Vexilar FLX-38 BB Flasher Instruction Manual
FLX-38™BB Vexilar® Flasher Instruction Manual
Contents
- Features & Specifications
- FLX-38™bb Operation
- FLX-38™bb Inner Ring Display
- FLX-38™bb Color Palettes
- Vexilar Lithium Charging
- Vexilar Lithium Warranty
- Storage & Prevention Tips
- General Troubleshooting
- Electrical Interference Troubleshooting
- Vexilar Support
- Warranty Information
Features & Specifications
| FLX-38™BB | |
|---|---|
| Display Type | Weatherproof, super-bright, 5-color LED (five color palettes). |
| Display Face | Flat screen with super wide viewing — more than one angler can see the display — and from farther away or from the sides. |
| Flasher Technology | Effective in 2020, All Vexilar Flashers are being produced using Vexilar's proprietary brushless data transfer technology to deliver a sunlight-readable display and less noise. |
| Resolution | 525 segments. Target separation of ⅛" at 5' range setting and ¼" at 10'. |
| Depth Range settings (feet) |
Auto: 5, 10, 15, 20, 25, 30, 40, 50, 60, 80, 100, 125, 150, 175, 200, 225, 250, 300 Manual: 5–30 (1' increments), 35, 40, 45, 50, 60, 80, 100, 125, 150, 175, 200, 225, 250, 275, 300 |
| Target ID | Less than ¼ inch |
| Auto Zoom Settings | Adjustable from 6' to 18' (1' increments). Manually shift zoom window anywhere in the water column. |
| Low Power Mode | Seven power mode settings: 3× Low, 3× Medium and High |
| Sonar Frequencies | Variable 160–300 kHz (15 settings) |
| Interference Rejection | 300 options (20 settings per frequency) |
| Ice-Ducer®/Transducers | Exclusive broad band Ice-Ducer® transducer |
| Sonar power output (Max) | 1000 watts |
| Night Mode | Built-in |
| Mode Lock | Built-in |
| Sonar longevity | MST matching sonar technology ensures maximum sonar performance and longevity by balancing the transmitter and receiver to the transducer crystal. |
| Battery Status | Voltage meter & low battery alert |
| Digital depth display | Built-in (Normal or High Power modes) |
| Operating voltage | 10.5–15 volts (12 volts nominal) |
| Current draw at 12 V | 300 mA |
| Dimensions (head unit) | 4.8"H × 6"W × 2.4"D |
| Weight (head unit) | 1.1 lb |
| Factory warranty | Standard two-year limited warranty. |
FLX-38™BB Operation
Vexilar has developed the FLX-38, our best flasher ever with 15 "Broad Band" sonar frequencies, our first ever variable zoom window, the flexibility of 7 power levels, Night Mode and unmatched interference rejection and signal clarity. Based on the same performance platform as the FLX-30, the FLX-38 offers the angler 15 frequencies and 20 IR settings for each frequency, which gives you 300 combinations to eliminate interference from other sonar units once and for all!
Broad Band Sonar
Most sonar systems sold today use a fixed frequency of 200 kHz. This has been well-accepted by most anglers and boaters for over 40 years. While not perfect for all situations, 200 kHz is suitable to get sonar depth readings down to 300 feet, even though most sonar systems are used in waters under 40 feet.
Sonar designers fully understand the limitations of a fixed frequency system, however offering several frequencies in a single system was not commercially available until the development of Vexilar's Broad Band Ice-Ducer® transducer. For the first time, a composite transducer was made from an array of small crystals in one compact housing. The transducer delivers 15 sonar frequencies ranging from a 15-degree beam at 160 kHz to an 8-degree beam at 300 kHz. Anglers can fine-tune the display to knock out interference and sharpen target ID down to ¼".
The Level of Performance You Need!
With the FLX-38 you have control over frequency to adjust beam size; you have control to focus on a specific depth zoom-range to maximize resolution; you have control over power levels to sharpen sonar signals and avoid spooking the fish and you have the ultimate Interference Rejection settings to kill sonar interference.
