FL-18 Owners Manual

CONTENTS
General Description Specifications Unit Installation Power Connection Transducer Installation Operation Typical Indications Frequently Asked Questions Maintenance Transducer Beam Angle Chart Trouble Shooting Chart Accessories and Other Products Transducers Service and Support 5-- - - 24 - - 28 29
Founded in 1960, Vexilar, Inc. has a long history of bringing revolutionary technology to the sport fishing industry. Just some of the Vexilar firsts include: the first liquid crystal display, the first fish alarm, the first three color display, the first CRT and the first straight line paper graphs for the sport fisherman. And over the last twelve years, the Vexilar FL-8 has revolutionized the flasher market. Now, with the FL-18, we bring you the first ever split-screen zoom flasher.

GENERAL DESCRIPTION

The FL-18 is a compact and lightweight depth sounder designed for serious anglers. Besides indicating depth, the unit also shows changes in bottom content and conditions. It can also discriminate between large underwater targets, such as fish, and smaller targets such as bait fish and plankton. The split-screen zoom feature provides very high display resolution within the bottom six feet of the depth. The unit transmits bursts of high frequency pulses, which are converted from electrical to mechanical energy by the transducer. These "sound" pulses radiate from the transducer downward into a cone shaped area and are reflected back up to the transducer where the energy is converted back to electrical signals. The FL-18 then processes these signals and displays them. The circular display is accomplished by attaching an LED (Light Emitting Diode) to a wheel, which is then spun at a high speed in the clockwise direction. This allows for an extremely high speed update. The bottom, as well as other targets, can be displayed as red, orange, or green to indicate strong, medium and weak signals respectively. The FL-18 also has patented Interference Rejection (IR) Technology. This lets the user "filter out" unwanted interference from another nearby depth sounder. With a wide variety of transducers and accessories to choose from, the Vexilar FL-18 is a sure fit for any application.

SPECIFICATIONS

Operating Voltage: Current Draw: Power Output: Frequency: Resolution: Target Separation: Display Colors: Dimensions: Weight: 10.5 - 15 Volts (12 Volts Nominal) 275mA 400 Watts (Peak to Peak) 200 kHz 525 Lines of Resolution 2.65" Min. 3 - Red, Orange, and Green 4.4"H x 6"W x 2.5"D 1.1 Lbs.

Depth Scales:

0-20', 0-40', 0-60', 0-80', and 0-200' - Standard Model Or 0-30', 0-60', 0-90', 0-120', and 0-300' - Custom Deep Model

Transducer

The transducer included with your FL-18 determines the beam, or cone, angle and the mounting application. Please refer to the packaging to determine which transducer you have. A complete list of transducers available is listed on pages 27 and 28.
Features and Specifications Subject to Change Without Notice

INSTALLATION

To be able to use the FL-18, you must provide the unit with power and mount the transducer in an appropriate location.

UNIT INSTALLATION

Find a convenient place to mount the unit. This may include a boat seat, deck, dash, or a portable case. Make sure that there is plenty of room for the unit to tilt and/or swivel freely without the cables binding behind the unit. Once you have found a spot, remove the unit from the gimbal bracket. Securely attach the bracket to the mounting surface.

POWER CONNECTION

Plug the flat 3 pin connector into the back of the unit. Find the closest source of 12 volts and run the cord to it. Keep the cord away from sharp metal edges and avoid tight places where the cord may get crushed. Connect the red wire to positive and the black wire to negative or ground. If the cord provided is not long enough, more can be added. Use 18 gauge wire minimum. For boat installations, it is recommended that a 1 amp in-line fuse be placed in the positive line as close to the power source as possible to protect against any shorts in the wiring.

TRANSDUCER INSTALLATION

There are three basic types of transducers to consider: High Speed, Puck Style, and the Ice-Ducer System.

HIGH SPEED TRANSDUCERS

When choosing an area to mount the transducer, keep in mind that you need clear water flow across the face of the transducer to insure a clear reading at all speeds. Try to stay away from rivets, ribs, or strakes that would be just in front of the transducer. They can disturb the water and scramble the reading. With the mounting bracket attached to the transducer, hold it up to the boat where you are planning to mount it. Mark the holes on the transom, or mounting plate, so that when the bottom of the transducer is flush with the bottom of the boat the holes are located at the bottom of the bracket slots. This gives you room to "fine tune" the position of the transducer and optimize your reading after you've put the boat in the water. Ideally, the transducer should be just under the bottom of the boat. However, you may need to lower it 1/2 to 5/8 to get a clear reading at top speed. Figure D Drill out the holes and tighten the bracket to the hull securely. Be sure to seal any holes drilled into the transom with silicone to prevent water from leaking into the boat. Give the transducer a slight tilt downward so that the back is about 1/8 lower than the front. Tighten the bracket screws and nuts securely. Run the transducer cord up to the unit. Plug the transducer connector into the back of the unit and screw the retaining ring down snugly

PUCK STYLE TRANSDUCERS

There are three ways in which a Puck Style transducer can be mounted. It can be mounted In-Hull, on an electric trolling motor, or portable (with a suction cup or on an arm of some type).

IN-HULL MOUNTING

Puck Style Transducer
This method of gluing the transducer to the hull gets the same results as if you were using the High Speed transducer, only there are no holes to drill in the boat and there is no transducer on the transom to get damaged by impact. With a good installation the losses through the hull will be negligible. This installation is most common in fiberglass boats, but you can also achieve good results in aluminum hull boats as well. Finding the best location for the transducer before mounting is critical. Choose a flat smooth spot near the center of the bilge area and near the back of the boat. It is a good idea to make a "test run" before you permanently install the transducer to make sure that you can get an acceptable reading through your hull, and when the boat is on plane. Put about a half inch of water in the bilge area and hold the transducer in the intended location. Move the transducer around until you get the best reading. Mark that spot. To install the transducer, first drain the water from your test run and then clean the spot of mud and oil. If the mounting area is rough, sand it smooth with some medium grit sand paper. Using an epoxy or silicone glue, make a puddle about the same diameter as the transducer on the hull. Place the transducer in the glue. Press it down firmly, gently twisting it back and forth, making sure that there are no air bubbles in the glue between the transducer and the hull. Let the glue dry completely before turning the unit on. Run the transducer cord up to the unit taking the same care as you did when you ran the power cord. Plug the transducer connector into the back of the unit and screw the retaining ring down tight.

TROLLING MOTOR MOUNTING

To attach a Puck Style transducer to a trolling motor, use the large cable tie provided*. Notice the slots in the transducer for this purpose. Locate the transducer on the bottom of the lower unit as in figure F. Run the cable up the shaft using cable ties to hold it in position. Make sure that the movement of the trolling motor will Figure F not damage the cable. Plug the transducer connector into the back of the unit and screw the retaining ring down tight.
*Metal hose clamps are not recommended, as they do not give way in case of impact with an underwater object.

PORTABLE MOUNTING

Optional suction cup brackets can be used to temporarily attach a transducer to the transom or side of the boat. The cups should be placed in a location where it will not be torn off when the boat starts to move at high speed. It is a good idea to tie on a safety rope in case the cup does let go. There are three suction cup brackets available for the FL-18. The BK0023 and the BK0027 are made to attach the Puck style transducers to a boat for use at slow speeds. The BK0044 suction cup brackets is made to attach the high speed transducers to a boat for high speed uses. See pages 27 and 28 for transducer and bracket options. An arm can also be used to hold the transducer. Simply attach the transducer to the end of the arm using cable ties or tape. If the arm is constructed of metal tubing insulate the transducer from the arm by wrapping electrical tape around the arm. This prevents "ringing" which is displayed as noise near the surface on the flasher display. Run the transducer cord up the arm using cable ties to hold the cord in place. Plug the transducer connector into the back of the unit and screw the retaining ring down tight.

MODE CONTROL

The Mode control selects the FL-18s output power level and zoom view. The Normal position will be the setting that is used most often. With the Normal setting, the FL-18 operates in the standard flasher mode with normal (high) power. The depth is read using the outer white scale on the display. LP, or Low Power, Mode is used for shallow water conditions. Generally depths of 15 feet or less. The FL-18s LP Mode output power level is approximately 50% less than the Normal Mode. Depth is determined in the same way as the Normal Mode. AZ, or Auto Zoom, splits the screen of the FL-18 into two different sections. Refer to figure L. on page 14. Given that the range control is set to x2, here is how to interpret the display: The right hand side of the display shows the full water column below. Instead of reading the white numbers for depth, you now use the inner yellow scale. The leading edge of the bottom lines up close to the 15 foot area of the yellow scale. With the range set to x2 you interpret the depth as around 30 feet. The left side of the display shows only the bottom six feet of the depth. Notice that the display works in the opposite direction here. The bottom is lined up with the yellow zero mark near the 7 Oclock position. The scale reads from this point up, in the clockwise direction, in one foot increments. The 6 foot mark is actually six feet off of the bottom. In figure L, with a range setting of x2, Fish A is near the bottom and shows both in the full and zoom views. Fish B is more than 6 feet off of the bottom, so it does not show in the zoom view. BL, or Bottom Lock, mode works in the same way as the AZ mode. The only difference is that once the FL-18 finds the bottom, it locks it in position on the zoom view. The bottom will change position with depth on
the full view side, but will remain fixed at the zero mark on the zoom view. Auto Zoom works best while moving very slowly or while you are stationary, such as ice fishing. Bottom Lock works best for trolling or moving at higher speeds. Both the Auto Zoom and Bottom Lock features are available when in Low Power or the Normal Modes.

GAIN CONTROL

The knob located at the top of the control panel is the gain control. This controls the amount of signal that you see on the display. A gain setting of zero will display a minimum amount of signal while a gain setting of ten will show the maximum amount. Different conditions will require different gain settings. Deeper water will require higher gain than shallow water. A weedy bottom will demand a lower gain setting than a clean bottom. Keep the gain level low. Too much gain can "wash out" the targets that you want to see. A good rule to use is one number of gain for every ten feet of depth. Generally, for open water it is a good idea to set the gain at an appropriate level and leave it there. Only change the gain level if the water depth or conditions change significantly. For Ice Fishing, you want to adjust the gain and use your bait a the reference point. Adjust the gain to make your bait appear as green.

INTERFERENCE REJECTION*

Pushing in on the Gain control knob operates the Interference Rejection feature. The I.R. feature has ten steps of rejection to let you eliminate unwanted interference from another nearby depth finder. When you turn on the FL-18, the I.R. automatically comes on to the first step. If necessary, press the Gain knob repeatedly until the interference is eliminated. You can press the button nine times before you get back to the first step again. Turning the unit off and then on again will also reset the I.R. back to the first step. * Patent #5,515,339

TYPICAL INDICATIONS

Zero Signal Trailing Edge Bottom Signal Leading Edge Read Depth Here Fish Bait The three-colors of the FL-18s display represents the strength of a signal. A red color indicates a strong signal, an orange color indicates a medium strength signal, and green represents a weak signal. The colors will combine to indicate objects, such as bottom echoes, structure, fish, and plankton. This section is intended to help you understand how to read the depth, identify fish, and understand the meaning of the FL-18s display. Fig. J

FINDING THE DEPTH

To read the proper depth on the FL-18, you will need to turn the unit on to an appropriate range. First make sure you are in the Normal mode. Then turn the Range knob to the right one click. The signal at the 12 Oclock position on the dial is the zero mark. This can be thought of as the surface of the water. If the depth is less than 20 feet you will see a second signal, similar in appearance to the zero mark, appear on the display. This is the bottom signal. If no second signal appears, turn up the
Gain about half way and continue clicking the range switch to the right until it does show a bottom signal. Once you find the bottom signal, line up the leading edge with the closest white depth mark on the scale. Refer to figure J and K. Multiply this reading by the depth range setting.

SEEING FISH

Refer, again, to figure J. If the range setting is X1 then the fish is just over a foot above the bottom. We know its a fish because it is a significant target that is not attached to the bottom. The target that appears just above this fish is smaller and there is no red. Here is where target identification gets a bit trickier. Since we do not know the position of the targets in the cone of sound, we cannot readily identify it. For example, the green target at 12 feet could be a small piece of floating debris or small baitfish in the center of the cone. It could also be a large fish out at the very edge of the cone. In the weeds, spotting fish is more difficult. Figure K shows a bottom at 8 feet (X1). The weeds extend from the bottom up to about 5 feet. Notice Zero Signal Fig. K Surface Clutter Second Echo Weeds

ICE FISHING

Ice fishing brings out the best in the FL-18. The stable platform of ice lets you concentrate on your bait and the fish around it. The bottom becomes less important because it never changes. The only movement on the display is of your bait and fish. Unlike open water use, the direction in which the transducer is pointed is very critical. You want your bait to be located in the dead center of the cone of sound. This way you can see very small baits at low gain settings and also see fish come in from all sides. If you are not using the IceDucer system, the transducer must be attached to an adjustable arm so that it can be manually pointed directly at the bait. Sometimes it helps to attach a bubble level to the transducer so that you know when it's sending the signal straight down the hole. After your system is properly set up, adjust the gain until you see your bait as a green target. You may need to readjust the gain control to keep the bait green. This is due to the changing condition and position of your bait. If you are using a swimming bait or a lure that darts to the side as it's jigged, you will see the color change as the bait moves. Sometimes it may even disappear if the bait goes out of the cone of sound. Fish will appear at the edge of the cone as a green target. If the fish moves closer to the bait it will change from green to orange. If it moves up, right next to the bait, it will change to red.
FREQUENTLY ASKED QUESTIONS
Where Should The Gain Control Be Set?
Generally, the gain should be set to give you a good reading of the bottom. This would mean a red leading edge. A basic rule to use is one number of gain for every 10 feet of depth. Although you will want to finetune this setting with the current conditions in mind. For ice fishing, you want set your gain level by the appearance of your bait. With your bait down at the fishing depth, adjust the gain to make your bait appear as a green signal.
What Color Should Fish Be?
For ice fishing with the FL-18, the fish target entering the outside of the cone of sound will appear in green, as it moves towards the bait it will add some orange into the center of the signal, and if the fish continues to the perpendicular line under the transducer, red will be added to the center of the fish target. These color changes will take place automatically, without adjusting the gain control. This color change feature allows you to observe the fish moving towards or away from your bait. The fish can appear the same way on open water as they do ice fishing, as the same rules apply. Although, instead of the stable platform of ice you have wave and boat motion to contend with. If you see a red target separated from the bottom you can be fairly certain that it's a fish. If all you see is green or orange you won't know if it's a fish until it turns red.

