RF/TM noise interference improvment (597ci HD DI)

Last week I was informed of RF/TM noise on screen shots of my new 597ci. Here's waht I was seeing at trolling speed .8-1.0....
.Attachment 86509.Attachment 86508

After doing some research I rerouted the transducer wire away from the coiled power wire and installed a pair chokes on the TM power cord. Here was the result...(setting were 9 sensitivity, 9 contrast with surface clutter set to 1, noise filter set to high1)Attachment 86510Attachment 86511.
Not quite what I wanted but I could live with it if neccessary. But I continued to reasearch the subject.
RF Chokes installed...Attachment 86512.

Today I twisted a 18 gauge wire around the transducer wire and spliced it into the negative wire on the sonar unit (tried the neg. wire on the TM power with no results) and anchored it to the clamp on the TM motor. Here is the result...(sensitivity set to 12 (14 was clear as well), contrast 10, surface clutter 5, and noise filter off)...Attachment 86514Attachment 86515.

Still needs some tweaking on sharpness and whatnot, but as can be seen there is very little RF/TM noise showing on the unit while the TM is running at trolling speeds. Need less to say I am very happy now.

The fix....Attachment 86517Attachment 86516Attachment 86518

Did you pick those chokes up from radio shack?

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Originally Posted by Superx10

Did you pick those chokes up from radio shack?

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Yes...Snap-Together Toroid Choke Core-2-Pack

| Catalog #: 273-104

Snap-Together Toroid Choke Core-2-Pack - RadioShack.com

Was the 18 ga a suggestion from Humminbird? Haven't seen that one before, unless I missed it. How far back with the 18 ga did you go before splicing into the power cord?

thanks

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Originally Posted by vic n

Was the 18 ga a suggestion from Humminbird? Haven't seen that one before, unless I missed it. How far back with the 18 ga did you go before splicing into the power cord?

thanks

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I used 18 gauge since I had some on hand from installing the unit....Humminbird said to run a wire (18 gauge being acceptable) from the skeg to the negative side of the of the battery. I tied it in where I had splice the power wire to lengthing it during installation, about 5 ft back. Decided to try anchoring it to the clamp before drilling holes in my Powerdrive.

You don't have to drill hole's in your PD and would not suggest it.I took mine to a authorized minnkota repair center and had them install a ground internally.Problem solved.

I would like more info on grounding the trolling motor...

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Originally Posted by Dutch

I used 18 gauge since I had some on hand from installing the unit....Humminbird said to run a wire (18 gauge being acceptable) from the skeg to the negative side of the of the battery. I tied it in where I had splice the power wire to lengthing it during installation, about 5 ft back. Decided to try anchoring it to the clamp before drilling holes in my Powerdrive.

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And what about the "wrapping" of the 18 ga? Was that just for convenience to not have another wire flopping around, or is it supposed to help with the noise?

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Originally Posted by vic n

And what about the "wrapping" of the 18 ga? Was that just for convenience to not have another wire flopping around, or is it supposed to help with the noise?

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Wrapping the wire helps with the shielding...the tighter the wrap the better it will shield.

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Originally Posted by Superx10

I would like more info on grounding the trolling motor...

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Here you go... The #1 FIX

AAARGH! Sonar Noise! - The #1 Fix