Basic sonar setup questions

[jtram]

Om sure this has been discussed many times, but...... I just bought an older 17 ft tracker with 0 sonar on it. I have 2 lowrance elite 4 units, 1 color with gps, the other an elite 4x not color not gps. I plan on putting these on my boat, one on my trolling motor the other on my console. both have transducers that I know nothing about, and this will be my first time setting up and attempting to truly use sonar. Looking online is ridiculously overwhelming, can somebody give me some basic info, setup suggestions? Are these units servicable?

[Seth]

Here is my opinion.

Console

------------

Use the GPS color unit here.
Run power wire to cranking battery.

Bow

-------

Use the black and white non-GPS unit here

Run 14 gauge dedicated power wires to the cranking battery.

Route the transducer cable like the picture below instead of along the wires that go to the foot pedal. This helps prevent the trolling motor from interfering with the sonar screen. Depending on which model trolling motor you have, you may need to drill small holes in the scissor arm for the zip strips to attach to. The motor pictured is a Minnkota Fortrex, but I did the same thing on my Maxxum with small holes and electrical tape. The keey is to just try and route and secure the wire in the same path as shown in this pic.

[jtram]

Those were my thoughts on setup, but I think I am going to run a dedicated battery for my sonar, 12 volt motorguide 54 lb, so I have room for a 3rd battery. Thanks for the pic, I will route my wires the similar to what you show.

[Seth]

Sounds like you got it figured out then. if you have any more questions after you get started, don't hesitate and post them on here. One thing I didn't ask was if you already had a bracket that lets you mount the transducer to the lower unit of the trolling motor. On my Humminbird, I had to buy one and it was like $20. The older Lowrance skimmer transducers could be used without any additional brackets since they were thin metal. I'm not sure if the newer graphs use the same transducer brackets or if they are all plastic. The Humminbirds are plastic.

[jtram]

I just ordered a tm transducer mount last night. Couldn't find one for my transom and I got my units 2nd hand so Im going to try to get my old bracket on my boat to work, different size bolt, but I think some spacers will make it work for the time being.