User manual EAGLE FISHEASY 320C - OPERATION INSTRUCTION

Pub. 988-0143-781 www.eaglesonar.com Fish-Finding & Depth-Sounding Sonar Installation and Operation Instructions Copyright © 2004 LEI-Eagle All rights reserved. Eagle® is a registered trademark of LEI FishEasy® 320C is a registered trademark of LEI Eagle Electronics may find it necessary to change or end our policies, regulations, and special offers at any time. We reserve the right to do so without notice. All features and specifications subject to change without notice. All screens in this manual are simulated. No part of this manual may be copied, reproduced, republished, transmitted or distributed for any purpose, without prior written consent of Eagle Electronics. Any unauthorized commercial distribution of this manual is strictly prohibited. For free owner's manuals and the most current information on this product, its operation and accessories, visit our web site: www.eaglesonar.com Eagle Electronics P.O. Box 669 Catoosa, OK USA 74015 Printed in USA. Table of Contents Introduction ............................................................................... I Capabilities and Specifications: Fisheasy 320c ........................... 5 How Sonar Works ......................................................................... 7 How to Use this Manual: Typographical Conventions................ 8 Installation & Accessories..................................................... 11 Preparations................................................................................ 11 Transducer Installation.............................................................. 11 Recommended Tools and Supplies ......................................... 12 Transom Installation .......................................................... 12 Trolling Motor Installations ............................................... 12 Shoot-Through Hull Installations ...................................... 12 Selecting a Transducer Location ............................................ 13 How Low Should You Go?....................................................... 14 Shoot-Thru-Hull vs. Transom Mounting ............................... 15 Transom Transducer Assembly and Mounting ..................... 16 Trolling Motor Bracket Installation....................................... 20 Transducer Orientation and Fish Arches .............................. 21 Shoot-Thru-Hull Preparation ................................................. 23 Hulls with Floatation Materials......................................... 23 Testing Determines Best Location ......................................... 24 Shoot-Thru-Hull Installation ................................................. 26 Speed/Temperature Sensors ................................................. 28 Speed Sensor Installation....................................................... 31 Power Connections.................................................................. 33 Mounting the Sonar Unit: in-Dash, Bracket or Portable...... 35 Bracket Installation ................................................................ 35 Portable Sonar Installation .................................................... 38 Installing the Batteries .......................................................... 39 Portable Transducer Assembly .............................................. 41 Basic Sonar Operation ........................................................... 43 Keyboard Basics.......................................................................... 43 1. Menu/Pwr (Menu and Power)............................................. 43 i 2. Ent/Pages (Enter and Pages).............................................. 44 3. Exit ...................................................................................... 44 4. Up and Down Arrows.......................................................... 44 Memory........................................................................................ 44 Menus .......................................................................................... 44 Main Menu .............................................................................. 45 Sonar Menu ............................................................................. 46 Pages ........................................................................................... 48 Basic Sonar Quick Reference ..................................................... 51 Sonar Operations ........................................................................ 52 Fish Symbols vs. Full Sonar Chart ........................................ 55 Other Free Training Aids ....................................................... 56 Advanced Sonar Options & Other Features...................... 58 ASP (Advanced Signal Processing) ......................................... 58 Alarms ......................................................................................... 59 Depth Alarms .......................................................................... 59 To Adjust and Turn on the Shallow Alarm:....................... 60 To Adjust and Turn on the Deep Alarm:............................ 60 Fish Alarm............................................................................... 61 Backlight Level ........................................................................... 61 Calibrate Speed........................................................................... 62 Chart Speed................................................................................. 63 Colorline ................................................................................... 64 Contrast....................................................................................... 65 Depth Cursor............................................................................... 66 Depth Range - Automatic ........................................................... 67 Depth Range - Manual................................................................ 67 To Turn Auto Depth Range on Again .................................... 68 FasTrack .................................................................................. 68 Fish I.D. (Fish Symbols & Depths) ......................................... 69 FishTrack ................................................................................. 70 Overlay Data ............................................................................... 71 To Change Displayed Data Font Size .................................... 73 ii Ping Speed & HyperScroll....................................................... 74 To Change Ping Speed: ........................................................... 75 To Adjust Sensitivity: ............................................................. 75 To Turn Off HyperScroll:........................................................ 75 Pop-Up Help ................................................................................ 76 Reset Options .............................................................................. 76 Reset Water Distance ................................................................. 77 Sensitivity & Auto Sensitivity.................................................... 77 Automatic Sensitivity ............................................................. 