How Long Will My Battery Last On The FL-18?
Run Time - The FL-18 draws about 275 mA, or about a quarter of an amp of current The unit will run good until the battery voltage drops to about 10 volts. Below this point you will notice lower sensitivity, as well as, a much dimmer display. The Vexilar Model V120, a 7.2 amp/hr battery, will run the FL-18 for about 16 hours straight. Battery Life - This applies only to rechargeable batteries. The largest influence on battery life is your charging habits. Follow the charging
instructions that come with the battery. To get the most out of it, follow these simple tips; Charge the battery as soon as possible after each use or, if it's cold, as soon as it reaches room temperature. Do not overcharge or under charge the battery. If possible, use a battery charger that has an automatic shut-off feature. A battery should be stored, fully charged, in a cool place. Charge it every month or two when in storage to make sure it maintains a full charge.
Will The FL-18 Read Through The Ice?
The FL-18 will easily read through ice, provided the ice is CLEAR ICE and not MILKY ICE. Remember, the transducer must have good contact with the surface of the clear ice. A bottom indication should appear on the sounders dial at an appropriate depth. The ice surface must be wet; water works well.
Why Do I Get Interference?
Electrical interference can be caused by other electrical equipment that put unwanted signals on the power or transducer line. It usually can be reduced or eliminated by simple fixes such as resistor spark plugs and wires on the engine or better grounding on the electrical system. Sometimes, however, there can be equipment problems that need shop service. Another kind of interference comes from another depth finder operating on the same frequency nearby. The FL-18s interference rejection circuitry is designed to knock out most or all of this, but sometimes severe conditions can still cause interference. The two factors that determine if this happens are: a) the depth of the water and, b) how far apart the two sounders are placed. If this interference is happening, each of the sounders will have a non-stop rotating light moving around the dial. One moving light rotates around the dial clockwise and on the other sounder the light will rotate in the counter clockwise direction. To eliminate this problem you can either move the sounders farther apart or shut one off.
What Do The Colors In The Bottom Light Mean?
Besides depth the bottom light can give you a lot of information. The width and color content of the bottom signal can tell you what type of bottom it is. Ice fisherman can look for movement of color in the bottom signal. If you see a red line move through the orange or green part of the bottom signal, it's probably a fish close to the bottom and away from the center point of the beam angle. Open water fisherman usually can't see this because the boat moves too much. You can, however, see changes in the bottom type as you move along. The wider it appears and the more red in the signal, the harder the bottom. The narrower it appears and the more green and orange in the signal the softer the bottom is.

Why Shouldnt I Use Auto Zoom Mode In My Boat?
You can use the Auto Zoom feature in the open water, but you need to be aware of what you will see. The Auto Zoom feature is designed to find the bottom and zoom in on a 6 foot window from there up. As the depth changes with boat motion, the bottom will change position on the zoom display. If it gets deeper, the bottom will move off of the screen and no longer be visible. If the depth gets shallower, the bottom will move up the display, making your zoom window smaller and smaller. When the bottom gets to the top of the display or disappears from the bottom of the display, the FL-18 will reestablish the bottom again. It takes about 5 seconds for the unit to establish a new bottom zoom. If the boat is moving quickly over large changes in depth, the Auto Zoom feature will not be able to update the bottom fast enough and the reading will not be consistent.
Why Shouldnt I Use Bottom Lock Mode For Ice Fishing?
The Bottom Lock feature will not work correctly for ice fishing because the Bottom Lock feature is constantly looking for depth changes so that it can keep the bottom locked in place on the zoom display. If a target, such as fish or your bait, moves into the view with a strong enough sig-
nal, the FL-18 will think that the depth has changed and lock on the new signal instead of the real bottom. This appears to you as the target suddenly disappearing from the display. What has happened is that the Bottom Lock has locked onto the new strong signal. Instead of zooming from the bottom up, you are zooming from the new signal up. When the target goes away, the FL-18 will re-lock the correct bottom. This makes for a jumpy display that is difficult to interpret.
What happens If I Use Zoom In Water That Is Less Than 6 Feet Deep?.
If you use either zoom mode in depths of less than 6 feet, the size of the zoom window, you will notice that the zero signal will appear in the zoom view. This will not cause any harm to the FL-18, but you may notice some erratic operation. Switch to Normal or Low Power Modes for depths less than 6 feet.
Where Can I Find More Information About My FL-18 And Other Vexilar Products?
There is a large amount of information located on the Vexilar web site. Simply direct your browser to www.vexilar.com. There you will find information on how to use the Fl-8, FL-18 and other products to their full potential, tips on how to install transducers for reliable results, and resources such as owners manuals and accessory instruction sheets. You can also register your new FL-18 and purchase all Vexilar accessories securely on line.

MAINTENANCE

Permanent Mount
With permanent mount applications, the power cord is left connected to the source, the transducer is not easily removed, and the gimbal bracket is screwed to the seat, deck, or dash. Under these conditions maintenance is very simple because nothing changes once the unit is installed. Because of this, problems can sneak up on you if you're not careful. The unit should be removed from the bracket whenever the boat is parked to guard against theft. Don't store it in a place that may fill with water. Power connections need constant checking. Corrosion can develop and cause intermittent or loss of operation. Connections made to battery posts need extra attention because of the battery acid. The transducer should be checked for scratches and cracks which can reduce the units sensitivity. Cuts or breaks in the cord should be repaired as soon as possible so corrosion doesn't attack the wire. Periodically clean the face of the transducer with a mild detergent. An oily film can develop which will cause weak readings.

Portable Setups

In portable applications the unit is generally mounted to a carrying case and the transducer is frequently removed, as is the power. These conditions can cause more wear and tear than a permanently mounted unit. In addition to the previously mentioned maintenance items, be sure to check for broken or pulled wires, loose screws or hardware, and battery condition.
TRANSDUCER BEAM ANGLES VERSES DIAMETER OF COVERAGE AND PERFORMANCE
Beam angle has a large effect on the performance of your depth finder. There is 10 1.6 2.2 3.4 more to it than simply area of coverage. The 20 3.2 4.3 6.7 correct beam angle to use depends entirely 30 4.7 6.3 10.0 on what you are trying to do with your 40 6.3 8.4 13.4 sonar. If you are fishing for suspended fish 50 7.9 10.6 16.9.4 12.6 20.8 then you probably would be very pleased 70 11.0 14.7 23.4 with the performance of the 19. However, 80 12.6 16.8 26.8 if you were going after fish that are hang90 14.2 20.0 30.1 ing right on the bottom, along a steep drop100 15.7 21.0 33.5 off, you would have 120 18.9 25.2 40.23.6 31.5 50.2 better results with the 300 47.2 63.0 100.4 9. Here's why; Dead Zone is an area within the transducers cone of sound that is blind to you. The wider the beam angle the greater the possible dead zone. The sonar will mark bottom as the nearest distance it sees. If you are fishing over a slope, it may see the high side of the slope, at the edge of the cone, and mark that as bottom. The fish that are hanging on the bottom in the center of the cone will be invisible to you because they are actually within the bottom signal on your depth finder. A narrower beam angle will reduce this effect. Your depth finder puts out a constant amount of power. It does not matter where you have the gain level set. Gain simply controls how much you amplify the signal that is bounced off of the bottom. Therefore, a narrow beam transducer will appear to be much more powerful than a wide beam transducer. This is because you are putting that same amount of power into a smaller area. This can be an advantage if you are fishing in deep water or a detriment if you are fishing shallow. A narrow beam transducer can be overpowering in shallow water. The use of the LP mode on your FL-18 will solve this problem.

