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Sonar interference

I have a Minn Kota Maxxum with universal sonar, and I'm getting interference on my bow mount egraph. I know I should wire the graph directly to my cranking battery, which I need to do. Any other recommendations to reduce interference with the universal sonar?

Replies to This Discussion

Permalink Reply by Tom Edwards on March 14, 2010 at 12:20pm

How old is the sonar? How old is the electric motor? How long has the 2 of them been attached together? How long has the interference been happening?

Permalink Reply by Shawn O'Connell on March 14, 2010 at 12:29pm

Universal sonar is built into the trolling motor.

I'm betting it is the power issue. I actually installed a separate battery for my electronics and it has worked like a champ.

Permalink Reply by Brian McHenry on March 15, 2010 at 6:31pm

You's gots a Minna Kota, Uh huh?

Permalink Reply by Andy Smith on March 15, 2010 at 8:31pm

You ues sonar

Permalink Reply by Ronald Hobbs, Jr. on March 15, 2010 at 11:03pm

I don't think you need a sonar that is working, I'm tired off picking pieces of leather from my butt after you kick it so bad on Sammamish!

Permalink Reply by Mark Shugdinis on March 16, 2010 at 7:22am

I hade interference every time I stepped on my trolling motor to engauge power to it. The first thing you need to do is wire it directly to the cranking battery and then install a ground wire from your negative terminal on your trolling motor #1 battery to the negative terminal on your craking battery with a 10 amp in line fuse. This is all on the assumtion you isolated the problem to the trolling motor .

Permalink Reply by Willie Nelson on March 16, 2010 at 9:33pm

Interference is caused by a few things. Direct wiring is a start. Also if it is a newer model may have a small 3 amp fuse under motor cap. check that fuse if it has one.
i would first do reccomendations that others have given and if doesnt work then call minn kota and get a interference kit will come with a few chokes one you wire in line up front at power wires for bowmount. a small donut which you make 7 wraps with universal sonar cable and a small choke which you wire at units power.

Hope this helps

Permalink Reply by Greg Hatleberg on March 17, 2010 at 11:12am

Damn you beat me to it! Also if we're talking about a humminbird unit make sure you have all the latest software updates(that also may help if it's lowrance Marc M could tell you more about lowrance) the interferance kit Willie speaks of is for Hummingbird Unit. Although the in line choke for the trolling motor would help for either unit! If you have any questions on the software updates feel free to message me or I'm sure Willie would be able to help.

Willie Nelson said:

Interference is caused by a few things. Direct wiring is a start. Also if it is a newer model may have a small 3 amp fuse under motor cap. check that fuse if it has one.
i would first do reccomendations that others have given and if doesnt work then call minn kota and get a interference kit will come with a few chokes one you wire in line up front at power wires for bowmount. a small donut which you make 7 wraps with universal sonar cable and a small choke which you wire at units power.

Hope this helps

Permalink Reply by John McHenry on March 17, 2010 at 4:06pm

Thanks Tom. Pretty sure it's an issue I've always had. The screen doesn't totally black out, so I've just lived with it.

Tom Edwards said:

How old is the sonar? How old is the electric motor? How long has the 2 of them been attached together? How long has the interference been happening?

Permalink Reply by John McHenry on March 17, 2010 at 4:09pm

Thanks Shawn.

Shawn O'Connell said:

Universal sonar is built into the trolling motor.

I'm betting it is the power issue. I actually installed a separate battery for my electronics and it has worked like a champ.

Permalink Reply by John McHenry on March 17, 2010 at 4:12pm

John, I may have been iss advised to get the universal sonar. I actually thought it reduced interference.

John G said:

Try it on its own battery first. But most linely its the trolling motor #1 I don't like the universal sonar it does not display the detail as the ducer is not matched to the unit just my 2 cents after much research.
2 things can cause this The trolling motor has a feature in it that pulses the power off & on to save battery life you can try a fused ground wire from the battery to the big motor to cut down on this. If this was not a problem b4 & has just started then you may have some cracks in the windings in the motor or other issues with the motor.

Permalink Reply by John McHenry on March 17, 2010 at 4:12pm

How do? Uh huh!

Brian McHenry said: