Humminbird Side Imaging Forums

General => General Discussion => Topic started by: xSilmarilSx on April 27, 2012, 10:58:18 PM

Title: Update on the subject - "water temp sensor"
Post by: xSilmarilSx on April 27, 2012, 10:58:18 PM
Hi guys!

I have finally received the AS T Y cable from Humminbird to connect the TG W temp sensor on the new 700 series HD units.

A little disappointed by the work-around that HB have used.

You CAN'T have two(2) temps sensors connected on the 700HD units.

The AS T Y cable just route the TG W sensor to the transducer temp. NO transducer temp available to the unit since the pin is missing from the transducer connector.

This information should be available from HB.

Now we have the real info about the 700HD unit temp sensor problem!


I think I will splice something and put a switch to use the transducer and the TG W option.
I won't lug around my modified 70ft TG W cable just to have the surface temp.
Title: Re: Update on the subject - "water temp sensor"
Post by: sonar2000 on April 28, 2012, 05:23:09 PM
Xsil, did you feed this back to HB?

Also did you make a pinout of the cable and could you post it for us..

Thanks, Chuck
Title: Re: Update on the subject - "water temp sensor"
Post by: xSilmarilSx on April 29, 2012, 02:32:30 AM
I haven't checked with HB about this, but I think I know the answer...
There's no way you can feed 2 temps sensors in the transducer plug.
It wasn't designed that way in the start and for compatibility reason with various transducers
I would have done the same.

What I don't like, it's the lack of information on several HB part and options.
If you stray just a little from the beaten path and want to do something different with
their units/options, you're on your own.

For the pinout plans, there not really anything to share of value.
The AS T Y cable is just a Y cable for mixing the transducer signal with the TG W signal.
Just like the cable for 2 SI transducer.

With some work, I could still open the transducer cable and pick the temp signal and route it
to a switch with the TG W signal to the unit.
But for my application and the time/price consumption of the operation, I don't think I will make the move.

Here's a photo of tonight installation of the Ethernet cable and the boat computer
(http://img708.imageshack.us/img708/9513/mapping.jpg) (http://imageshack.us/photo/my-images/708/mapping.jpg/)

Uploaded with ImageShack.us (http://imageshack.us)
Title: Re: Update on the subject - "water temp sensor"
Post by: sonar2000 on April 29, 2012, 06:43:12 PM
Xsil....which 700 unit do you have?  It may not make a difference but just asking which it is..

chuck
Title: Re: Update on the subject - "water temp sensor"
Post by: sonar2000 on April 29, 2012, 06:45:07 PM
 ::)...... :-[......never mind.  I looked at your picture.  Silly me..  I see it is the 798.....

Chuck
Title: Re: Update on the subject - "water temp sensor"
Post by: sonar2000 on April 29, 2012, 06:48:47 PM
The unit supports two temps so now are you saying the cable you have is the right one as advertised but the pinout is wrong.  Or should you have different cable to connect the second temp..
Cable selection can be a little difficult just from the HB webpage..
Chuck
Title: Re: Update on the subject - "water temp sensor"
Post by: xSilmarilSx on April 29, 2012, 07:57:26 PM
From what I can understand for now, before Greg can help us here, is that the new 700HD series unit can't support 2 temps sensors from a connector standpoint.
Since they physically removed the plug for the second temps sensor for the Ethernet plug.

The transducer plug on the back of the unit can't support 2 temps inputs. It wasn't designed for that.
The other units, 800-900-1100 still have the temps sensor input so they can show both.

From the menu, when you choose the readouts, you don't have the AUX TEMP selection anymore..

Tomorrow is Monday, maybe we will have more info from Humminbird?!?!
Title: Re: Update on the subject - "water temp sensor"
Post by: sonar2000 on April 30, 2012, 09:48:08 AM
Well, we do need some clarification because the website manual (798) says it does support the two temp.
Is this another oversite on the HB manuals not being completely correct..or outdated?

Chuck
Title: Re: Update on the subject - "water temp sensor"
Post by: Humminbird_Greg on April 30, 2012, 02:03:09 PM
Excuse me Sonar2000; are you looking at the correct operations manual?  I look on the Humminbird web site and scanned the 798ci HD Si unit manuals and could not find where it mentions that it supports two temperature inputs.


Sil, you are correct in that in adding the Ethernet connection and its abilities we had to get rid of the second possible temperature input on this unit.  It was either that or we had to retool the entire rear housing plus make a new all-in-one disconnect mount (or have an additional non-quick release connector for the Ethernet).

Title: Re: Update on the subject - "water temp sensor"
Post by: sonar2000 on April 30, 2012, 03:08:34 PM
Greg, you might be right.  it may be the si unit.