Depth 19

TROUBLE SHOOTING CHART
Symptom Unit is turned on, but no display and motor is not running. Unit is turned on and the motor is running, but there is no display. Unit runs well for a short time, then lights fade out or unit quits. Unit runs and shows display light, but does not read depth. Unit works, but needs high gain to see bottom or targets. Unit works, but has too many lines on the display. Can't tell what is what. Unit works well when sitting still or at when slow trolling, but loses reading at higher speeds. Unit shows noise when engine or electric motor is turned on. I.R. does not work. Cant eliminate interference from other depth finder. Possible Cause Check for bad connections, proper hook up polarity, and make sure you have a good, fully charged, battery. Battery voltage too low. The unit will show no display if the voltage is below 10 volts. Check while unit is running. Bad battery or connection. Voltage may be good when checked, but will fall as as unit runs. Transducer is not plugged in, not in contact with the water. Transducer is not aimed correctly or needs to be cleaned. 19 transducers will have trouble seeing small targets deep. Improper transducer adjustment. Also, gain may be set too high or ,if gain is set to minimum, switch to the LP Mode. Improper transducer type, installation, or adjustment causing a loss of clear water flow across the transducer when the boat reaches a certain speed. Defective engine or electric motor. Also can be improper grounding or missing ground in electrical system. Gain may be set too high or the other unit has a problem. Also, check for ice or debris buildup under the gain control.

FL-18 ACCESSORIES

CARRYING CASE
The unique P-160 Porta Case holds your Vexilar FLSeries or other manufacturer's sonar or GPS. It has space for your transducer, a rechargeable battery, and the Vexilar Battery Status Indicator. Just set it down on the ice or boat seat, position the transducer and turn on your flasher. The round base is just the right size to fit down inside a standard 5 gallon bucket.

ECONOMY CARRYING CASE

The P-100 carrying case is simple, sturdy, and inexpensive. It is an easy way to mount the Vexilar FLSeries and many other depth finders and GPS. Made of strong ABS plastic, this case can take abuse at any time of year.
SPORTSMENS BATTERY AND CHARGER
This Battery was designed for sportsmen on the go, with rugged construction and design features that make it ideal for summer and winter use. With a near "bulletproof" charger, this system packs enough power to run your equipment for hours, and for years to come.

BATTERY STATUS INDICATOR

The Battery Status Indicator works with all 12 volt lead acid (gel cell) batteries and can be permanently mounted or used as a portable unit. It monitors your battery constantly as it is discharging and charging. Battery charge status is indicated with a highly visible LED light. Portable, durable, and water-proof. Draws very low current.

FLEXIBLE NIGHT LIGHT

The flexible night light simply attaches to the Porta Case or other type of case to get light where it is needed. Just attach with the wing nut provided and hook up the battery clips. Extra bulb is included.

PROMOUNT

The ProMount is a releasable swival mount designed to hold marine electronics such as depth finders, GPS systems, and marine radios. Includes hole covering gasket and mounting hardware.

MAG SHIELD

The Mag Shield magnifies the display of any Vexilar FL-Series flasher. It also protects the display from debris falling into it. Easily installs with a friction fit.
Other Great Products From Vexilar

The EDGE2 Model LC-507

The Edge, LC-507, is an amazing depth sounder. It is unique in that its like having two totally different depth finders in one unit. It comes with two transducers, a 107 kHz, 38 degree, and a 400 kHz, 10 degree. The idea is that you mount the transducers right next to each other and compare the two different views directly on the split screen. You can also run either beam at full screen. Speed, temp, and voltage sensors are included. This unit was designed for the very serious fisherman. It has a lot of powerful features, but is one of the easiest units ever made to understand and operate.
The CLC-200 Five-Color LCD
The CLC-200 is a five-color LCD depth finder with great multi-colored resolution at an affordable price. Its available in either the popular Boundary Waters portable version (shown) or with a releasable swival ProMount mounting system.
The FL-10 In-Dash Color Flasher
The FL-10 is designed to fit in the standard in-dash mounting hole in your boat. Its super bright and has an exclusive flat display with a very wide viewing angle.

The LPS-1 Handheld

The LPS-1 is a simple handheld digital depth finder. Its great for canoeists, backpackers, ice fishermen, and even scuba divers. It runs on one nine volt battery and gives quick and accurate readings of the depth.

Service and Support

If you find that you need help please contact us. Have ready the model number and, if possible, the serial number of your product. Be sure to read the Frequently Asked Question and Trouble Shooting sections first.

Address

Vexilar, Inc. 200 W. 88th St. Minneapolis, MN, 55420-2752

Telephone

(952) 884-5291

(952) 884-5292

service@vexilar.com

Web Site

www.vexilar.com

FL-8SLT Operation Manual

CONTENTS General Description Specifications Unit Installation Power Connection Transducer Installation Operation Typical Indications Maintenance Operational Questions & Answers Transducer Beam Angle Chart Trouble Shooting Chart Accessories and Other Products Transducers Service and Support 5-- - 16 - - - 27 28
Founded in 1960, Vexilar, Inc. has a long history of bringing revolutionary technology to the sport fishing industry. Just some of the Vexilar firsts include: the first liquid crystal display, the first fish alarm, the first three color display, and the first CRT and straight line paper graphs, for the sport fisherman. Now, with the FL-8SLT, we bring you the first true interference Rejection unit. Again, Vexilar leads, while the others follow.

GENERAL DESCRIPTION

The FL-8SLT is a compact and lightweight depth sounder designed for serious anglers. Besides indicating depth, the unit also shows changes in bottom content and conditions. It can also discriminate between large underwater targets, such as fish, and smaller targets such as bait fish and plankton. The unit transmits bursts of high frequency pulses, which are converted from electrical to mechanical energy by the transducer. These "sound" pulses radiate from the transducer downward and are reflected back up to the transducer where the energy is converted back to electrical signals. The FL-8SLT then processes these signals and displays them. The circular display is accomplished by attaching an LED (Light Emitting Diode) to a wheel, which is then spun at a high speed in the clockwise direction. This allows for an extremely high speed update. The bottom, as well as other targets, can be displayed as red, orange, or green to indicate strong, medium and weak signals respectively. The FL8SLT also has patented Interference Rejection (IR) Technology. This lets the user "filter out" unwanted interference from another nearby depth sounder. With two models available, deep and shallow, and a wide variety of accessories to choose from, the Vexilar FL-8SLT is second to none.

SPECIFICATIONS

Operating Voltage: Current Draw: Power Output: Frequency: Resolution: Target Separation: Display Colors: Dimensions: Weight: 10.5 - 15 Volts (12 Volts Nominal) 200mA 400 Watts (Peak to Peak) 200 kHz 525 Segments 2.65" Min. 3 - Red, Orange, and Green 4.4"H x 6"W x 2.5"D 1.1 Lbs.

