• Check all plugs to make sure that there is no corrosion
It is very important to check all your plugs and connections and make sure that they are all
working properly, prior to going out on the water. Check for corrosion and make sure that
all the plug pins are intact.
• Check battery connection and make sure that there is no Black Death on the cable
Make sure your batteries are working properly and transmitting sufficient power. If you
are an offshore angler; you should check for Black Death on any of the cables as Black
Death can occur when the battery cables are constantly in contact with salt water. The Black
coloured surface on the battery terminal is caused when a battery releases hydrogen as it
charges and discharges. This creates a lead oxide that will eventually build up enough to
create a low current path to ground that may eventually cause it not to transmit power
properly. Chances are that if the terminal is turning black like this, your battery will soon
be going dead as well.
• Check your transducer
Ensure that your transducer is still properly installed and check all cables and connections.
If your transducer is transom-mounted; make sure to remove any marine growth (this
can usually be done quite simply with some sponge and soapy water). After being out of
the water for some time; small air bubbles can sometimes attach to the bottom of your
transducer once it is emerged in water again. Bubbles can greatly affect your transducer
performance. To prevent this; we suggest sanding the bottom of your transducer with some
light sanding paper- so that the surface is slightly rough. You can also just stick your hand
in the water and wipe the bottom of the transducer to remove any possible air bubbles.
A simple way to check if your transducer is still working is to listen for the ‘ping.’ Transducers
send a short ping (sonar signal) so that the instrument can measure the time between
transmission and reception of the ‘echo ping’ in order to convert it to distance and work out
depth. The ping sounds like a faint clicking noise, and if your transducer is on the transom,
you should be able to easily hear it.
All testing related to depth performance must be done in the water- sonar cannot read
properly in air.