In Hull Depth Transducer oil

Jabs

Jabs

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I have fitted an 'in hull' transducer from Airmar. The instructions suggest using Propylene glycol to fill the reservoir.

Is there a colloquial name for this?

I'm getting blank looks wherever I ask!

Or alternatives, maybe?

Any help would be most welcome.

Thanks

Tony
 
I'm not surprised! Raymarine (who use Airmar transducers) suggest Mineral oil - another not very helpful description. I'm afraid that after searching for what they really mean, I filled mine with cooking oil, largely because there will always be a bottle of it to hand if it needs topping up! So long as it doesn't dissolve plastic I believe the true requirement is something viscous enough not to slop about, readily wet the surfaces and not inclined to engender air bubbles.

Rob.
 
Jabs said:
Is there a colloquial name for this?
Click to expand...

yes, it's E1520.

According to Wikpedia it's used as;
As an ingredient in the oil dispersant Corexit, used in great quantities during the Deepwater Horizon oil spill
To deice aircraft wings and empennage
As a solvent in many pharmaceuticals, including oral, injectable and topical formulations (notably, diazepam, which is insoluble in water, uses propylene glycol as its solvent in its clinical, injectable form)
As a humectant food additive, labeled as E number E1520
As an emulsification agent in Angostura and orange bitters
As a moisturizer in medicines, cosmetics, food, toothpaste, shampoo, mouth wash, hair care and tobacco products
As a carrier in fragrance oil

What a useful substance.

I had a clear mineral oil in my kit.
 
Jabs said:
I have fitted an 'in hull' transducer from Airmar. The instructions suggest using Propylene glycol to fill the reservoir.

Is there a colloquial name for this?

I'm getting blank looks wherever I ask!

Or alternatives, maybe?

Any help would be most welcome.

Thanks

Tony
Click to expand...

Propylene glycol is the the non toxic antifreeze which is readily available I believe in North America but less so in the UK

It is used as the heat transfer medium in refrigeration plants in the food industry ( where toxic ethylene glycol would not be so welcome) Eg Coolflow NTP

It can be found as antifreeze eg Aquafax "Freezeban" but the only retailer I am aware of is Marine Megastore. I am sure there must be others though.

You'll not be wanting to buy 5 litres specailly for a transducer, I guess, but it would be a good opportunity to switch to a non toxic antifreeze in the engine

Seafarer in their day recommended castor oil... that is what is in mine.


In reality you can use any reasonably mobile liquid which is non volatile, non corrosive, odourless, will not freeze, will not attack the hull, the transducer or the mounting and will not be difficult to clean up if spilt

You can also stick them down with chewing gum ( temporarily) or a flexible adhesive sealant provoded you ensure no air bubbles are trapped. ( Sikaflex or even a silicone sealant)

One echo-sounder manufacturer at one time even recommended gluing them to the hull with an epoxy adhesive.
 
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baby oil is lighter and wont darken and go thick and sticky like veg or olive oil. Its cheap and readily available, and you can condition your aluminium with it as well. (makes your hands nice and soft too)
forgot to mention, warm it slightly and the bubbles rise quicker to the surface, mines been in 6 years, and when I needed to change the trandsucer I just popped the new one into the baby oil.
 
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