Depth Scales:

0-20', 0-30', 0-40', 0-60', 0-80', and 0-120' - Shallow Model Or 0-20', 0-30', 0-40', 0-60', 0-80', and 0-240' - Deep Model

Beam Angle:

If your transducer is not marked, you can determine the beam angle by the dimensions of the transducer face. Measure the shortest distance across the face of the transducer. 19 transducers measure about 1 1/2. 9 and dual beam transducers will be about 2 1/2 across the face.

INSTALLATION

To make the FL-8SLT work, you must provide the unit with power and mount the transducer in an appropriate location.

UNIT INSTALLATION

Find a convenient place to mount the unit. This may include a boat seat, deck, dash, or a portable case. Make sure that there is plenty of room for the unit to tilt and/or swivel freely without the cables binding behind the unit. Once you have found a spot, remove the unit from the gimbal bracket. Securely attach the bracket to the mounting surface.

POWER CONNECTION

Plug the flat 3 pin connector into the back of the unit. Find the closest source of 12 volts and run the cord to it. Keep the cord away from sharp metal edges and avoid tight places where the cord may get crushed. Connect the red wire to positive and the black wire to negative or ground. If the cord provided is not long enough, more can be added. Use 18 gauge wire minimum. It is recommended that a 1 amp in-line fuse be placed in the positive line as close to the power source as possible to protect against any shorts in the wiring.

TRANSDUCER INSTALLATION

There are three basic types of transducers to consider: High Speed, Puck Style, and the Ice-Ducer System.

HIGH SPEED TRANSDUCERS

High Speed transducers are designed to be mounted on the transom of a boat. The wedged shape will cut the water and give a clear depth reading at any boat speed. Locate a spot similar to the one in figure E. Keep in mind that you need clear water flow across the face of the transducer to insure a clear reading at all speeds. Stay away from rivets, ribs, or strakes that would be just in front of the transducer. They will disturb the water and scramble the reading. Attach the mounting bracket to the transducer and hold it up to the boat where you are Figure E planning to mount it (see figure E). Mark the holes on the transom, or mounting plate, so that when the bottom of the transducer is flush with the bottom of the boat the holes are located at the bottom of the bracket slots. This gives you room to "fine tune" the position of the transducer and optimize your reading after you've put the back boat in the water. Drill out the holes and tighten the bracket down securely. Be sure to seal any holes drilled into the transom with silicone to prevent water from leaking into the boat. Run the transducer cord up to the unit taking the same care as you did when you ran the power cord. Plug the transducer connector into the back of the unit and screw the retaining ring down tight.

PUCK STYLE TRANSDUCERS

There are three ways in which a Puck Style transducer can be mounted. It can be mounted In-Hull, on an electric trolling motor, or portable (with a suction cup or on an arm of some type).

IN-HULL MOUNTING

This method, gluing the transducer to the hull, gets the same results as if you were using the High Speed transducer only there are no holes to drill in the boat and there is no transducer on the transom to get damaged by impact. Finding the best location for the transducer before mounting is critical. Choose a flat smooth spot near the center of the bilge and near the back of the boat. It is a good idea to make a "test run" before you permanently install the transducer to make sure that you can indeed get a reading through your hull, and when the boat is on plane. Put about a half inch of water in the bilge and hold the transducer in the intended location. Move the transducer around until you get the best reading. Mark the spot. To install the transducer clean the spot of mud and oil. Using an epoxy or silicone glue make a puddle about the same diameter as the transducer on the hull. Place the transducer in the glue. Press it down firmly, gently twisting it back and forth, making sure that there are no air bubbles in the glue between the transducer and the hull. Let the glue dry completely before turning the unit on. Run the transducer cord up to the unit taking the same care as you did when you ran the power cord. Plug the transducer connector into the back of the unit and screw the retaining ring down tight.

TROLLING MOTOR MOUNTING

To attach a Puck Style transducer to a trolling motor, use a hose clamp or a large cable tie. Notice the slots in the transducer for this purpose. Locate the transducer on the bottom of the lower unit as in figure G. Run the cable up the shaft using cable ties to hold Figure G it in position. Make sure that the movement of the trolling motor will not damage the cable. Plug the transducer connector into the back of the unit and screw the retaining ring down tight.

PORTABLE MOUNTING

Optional suction cup brackets can be used to temporarily attach a transducer to the transom or side of the boat. The cups should be placed in a location where it will not be torn off when the boat goes high speed. It is a good idea to tie on a safety rope in case the cup does let go. There are three suction cup brackets available for the FL-8SLT. The BK0023 and BK0027 are made to attach the Puck style transducers to a boat for use at slow speeds. The BK0044 suction cup brackets is made to attach the high speed transducers to a boat for high speed uses. See page 26 for details. An arm can also be used to hold the transducer. Simply attach the transducer to the end of the arm using cable ties or tape. If the arm is constructed of metal tubing insulate the transducer from the arm by wrapping electrical tape around the arm. This prevents "ringing" which can be displayed as noise near the surface. Run the transducer cord up to the unit using cable ties to hold the cord in place. Plug the transducer connector into the back of the unit and screw the retaining ring down tight.

THE ICE-DUCER SYSTEM*

The Ice-Ducer system provides a quick and easy way to set up the transducer for ice fishing. All of the adjustments needed to find the true perpendicular point are done automatically. To use the Ice-Ducer, simply adjust the transducer to the desired depth and drop the assembly in the ice hole. There are three main components to the Ice-Ducer system. They include the transducer, float, and the stop. The transducer comes assembled with the connector already installed. The stop is put on by passing the transducer cord through the slit in the side of the stop. Make sure that the tapered or rounded end is facing down, toward the transducer. The float is installed between the stop and the transducer by, again, passing the transducer cord through the slit in the side. Make sure the countersunk hole is facing up towards the top. To use the Ice-Ducer, adjust the stop to allow the transducer to float at the desired depth. A six inch minimum is recommended in order to make sure that the transducer will indeed be pointing straight down. The most it should be down is to the bottom of the ice hole. If the transducer is below the bottom of the ice it can cause tangling problems when bringing in fish. If you run into problems when using the Ice-Ducer and you can't see your bait try this, rub the bottom of the transducer with water to eliminate any residue or air film. This insures good contact between the transducer and the water. Check the length of cord between the float and the transducer to make sure there are no kinks in the cord that will cause the transducer to shoot off to the side *Patent no. 5,546,362

INTERFERENCE REJECTION*

The yellow button in the middle of the panel controls the Interference Rejection feature. The red LED to the upper left of the I.R. button tells you if the rejection circuitry is on. The I.R. feature has eight steps of rejection to let you eliminate unwanted interference from another nearby depth finder. When you turn on the FL-8SLT on, the I.R. automatically comes on to the first step. If necessary, press the I.R. button repeatedly until the interference is eliminated. You can press the button seven times before you get back to the first step again. Turning the unit off and then on again will also reset the I.R. back to the first step. To turn the I.R. feature off press the Gain control knob. The red LED will also go off. TIP - If running two SLTs, it is best to turn the I.R. off on one unit and then eliminate the interference on the other unit. * Patent #5,515,339

TYPICAL INDICATIONS

The three-color display on the FL-8SLT can give you a lot of information if you know how to read it. A color represents the strength of a signal. A red color indicates a strong signal, an orange color indicated a medium strength signal, and green represents a weak signal. The colors will combine to indicate objects, such as bottom echoes, structure, fish, and plankton. The way in which they combine, and the speed in which they do so, tells you what is what. The following examples illustrate some of the different conditions that you may encounter and what the display on the FL-8SLT may look like.