78 To Turn Auto Sensitivity Back On......................................... 79 Set Keel Offset ............................................................................ 80 Set Language .............................................................................. 81 Software Version Information.................................................... 81 Sonar Chart Mode....................................................................... 82 Sonar Page & Sonar Chart Display Options ............................. 82 Full Sonar Chart ..................................................................... 83 Split Zoom Sonar Chart .......................................................... 83 Digital Data/Chart .................................................................. 84 Sonar Simulator.......................................................................... 85 Stop Chart ................................................................................... 85 Surface Clarity ............................................................................ 86 Transparency .............................................................................. 87 Units of Measure......................................................................... 88 Zoom Pan..................................................................................... 91 Troubleshooting ...................................................................... 93 Noise ........................................................................................ 95 iii Notes iv Introduction Thank you for buying an Eagle sonar! Your unit is a high-quality, remarkably-priced color sonar designed for both professional and novice fishermen. All Eagle sonars have an automatic mode that finds and displays the bottom, fish, underwater structure and more ­ right out of the box. All you have to do is press the on (MENU/PWR) key. However, if you want to fine-tune your unit, press the MENU key again. The FishEasy® 320C has several powerful features you can control by scrolling through easy-to-use menus with the arrow and menu keys. To get started with your Eagle sonar, first read the installation section. It contains instructions for mounting the sonar unit, the transducer and any optional accessories, such as a speed sensor. Following recommended installation practices will pay off in optimum performance of your FishEasy 320C. Improper installation can cause problems down the road, especially if the transducer is badly mounted. After you've read the installation instructions, install the unit and accessories. Then, read the rest of the manual. The more you know about your sonar, the better it will work for you. Take advantage of the Simulator feature. It allows you to practice operating your sonar before you get it in the water. And when you finally head for your favorite fishing hole, take this manual along for reference. Capabilities and Specifications: FishEasy 320C General Case size:......................... 5.8" H x 4.3" W x 2.5" D (14.7 cm H x 10.8 cm W x 6.6 cm D) sealed, waterproof; suitable for saltwater use. Display:............................ 1/4 VGA color, transflective TFT display; 3.5" (8.9 cm) diagonal viewing area. 5 Resolution:...................... 320 pixels (vert.) x 240 pixel (horiz.) resolution; 153,600 total pixels Backlighting:.................. Backlit screen and keypad for night use. Input power:................... 10 to 17 volts DC. Current drain: ............... 200 ma lights off; 250 ma lights on. Back-up memory: .......... Built-in memory stores sonar settings when unit is turned off. Sonar Frequency:...................... 200 kHz. Transducers: .................. A model HST-WSU Skimmer transducer comes packed with your sonar unit. Operates at speeds up to 70 mph (61 kts). Optional thruhull, portable and trolling motor transducers are available. Transmitter: ................... 800 watts peak-to-peak power (typical); 100 watts RMS power (typical). Sonar sounding depth capability: ........... 600 feet (182 meters). Actual capability depends on transducer configuration and installation, bottom composition and water conditions. All sonar units typically read deeper in fresh water than in salt water. Depth display:................ Continuous digital readout. Audible alarms: ............. Deep/shallow/fish. Automatic ranging:....... Yes, with instant screen updates. Zoom bottom track: ...... Yes. Split-screen zoom:......... Yes. 6 Surface water temp: ..... Yes, built into transducer. Optional additional temp sensors for live well, bait well, etc. are available. Speed/distance log: ....... Yes, with optional speed sensor. NOTICE! The storage and operation temperature for your unit is from -4 degrees to +167 degrees Fahrenheit (-20 degrees to +75 degrees Celsius). Extended storage in temperatures higher or lower than specified will damage the liquid crystal display in your unit. This type of damage is not covered by the warranty. For more information, contact the factory's Customer Service Department; phone numbers are inside the manual's back cover. How Sonar Works Sonar has been around since the 1940s, so if you already know how it works, skip ahead to the next segment on the typographical conventions used in this manual. But, if you've never owned a sonar fish finder, this segment will tell you the underwater basics. Sonar is an abbreviation for SOund NAvigation and Ranging, a technology developed during World War II for tracking enemy submarines. (Eagle developed the world's first transistorized sportfishing sonar in 1957.) A sonar consists of a transmitter, transducer, receiver and display. In simple terms, here's how it finds the bottom, or the fish: The transmitter emits an electrical impulse, which the transducer converts into a sound wave and sends into the water. (The sound frequency can't be heard by humans or fish.) The sound wave strikes an object (fish, structure, bottom) and bounces back to the transducer, which converts the sound back into an electrical signal. The receiver amplifies this return signal, or echo, and sends it to the display, where an image of the object appears on the scrolling sonar 7 chart. The sonar's microprocessor calculates the time lapse between the transmitted signal and echo return to determine the distance to the object. The whole process repeats itself several times each second. How to use this manual: typographical conventions Many instructions are listed as numbered steps. The keypad and arrow "keystrokes" appear as boldface type. So, if you're in a real hurry (or just need a reminder), you can skim the instructions and pick out what menu command to use by finding the boldface command text. The following paragraphs explain how to interpret the text formatting for those commands and other instructions: Arrow Keys The arrow keys control a horizontal line depth cursor on the sonar screen. The arrow keys also help you move around the menus so you can execute different commands. They are represented by symbols like these, which denote the down arrow key and the up arrow: . Keyboard The other keys perform a variety of functions. When the text refers to a key to press, the key is shown in bold, sans serif type. For example, the "Enter/Pages" key is shown as ENT and the "Menu/Power" key is shown as MENU. Menu Commands A menu command or a menu option will appear in small capital letters, in a bold sans serif type like this: DEPTH CURSOR. These indicate that you are to select this command or option from a menu or take an action of some kind with the menu item. Text that you may need to enter or file names you need to select are show in italic type, such as data type. 8 Instructions = Menu Sequences Most functions you perform with the sonar unit are described as a sequence of key strokes and selecting menu commands. We've written them in a condensed manner for quick and easy reading. For example, instructions for turning on the Fish ID feature would look like this: 1. From the Sonar Page, press MENU| to SONAR FEATURES|ENT. 2. Press to FISH ID SYMBOLS|ENT|EXIT|EXIT. Translated into complete English, step 1 above would mean: "Start on the Sonar Page. Press the Menu key then repeatedly press (or press and hold) the down arrow key to scroll down the menu and select (highlight) the Sonar Features menu command. Then press the Enter key." Step 2 would mean: "Press the down arrow key to select (highlight) the Fish ID symbols command. Next, press the Enter key, then press the Exit key twice." 9 Notes 10 Installation & Accessories Preparations You can install the sonar system in some other order if you prefer, but we recommend this installation sequence: CAUTION: You should read over this entire installation section before drilling any holes in your vehicle or vessel! 1. Determine the approximate location for the sonar unit, so you can plan how and where to route the cables for the transducer and power. This will help you make sure you have enough cable length for the desired configuration. 2. Determine the approximate location for the transducer and its cable route. 3. Determine the location of your battery or other power connection, along with the power cable route. 4. Install the transducer and route the transducer cable to the sonar unit. 5. Route the power cable from the unit's location to an appropriate power source and connect it there. 6. Connect the transducer/power cable to the unit and mount the sonar unit on the bracket. Transducer Installation These instructions will help you install your Skimmer transducer on a transom, on a trolling motor or inside a hull. Please read all instructions before proceeding with any installation. Your Skimmer transducer typically comes packaged with a one-piece stainless steel bracket for mounting it to the transom of your boat. The optional trolling motor mount uses a one-piece plastic bracket with an adjustable strap. These are "kick-up" mounting brackets. They help pre11 vent damage if the transducer strikes an object while the boat is moving. If the transducer does "kick-up," the bracket can easily be pushed back into place without tools. Read these instructions carefully before attempting the installation. Determine which of the installation methods is right for your boat. Remember, the transducer location and installation is the most critical part of a sonar installation. Recommended Tools and supplies If you prefer the option of routing the cable through the transom, you will need a 5/8" drill bit. (If you intend to install an additional speed or temp sensor and route its cable through the same hole in the transom, you will need a 1" (25.4 mm) drill bit to accommodate all the cables.) NOTE: The following installation types also call for these recommended tools and required supplies that you must provide (supplies listed here are not included): Transom installation Tools include: two adjustable wrenches, drill, #29 (0.136") drill bit, flathead screwdriver. Supplies: high quality, marine grade above- or belowwaterline sealant compound. Trolling motor installations Tools: two adjustable wrenches, flat-head screwdriver. Supplies: plastic cable ties. Shoot-through hull installations Tools: these will vary depending on your hull's composition. Consult your boat dealer or manufacturer. Other tools are a wooden craft stick or similar tool for stirring and applying epoxy, and a paper plate or piece of cardboard to mix the epoxy on. Supplies: rubbing alcohol, 100 grit sandpaper, specially formulated epoxy adhesive available from LEI (see ordering information on the inside back cover). A sandwich hull also requires polyester resin. 12 Selecting a Transducer Location 1. The location must be in the water at all times, at all operating speeds. 2. The transducer must be placed in a location that has a smooth flow of water at all times. If the transducer is not placed in a smooth flow of water, interference caused by bubbles and turbulence will show on the sonar's display in the form of random lines or dots whenever the boat is moving. NOTE: Some aluminum boats with 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 faster than 35 mph. Typically, a good transom location on aluminum boats is between the ribs closest to the engine. 3. The transducer should be installed with its face pointing straight down, if possible. For shoot-thru applications: Many popular fishing boat hulls have a flat keel pad that offers a good mounting surface. On vee hulls, try to place the transducer where the deadrise is 10° or less. Deadrise less than 10° Strakes Pad Left, vee pad hull; right, vee hull. A pod style transducer is shown here, but the principle is the same for Skimmers inside a hull. 4. If the transducer is mounted on the transom, make sure it doesn't interfere with the trailer or hauling of the boat. Also, don't mount it closer than approximately one foot from the engine's lower unit. This will prevent cavitation (bubble) interference with propeller operation. 5. If possible, route the transducer cable away from other wiring on the boat. Electrical noise from engine wiring, bilge pumps and aerators can 13 be displayed on the sonar's screen. Use caution when routing the transducer cable around these wires. CAUTION: Clamp the transducer cable to transom near the transducer. This will help prevent the transducer from entering the boat if it is knocked off at high speed. Good location Poor location Good location Good location Poor angle Good and poor transducer locations. How low should you go? For most situations, you should install your Skimmer transducer so that its centerline is level with the bottom of the boat hull. This will usually give you the best combination of smooth water flow and protection from bangs and bumps. Transom Transducer centerline Hull bottom Align transducer centerline with hull bottom. 