Transducers for flashers

[mabr]

Anyone know if there is a difference between a vexilar and marcum transducer?

I have a FL8 SLT, and a Marcum VX1. While out last weekend checking holes for depth the marcum quit reading bottom. I thought the battery went dead so put the battery from the vex on and it didn't work either. Had just the red bar with no bottom marking. I switched transducers on units and nothing made a difference. Well I get home hook chargers up to both and check units with charger hooked up they both start up as long as charger is hooked. So I figured both battery's are toast no biggy just buy new batteries. BUT checking indoors I have no way to really know if the ducers are working. I can hook each up to either unit the connectors are the same. The reason for my question is on one unit i can hear the clicking from the ducer, but if i put it on the other I cant.And I dont know what deucer is the original for either. They have the same connectors and I put a vexlar float on the marcum when new. They both look the same except for a slight length.

I can play with the gain and get random readings but not like on the water. How can I check at home to make sure its working?

[Esox_Magnum]

Listen for the clicking.

[mn_bowhunter]

Hold it up close to the floor, like 8-14". It will read as deeper because sound travels through air different than water.

[leech~~]

Wonder if it has anything to do with the watt's the two different units put out if you are switching the ducers back and forth? But, if you don't hear clicking one of them maybe shot!

[slipperybob]

Clicking is only half of the transducer. All that means is it's sending out a sonar ping. Now the other half is the reciever part that has to be able to pick up the reflected sonar.

[Ed Carlson]

On top of the ducer it will say Vexilar, if it is indeed a Vexilar ducer, and it will also say the cone angle degree.

Set the transducer at 24" off a concrete floor, turn the unit on, then set the gain to low.

Thee higher you need to turn the gain up to get a good read...the weaker the ducer is.

At 24" it should read 9'. Much past 10 O-Clock on the dial at full power, and it's likely a bad ducer.

[cold one sd]

Turn the flasher on, turn the gain up a bit and rub the bottom of the transducer on wool or flannel. It should light up all over the dial while doing this. It will work pretty well if you rub it on your jeans. Oldest and best way I know of to test a transducer quickly and at home or on the ice.

[mabr]

Well got it figured out. Neither has any marks to say what brand they are. I know for a fact the vex unit has a vex transducer as I bought this one as a replacement a couple years ago.

The Marcum is original. Batteries were the prob the whole time to little power even with charger hooked up. Replaced and there fine now. BUT to those that have the older madels and think marcum and vex ducers interchange becuse the fitting is the same, they dont.

[HossFisher]

I had the same issue when I was out fishing this weekend. I picked up my VX-1 and the transucer hit the plastic part of another vexilar nearby. I didnt think it had hit hard enough for it to do any damage, but sure enough I put it in the whole and all it has it the red line on the top, no readings on the bottom at all. I'm guessing the transducer is shot but I'm not sure. I've heard marcum has had a lot of issues with the older 3 prong transducer and that's what I have so I may need to replace unless it could be caused by another issue.