It is so hard to keep up with all these units.
one 798 does this and one 798xx does this but not that.

I will look again. 

chuck

Title: Re: Update on the subject - "water temp sensor"
Post by: sonar2000 on April 30, 2012, 03:17:10 PM
OK the si does support the two temps, but the si hd does not.
Only one alarm..

so now I ask:
why the change?  if it was there for the si why not the hd?

Did all HD units drop the two temp process?  and again why if they did?

Chuck
Title: Re: Update on the subject - "water temp sensor"
Post by: Humminbird_Greg on April 30, 2012, 04:39:01 PM
sonar2000 read my reply to Sil.  To add the Ethernet connection and still be able to use the quick disconnect mount we had to swap out the auxiliary temp/speed connector for the Ethernet connector.  All of the 700 series HD model units are like this.

Title: Re: Update on the subject - "water temp sensor"
Post by: xSilmarilSx on May 01, 2012, 02:44:36 AM
Ok, so we now have a official version of the problem.
Even though I have done my homework before buying the HD unit, I still skipped on some info!

What I have to do now is to build a switch to have the transducer temp when the Aux temp is not available.

Thanks again Greg for you time and information!
Title: Re: Update on the subject - "water temp sensor"
Post by: FuzzyGrub on May 01, 2012, 08:00:13 AM
sonar2000 read my reply to Sil.  To add the Ethernet connection and still be able to use the quick disconnect mount we had to swap out the auxiliary temp/speed connector for the Ethernet connector.  All of the 700 series HD model units are like this.

All the 700 HD units have to have a special cable to converts to the round ethernet cable.  Adding a couple of pins for Aux Temp and Paddle Wheel Speed should not have made the connector too big.   The special cable could have had a split off for the old aux connector.   But, that is not what HB decided, and don't see them changing the 700 series connector to add these back.  I assume if these are hard requirements, a 500 or 300 series can still use them, or go to 800 series and above? 


PS: Switch should work, but you will only have one offset adjustment.  Hopefully, both sensors are close.   
Title: Re: Update on the subject - "water temp sensor"
Post by: xSilmarilSx on May 01, 2012, 12:59:00 PM
Not to take the side of Humminbird here guys, but if you could know the return rate and Dead on Arrival of most consumer products made on this earth, you will be amazed at how high it is.
A 5% failure rate is not uncommon.

And if you check the number of people actually using the AUX temp input/paddle wheel VS the need for Ethernet, I understand the choice made by Humminbird.

BUT, they should have designed the AS T Y cable to route the two temps sensors to the unit using a small switch, dash mountable. Not the best, but for 10$ more on a 35$ adapter cable is a problem that I can live with.
Title: Re: Update on the subject - "water temp sensor"
Post by: FuzzyGrub on May 01, 2012, 09:00:34 PM
BUT, they should have designed the AS T Y cable to route the two temps sensors to the unit using a small switch, dash mountable. Not the best, but for 10$ more on a 35$ adapter cable is a problem that I can live with.

To me, that would be a poor solution to half the problem.  ;)   The temp/speed is a combined sensor, so temp is redundant with the transducer temp.  Paddle wheel speed is important for trolling in rivers (current).   I don't believe HB offered a splitter cable to have paddle wheel speed but temp of livewell, etc.  Choice was temp only or water speed only or temp/speed. 

I did check the other units.  For 300 and 500 series, it lists temp/speed as available accessories.  For 800 and above, it is not listed in the accessory section, but is shown in the connections available, in the front of the manual.  Looks like the 700 series is the only units that do not support it. 

HB had to design a new connector, and having a few more pins shouldn't have been an issue.  Maybe they were all out of board space?  Additional chips needed for the ethernet, but wouldn't have thought there was much circuitry to support the temp/speed. 

Anyway, its gone, and probably not coming back.

PS: If you want to discuss a "worthless" accessory, how about  the Smartcast wireless sonar connecton?  Yea, I know, on the other connector.  ;) 
Title: Re: Update on the subject - "water temp sensor"
Post by: xSilmarilSx on May 02, 2012, 03:01:05 AM
The other accessory connector is also for the NMEA in/out, which I also use!

Title: Re: Update on the subject - "water temp sensor"
Post by: FuzzyGrub on May 02, 2012, 06:34:31 AM
The other accessory connector is also for the NMEA in/out, which I also use!

I know.  I couldn't live without it, either.  Just struck me as odd, when reading the accessory list.  HB discontinued the High Accuracy GPS because of low sales.  Wonder what the sales are on this, and who uses it with their units.
Title: Re: Update on the subject - "water temp sensor"
Post by: johno r on May 03, 2012, 01:26:04 AM
just talked me out of updating to a newer model  >:(
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