14 However, there are times when you may need to adjust the transducer slightly higher or lower. (The slots in the mounting brackets allow you to loosen the screws and slide the transducer up or down.) If you frequently lose bottom signal lock while running at high speed, the transducer may be coming out of the water as you cross waves or wakes. Move the transducer a little lower to help prevent this. If you cruise or fish around lots of structure and cover, your transducer may be frequently kicking up from object strikes. If you wish, you may move the transducer a little higher for more protection. There are two extremes you should avoid. Never let the edge of the mounting bracket extend below the bottom of the hull. Never let the bottom ­ the face ­ of the transducer rise above the bottom of the hull. Shoot-thru-hull vs. Transom Mounting In a shoot-thru-hull installation, the transducer is bonded to the inside of the hull with epoxy. The sonar "ping" signal actually passes through the hull and into the water. This differs from a bolt-thru-hull installation (often called simply "thru-hull"). In that case, a hole is cut in the hull and a specially designed transducer is mounted through the hull with a threaded shaft and nut. This puts the transducer in direct contact with the water. Typically, shoot-thru-hull installations give excellent high speed operation and good to excellent depth capability. There is no possibility of transducer damage from floating objects, as there is with a transommounted transducer. A transducer mounted inside the hull can't be knocked off when docking or loading on a trailer. However, the shoot-thru-hull installation does have its drawbacks. First, some loss of sensitivity does occur, 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 lay-up and construction. Second, the transducer angle cannot be adjusted for the best fish arches on your sonar display. (This is not an issue for flasher-style sonars.) 15 Lack of angle adjustment can be particularly troublesome on hulls that sit with the bow high when at rest or at slow trolling speeds. Third, a transducer CAN NOT shoot through wood and metal hulls. Those hulls require either a transom mount or a thru-hull installation. Fourth, if your Skimmer transducer has a built in temp sensor, it will only show the temperature of the bilge, not the water surface temp. Follow the testing procedures listed in the shoot-thru-hull installation section at the end of this lesson to determine if you can satisfactorily shoot through the hull. Transom Transducer Assembly And Mounting The best way to install the transducer is to loosely assemble all of the parts first, place the transducer's bracket against the transom and see if you can move the transducer so that it's parallel with the ground. 1. Assembling the bracket. Press the two small plastic ratchets into the sides of the metal bracket as shown in the following illustration. Notice there are letters molded into each ratchet. Place each ratchet into the bracket with the letter "A" aligned with the dot stamped into the metal bracket. This position sets the transducer's coarse angle adjustment for a 14° transom. Most outboard and stern-drive transoms have a 14° angle. Dot Align plastic ratchets in bracket. 2. Aligning the transducer on the transom. Slide the transducer between the two ratchets. Temporarily slide the bolt though the transducer assembly and hold it against the transom. Looking at the transducer 16 from the side, check to see if it will adjust so that its face is parallel to the ground. If it does, then the "A" position is correct for your hull. If the transducer's face isn't parallel with the ground, remove the transducer and ratchets from the bracket. Place the ratchets into the holes in the bracket with the letter "B" aligned with the dot stamped in the bracket. Reassemble the transducer and bracket and place them against the transom. Again, check to see if you can move the transducer so it's parallel with the ground. If you can, then go to step 3. If it doesn't, repeat step 2, but use a different alignment letter until you can place the transducer on the transom correctly. Ratchets Insert bolt and check transducer position on transom. 3. Assembling the transducer. Once you determine the correct position for the ratchets, assemble the transducer as shown in the following figure. Don't tighten the lock nut at this time. 17 Nut Metal washer Rubber washers Bolt Metal washer Assemble transducer and bracket. 4. Drilling mounting holes. Hold the transducer and bracket assembly against the transom. The transducer should be roughly parallel to the ground. The transducer's centerline should be in line with the bottom of the hull. Don't let the bracket extend below the hull! Mark the center of each slot for the mounting screw pilot holes. You will drill one hole in the center of each slot. Drill the holes using the #29 bit (for the #10 screws). Transom Transom Position transducer mount on transom and mark mounting holes. Side view shown at left and seen from above at right. 18 5. Attaching transducer to transom. Remove the transducer from the bracket and re-assemble it with the cable passing through the bracket over the bolt as shown in the following figures. Route cable over bolt and through bracket. Side view shown at left and seen from above at right. Attach the transducer to the transom. Slide the transducer up or down until it's aligned properly with the bottom of the hull as shown in the preceding and following figures. Tighten the bracket's mounting screws, sealing them with the sealant compound. Adjust the transducer so that it's parallel to the ground and tighten the nut until it touches the outer washer, then add 1/4 turn. Don't over tighten the lock nut! If you do, the transducer won't "kick-up" if it strikes an object in the water. Bottom of hull Flat-bottom hull Deep-"vee" hull Align transducer centerline with hull bottom and attach to transom. 6. Route the transducer cable through or over the transom to the sonar unit. Make sure to leave some slack in the cable at the 19 transducer. If possible, route the transducer cable away from other wiring on the boat. Electrical noise from the engine's wiring, bilge pumps, VHF radio wires and cables, and aerators can be picked up by the sonar. Use caution when routing the transducer cable around these wires. WARNING: Clamp the transducer cable to the transom close to the transducer. This can prevent the transducer from entering the boat if it is knocked off at high speed. If you need to drill a hole in the transom to pass the connector through, the required hole size is 5/8". (If you intend to route an additional speed or temp sensor cable through the same hole, you will need a 1" (25.4 mm) drill bit instead. Caution: If you drill a hole in the transom for the cable, make sure it is located above the waterline. After installation, be sure to seal the hole with the same marine grade above- or below-waterline sealant used for the mounting screws. 7. Make a test run to determine the results. If the bottom is lost at high speed, or if noise appears on the display, try sliding the transducer bracket down. This puts the transducer deeper into the water, hopefully below the turbulence causing the noise. Don't allow the transducer bracket to go below the bottom of the hull! Trolling Motor Bracket Installation 1. Attach the optional TMB-S bracket to the transducer as shown in the following figure, using the hardware supplied with the transducer. (Note: The internal tooth washer is supplied with the TMB-S.) 20 Bolt Internal tooth washer Nut TMB-S bracket Flat washer Attach motor mounting bracket to transducer. 2. Slide the adjustable strap supplied with the TMB-S through the slot in the transducer bracket and wrap it around the trolling motor. Position the transducer to aim straight down when the motor is in the water. Tighten the strap securely. 