Scotty58 Posted January 19, 2015 Posted January 19, 2015 I just bought a HDS 7 Gen 2 with structure scan from tackle warehouse this winter. Was thinking of installing it on my nitro z6 myself. I have no experience installing fishing electronics at all. I did go to school for electrician so i have experience with wiring in general. Just was wondering if any of guys have done one like this and if you think its easy enough for a guy like me to correctly install this or be better off paying a professional to do it? I am more than likely going to RAM mount the unit at the console and was thinking of mounting the structure scan module in the rod locker right in front of my console. The only part i hate is drilling into my boat. I just worry but i know to get a high grade below water line sealant. Thanks for any help and opinions guys! Quote
Super User WIGuide Posted January 19, 2015 Super User Posted January 19, 2015 I think you can manage doing it yourself. Aside from the power source, there really isn't that much wiring involved other than running the ones from the transducer and SS transducer up through the hull. Looking at a few pics quick, it looks like it shouldn't be to hard to install the SS transducer on which seems to be the trickiest part. Quote
Siebert Outdoors Posted January 19, 2015 Posted January 19, 2015 I installed mine a few years ago. It was pretty easy and straight forward. The biggest deal was connecting the LSS wires correctly and deciding where to put the LSS on the transom. The directions tell you exactly how to do this. One thing I would do for sure is run a separate power wire for the HDS 7. I first ran mine off another power wire. Bad idea. It would reset itself when the outboard started. Problem is gone since I ran a new wire. Quote
Super User Jig Man Posted January 19, 2015 Super User Posted January 19, 2015 What is the worry about water? You're not thinking about putting it on the outside wall are you? Quote
Siebert Outdoors Posted January 19, 2015 Posted January 19, 2015 I am more than likely going to RAM mount the unit at the console and was thinking of mounting the structure scan module in the rod locker right in front of my console. The only part i hate is drilling into my boat. I just worry but i know to get a high grade below water line sealant. Thanks for any help and opinions guys! That sounds exactly how I have mine mounted. The LSS box is up against the rod locker wall and the other side is the console. You wont need sealant. The console will keep the other side. With that said the screws I used didnt go through. Quote
Scotty58 Posted January 20, 2015 Author Posted January 20, 2015 i was talking about sealant for the screws that mount the transducer on the back of the boat. haha i hate the thought of put screws into the hull. Quote
Super User Jig Man Posted January 20, 2015 Super User Posted January 20, 2015 Do you have a jack plate? If so mount the lss ducer to it. Quote
Siebert Outdoors Posted January 20, 2015 Posted January 20, 2015 LOL, If you mount it to the boat use a high quality marine sealant. Quote
Scotty58 Posted January 21, 2015 Author Posted January 21, 2015 I do remember reading in the installation manual that you can mount it to the jackplate and yes i do have one. Thats probably what im going to do. And doesnt the actually transducer that comes with the HDS 7 have to be mounted within so many inches of the LSS transducer for downscan overlay?? Quote
Siebert Outdoors Posted January 21, 2015 Posted January 21, 2015 For the best readings it does need to be close. Here is what the manual states | Downscan Overlay The StructureScan transducer should be installed within approxi - mately 1 foot of the broadband sounder transducer to get optimum performance from the Downscan Overlay feature. It is recommended you turn off Downscan Overlay when using your trolling motor as the sonar source, unless the StructureScan transducer and broadband sounder transducer both are installed on the trolling motor. Downscan overlay performance could be degraded if the Struc - tureScan transducer is too far away from the broadband sounder transducer installed on the trolling motor. Quote
Texasporty Posted January 25, 2015 Posted January 25, 2015 Please post some pics of where you installed the lss-2. I posted to a similar question over on *** but nobody responded. Quote
Super User tomustang Posted January 25, 2015 Super User Posted January 25, 2015 The installation is fairly simple, you should have got instructions for the structure scan transom mount in the package. And as stated both units should be within 12in. Does your boat have a jackplate? Quote
Scotty58 Posted January 25, 2015 Author Posted January 25, 2015 my boat does have a jackplate. believe ill mount the lss on it for sure Quote
Super User Jig Man Posted January 25, 2015 Super User Posted January 25, 2015 The ideal spot would be on a hole shot plate under the jack. I don't have one so I used the metal bar that goes from one side of the jack to the other. If is about 1/4" from the boat. I drilled holes in it and tapped and threaded them. Then, I bolted the lss ducer to it. Quote
Texasporty Posted January 25, 2015 Posted January 25, 2015 The installation is fairly simple, you should have got instructions for the structure scan transom mount in the package. And as stated both units should be within 12in. Does your boat have a jackplate? No jackplate....pictures looks exactly like the boat in the thread titled "trancducer location". Have not found one picture of a z6 with a lss-2 installed. I don't think you could put a lss-2 where he put the humminbird transducer. I would even like to see a picture of one installed on a z6 with a jackplate....although I think it would be pretty simple. No jackplate is what makes this installation so tough. Mark Quote
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