Humminbird Fishin' Buddy MAX Operation Manual page 33

transducer that is in the water. (If a trolling motor transducer is selected and the trolling
motor is out of the water, no sonar information appears.) If none of these actions solves
the problem, inspect the transducer cable from end to end for breaks, kinks, or cuts in the
outer casing of the cable. If the transducer is connected to the unit through a switch,
temporarily connect it directly to the unit and try again. If none of these actions identifies
an obvious problem, the transducer itself may be at fault. Be sure to include the transducer
if returning the unit for repair.
4. When in very shallow water, I get gaps in the bottom reading and inconsistent digital
depth indication.
The PiranhaMAX will work reliably in water 3 feet (90 cm) or deeper. Remember that the
depth is measured from the transducer, not from the surface of the water.
5. The unit comes on before I press the POWER-MENU key, and it won't turn off.
Check the transducer cable — if the outer jacket of the cable has been cut and the cable
is in contact with bare metal, you will need to repair the cut with electrical tape. If there is
no problem with the cable, disconnect the transducer from the unit and see if the problem
is corrected, to confirm the source of the problem.
6. I get gaps in the reading at high speeds.
Your transducer needs adjusting. If the transducer is transom-mounted, there are two
adjustments available to you: height and running angle. Make small adjustments and run
the boat at high speeds to determine the effect. It may take several tries to optimize high-
speed operation. This can also be a result of air or turbulence in the transducer location
caused by rivets, ribs, etc.
7. My unit loses power at high speeds.
Your PiranhaMAX has over-voltage protection that turns the unit off when input voltage
exceeds 20 VDC. Some outboard motors do not effectively regulate the power output of
the engine's alternator and can produce voltage in excess of 20 Volts when running at high
RPMs.
8. The display begins to fade out. Images are not as sharp as normal.
Check the input voltage. The PiranhaMAX will not operate on input voltages below 10 VDC.
9. The display shows many black dots at high speeds and high sensitivity settings.
You are seeing noise or interference caused by one of several sources. Noise can be caused
by electronic devices. Turn off any nearby electronics and see if the problem goes away.
Noise can also be caused by the engine. If engine noise is causing the interference, the
problem will intensify at higher RPMs. Increase the engine speed with the boat stationary
to isolate this cause. Propeller cavitation can also appear as noise on the display. If the
transducer is mounted too close to the propeller, the turbulence generated can interfere
with the sonar signal. Make sure that the transducer is mounted at least 15" (380 mm) from
the propeller.
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Troubleshooting