3. Route the transducer cable alongside the trolling motor shaft. Use plastic ties (not included) to attach the transducer cable to the trolling motor shaft. Make sure there is enough slack in the cable for the motor to turn freely. Route the cable to the sonar unit and the transducer is ready for use. Transducer mounted on trolling motor, side view. Transducer Orientation And Fish Arches If you do not get good fish arches on your display, it could be because the transducer is not parallel with the ground when the boat is at rest in the water or at slow trolling speeds. 21 Partial fish arches Transducer aimed too far back Transducer aimed too far forward Full fish arch Proper transducer angle Transducer angles and their effects on fish arches. If the arch slopes up ­ but not back down ­ then the front of the transducer is too high and needs to be lowered. If only the back half of the arch is printed, then the nose of the transducer is angled too far down and needs to be raised. NOTE: Periodically wash the transducer's face with soap and water to remove any oil film. Oil and dirt on the face will reduce the sensitivity or may even prevent operation. 22 Shoot-Thru-Hull Preparation Hulls With Floatation Materials 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 pass through solid fiberglass. A successful transducer installation can be made on hulls with flotation materials (such as plywood, balsa wood or foam) between layers of fiberglass if the material is removed from the chosen area. See the figure below. WARNING: Do not remove any material from your inner hull unless you know the hull's composition. Careless grinding or cutting on your hull can result in damage that could sink your boat. Contact your boat dealer or manufacturer to confirm your hull specifications. Fill with polyester resin Flotation material Fill with resin Inner hull Epoxy to hull first Outer hull Epoxy the transducer to a solid portion of the hull. For example, some (but not all) manufacturers use a layer of fiberglass, then a core of balsa wood, finishing with an outer layer of fiberglass. Removing the inner layer of fiberglass and the balsa wood core exposes the outer layer of fiberglass. The transducer can then be epoxied directly to the outer layer of fiberglass. After the epoxy cures for 24 hours, fill the remaining space with polyester resin. When the job is finished, the hull is watertight and structurally sound. Remember, the sonar signal must pass through solid fiberglass. Any air bubbles in the fiberglass or the epoxy will reduce or eliminate the sonar signals. 23 Testing Determines Best Location Ideally, the shoot-thru transducer should be installed as close to the transom as possible, close to the centerline. This will give you the best performance during high speed maneuvers. Transducer location (high speed) Transducer location (trolling speed) Shoot-thru-hull transducer locations for high speed or trolling speed operation. To choose the proper location for shoot-thru-hull mounting, follow these testing procedures: (You may need a helper to complete these steps.) 1. Anchor the boat in about 30 feet of water. Add a little water to the sump of the boat. Plug the transducer into the sonar unit, turn it on, then hold the transducer over the side of the boat in the water. Adjust the sensitivity and range controls until a second bottom echo is seen on the display. (You'll need to turn off Auto Sensitivity, Auto Depth Range and ASP. Try a range setting that is two to three times the water depth. The harder (more rocky) the bottom, the easier it will be to get a second bottom signal.) Don't touch the controls once they've been set. 24 True bottom Second bottom Manual range setting Example of a second bottom signal. Unit is in 30 feet of water, with range set at 80 feet and sensitivity set at 87 percent. 2. Next, take the transducer out of the water and place it in the water in the sump of the boat, face down. (The transducer face is shown in the figure on the following page.) Notice how the signal strength decreases. The second bottom signal will probably disappear and the bottom signal intensity will likely decrease. 3. Now move the transducer around to find the best location with the strongest possible bottom signal. If you find a spot with an acceptable bottom signal, mark the location and move on to step 4. If you can't get an acceptable bottom signal, try turning up the sensitivity by three or five keystrokes and then move the transducer around once more. If you find a spot that works, mark it and move on to step 4. If you have to turn up sensitivity by more than five keystrokes to get a good signal, the transducer should be mounted on the outside of the hull. This is especially true if you have to turn sensitivity all the way up to get a decent bottom signal. 4. Most people can get good results by following steps 1 through 3, so this step is optional. If you want to make an extra effort to be absolutely sure that your selected location will work under all conditions, make a test run 25 with the boat on plane and observe the bottom signal. You'll need to figure some way to prop the transducer into position while you make your test run. (A brick or two might be sufficient to hold it in place.) 5. When you're satisfied with a location, mark it and proceed with the installation. Shoot-thru-hull Installation If you are installing the transducer on a hull with floatation material sandwiched within the hull, refer to the text "Hulls With Flotation Materials" beginning on page 23. 1. Make sure 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 sanded hull area should be about 1-1/2 times the diameter of the transducer. The surface of the hull must be flat so the entire transducer face is in contact with the hull prior to bonding. After sanding, clean the hull and transducer with rubbing alcohol to remove any sanding debris. Spread epoxy here Sand this surface (unit's face) Orient the Skimmer with the nose facing the bow of the boat. To bow Epoxy transducer to hull. 26 WARNING: Use only the epoxy available from LEI. It has been formulated to work with these installation procedures. Other epoxy types may be too thin or may not cure to the right consistency for optimum transducer performance. 2. The epoxy consists of the epoxy itself and a hardener. Remove the two compounds from the package and place them on the paper plate. Thoroughly stir the two compounds together until the mixture has a uniform color and consistency. Do not mix too fast or bubbles will form in the epoxy. After mixing, you have 20 minutes to complete the installation before the epoxy becomes unworkable. Spread a thin layer of epoxy (about 1/16" or 1.5 mm thick) on the face of the transducer as shown in the previous figure. Make sure there are no air pockets in the epoxy layer! Then, apply the remaining epoxy to the sanded area on the hull. 3. Press the transducer into the epoxy, twisting and turning it to force any air bubbles out from under the transducer face. Stop pressing when you bottom out on the hull. When you're finished, the face of the transducer should be parallel with the hull, with a minimum amount of epoxy between the hull and transducer. 