T&T: Furuno Depthsounders

[Jim Fuller]

Hi Larry,

If your two units are indeed identical, have you tried swapping them and
using the dim one down below. The topside unit may just be unlucky or it is
getting too much direct sunlight on hot days. Also, does the top unit get
used more? And is the intensity always at the brightest setting during the
day? The backlight is made using LED's and they do dim with use/age. There
is an internal issue with eventual fade with LED technology. Just a matter
of time. If it is the latter, the best course would be to swap them out when
one gets to dim for daylight. Some sort of shade so you can run it at a
lower intensity would help too.

If you end up replacing a unit, send AIRMAR an email stating the make and
model of the Sounder as well as any identifying information on/from the
transducer. Furuno supplies them separately to dealers so there should be
two line items on the receipt. In addition tell them the make and model of
the new sounder you are planning on using. Tell them you would like to use
the old transducer until your next haul out. Good time to ask the experts
which of their transducers they recommend for that next haul out, BTW.

Airmar Customer Support [airmar at custhelp.com]

I did this for a NAVNET 3D system and they promptly responded with an email
noting that it should work and included a wiring diagram as the old sounder
was a different manufacturer with a different connector. Order a transducer
extension cable with the new sounder, cut off the connector on the
transducer end for connection to the existing cable. The schematic from
AIRMAR will give you the identifying colors for all of the signals. If the
replacement is from Furuno they include schematics of all of their gear in
the back of the installation manuals, which you can download from Furuno USA
before hand. All you need then is moderate soldering skills or someone who
possess same. Pay attention to the cable shield and make sure it gets a good
connection to ground.

Airmar supplies most of the transducers for the marine electronics
manufacturers and they have done all of the Furuno units I have worked with
to date. The only units I know won't work is any type of scanning sonar.

Have Fun,

Capt Jim
MISS EM
Santa Cruz
California

BOATS: Where else can you spend this much money on toys$