Helix interference solved

[Way north bass guy]

I used to have a Helix 5si on the bow, transducer mounted to the trolling motor. It was ok but kinda small, so this year I moved my Helix 9si up there from the console and installed a mega 10si on the console

( awesome units by the way). Both the 5 and 9 had terrible interference whenever I stepped on the pedal for the Terrova, only on the si though. 

I tried all the usual stuff, heavier gauge twisted pair wire to the cranking battery, all the recommended ferrite rings, moving wires around to separate graph from trolling motor wires, trolling motor choke etc. with no luck. Finally after digging around online I found and tried the method where you run an 18g wire from the Helix neg. up to the head of the Terrova, siliconed it along the channel in the shaft and attached it under the metal transducer clamp. First time out last weekend and all clear! It cleared up absolutely 100% of the interference on the side imaging. Just wanted to pass this along in case anyone else is chasing the interference demons to have maybe one more option to try. I know every boat is different, but I couldn’t be happier with this outcome for mine. 

[slonezp]

Where exactly did you make the connection of the 18ga to the Helix neg. ?

[Way north bass guy]

I spliced it in under the front deck, right where the Helix power cables connect to the 10g wire I ran from the battery. I just twisted the 18g and the Helix neg. together and crimped them into the butt connector for a tight connection. 

[bugbee77]

On 5/17/2018 at 7:23 AM, Way north bass guy said:

I spliced it in under the front deck, right where the Helix power cables connect to the 10g wire I ran from the battery. I just twisted the 18g and the Helix neg. together and crimped them into the butt connector for a tight connection. 

Where on the terrova did you place the 18g? And can you upload some pictures for me?

[Way north bass guy]

First pic- 18g wire comes out from under bow deck and runs parallel to the transducer wire 

Pic #2- wires run up through coiled main cable

Pic #3 and 4-both 18g and transducer wires go over to shaft then are siliconed down groove in shaft. 

Pic#5- 18g wire is attached to ring terminal that is held tight underneath transducer hose clamp. And that’s it. Works great for me. Hope this helps. 

 

[riverbasser]

This is my next project. I'm getting a lot of interference on sonar with my helix 7 when I run the TM. Not only interference but it loses the depth constantly giving me crazy readings like 200ft.

 

Thanks

[grub_man]

Did you try running the transducer wire outside of the Terrova coil?  That may have been the simplest solution.  The coiled wire makes a solenoid/electromagnet.  Since the Terrova has the power management feature, it saves battery by switching on and off rapidly.  Every time it switches the magnetic field changes, inducing a current in any wire inside the coil, causing interference in current sensitive electronics.  Making the mistake of spiraling a transducer wire down the shaft of a TM has a similar effect as well.

 

In any case, glad you found a work around!

 

riverbasser, if the crazy depth readings are tied to running the TM, it is likely interference.  If they are not, it may be sign of a poor connection between the transducer cable and your unit. make sure they are snug, or it may be a damaged transducer cable, most likely near the stress relief on the cable near the head unit or near the transducer itself.  The last time I had a transducer fail, it would give funny readings, drop connection, or weak signals.  It was damaged at the stress relief at the transducer.  I diagnosed it by wiggling the wire around the stress relief points after checking its length for damage.  Good Luck!

[Way north bass guy]

I initially had the transducer wire running straight from the unit to the tm foot, and the interference was still there. I’m sure with some setups this would make perfect sense but it didn’t seem to matter for me. Seems like every single boat configuration is different when it comes to interference. 

[grub_man]

Hmm, strange, well glad it worked out in the end!

[Comfortably Numb]

The depth reading jumping in shallow water fiasco is a VERY common issue with the new HB's. HB is working on a fix but taking their time.

 

HB says to.....

Surface clutter on 7

Use high chirp or 200

 

Mine is much better with these settings to four feet

 

[Way north bass guy]

1 hour ago, Comfortably Numb said:

The depth reading jumping in shallow water fiasco is a VERY common issue with the new HB's. HB is working on a fix but taking their time.

 

HB says to.....

Surface clutter on 7

Use high chirp or 200

 

Mine is much better with these settings to four feet

 

It’s funny you mention this, I have three Helix units and have never once had an issue with depth reading. I’m sure there are glitches with some units ( in every different company), but I also think a lot of this “problem” that I’ve seen on other forums as well has to do with user error. They are after all small computers, and it doesn’t take much to screw up a setting on a computer ( god knows I’ve had experience with that ?).

[Crusty McHooker]

Helix 7 / Minn Kota interference.

 

Bow had a Humminbird 598ciHD which worked perfectly. Moved my Helix 7, power cord, and transducer to the bow, interference ensues.

 

I reinstalled the transducer that was attached to the 598. Same problem.

 

I reinstalled the power cord that was attached to the 598. Same problem. 

 

I reinstalled the 598 as it was before I moved it. Now it has interference.

 

I haven’t touched anything else on the boat.

 

I tried the suggestion above. No luck. I give up.