4. Apply a weight, such as a brick, to hold the transducer in place while the epoxy cures. Be careful not to bump the transducer while the epoxy is wet. Leave the weight in place for a minimum of three hours. Allow the epoxy to cure for 24 hours before moving the boat. 5. After the epoxy has cured, route the cable to the sonar unit and it's ready to use. 27 Speed/Temperature Sensors The FishEasy 320C can accept as many as two temperature sensors, which can be used to monitor the temperature of surface water, a live well or some other location. These units can accept an optional speed sensor for showing speed and distance traveled. However, you can only use one accessory at a time. If you would like to use a speed sensor and a secondary temperature sensor at the same time, you will need a combination device. NOTE: If a second temp sensor is used, it must be the model TS-2U. This model has a fixed electronic "address" which designates it as the second of two temp sensors. Primary temp sensor built into transducer TS-2U secondary external temp sensor shown as T2 Full Chart page showing dual temperature display. See the following charts for sample sensor combinations and cable connections. 28 Sonar unit rear view ST-TU combination speed and temperature sensor 3-amp fuse 12-volt battery Power/transducer cable Temperature sensor built into transducer HST-WSU Sonar unit with external combination speed and temperature sensor. Primary temp sensor is built into the transducer. 29 Sonar unit rear view TS-2U temperature sensor 3-amp fuse 12-volt battery Power/transducer cable HST-WSU Sonar unit with secondary external temperature sensor. Primary temp sensor is built into the transducer. Temperature sensor built into transducer 30 Sonar unit rear view SP-U speed only sensor 3-amp fuse 12-volt battery Power/transducer cable Temperature sensor built into transducer HST-WSU Sonar unit with external speed sensor. The temperature sensor is built into the transducer. Speed Sensor Installation If you wish to purchase an optional sensor for your unit, refer to the accessory ordering information inside the back cover of this manual. The following instructions describe how to install the speed sensor. Recommended tools for this job include: drill, 5/8" drill bit, 1/8" drill bit for pilot holes, screwdriver. Required supplies for this job include: four #8 stainless steel wood screws (3/4" long), high quality, marine grade aboveor below-waterline caulking compound. (If you intend to route the sensor cable through the same hole as the transducer cable, you will need a 1" (25.4 mm) drill bit instead of the 5/8" drill bit.) First find a location on the boat's transom where the water flow is smoothest. Don't mount the sensor behind strakes or ribs. These will disturb the 31 water flow to the speed sensor. Make sure the sensor will remain in the water when the boat is on plane. Also make sure the location doesn't interfere with the boat's trailer. Typically, the sensor is mounted about one foot to the side of the transom's centerline. Once you've determined the proper location for the unit, place the sensor on the transom. The bottom of the bracket should be flush with the hull's bottom. Using the sensor as a template, mark the hull for the screws' pilot holes. Drill four 1/8" holes, one in each end of the slots. Mount the sensor to the hull using #8 stainless steel wood screws (not included). Use a high quality, marine grade above- or below-waterline caulking compound to seal the screws. Make sure the sensor is flush with the bottom of the hull and tighten the screws. Good location Stern view showing good location for mounting sensor on transom. Transom Bottom of hull Speed sensor mounting configuration: side view (left) and rear view (right.) Bottom of hull 32 If the base of the transom has a radius, fill the gap between the transom and the sensor with the caulking compound. This will help ensure a smooth water flow. Route the sensor's cable through or over the transom to the sonar unit. If you need to drill a hole in the transom to pass the connector through, the required hole size is 5/8". (The hole is 1" (25.4 mm) if you intend to route the sensor cable through the same hole as the transducer cable.) Caution: If you drill a hole in the transom for the cable, make sure it is located above the waterline. After installation, be sure to seal the hole with the same marine grade above- or below-waterline sealant used for the screws. The sensor is now ready for use. Connect the sensor to the accessory socket on the back of the unit. If you have any questions concerning the installation of the sensor, please contact your local boat dealer. Power Connections The unit works from a 12-volt battery system. You can attach the power cable to your boat's accessory or power buss or directly to the battery. If you use an accessory buss but have problems with electrical interference, attach the power cable directly to the battery. If the cable is not long enough, splice #18 gauge wire onto it. CAUTION: When using the unit in a saltwater environment, we strongly recommend that you shut off the power supply to the power cable when the unit is not in use. When the unit is turned off but still connected to a power supply, electrolysis can occur in the power cable plug. This may result in corrosion of the plug body along with the electrical contacts in the cable and the unit's power socket. In saltwater environments we recommend you connect the power cable to the auxiliary power switch included in most boat designs. If that results in electrical interference, or if such a switch is not available, we recommend connecting direct to the battery and in33 stalling an inline switch. This will let you shut off power to the power cable when the unit is not in use. When you are not using the unit, you should always shut off power to the power cable, especially when the power cable is disconnected from the unit. To unit Optional power off switch for saltwater installations Black wire 12 volt battery Red wire with 3 amp fuse Power and transducer connections for the FishEasy 320C sonar unit (direct battery connection shown). If possible, keep the power cable away from other boat wiring, especially the engine's wires. This will provide the best isolation from electrical noise. The power cable has two wires, red and black. Red is the positive lead, black is negative or ground. Make sure to attach the inline fuse holder to the red lead as close to the power source as possible. For example, if you have to extend the power cable to the battery or power buss, attach one end of the fuse holder directly to the battery or power buss. This will protect both the unit and the power cable in the event of a short. It uses a 3-amp fuse. CAUTION: Do not use this product without a 3-amp fuse wired into the power cable! Failure to use a 3-amp fuse will void your warranty. NOTE: For more corrosion protection in saltwater or high humidity environments, apply a thin layer of electrical-grade grease to each end of the fuse before installing it in the fuse holder. 