X-15 "Dropping Out"

[Fisherman For a Lifetime]

Howdy,

I have a Lowrance X-15 14 months old that shows the bottom fine, then just does not show a bottom at all!

It'll drop out for split seconds to up to 10 seconds at a time.

I checked the connections, etc.

Does anyone know what is going on or how to correct it...?

Thanks!

[united jigsticker]

Do you run any other depth/fish finders alongside the Lowrance? Is the locator connected to the same battery as a troller?

Interference is one culprit for this problem, and it could come from either another depth finder, a trolling motor, etc.

Is your transducer scratched, cracked, have marine buld-up on it, knocked out of level, set inline with a rivet pattern, properly set 1/8" below the bottom of the hull, etc?

Is your transducer cable pinched, frayed, cut, or damaged in any place?

If all of this checks out fine I would say your 'ducer is just getting a tad bit weak.

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Good fishing,
UJ
[email protected]

[This message has been edited by united jigsticker (edited 05-29-2004).]

[Fisherman For a Lifetime]

UJ,

The X-15 is not on the same battery as the trolling motor.

There's no other transducer on board. There are no scratches, build-up and it is not out of level.

The mount is firm & straight, clean & shiny. No frayed wires, no bent pins in the connector.

I ran it in a 90' hole and it showed fine.

It's strange that when it is not cutting out, it works fine & at full power because I can run up the sensitivity and it reads out as normal.

Hummm.

Thanks for the great suggestions...

Tim

[united jigsticker]

I forgot to mention that my Bottom Line did the same thing. (I don't use it anymore, just use the Vex)

I noticed it only did it when I had both the Vex and the Bottom Line on, and alot more when the 'ducer got older.

Sorry I couldn't offer a solution.

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Good fishing,
UJ
[email protected]

[This message has been edited by united jigsticker (edited 05-30-2004).]

[Fisherman For a Lifetime]

Hey, maybe it's the transducer.

It's just that I HAVE THIS WHOLE WEEK OFF TO FISH and this happens !

We'll figure it out....

Thanks again...!

[Surface Tension]

I've seen the same hiccup with other LCRs.
It usually doesn't happen very often and isn't a problem. Why it happens is hard to say but probably a glitch in software. If its happening enough to were you can't use your sounder effectively you should contact Lowrance costumer service.

[mnrstrider]

I x-51 did this same thing, it's hard to say exactly what the fix was, because I changed 2 things in a short period of time. First suggestion, weak battery, I knew my battery was going bad at the beginning of the season, I waited a bit to replace it because it still started my boat 95% of the time. One day I was out and the battery was really weak, weird, it was more than enough to start the boat, but the x-51 didn't work worth a **** , so I charged the battery, went out again, it worked fine, for awhile, I actually ended up changing both the battery and the transducer is a pretty short period of time afterwards, and Have had very little issues since. One other thing I have found, for some reason, it takes a bit before the transducer will work in shallow water 2-3ft range, it picks up much quicker in deeper water for whatever reason. Secondly, if it is acting up, sometimes I just shut it off, turn it back on and it's fine.

Another possibility is that your transducer placement is wrong, at the wrong angle or maybe mounting "depth" , I know some speeds on my boat just don't work with my x-51 at all times too, I suspect I'm getting some air under the transducer, and then I lose my signal. Something you could maybe check with someone's help.

[Fisherman For a Lifetime]

Wow, great suggestions..

Ya know, the starting battery was drained to nothing once for an underermined time this Spring...

I did charge it back up, the 140 Suzuki has a 40 Amp charger, so it does charge & start the motor fine though...

So, could it still be the battery...?

I went out & checked the Battery Voltage and it's 12.0 - 12.1 Volts,

I thought they should be ~ 12.6 - 13 Volts.....??????

Could this be it ???

Thanks & Good Luck.

[Fisherman For a Lifetime]

Bump!

[Surface Tension]

Your manual should say the range of voltage it will handle. There may even be a low voltage shutoff so you don't drain your battery. By any chance are you running any other equipment when this occurs?

[Fisherman For a Lifetime]

ST,

No other equipment is running.

The X-15 will all of a sudden have no bottom showing. A little noise on the top due to sensitivity, but nothing else. Comes on & off at random.

I can hear a difference in "Clicking" over the AM Radio - it's a little louder if that helps...

Thanks in advance!

[Surface Tension]

I think if it was anything to do with your voltage the unit would shut off instead of not showing bottom.
Like I said earlier I've seen LCRs do exactly what you describe but never to where it was a problem.
Other then what united jigsticker suggested all I can think of maybe a bad transducer connection.
Have you gotten any feedback from Lowrance?

[Paul Waldowski]

Call Lowrance!!!!!

They have a toll free number and awesome customer service. I'm sure they can help you. 1-800-324-1356

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Paul
Drake Motel

[email protected]
Marcum
Otter Outdoors
JR's Tackle
Lakemaster Lake Maps

[This message has been edited by Paul Waldowski (edited 06-01-2004).]

[chow]

Only other suggestion I may have is the software revision you have? Maybe download the most current one into the X15 and see. You should first be able to check what level you have and then go to the Lowrance HSOforum and download the most current one if you are several revisions back. Your manual should explain how to do this.

chow

[Fisherman For a Lifetime]

Hey Guys,

Found the problem!

It was the transducer. Installed a new one on and that did it.

The replacement transducer is sure "clicking" loud... (?) Anyone know why ?

Thanks & good luck !!!

[united jigsticker]

It's new and it's working properly! It's "clickin" as it "pings" signals out.

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Good fishing,
UJ
[email protected]