Having the ability to adjust your sonar unit to fit the water you are fishing is going to improve your results. In one application the wider 160 kHz frequency might deliver a larger and smoother signal than 270 kHz. Gain levels might need to be adjusted slightly to make your lure just the right size so you can even see your minnow on the hook! Reducing power levels when the fish have scattered or stopped biting can turn the bite back on.
With the Vexilar FLX-38 you've invested in the finest ice fish finder on the market because it:
- Can change frequencies to give you the best diameter of coverage in all the depths ice fisherman fish in.
- Can adjust depth ranges in increments of 1 foot.
- Provides the best target ID and resolution of any flasher on the market.
- Has an adjustable Zoom window size and a completely user selectable Zoom window placement in the water column.
- Provides 7 power settings so you can get the fish back to biting when they have been pounded by high power sonar pulses.
- Has an advanced IR rejection system to always give you a clean display.

Gain Control
Keep the gain low. Increase it only enough to see clear bottom or your bait. The Gain Control also commands the Interference Rejection and Night Modes (see following pages).
Mode Control
This sets the FLX-38's current operating mode (see following pages).
Example display readout
Depth "8.9Ft AR-10" (for 8.9 feet to the bottom and Auto Range = 10 feet) and "HP 190" (for High Power 190kHz frequency). Note: The FLX-38 Will only show Digital Depth readouts in High Power.
Setting the Range
The FLX-38 is equipped with a digital depth readout on the inner display dial. "AUTO" stands for "Auto Range." You can also select ranges manually.
The "AUTO" setting automatically selects the correct depth range in 1 foot increments to maximize the display area. The shallowest range in the Auto setting is 0–5 feet. If you are fishing in only 4 feet of water, in the "AUTO" Range setting the entire dial of the display will be dedicated to 5 feet and less. To override the AUTO feature, simply change the Range Control to the desired depth setting by rotating the Range Knob to the right. The digital display on the inner dial of your Vexilar unit will display the current depth and the current range, power and frequency setting.

PPEL38BB shown
Power On/Off
When turning on the FLX-38, simply push and hold the Range Switch for 3 seconds. To turn the unit off, follow the same process, push and hold for 3 seconds.
Default Settings
To restore Default Settings, tap the Range Switch until Factory Reset appears on screen then rotate the Mode Switch to the right and Default settings will be restored.
- Zoom: OFF
- Frequency: 200kHz
- Power: High
- Range: Auto
- Color Palette: #4 (see following pages)
With the Range Control set to Auto, when powering the unit on you may see the word "Searching" for up to eight seconds. The system is looking for the bottom to establish the best depth range and Interference Rejection setting for you. Once the depth is found, the digital depth is displayed, and the range setting will be shown at the bottom of the display.

Mode and Range VariMax Switches
The new VariMax Switches on the Range and Mode knobs allow for expanded controls on the FLX-38. These replace the old seven and six position switches that limited the number of settings on each switch. Pushing the Mode Control button will cycle through the different modes as follows.
Mode Settings and Options
Power (P): Choose the output power in this mode. Push to cycle to Power, then rotate to cycle between (Low) L1P, L2P, L3P (Medium) M1P, M2P, M3P (High) HP.
Zoom (Z): This mode controls the Zoom window size from 6ft to 18ft in 1ft increments. Push the Mode Control to cycle to Zoom, then rotate the Mode Control after selecting Zoom to adjust zoom window size.
Manual Zoom (MZ): After selecting the Zoom window size, push the Mode Control to cycle to Manual Zoom, then rotate the Mode Control to position the Zoom window anywhere needed. Zoom window size and position will be shown by a solid green line on the flasher dial.
Frequency (F): This mode controls the FLX-38's Broad Band settings. Push to cycle to Frequency, then rotate Mode Control to select different frequencies: 160, 170, 180, 190, 200, 210, 220, 230, 240, 250, 260, 270, 280, 290, and 300kHz (see next page).
Color Select (CS): Choose the color palette you like best while in this mode. Push Mode Control to cycle to Color Select, then rotate Mode Control to select from the 5 available color palettes, which are explained in detail further into this manual.