34 This unit has reverse polarity protection. No damage will occur if the power wires are reversed. However, the unit will not work until the wires are attached correctly. MOUNTING THE SONAR UNIT: In-Dash, Bracket or Portable You can install the sonar unit on the top of a dash with the supplied bracket. At the time of this printing, we do not produce an in-dash mounting kit for the FishEasy 320C. If you wish to check on the future availability of this kit, refer to the accessory ordering information inside the back cover of this manual. Bracket Installation Recommended tools for this job include: drill, 1" (25.4 mm) drill bit, screwdriver. Required supplies for this job include: high quality, marine grade above- or below-waterline caulking compound, three #10 stainless steel screws. Screw length and type should be suitable for the material on which you intend to mount the bracket. Mount the unit in any convenient location, provided there is clearance when it's tilted for the best viewing angle. You should also make sure there is enough room behind the unit to attach the power/transducer cable. (See the following drawings, which show the dimensions of a gimbal-mounted FishEasy 320C sonar unit.) Holes in the bracket's base allow wood screw or through-bolt mounting. You may need to place a piece of plywood on the back side of thin panels to reinforce the panel and secure the mounting hardware. Drill a 1" (25.4 mm) hole in the dash for the power/transducer and accessory cables. The best location for this hole is immediately under the gimbal bracket location. This way, the bracket can be installed so that it covers the hole, holds the cables in position and results in a neat installation. Some customers, however, prefer to mount the bracket to the side of the cable hole -- it's a matter of personal preference. 35 107.5 [4.23] 82.7 [3.26] 156 [6.26] 12.09 [0.48] 76.9 Millimeter 70.3 [3.03] [Inch] [2.77] Front view (left) and side view (right) showing dimensions of the FishEasy 320C when mounted on quick release bracket. After drilling the hole, pass the connectors up through the hole from under the dash. If you wish, you can fill in the hole around the cable with a good marine caulking compound. (Some marine dealers stock cable hole covers to conceal the opening.) Using the Quick Release Mounting Bracket These units use a quick release mounting bracket. When you run the cables through the bracket's cable slots, make sure you allow enough slack for tilting the unit and attaching the connector. (The snug fit of the push-on waterproof connector requires some force to attach.) Align the bracket over the cable hole with the cable slots facing away from you and fit the cable through one of the slots. Fasten the bracket to the dash using the three screw holes. 36 Ratchet Rear (away from viewer) Screw hole Power/transducer cable Cable slot FishEasy 320C quick release mounting bracket. Slots in the base allow routing the cable from beneath the mount. Attach the unit to the bracket by first connecting the power/transducer and accessory cables. Then, hold the sonar unit vertically and slide it onto the bracket from above. (The back of the unit should be touching the front of the bracket as you lower it into position.) As you push down, the unit will lock into place with a distinct click. To adjust the viewing angle, pinch the ratchets with one hand, then tilt the unit with your other hand. Release the ratchets and the unit locks into the new position. To dismount the unit for storage, press the ratchets and lift the unit off the bracket. 37 Bracket front Mount the sonar: slide the unit onto the bracket from above. Depress ratchets to release Adjust viewing angle: use one hand to press and release the springloaded ratchets while you move the unit with the other hand. Portable Sonar Installation Like many Eagle products, the FishEasy 320C sonar is capable of portable operation. It uses the optional PPP-12 portable power pack. 38 The power pack and portable transducers expand the uses for your sonar. You can use your FishEasy 320C sonar unit on your boat or take it to the dock, on a float tube, on an ice fishing trip or use it as a second sonar in a friend's boat. The PPP-12 package includes the power pack, battery adapter and a portable transducer. The transducer can be stored inside the power pack. The PPP-12 requires eight AA alkaline batteries. Batteries are not included. To use a portable power pack, you simply install the batteries and then attach the sonar unit to the power pack's bracket. Plug in the power/transducer cable and you're ready to fish. The PPP-12 has a quick-release mounting bracket built into the case. Installing the Batteries Release the latch on the front of the power pack case. Open the compartment and install eight AA batteries into the adapter. For the longest life, we recommend you use alkaline batteries. NOTE: When the unit is not in use, we recommend you unplug the power connector to reduce the possibility of corrosion or battery drain. When you store the unit, always remove the batteries because dead batteries can leak and corrode the contacts. After installing the batteries, close the case and plug the sonar unit's power cable into the socket on the power pack case. 39 PPP-12 Portable Power Pack with FishEasy 320C stowed for transport. Turn the sonar unit on. If it doesn't work, make sure the battery terminals are making good contact against the battery contacts. Also check the wiring connections on the battery adapter. The red wire on the power cable should be attached to the red wire on the battery adapter and the power cable's black wire should be connected to the black wire on the battery adapter. If it still doesn't work, check the battery voltage. Most of the complaints we receive about portable units result from stale batteries. Make sure the ones you buy are fresh. In cold weather the efficiency of dry cell batteries drops with the temperature. We find it a good idea to have the sonar unit good and warm along with the batteries before we leave home. If the batteries do lose a charge, you can sometimes restore them by placing them in a warm room or car interior. A better way is to replace them with batteries that have been kept warm. WARNING: Never heat the batteries over an open flame or direct hot air onto them. A fire or explosion could result. 40 Portable Transducer Assembly Recommended tools for installation include a slotted screw driver and two adjustable wrenches. Assemble the transducer and bracket as shown in the following figure. Attach the transducer to the bracket with the supplied hardware. Make sure there is one washer on each side of the transducer, inside the bracket. Slide the other washer over the end of the bolt and thread the nut onto it. Screw the suction cup onto the bracket using the supplied screw and flat washer. Tie the nylon cord through the hole in the top of the bracket. When using this transducer, tie the other end of the nylon cord to the boat. This will help prevent the loss of the transducer if it comes off the boat. Tie nylon cord here Suction cup Nut Washer Transducer Portable transducer assembly: rear view (left) and side view (right.) Screw Bolt Washer Clean the chosen area of the hull before attaching the suction cup. Locate the transducer on the hull as shown in the following figure. Don't allow the bracket to extend below the hull, because water pressure against it can cause the suction cup to come off at speed. 41 Moisten the cup, then press it onto the hull as firmly as possible. Tie the nylon cord to the boat and route the transducer cable to the sonar unit. Your portable sonar is now ready for use. Suction cup Hull Transducer Bracket Portable transducer installed on boat transom. NOTE: For optimum operation, the portable transducer should be adjusted so that it is parallel to the ground. For more information on this, see the earlier segment on Transducer Orientation and Fish Arches. 