Lowrance electronic X-16 12- , a

INTRODUCTION

The Lowrance X-16 is a highly

sophisticated recording depth

sounder Thanks to a micro-com-

puter, the X-16 can do more than

any other sonar unit in its price

range plus many that cost much

more. Using the waterproof key-

board, full control of the system

at your fingertips to meet the

changing demands of varying bot-

tom conditions, water depth, and

boat speed. You can select the

unit's

sensitivity, discrimination

level, upper and lower depth

range, paper speed, GRAYLINE,

and many more

features. The

patented Lowrance variable sup-

pression system combined with

the new Discrimination feature not

only filters out false

signals

with-

out distorting the real ones, but is

syncronized with the GRAYLINE

function to provide clear

signals

under all conditions.

HOW IT WORKS

When the

unit is turned on, an

electronically regulated motor

drives a lightweight belt located at

the right edge of the

recording

paper The

stylus is attached to

this belt. When the

stylus is at the

top of the paper a small mark is

made. This is called the zero

mark, and represents the surface

of the water. The stylus

continues

FIGURE 1

GRAPH

PAPER

to move down the edge of the

paper while the sound pulse is

traveling through the

water, and

when an echo

is detected, the

stylus

makes another mark on the

paper. The

depth of the object

which reflected the echo can be

read in feet, fathoms, or meters by

comparing its location on the

paper

to the depth scale printed

on the paper.

The

paper speed is controlled

by a variable speed motor During

one revolution of the stylus

belt, a

very

narrow mark will be made by

the flexible stylus, but the paper

will move a small amount before

the next revolution. Each mark will

blend into the one before so that a

composite picture" of the target

will be made, one tiny mark at a

time.

INSTALLATION

Mounting —

The

depth sounder may be

installed in any convenient area,

provided

the unit can be tilted for

the best viewing angle. Holes in

the bracket base allow wood

screw or bolt mounting.

A wood

stiffener may be required on the

back of thin fiberglass panels

support the unit.

Make certain there is enough

room on the back side of the unit

to attach the power and trans-

PULLEY

DRIVE

-STYLUS

DRIVE

BELT

• STYLUS

PULLEY

on the X-16. Because the

transmitted power is greater,

stronger signals are transmitted

into the water. This will increase

the depth range of the unit and

the signal to noise ratio, plus the

ability to see small detail is

enhanced. For installation

instructions on the LPB-1

92, read

the owner's manual included with

the power booster.

To turn the power

booster

on,

press

12- 2nd -5.

To turn

the power

booster

off,

press

2nd - 8.

FREQUENCY CONVERTER

The Model LXC-16 frequency

converter allows the X-16 to use

either a 50 kHz or 192 kHz

operating frequency at the

discretion of the

operator. It can be

switched from 192 to 50 kHz at

any time by using

the keyboard.

For installation instructions, see

the owner's manual included with

the LXC-16.

To turn

the frequency converter

on, press 2nd - 5.

To turn

the frequency converter

off, press 2nd - 8.

GLOSSARY OF TERMS

CAVITATION Air bubbles trapped

against the transducer. This is

typically

caused by an improper

transducer installation. Aluminum

boats in particular have problems

with cavitation. The problem is

most evident when

travelling at

high speed. Air bubbles are cre-

ated by rivets, strakes, ribs, or

other

objects which then pass

over

the face of the transducer. For the

proper operation of the transducer,

it must have solid contact with the

water at all times.

MICRO-SECOND Unit of mea-

sure. One micro-second is equal

to 0.001 second. Used in sonar to

measure the amount of time the

unit is transmitting. Abbreviation:

W5.

NOISE Any undesired

signal.

Noise can show up on a graph

recorder as small dots or lines

randomly scattered across the

paper. It can be caused by electri-

cal sources such as alternators,

spark plugs, improper wiring, or by

mechanical sources, air bubbles

passing over the face of the

transducer,

vibration of the engine,

or a loose transducer mounting.

OUTPUT POWER The amount

of electrical energy applied to the

transducer by the transmitter.

Expressed in wafts, typically

the

higher the output power a sonar

unit has, the deeper it can read,

and smaller detail can be shown.

POWER BOOSTER A device

which connects to the transducer

jack of the sonar unit and

increases its output power.

PULSE LENGTH The length of

time that the sonar unit transmits

a pulse of sound into the water

This

period of time is very short

and is usually referred to in micro-

seconds. Also called Pulse Width.

RANGE Maximum depth that a

sonar unit is set to display.

For

example, a range setting of 0-60

feet on a graph means that the

maximum depth that can be dis-

played before the bottom echo

drops off the chart paper is 60

feet.

RESOLUTION The

ability of a

sonar unit to separate targets.

This ability is determined by the

pulse length of the unit. If

the

pulse length is very short, 50

micro-seconds for example, then

PDF compression, OCR, web-optimization with CVISION's PdfCompressor