluegill, and bass. Most baitfish concentrate within fivefeet of the surfacewheresunlight promotes the growth of the plankton on whichthey feed. Onemethod of fishing isto usetheX-55Atofindthe baitfishfirst.Withthe Fish IDfeature off, aschool ofbaitfishwill look like a"cloud" onthe display. Usually, game fish will be nearby, often directlybeneath theschool of baitfish. TROUBLESHOOTING If your unit is not working, or if you need technical help, please usethe following troubleshooting section before contacting thefactorycustomer servicedepartment. It may save youthetrouble of returning your unit. Unit won't turn on: 1. Checkthepowercable's connection atthe unit. Also checkthe wiring. 2. Makecertain the powercableis wired properly. The red wire connects to the positive batteryterminal, blackto negative or ground. 3. Check thefuse. 4. Measure the batteryvoltage at the unit'spowerconnector. Itshould be at least 11 volts. If it isn't, the wiring to the unit is defective, the battery PDF compression, OCR, web-optimization with CVISION's PdfCompressor 12 41 MENUS J4flPS/A? 83° 78° 77° 760 The X-55A uses menus extensivelytoguideyouthrough the functionsand featuresof the unit. The menu key accesses many of these features, allowing youto customize the unit to your particular needs and water conditions. Although you may have to leave one menu and enter another to reach the desired function, all you haveto do is press the menu keyto select the next menu. Ifyouevergetlost ina menu, simplypressthe CLEAR key. HELP 75° 680 56° An extremely usefulfeatureincorporated intotheX-55Aseriesis the 1-leIp menus. Virtuallyevery feature hasa helpmenu labelthat, when pressed, givesone or more pages of text describing howto usethat feature. For example, pressing theAUTO key brings up a menu letting you switchthe unit into or out of theautomatic mode. A help labelalso appearson the screen. Pressing the keyadjacenttothe helplabel givesyoua description of how automatic worksand how it affectsdifferent functions. SONAROPERATION - AUTOMATIC Whenthe X-55A is firstturnedon, the Automatic feature is enabled.This is indicated by theword "AUTO" at the topof the screen. The Automatic featureadjuststhesensitivity and range so the bottomsignal is displayed in the lowerhalf of the screen at all times. To turn Automatic off, first press theAUTO key. A menu appears at the bottom ofthescreen abovethe leftand right arrows. Press the left arrow key to switch to the manual mode, then press the CLEAR keyto erasethemenu. The letters "Man" appearin the upperleftcornerofthedisplay, indicating the unit is in the manual mode. To turn Automaticon, press theAUTO key again, then press the right arrow key. 13 50° 470 SURVEYING A LAKE Themostsuccessful anglersonanybodyofwaterarethosewhofishitday after day and year afteryear. Eventually, they learn the hot spots that produce fish consistently. They discoverthrough experience where, and atwhatdepth,theycanexpecttofindthefishtheywantatanyseason. And they realize that these productive areas change throughout the year depending on waterlevel, temperature, food, and otherfactors. With the X-55A, anyone can eliminate guesswork and concentrate on the areas where fish are likely to be. Even if it's thefirst timeon the lake! 40 PDF compression, OCR, web-optimization with CVISION's PdfCompressor SENSITIVITY The sensitivity key on theX-55Acontrolsthe ability of the unitto pick up echoes. A low sensitivity level excludes much of the bottom information, fish signals, and othertargetinformation. High sensitivity levels enables youto seethis detail, but itcanalsoclutterthescreen with manyundesired signals. Typically, the best sensitivity level shows a good solid bottom signal with Grayline and somesurface clutter. When theX-55A is in the Automatic mode,thesensitivity is automatically adjusted to keep a solid bottom signal displayed, plus a little more. This givesit the capabilityto showfish and otherdetail. Big rocks or stumps on a smooth bottom send backsignals above the bottomlevel signal. Theheight ofthesignal depends onthetarget's height. as Asyou passoverapost,it should beclearlyvisible ashort lineextending abovethe bottomsignal. Asteepslopereturnsawidesignal, thesteeperthewider. Signals returned from a high underwater cliff are usually thewidest of all. WATERTEMPERATURE ANDTHERMOCLINES Watertemperature hasan important-if not controlling-influence upon the activities of allfish. Fishare cold blooded and their bodies are always the temperature of the surrounding water. During the winter, colder water slows down their metabolism. At this time, they need about a fourth as much food as theyconsume in the summer. is Mostfish don'tspawn unlessthewatertemperature within rathernarrow limits. A surface temperature meter helps identifythe desired surface waterspawning temperatures for variousspecies. Troutcan'tsurvive in streamsthat get too warm. Bass and other fish eventually die out when stockedin lakes that remain too cold during the summer. While some fish haveawidertemperature tolerance than others, eachhas acertain range withinwhich it triesto stay.Schooling fish suspended overdeep waterlie at the level that provides this temperature. We assume theyare the most comfortable here. However, situations occur where it becomes necessary to increase or decreasethe sensitivity. Thistypicallyhappenswhen youwishtoseemore so an increase in sensitivity is indicated. Theprocedure to adjustit detail, is the samewhetherthe unit is in theautomatic or manual mode. To adjustthesensitivity, press the SENS key. Thesensitivity adjust menu appearsat thebottomofthescreen. Thesensitivitymenu hasleftand rightarrows, plus ahorizontal bar graph. The graph gives a visual indication of the sensitivity level. The number abovethe INCarrow also shows thepercentage of sensitivity in use. To increase the sensitivity level, pressthe right arrow key. As you press the key, the menu's bar graph will grow wider and the percentage will increase in value.You can also see the difference on the chart record as it scrolls.Whenthe sensitivity is at thedesired level, release the key. the To decrease sensitivity level, press the key adjacent to the leftarrow. Thebar graph and percentagewilldecrease. When thesensitivity is atthe desired level, release the key. When you reach either the maximum or minimum limit, a tone sounds. of Thetemperature waterinthe lake isseldom constantfrom topto bottom. (Seethepicture on the nextpage.) Layers of different temperaturesform, andthe junction of awarmand cool layerofwateris called a thermocline. The depth and thickness of thethermocline can varywith the season or time of day. In deep lakes there maybe two or more at different depths. Thermoclines are important to fishermen because they are areas where fish are active. Many times baitfish will be above the thermocline while largergame fish will suspend in or justbelow it. TheX-55Acandetectthisinvisible layer inthewater, butthesensitivitywill probablyhaveto be turned up to see it. Whenthe Fish l.D. mode is off, the depth of thewaterwill affect the size and shape of the fish arch due to the cone angle diameter. For example, iftheconepasses overafish in shallow water, the signal displayed on the X-55A maynot arch at all. Thisis duetothenarrowconediameter and the resolution limitations of the display. PDF compression, OCR, web-optimization with CVISION's PdfCompressor 14 39 BOATS DIRECTION OF TRAVEL RANGE - Automatic When turned on for the first time, the X-55A automatically places the bottom signal in the lowerhalfofthe screen. This is calledAuto Ranging and is part of the automatic function. The range cannot be changed manually whilethe unitis in automatic. RANGE- Manual TheX-55Agives youcontrol overtherange whenit's in themanual mode. To change the range, first make certain theX-55Ais in the manual mode. Next, pressthe RANGE key. The range adjustmentmenu appears in the lower right corner of the display. Press the up or down arrow keys to decreaseorincreasethe range. __________________________________ The available ranges are 0-5, 10, 20, 30, 40, 60, 100, 150, ___________________________ 200, 300, 500, 800, and 1000 feet. After the desired range is displayed, press the CLEAR 29 UPPER LIMIT I key to erase the range menu. \CHANGE (CHiNGE LOWERLIMIT NOTE: The depth capability of ______ 48 the X-55A depends on the ___________ I 4. p A B C transducer installation, water and bottom conditions, and otherfactors. ___ ___ _________________ i0 EHAL 150 One ofthe bestwaysto get fish arches is to expand or "zoom" asegment from45to 60feet. Thesmallerthesegment, the ofthewater.Forexample, do betterthescreen resolution will be.The easiestwayto thisontheX-55A iswiththeZoomfeature. Thisfeature expandsthe echoes, making iteasier to seedetail. Forthebestresults, turnthesensitivity up as highas possible this without gettingtoo much noiseonthescreen. Inmediumto deepwater, method shouldwork to displayfish arches. If yousee fish signals wheic the unitis in the manual mode, butdon't get fish symbols whenthe Fish l.D. feature is on, tryincreasing the sensitivity. SIGNAL INTERPRETATION Your X-55A gives an accurate picture of the bottom that your boat is passing. A bottom of firm sand,gravel, shell, or hardclay returns a fairly widesignal. Ifthe automatic mode isoff and thesignal narrows down, then itmeans thatyouhavemoved overa mud bottom. Mud absorbsthesound wave and returns a weaksignal. Turn up the sensitivity to see a better bottom signal. 38 RANGE- Upper and Lower Limits The X-55A lets you change theupperand lower range limitswhen it's in the manual mode. This lets you "zoom"in on segments of thewater as small as 5 feet. In otherwords,you canset the upperlimit to 30feet and thelowerlimitto 35feet, regardless ofthe bottomdepth. This in essence, You of givesyouaSfootzoom. canchooseanysegment thewater,as long as the distance between the upperlimitand lowerlimit is 5 feet (2 meters, 1 fathom) or more. Using the zoomfeature(described in the nextsection) thewateronthe screen's rightside(forexample, Ietsyouviewasegmentof from20 to 30feet), and a zoom of that segmenton the left. To change the upper or lower limit, first make certain the unit is in the manual mode. Next, press the RANGE key. The menu shown above appears. Nowpress the key nexttothe "CHANGE UPPER LIMIT" labelto change the upper limit or "CHANGE LOWER LIMIT" labelto changethe lowerlimit. We'rechanging the upperlimit in this example. After pressing thekey next to the "CHANGE UPPER LIMIT" label, the screenshown at thetop of thenext page appears. 15 PDF compression, OCR, web-optimization with CVISION's PdfCompressor Usingthenumbered keys, entera numberforthe upperIimitthat isat least five feet lessthan thelower limit. In this case, we entered 40, giving a 20 footzoom.When you'veenteredthe desired upper limit, presstheup arrow keyatthe bottom ofthe screen. ________ ______________________ 1 The unit returns to the sonar 0 3 screen withthenew upper limit. _________ qg Changethe lowerlimitthesame lower way. Usingtheupperand limits in this manner lets you expand a segment of water quickly and easily. ENUMBERKEYSTO USE RIGHT ARROW ·12 29 36 TO BACKSPACE. L