HARD BOTTOM

Under these conditions the bottom will be almost all red, although you will always see some orange and green at the trailing edge, as in figure J. A sharp red leading edge tells you that the bottom is very clean. If you were to move from a hard bottom to a softer -bottom you would see a change in color to more orange and green. Try not to change the Gain setting as you move around.

WEEDY BOTTOM

In weedy conditions the bottom can be harder to determine. Figure K gives you an idea of what it may look like. To find the bottom in weeds it is important to keep the gain control low. If the gain is too high the bottom and the weeds will "run together" making it difficult to determine the actual depth. Some weed beds can be so dense that they will display as solid red, even at medium gain. If you fish in these conditions often you may want to add an S-Cable to your system (see page 27).

Fig. J

2ND ECHO

ZERO MARK

SURFACE CLUTTER

BAIT FISH OR PLANKTON

TRAILING EDGE BOTTOM

LEADING EDGE

Fig. K
ZERO MARK SURFACE CLUTTER

TRAILING EDGE

WEEDS LEADING EDGE BOTTOM

POSSIBLE FISH

SEEING FISH
The FL-8SLT sees a fish as a target, much like the bottom. It has a leading edge, a width, and color content. Refer, again, to figure J. If the range setting is S x2 then the fish is just over two feet above the bottom. It is a fairly wide target and is made up of all three colors. This should be recognized as a significant fish, something you may want to catch. The targets that appear just above this fish are smaller and there is no red. Here is where target identification gets a bit trickier. Since we do not know the position of the targets in the cone of sound we cannot readily identify them. For example, the green target at ten feet could be a small piece of floating debris or a single small baitfish in the center of the cone or it could be a large game fish at the very edge of the cone. In the weeds spotting fish is more difficult. Figure K shows a bottom at twelve feet (S1). The weeds extend from the bottom up to about eight feet. Notice the red target at ten feet is marked "possible fish". We cannot say that it is a definite fish because the weeds around it are dense enough to give a red signal themselves. Again, keep the gain as low as you can for reading in the weeds. If you can't turn the gain down far enough you may want to get an S-Cable to cut down the power of your unit.

CLUTTER VS. NOISE

Clutter is created by very small targets in the water. It is usually displayed as thin green or orange lines. Clutter can include bait fish, plankton, floating debris, or air bubbles. Although clutter is not fish, it can be useful in finding fish. Noise is, usually, electrical noise, which is in the engine ignition, radios, or trolling motors. It can be displayed as red, orange, or green lights that flash as the interfering equipment is operated. The Interference Reject circuit of the FL-8SLT will block out most noise, but sometimes, extra measures are required to eliminate it. Please contact our service department (page 28) if you have interference that you cannot get rid of.

HIGH SPEED OPERATION

The FL-8SLT can accurately read depths at almost any boat speed. Here high speed is defined as any speed at or above the planning speed of the boat. Once the boat starts to plane out, turbulence will develop behind the transom. If you have the wrong type of transducer, or it is poorly mounted, the unit will lose the bottom at a certain boat speed. This is due to all of the air bubbles in the turbulent water.

ICE FISHING

Ice fishing brings out the best in the FL-8SLT. The stable platform of ice lets you concentrate on your bait and the fish around it. The bottom becomes less important because it never changes. The only movement on the display is of your bait and fish. Unlike open water use, the direction in which the transducer is pointed is very critical. You want your bait to be located in the dead center of the cone sound. This way you can see very small baits at low gain settings and also see fish come in from all sides. If you are not using the IceDucer system, the transducer must be attached to an adjustable arm so that it can be manually pointed directly at the bait. Sometimes it helps to attach a bubble level to the transducer so that you know when it's straight. After your system is properly set up, adjust the gain until you see your bait as a green target. You may need to readjust the gain control to keep the bait green. This is due to the changing condition and position of your bait. If you are using a swimming bait or a lure that darts to the side as it's jigged, you will see the color change as the bait moves. Sometimes it may even disappear if the bait goes out of the cone of sound. Fish will appear at the edge of the cone as a green target. If the fish moves closer to the bait it will change from green to orange. If it moves up, right next to the bait, it will change to red. If the fish leaves and you can no longer see your bait, chances are, you've been robbed.

MAINTENANCE

PERMANENT MOUNT
With permanent mount applications, the power cord is left connected to the source, the transducer is not easily removed, and the gimbal bracket is screwed to the seat, deck, or dash. Under these conditions maintenance is very simple because nothing changes once the unit is installed. Because of this problems can sneak up on you if you're not careful. The unit should be removed from the bracket whenever the boat is parked to guard against theft. Don't store it in a place that may fill with water. Power connections need constant checking. Corrosion can develop and cause intermittent or loss of operation. Connections made to battery posts need extra attention because of the battery acid. The transducer should be checked for scratches and cracks which can reduce the units sensitivity. Cuts or breaks in the cord should be repaired as soon as possible so corrosion doesn't attack the wire. Periodically clean the face of the transducer with a mild detergent. An oily film can develop which will cause weak readings.

PORTABLE MAINTENANCE

In portable applications the unit is generally mounted to a carrying case and the transducer is frequently removed, as is the power. These conditions can cause more wear and tear than a permanently mounted unit. In addition to the previously mentioned maintenance items, be sure to check for broken or pulled wires, loose screws or hardware, and, above all, battery condition.
OPERATIONAL QUESTIONS & ANSWERS
Where Should The Gain Control Be Set?
For ice fishing - the gain control should be set so the bait you are fishing with is shown in green color on the dial. This color should be set while the lure or bait is at the normal fishing depth. As the bait is raised toward the surface the colors will turn to orange and possibly red, just below the surface. This happens because as the bait is raised towards the surface the signal strength from the bait gets stronger, resulting in color change. For open water fishing - set the gain control so as to get a strong bottom echo along with a second echo. You may need to switch to a deeper range to see the second echo. The leading edge of the bottom echo will show a solid Red band, then bleeding into the orange color, then the trailing edge of the bottom will bleed from orange into the green color. Good bottom echoes, most of the time, will show all three colors, starting with Red, Orange, into Green.
Why Can't I See My Bait While Ice Fishing, or like I can while ice fishing?
For Ice Fishing - In order to see your bait it must be in the center of the cone and you must have your gain turned up high enough to see it. For open water - With the position of the transducer mounted to the boat, it is hard to get your bait there, and with the motion of the water it makes it difficult to keep it there. If all conditions are right you will be able to see your bait.
Why Do Some Lures Show Up Better Than Others?
The amount of Reflective Surface Area on the lure is the main reason. A thin vertical lure is not as easy to see as a horizontal fat lure.
What Color Should Fish Be?
For ice fishing - with the FL-8SLT being operated with the perpendicular position found, the fish target entering the outside of the cone of sound will appear in green, as it moves towards the bait it will add some orange into the center of the signal, and if the fish continues to the perpendicular line under the transducer, red will be added to the center of the fish target. These color changes will take place automatically without adjusting the gain control. This color change feature allows the operator to observe the fish moving towards or away from your bait. For Open Water - The fish can appear the same way on open water as they do ice fishing. The same rules apply. Although, instead of the nice stable platform of ice you have wave and boat motion to contend with. Usually the boat moves more than the fish. If you see a red target separated from the bottom you can bet that it's a fish. If all you see is green or orange you won't know if it's a fish until it turns red