42 Basic Sonar Operation Keyboard Basics The unit sounds a tone when you press any key. This tells you the unit has accepted a command. Numbers in the photo correspond to key explanations below: 4 1 2 3 FishEasy 320C Sonar, front view, showing screen and keyboard. 1. MENU/PWR (menu and power) This key appears in the manual text simply as MENU. Press this key to turn the unit on and off. While the unit is on, you can use this key to open the two major menus that access the many features that control 43 the unit's operation. Press MENU once to access the Sonar Menu, or twice to access the Main Menu. NOTE: You must hold the MENU key down for a countdown of five in order to turn the unit off. 2. ENT/PAGES (enter and pages) This key appears in the manual text simply as ENT. When viewing a menu or adjusting a feature, use this key to select a highlighted option. When no menus are on the screen, pressing this key will make the unit cycle through the four Sonar Chart Display Options. 3. EXIT Press this key to clear menus from the screen and return to the Sonar Chart display. You will also use EXIT to cancel alarms, and to clear any information windows that may appear on the screen. 4. UP and DOWN ARROWS These keys appear in the manual text as or . Use these keys to move through the menu options and to adjust virtually every feature and function on the sonar unit. Memory This unit has permanent memory that saves all user settings, even when power is removed. It does not require, nor does it use an internal backup battery, so you never have to worry about replacement batteries. Menus Your sonar unit will work fine right out of the box with the factory default settings. You only need to learn a few basic functions to enhance your viewing. We'll discuss them briefly here, then talk about them and all the other commands in more detail in the next section, which begins on page 58. Your unit has two primary menus that control its operation. They are the Main Menu and the Sonar Menu. 44 Main Menu The Main Menu contains some basic function commands and some setup option commands. You access the Main Menu by pressing MENU|MENU. You run a command by using or to highlight the command and then pressing ENT. To clear the Main Menu screen and return to the Page display, press EXIT. (Remember, our text style for "MENU|MENU" means "press the Menu key twice." See a full explanation of our instruction text formatting on page 9, Instructions = Menu Sequences.) Main Menu. Main Menu Commands There are four "basic" Main Menu commands that you'll really want to read more about. They are: · Screen commands (CONTRAST, BACKLIGHT LEVEL and TRANSPARENCY): change the appearance of the display screen. Use these commands to adjust how the screen looks under various lighting conditions. · Volume command: controls sound levels for key strokes and alarms. If you don't like to hear a beep each time you press a key, you can turn all sounds off by setting the volume to zero. Sound is especially useful when used with the Fish I.D. fish symbol feature and fish alarm feature. · Sonar Alarms command: turns alarms on or off and changes alarm thresholds. The fish alarm, used with Fish I.D., is the most popular 45 use. It tells you when the sonar sees a fish. You can also set deep or shallow depth alarms. · Popup Help command: turns the pop-up help boxes on or off. When you select a menu command, these information boxes appear to tell you what the command does or how to use the command. The default setting is on, which is really handy while you're learning. The remaining Main Menu commands are for more advanced functions, mostly setting various sonar options. (They're all detailed in the Advanced Section.) · Units of Measure command: selects the units of measure used for showing speed/distance, depth and temperature. · Set Keel Offset command: calibrates the unit to show depth under the keel or actual depth from the surface. · Calibrate Water Speed command: adjusts how a speed sensor measures water speed. · Reset Water Distance command: resets water distance log to zero. · Sonar Simulator command: turns the simulator feature on and off. Useful for learning how to operate the unit and all its functions. · Reset Options command: returns all options and auto functions to their original factory settings. It's a great safety net while you're learning and experimenting with various settings. · Set Language command: your unit has menus in 10 different languages. This command switches from one language to another. · Software Information command: tells you which version of the operating software is loaded in your unit. Sonar Menu The Sonar Menu contains commands for the major sonar features and options. You access the Sonar Menu by pressing the MENU key one time. You run a command by using the or to highlight the command and then pressing ENT. To clear the menu screen and return to the Page display, press EXIT. 46 Sonar Page Menu. Most of these functions are discussed in the Advanced Section. Sonar Menu Commands The Sonar Menu contains commands for the major sonar features and options. Most of them are described in detail only in the Advanced Section, but Sensitivity and Auto Sensitivity are important basic functions that are discussed both here and in the Advanced Section. The other Sonar Menu commands include: · ColorLine command: separates fish and structure near the bottom from the actual bottom, and defines bottom composition/hardness. · Depth Range command: manually sets the depth range shown on the sonar chart. · Auto Depth Range command: automatically sets the depth range shown on the sonar chart to always keep the bottom in view. · Stop Chart command: stops the sonar chart from scrolling. Used when you want to "freeze" the image for closer study. · Chart Speed command: sets the scrolling speed of the sonar chart. 47 · Depth Cursor command: displays a cursor line on the sonar chart which allows you to accurately measure the depth of a sonar target. · Overlay Data command: chooses what types of information (such as water temperature) to show overlaid on the sonar chart screen. · Sonar Features command: launches the Sonar Features menu which controls many functions and options, including screen color mode, auto depth and sensitivity, surface clarity, noise rejection, Fish I.D. symbols, the zoom bar and zone bar. · Ping Speed command: sets the rate at which sonar pings are made. · Zoom Level command: controls the display size of sonar signal images. Pages The FishEasy 320C has three major display options. They are the Full Sonar Chart, Split Zoom Sonar Chart, and Digital Data. You access the various display modes by pressing the ENT/PAGES key. As you press this key, the unit cycles among the four page options. To return to a previous page, simply press ENT until the desired page appears again. The Full Sonar Chart is the main display option. This is a "crosssection" view of the water column beneath the boat. The chart moves across the screen, displaying sonar signal echoes that represent fish, structure and the bottom. 48