ST60 Tridata depth prob

[pelissima]

Hi all,
My ST60 Tridata developed 3 dashes instead of depth number.
The transducer is the plastic through hull one. I tried to listen to usual ticking but failed.
The unit looks to be a sealed one – say if I wanted to add castor oil, but is that so?
Any ideas how to proceed?

 

[SimbaDog]

Hi all,
My ST60 Tridata developed 3 dashes instead of depth number.
The transducer is the plastic through hull one. I tried to listen to usual ticking but failed.
The unit looks to be a sealed one – say if I wanted to add castor oil, but is that so?
Any ideas how to proceed?

Slowly, it might be shallow!


I'll get me coat.

 

[ctva]

Is it both inputs that have failed (assuming that you have a log as well)? First thing to check is the integrity of the connections and cable, any breaks or corrosion. Unlikely I think for the transducer with no moving parts to fail.

 

[nigelmercier]

Is this the triple sensor with speed, depth and temperature? If so, bypass the temperature sensor with a 10k resistor and see if you get the readings back.

 

[pelissima]

Is this the triple sensor with speed, depth and temperature? If so, bypass the temperature sensor with a 10k resistor and see if you get the readings back.

That's the one. But as I wrote, it is only the depth that goes dashes. However, if you think it might help I will play with a 10k resistor. The manual does not mention which of the 5 cables of the speed transducer is devoted to temperature. If you happen to know this detail please advise.

 

[tillergirl]

On the bronze through-hull transducer Brown and White are the Thermistor, red is voltage to the speed, green signal for the speed, blue positive to the depth and black negative from the depth.

I recall that the three dashes means that it is not getting a signal from the depth side of the transducer but I cannot find the reference for that - but it's pretty obvious. If you haven't got a bad connection, I fear the transducer has packed up.

 

[nigelmercier]

That's the one. But as I wrote, it is only the depth that goes dashes...

Probably not that then. I believe the display uses the temperature sensor to check it is connected.

 

[pelissima]

Well, I took off today the three depth cables from the tridata and measured 5V between screen and blue and screen and black. From the Airmar site I saw transducers work between 5 and 12 Volts, so may be the 5 is on the low side. I put the cables back adding 12V first on the black line – still dashes- and then to the blue line. Bingo, only that now it showed 50meters when it should read 3.5 meters. Well again, may be I should add an offset of 47.5 meters then....

 

[pelissima]

Problem solved.
I borrowed a friend’s Tridata which performed the same so the problem should be the cable or the transducer. Or so I thought. I had forgotten that upon installation I wanted to pass the cable through a tube so it was necessary to cut the cable close to transducer and use soldering to reconnect it. The connection visually looked good but it was not. Finally the tube idea and cable cutting was not a good one.