Transducer life span.

[Redge]

I have an 1198 with the big si transducer. It seems that I am seeing less detail.
Do transducers wear out? Do they have a lifespan?
Hadn't thought about this before, will try to restore defaults next time I'm on the water.
No I'm not really looking for a reason to buy a new helix 12! LOL

[rnvinc]

Piezoes vibrate ... vibration is mechanical energy ... Anything mechanical can wear ...

Yes xducers "wear" ... how much ...??

No one really has a way to quantify ...

Testing next to a brand new one is the best way I know of ...

Rickie

[IceNitro]

Should you take them off and keep them inside if you can?

[rnvinc]

Should you take them off and keep them inside if you can?

I don't really know if sitting out in the weather has any effect on transducers ...

I do know the Sun can deteriorate just about anything over time ...even stuff with UV inhibitors added ...

Rickie

[BobB]

A black object can get extremely hot in direct sunlight .... it would be prudent to prevent that.

I think the wire connections to the piezo is where the deterioration takes place .... not the piezo itself. I have seen some posts by Greg in the past indicating that doing the initial connection of the wires to the piezo is kind of an art.

[Alphahawk]

I have worked with piezos for years on radar systems. They go bad....not too often but it happens. I have never seen one that was degraded...they would just go bad and not perform their function....in other words no in between on them....just worked or did not work. As was mentioned above the wiring was always the culprit. At times I would find the wiring coming out of the unit would be broken at the connecting point on the control terminal...but many times the wire had opened inside the potted part of the connector on the piezo itself......nothing we could do about that except to discard and replace.

Regards

[scrat]

So I am to presume that a transducer will either work or not work. They don't just wear and get weaker over time from use?

[BobB]

So I am to presume that a transducer will either work or not work. They don't just wear and get weaker over time from use?

There could be a LOT of debate about it ..... I have seen post where people have a degraded image.

[Marvin]

I just had to replace a transducer. The sealant, tar like substance, started leaking out, water enters and it goes bad..

[Redge]

Thanks for the input Gentlemen!
Ice my boat is always in my shop if I am not fishing.
I am thinking my returns have just gotten weaker over time. I fish the exact same areas of the lake, on the same lake that I have fished ever since I bought the 1198. Think I will try the restore defaults first.