A Simple Guide to Transducers

Simply put, a transducer is a device that converts energy from one form to another. Sensors are used in a number of different industries. But in this guide we will discuss them in relation to marine.

What is a Transducer?
Transducers are electrical sensor units which is used to measure depth. Some will alsoå with temperature sensors to measure the temperature of the water, information that can prove invaluable to fishermen. Typically, this information is fed into a sonar or an analog to NMEA 0183 converter.

There are a number of different types of transducers and a range of suitable materials, depending on; hull material. The combinations of hull material and transducer material are explained in the table below:

Transducer mounted onå transom
Transom sensors are mounted on the transom of the boat and usually sits lower than the bottom of the hull. They are the most popular type of external transducer due to their ease of installation, and they are ideal for boats that are released when installed with a kick-up for step, to ensure that the donor does not hit anything.

På due to the unit being fully submerged, they can suffer from drag and do not always work well at high speeds. But they work with any Hull material.
When mounted on; a single engine they should be on; starboard side of the transom for a single engine to avoid Prop Wash, and for twin engines they should be mounted low and between them. the engines.

Thru-Hull Transducers
Thru-Hull Transducers are mounted, yes... Through the hull! These donors are generally considered to be the "best" at; due to their performance and accuracy since the surface of the sensor is in contact with the water. Another big advantage is that they can be used on; all types of vessels, with a variety of different material hulls.

When used in combination with high-performance hulls, they provide very accurate high-speed results and can work with the hull's high deadrise angles up to 25 degrees.
Blocks can be used to compensate for any deadrise angles over 5 degrees, and are cut to match the hull deadrise at the mounting location. The blocks help to reduce the resistance of the transducer by improving the smooth flow across the face.

In-Hull Transducers (Transducers)
In-Hull transducers are a nice design, as they are mounted internally on; the boat, inside the hull. The big advantage of this type of installation is that there is nothing external hanging on it; the boat, which not only improves the air resistance, but there is also no worry about slathering; the donor på something by mistake. In addition, should it require any maintenance, it is easy to remove without having to take the boat out of the water!

There are however, some disadvantages of In-Hull’s; The biggest one is that these only work with certain hull types, usually on; boats with fiberglass bottoms. They do not work with metal or wooden hulls.

Also, they are usually larger than something like a Thru-Hull on; due to the received signal loss through the hull, and they also have to sit in a tank to be filled with Non toxic Marine / RV Anti-Freeze.

No matter what type of transducer you use, there is one key principle that is constant! That means... vertical beam

A properly mounted transducer should have a vertical beam pointing straight down towards the bottom, ensuring that the echo returns are both strong and accurate. By having your vertical beam off center / not straight down you will get; incorrect solutions, and the image on your fishfinder will be of lower quality.

An important point to clarify is that there are "Transducers" and "Tri-Ducers". Tri-Ducer is short for Triple Transducer, meaning there are 3 in one unit. These can measure speed, depth and temperature. Some Tri-Ducers are marketed as converters, and sometimes the names can be crossed over or across; The lines are a bit blurred. If you just want deep seeding; A simple depth sensor is fine, but if you need all 3 measurements a Tri-Ducer is required.