11-23-2018, 04:51 AM
I'm an electrical person too and I have the same concerns when it comes to wires and weights, but you have to consider that the engineers who designed the ice transducers are keenly aware of that issue and will design accordingly. As far as I know, Humminbird only makes two models of ice transducers: the sonar model (XI-9-20), which is the one I use with my Humminbird 678 and which should also work with the Helix 7, and the flasher model (XI-9-19). Both of them have two cables: a rubber support cable that attaches to a bracket at the top of the transducer to take all of its weight, and the signal cable that comes out of the top of the transducer (under the bracket) but carries no weight as long as the support cable is used. You shouldn't have any problem with stress on the signal cable.
I used to use the transom mount transducer that came with the unit, but I found that the ice transducer is far superior to it as well as being much easier to use. You can use the foam float that comes with the ice transducer to suspend it in the hole, or you can attach the support cable to a rigid support (like a piece of wood or PVC) over the hole. Either way, in my opinion the ice transducer is the only way to go.
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I used to use the transom mount transducer that came with the unit, but I found that the ice transducer is far superior to it as well as being much easier to use. You can use the foam float that comes with the ice transducer to suspend it in the hole, or you can attach the support cable to a rigid support (like a piece of wood or PVC) over the hole. Either way, in my opinion the ice transducer is the only way to go.
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