How Long Will My Battery Last On The FL-8SLT?
Run Time - The FL-8SLT draws about 200 mA, less than a quarter of an amp of current The unit will run good until the battery voltage drops to about 10 volts. Beyond that you will notice lower sensitivity, as well as, a much dimmer display. The Vexilar Model V120, a 7.2 amp/hr battery, will run the FL-8SLT for about 20 hours straight. Battery Life - This applies only to rechargeable batteries. The largest influence on battery life is your charging habits. To get the most out of your battery follow these simple tips; Charge the battery as soon as possible after each use or, if it's cold, as soon as it reaches room temperature. Do not overcharge or under charge the battery. Use a battery charger that has an automatic shut-off feature. A battery should be stored, fully charged, in a cool place. Charge it once a month or so when in storage to make sure it's full.
How Far Down The Ice Hole Does The Ice-Ducer Have To Be?
You need water contact only to get a depth reading. The bottom or the face of the transducer, only, has to make contact with the water in order to get a good transfer of sound waves into the water There are times (usually deep ice - 36" or more) when the transducer needs to be placed at the bottom of the ice. The zero indication of the flasher will be unusually wide, 8 to 10 feet wide. This can be caused by the transmitted signal ringing back and forth through the depth of the hole. By extending the transducer to the bottom of the hole this ringing can be eliminated. Now the lake depth must be mentally corrected for the new position of the transducer.
Will The FL-8SLT Read Through The Ice?
YES! It will easily read through ice, provided the ice is CLEAR ICE and not MILKY ICE. Remember, the transducer must have GOOD CONTACT with the surface of the clear ice. A bottom indication should appear on the sounders dial at an appropriate depth. The ice surface must be wet; water works well.
Why Do I Get Interference?
Electrical interference can be caused by other electrical equipment that put unwanted signals on the power line. It usually can be reduced or eliminated by simple fixes such as resistor spark plugs and wires on the engine or better grounding on the electrical system. Sometimes, however, there can be equipment problems that need shop service. Another kind of interference comes from another depth finder operating on the same frequency nearby. The FL-8SLTs interference rejection circuitry is designed to knock out most or all of this, but sometimes severe conditions can still cause interference. The two factors that determine if this happens are: a) the depth of the water and, b) how far apart the two

sounders are placed. If this interference is happening, each of the sounders will have a non-stop rotating light moving around the dial. One moving light rotates around the dial clockwise and on the other sounder the light will rotate in the counter clockwise direction. To eliminate this problem you can either move the sounders farther apart or shut one off.
Which Side of the Transducer Should Be Aimed Toward The Lake Bottom?
Most of today's transducers have two sides to them. Side A is the side that the cable enters the transducer and usually has holes, slots, or some method to attach a bracket to. Side B is usually flat but may have different shapes, such as round, square, or arrow shaped. The Side B or the Flat side should be aimed toward the lake bottom.
What Does the Zero Light Mean?
The zero light is actually the start point of the units transmission of sound waves. On the display it indicates the zero foot point. This signal has very little use. Sometimes a portable transducer arm can cause "ringing" which will display as a very wide zero. The width of the zero indication should never be more than 5 feet wide. Most problems occur when the arm, which the transducer is attached to, is metal. Plastic or wood transducer arms cause little problems. To test your portable box system, in air, turn the FL-8SLT on, range 1, and with the gain control turned to maximum position, note the width of the zero indication. If the zero indication is wider than 5 feet, squeeze the transducer and metal arm together with your hand. While squeezing, if the zero gets smaller you need to work on the transducer attachment. To solve the problem, especially with a metal transducer arm, remove the transducer from the metal arm. Then tape three layers of black electrical tape around the arm in the flat section of the arm, then lay the transducer against the tape and continue to tape it onto the flat section on the metal arm. The tape creates an insulation layer between
the metal arm and the plastic housing of the transducer. This insulation layer eliminates any transmission vibrations caused when the unit transmits the signal to the water.
What Does the Bottom Light Mean?
Besides depth the bottom light can give you a lot of information. The width and color content of the bottom signal can tell you what type of bottom it is. Ice fisherman can look for movement of color in the bottom signal. If you see a red line move through the orange or green part of the bottom signal, it's probably a fish close to the bottom and away from the center point. Open water fisherman usually can't see this because the boat moves too much. You can, however, see changes in the bottom type as you move along. The more red in the signal, the harder the bottom. The more green and orange in the softer the bottom

Why is the Bottom Indication so Wide?
While fishing in a depth of 30 feet, a normal width of a bottom indication is from 5 to 12 feet wide. The width of the bottom is actually the summation of the radius of coverage on the bottom and is controlled by the gain control. The bottom width and color adjust automatically. The leading edge of the bottom light is the actual depth. The color beyond is the area, within the cone of sound, which is around the center point of the circle you are covering on the bottom.
TRANSDUCER BEAM ANGLES VERSES DIAMETER OF COVERAGE AND PERFORMANCE
Beam angle has a large effect on the performance of your depth finder. There is more to it 10 1.6 3.4 than simply area of coverage. The correct beam 20 3.2 6.7 angle to use depends entirely on what you are try30 4.7 10.0 ing to do with your sonar. If you are fishing for 40 6.3 13.4 suspended fish then you probably would be very 50 7.9 16.7 pleased with the performance of the 19. However, 60 9.4 20.8 if you were going after fish that are hanging right 70 11.0 23.4 on the bottom, along a steep drop-off, you would 80 12.6 26.8 have better results with the 9. Here's why; Dead Zone is an area 90 14.2 30.15.7 33.5 within the transducers cone 120 18.9 40.2 of sound that is blind to you. 150 23.6 50.2 The wider the beam angle the 300 47.2 100.4 greater the possible dead zone. The sonar will mark bottom as the nearest distance it sees. If you are fishing over a slope, it may see the high side of the slope, at the edge of the cone, and mark that as bottom. The fish that are hanging on the bottom in the center of the cone will be invisible to you because they are actually within the bottom signal on your depth finder. A narrower beam angle will reduce this effect. Your depth finder puts out a constant amount of power. It does not matter where you have the gain level set. Gain simply controls how much you amplify the signal that is bounced off of the bottom. Therefore, a narrow beam transducer will appear to be much more powerful than a wide beam transducer. This is because you are putting that same amount of power into a smaller area. This can be an advantage if you are fishing in deep water or a detriment if you are fishing shallow. A narrow beam transducer can be overpowering in shallow water. The use of an S-Cable will solve this problem, though. Depth 9 19

