Pub. 988-0105-941 www.lowrance.com Fish-finding & Depth Sounding Sonars X47 and X47EX Installation and Operation Instructions Copyright © 2002 Lowrance Electronics, Inc. All rights reserved. Lowrance® is a registered trademark of Lowrance Electronics, Inc. Marine-Tex is a trademark of Illinois Tool Works Inc. Lowrance 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. For free owner's manuals and other information, visit our web site: www.lowrance.com Lowrance Electronics Inc. 12000 E. Skelly Dr. Tulsa, OK USA 74128-2486 Printed in USA. Table of Contents Introduction ............................................................................... 1 Capabilities and Specifications: X47 and X47EX........................ 1 Installation Preparations ............................................................. 2 Transducer Installation........................................................... 3 Recommended Tools and Supplies ........................................... 3 Selecting a Transducer Location .............................................. 4 Shoot-Thru-Hull vs. Transom Mounting ................................. 5 Transom Transducer Assembly and Mounting ....................... 5 Trolling Motor Bracket Installation......................................... 9 Transducer Orientation and Fish Arches .............................. 10 Shoot-Thru-Hull Preparation and Installation ..................... 10 Power and Cable Connections .................................................... 13 Mounting the Sonar Unit: In-Dash or Bracket ......................... 14 In-Dash Installation ............................................................... 14 Bracket Installation................................................................ 16 Portable Sonar Installation ........................................................ 20 Operation .................................................................................. 24 Keyboard Basics.......................................................................... 24 PWR/Clear (Power and Clear)................................................ 24 Menu Up and Menu Down ..................................................... 24 Up and Down Arrows.............................................................. 24 Memory........................................................................................ 25 Menus .......................................................................................... 25 Display ­ Opening Screen .......................................................... 25 Chart Scroll (Stopping and Starting)......................................... 26 Full Chart.................................................................................... 27 Depth Range Zoom (Automatic and Manual)............................ 27 Zoom ............................................................................................ 28 Sensitivity ................................................................................... 29 Grayline ..................................................................................... 31 Fish I.D. ................................................................................... 32 FishTrackTM................................................................................. 33 Chart Scroll Speed ...................................................................... 34 Noise Reject and ASP (Advanced Signal Processing) ............ 34 Alarms ......................................................................................... 35 Fish Alarm............................................................................... 35 Depth Alarms .......................................................................... 35 Shallow Alarm......................................................................... 36 Deep Alarm ............................................................................. 36 Display Adjustments .................................................................. 36 Backlights................................................................................ 36 i ® Display Contrast ..................................................................... 37 Depth Units of Measure ............................................................. 37 Preset Unit (Reset All Options).................................................. 37 System Info ................................................................................. 37 Simulator..................................................................................... 38 Digital Data Size for Depth and Temperature .......................... 38 Troubleshooting ...................................................................... 39 Warranty and Service Information..................................... 45 ii Introduction Thank you for buying a Lowrance sonar! Your unit is a high-quality sonar designed for both professional and novice fishermen. All Lowrance 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 (PWR) key. However, if you want to fine-tune your unit, press the MENU UP key. The sonar 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 Lowrance sonar, first read the installation section. It contains instructions for mounting the sonar unit and the transducer. Following recommended installation practices will pay off in optimum performance of your Lowrance sonar. 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: X47 and X47EX General Case size: .......................... X47: 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). X47EX: 5.4" H x 6.9" W x 3.4" D (13.8 cm H x 17.6 cm W x 8.6 cm D). Sealed, waterproof; suitable for saltwater use. Display:............................ High-contrast Film SuperTwist LCD. Diagonal viewing area: X47: 4.0" (10.2 cm). X47EX: 4.5" (11.4 cm). Resolution:...................... 168 pixels (vert.) x 132 pixels (horiz.) resolution; 22,176 total pixels. Backlighting:.................. Backlit screen and keypad for night use. Input power:................... 10 to 17 volts DC. Current drain: ............... 110 ma lights off; 250 ma lights on. Back-up memory: .......... Built-in memory stores sonar settings when unit is turned off. 1 Sonar Frequency:...................... 200 kHz. Transducers: .................. A Skimmer transducer comes packed with your sonar unit. Its 20° cone angle offers a wide fish detection area of up to 60º with high sensitivity settings. Operates at boat speeds up to 70 mph (61 kts). Transmitter: ................... 800 watts peak-to-peak; 100 watts RMS. Sonar sounding depth capability: ........... 600 feet (180 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. Auto bottom track:........ Yes. Zoom bottom track: ...... Yes. Surface water temp: ..... Yes. NOTICE! The storage and operation temperature range for your unit is from -4 degrees to +167 degrees Fahrenheit (-20 degrees to +75 degrees Celsius). Extended storage or operation 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. Installation 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 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 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. Install the power cable and route it to the sonar unit. 6. Mount the sonar unit. 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 prevent 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 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. The following installation types also call for these recommended tools and required supplies (supplies 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 caulking 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. Supplies: 100 grit sandpaper, good quality epoxy adhesive. 3 Selecting a Transducer Location 1. The transducer must be placed in a location that has a smooth flow of water at all times. If the transducer is to be mounted inside the hull, then the chosen location must be in the 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 location on aluminum boats is between the ribs closest to the engine. 2. The transducer should be installed with its face pointing straight down, if possible. 3. 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. 4. If possible, route the transducer cable away from other wiring on the boat. Electrical noise from engine wiring, bilge pumps and aerators can 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 4 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. However, there are times when you may need to adjust the transducer slightly higher or lower. (The s ...