Humminbird Side Imaging Forums
General => General Discussion => Topic started by: Rotus623 on May 15, 2013, 12:02:58 PM
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As some of you guys know, the older outboards do not have voltage regulation on them. I read all the way up to 17.8 volts coming out of my motor at full throttle!! The HB units are supposed to be rated for 10-20V, but honestly I want to keep it at 12v, period. As Greg had stated in another thread, one of the killers of these units is too high of a voltage coming into them. The volts can sneak by without blowing the fuse, which can create mayhem for our units! So here's what I ordered. For around $30 it is cheaper, easier (and way lighter) than a separate battery. It has capacitors so that when the voltage drops during starting the motor, it will help keep the volts up (all the way down to 8v) It also will prevent spikes up to 40v (which we should NEVER see in a properly function system. I'll do some testing once I get the unit and let you guys know how it goes. http://www.amazon.com/HOSSEN%C2%AE-Converter-Regulator-8V-40V-Sealed/dp/B00BWIA0BS/ref=sr_1_1?ie=UTF8&qid=1368632887&sr=8-1&keywords=HOSSEN%C2%AE+DC-DC+Converter+Regulator+8V-40V+Step+Down+to+12V+6A+72W+Epoxy+Sealed (http://www.amazon.com/HOSSEN%C2%AE-Converter-Regulator-8V-40V-Sealed/dp/B00BWIA0BS/ref=sr_1_1?ie=UTF8&qid=1368632887&sr=8-1&keywords=HOSSEN%C2%AE+DC-DC+Converter+Regulator+8V-40V+Step+Down+to+12V+6A+72W+Epoxy+Sealed)
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A voltage regulator may be cheaper and lighter
than a separate battery, but at the risk of
introducing electrical interference into your sonar.
Even with a separate battery, some people have
interference from other devices.
You are basically hooking your sonar to a battery charger
that is going to be on anytime your main motor is
running. This can't be good to get the best performance out of
your sonar.
However, the sonar should work great when your main
motor is completely turned off.
A quick test is to turn on your sonar (with main motor off).
While looking at the sonar screen, start up your main motor.
In neutral, rev your main motor up and down, and watch your sonar screen.
If you see any static, snow, lines, dots that weren't there with the main motor
off, then you have problem.
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Yea I actually had some interference with main motor on with a separate battery. It wasn't bad though. I guess we'll see how it goes. I will be doing most of my scanning with my electric motor anyway.