TROUBLE SHOOTING CHART

Symptom Unit is turned on, but no display and motor is not running. Unit is turned on and the motor is running, but there is no display. Unit runs well for a short time, then lights fade out or unit quits. Unit runs and shows display light, but does not read depth. Unit works, but needs high gain to see bottom or targets. Unit works, but has too many lines on the display. Can't tell what is what. Unit works well when sitting still or at when slow trolling, but loses reading at higher speeds. Unit shows noise when engine or electric motor is turned on. I.R. does not work. Cant eliminate interference from other depth finder. Possible Cause Check for bad connections, proper hook up polarity, and make sure you have a good, fully charged, battery. Battery voltage too low. The unit will show no display if the voltage is below 10 volts. Check while unit is running. Bad battery or connection. Voltage may be good when checked, but will fall as as unit runs. Transducer is not plugged in, not in contact with the water. Transducer is not aimed correctly or needs to be cleaned. 19 transducers will have trouble seeing small targets deep. Improper transducer adjustment. Also, gain may be set too high or ,if gain is set to minimum, you may need an S-Cable (see page 27). Improper transducer type, installation, or adjustment causing a loss of clear water flow across the transducer when the boat reaches a certain speed. Defective engine or electric motor. Also can be improper grounding or missing ground in electrical system. Gain may be set too high or the other unit has a problem.
Accessories for the FL-8 SLT

PORTA CASE

The unique P-160 Porta Case holds your FL-8, FL8SLT or other manufacturer's sonar or GPS. It has space for your transducer, a rechargeable battery, and the Vexilar Battery Status Indicator. Just set it down on the ice or boat seat, position the transducer and turn on your flasher. The round base is just the right size to fit down inside a standard 5 gallon bucket.

ECONOMY CARRY CASE

The new P-100 carrying case is simple, sturdy, and inexpensive. It is an easy way to mount the Vexilar FL-8 and many other depth finder and GPS. Made of heavy ABS plastic, this case can take abuse at any time of year.

SEALED LEAD ACID BATTERY WITH CHARGER
This V-120 Battery was designed for sportsmen on the go, with rugged construction and design features that make it ideal for summer and winter use. With a near "bulletproof" charger, this system packs enough power to run your equipment for hours, and for years to come.

BATTERY STATUS INDICATOR

The T-130 Battery Status Indicator works with all 12 volt lead acid batteries and can be permanently mounted or used as a portable unit. It monitors your battery constantly as it is discharging and charging. Battery charge status is indicated with highly visible LED lights. Portable durable, waterproof and compact. Draws very low current.
L-100 Flexible Night Light
It simply attaches to the Porta Case or other type of case to get light where it is needed. Just attach with the wing nut provided and hook up the battery clips. Extra bulb is included.

S-240 Sun Hood

The Sun Hood gives you full screen visibility in even the most extreme sunlight. Inexpensive and easy to take on and off.
More Depth Sounders From Vexilar
For a free color brochure please ask your dealer or contact Vexilar. The EDGE2 Model LC-507
The Edge, LC-507, is an amazing depth sounder. It is unique in that it is like having two totally different sonar in one unit. It comes with two transducers, a 107 kHz, 38 degree, and a 400 kHz, 10 degree. The idea is that you mount the transducers right next to each other and compare the two different views directly on the split screen. You can also run either beam at full screen. Speed, temp, and voltage sensors are included. This unit was designed for the very serious fisherman. It has a lot of powerful features, but is one of the easiest units ever made to understand and operate.

The FL-18

The FL-18 is the first ever flasher to incorporate a split-screen zoom. and with two modes of zoom, a low power mode for shallow water, and a super bright display, this unit is the ultimate three-color flasher.
The Boundary Waters Model LC-10
The LPS-1 is a simple to use handheld digital depth finder. Use it for fishing, ice fishing, canoeing, backpacking, and scuba diving. runs on one 9-volt battery.

The Deptherm Model 104

The fishing odds are on your side when you use DEPTHERM. It tells you quickly and accurately what temperatures are below your boat and it also tells you the temperature at a specific depth. If your DEPTHERM indicates that the water is too cold or too warm for the species you're after, you can quickly move, just as the fish do.

Transducers and Accessories
TB0044 - 19 Transom Mount High Speed Transducer. Comes with the Mounting Bracket and 25 Feet of Cable. TK144 - Complete Mounting Kit. Comes with TB0044 Transducer, FL-8 Power Cord, Unit Mounting Bracket, and all the Hardware You Need to do the Job Right. TB0030 - 9 Transom Mount High Speed Transducer. Comes with the Mounting Bracket and 25 Feet of Cable. TB0045 - Dual Beam 9/19 Transom Mount High Speed Transducer. Comes with the Mounting Bracket and 25 Feet of Cable. Built-In Switch Box must be Mounted within 3 Feet of the Depth Finder. BK0044 - Optional Suction Cup Mount for all of the above High Speed Transducers. Dual suction cups for extra holding power. TB0023 - 19 Puck Transducer. For Mounting on a Electric Trolling Motor, In-Hull Mounting, Portable Use, or Ice Fishing. Comes with 12 Feet of Cable. TK123 - Complete Mounting Kit. Comes with TB0023 Transducer, FL-8 Power Cord, Unit Mounting Bracket, and all the Hardware You Need to do the Job Right. BK0023 - Optional Suction Cup Mount for TB0023. TB0027 - 9 Puck Transducer. For Mounting on a Electric Trolling Motor, In-Hull Mounting, Portable Use, or Ice Fishing. Comes with 25 Feet of Cable.
TB0032 - Dual Beam 9/19 Puck Transducer. For Mounting on a Electric Trolling Motor, In-Hull Mounting, Portable Use, or Ice Fishing. Comes with 25 Feet of Cable. Built-In Switch Box must be Mounted within 3 Feet of the Depth Finder. BK0027 - Optional Suction Cup Mount for TB0027 and TB0032. TB0050 - 19 Ice-Ducer. Self Leveling and Floats in the Ice Hole. Comes with Float, Stopper, and 7 Feet of Specially Designed Cable. TB0051 - 9 Ice-Ducer. Self Leveling and Floats in the Ice Hole. Comes with Float, Stopper, and 7 Feet of Specially Designed Cable. TB0052 - Dual Beam 9/19 Ice-Ducer. Self Leveling and Floats in the Ice Hole. Comes with Float, Stopper, and 7 Feet of Specially Designed Cable. Built-In Switch Box must be Mounted within 3 Feet of the Depth Finder. "S" CABLE - The S-Cable (short for Suppression Cable) is used to reduce the output power of the FL-8 or FL-8SLT. This can often help clear up readings in shallow or cluttered waters. Simple installation between the unit and transducer. SB-100 Switch Box - The SB-100 Switch Box allows you to run two transducers on one FL-8 or FL-8SLT unit. You could switch between a trolling motor mounted transducer and a stern mounted one or, while ice fishing, switch between the hole you are fishing from and a remote hole. Also, the SB-200 is available as a switch box for two units and one transducer.

Service and Support

If you find that you need help please contact us. Have ready the model number and, if possible, the serial number of your product. Be sure to read the Question and Answer and Trouble Shooting sections first.

Address

Vexilar, Inc. 200 W. 88th St. Minneapolis, MN, 55420-2752

Telephone

(952) 884-5291 (8 am to 5 pm M-F Central Time)