Multi-Layer Display
The FLX-38 includes three separate display rings on its face. The outer display ring is the 525-segment fish finding flasher display like all Vexilar units have. However, with the FLX-38, we offer even more color palettes.
The second inner layer ring on the face displays green markers as depth indicators. As you change depth ranges, the green markers will correspond to the depth increments as shown in the table below. This makes it easy to position your bait one or two feet off the bottom without guessing.
The third and inner-most ring displays Alpha-numeric information including digital bottom depth, depth range, battery voltage level, IR setting levels, and your mode settings.
Frequency vs Beam Angle
Each frequency has a different beam angle. The lower the frequency, the wider the area of coverage.
| Frequency | Beam Angle |
|---|---|
| 160kHz | 15° |
| 170kHz | 14º |
| 180kHz | 13° |
| 190kHz | 12.5º |
| 200kHz | 12° |
| 210kHz | 11.2º |
| 220kHz | 10.5° |
| 230kHz | 10º |
| 240kHz | 9.5° |
| 250kHz | 9º |
| 270kHz | 8.6° |
| 280kHz | 8.4º |
| 290kHz | 8.1º |
| 300kHz | 7.8° |
FLX-38BB Inner Ring Display
Special Range Messages
SEARCHING — The FLX-38 is adjusting to the proper range.
USE MANUAL RANGE — The FLX-38 cannot lock on the bottom.
Setting the Frequency
The FLX-38 Broad Band sonar has the ability to operate on a frequency tailored to your specific fishing situation. The "F" on the Mode Control stands for "frequency." Push the Mode Control until Frequency appears on the screen, then rotate the Mode Control to change the frequency.
The standard rule with frequency is this: the lower the frequency, the wider the beam angle, and the higher the frequency the narrower the beam angle. If you feel the display has too much clutter, interference, large signal sizes, or you start seeing strange things floating in the water column like freshwater shrimp, zoo plankton or even thermal stratification in the water column, cycle your unit through the fifteen frequency options to see if you can improve the view. You will see the current frequency selected located in the 11 o'clock position on the main dial.
Adjust the Gain level to maximize the performance of each frequency. Keep the gain as low as possible where the bottom, your lure and any fish give strong returns on the flasher, and the green clutter and interference just disappears as you turn the gain down.
Auto Range Operation
Auto Range automatically selects the proper range for you. However, it is not infallible. It is possible to confuse the "Auto Range" operation when fishing over very soft lake bottoms or during conditions of thick ice. The software cannot find a bottom point in the return signal strong enough to trigger a lock. For this reason, there can be an eight second delay beginning when you put the transducer in the water before the unit attempts to lock. The display will show SEARCHING as it processes the signal to best determine the true bottom point.
When soft bottom conditions exist, you may need to turn up the gain initially to help the program find bottom. Then turn the gain back down when fishing. If you find the Auto setting cannot lock on bottom, the display will request that you switch to a manual range group. Turn the Range Control to the right until you see the bottom appear. Also, switch to High Power. Auto Range will not perform well, if at all, in the Medium and Low Power options.
FLX-38BB Zoom/Manual Zoom
The zoom window reads counterclockwise on the left half of the flasher face. The lowest depth in your Zoom setting will always appear at the 7 o'clock position. Objects and fish will appear in the zoom window in a higher resolution scale. If you see targets appear above the zoom window on the right-hand side of the dial, on the full scale flasher, push the mode control to cycle to select Manual Zoom mode and rotate the Mode Control to move the zoom window up to where the targets are. The Zoom window size can be adjusted from 6ft to 18ft in 1ft increments in Zoom mode and the position can be adjusted anywhere on the screen in Manual Zoom.
Power Modes
The "P" on the MODE Control stands for Power. The unit will start in the default setting, and the main dial will show the designation "HP" for High Power. Push the Mode Control knob in until the "Power" setting shows on the inner dial, then rotate the Mode Control to the left to adjust power output of the transducer. The inner display will show "M3-Power" for Medium 3 Power for two seconds. Continue to Rotate the Mode Control rotary switch left to switch to the "M2-Power," or M2P Mode, and again until you reach the lowest power "L1-Power" or L1P. Stop at the power setting you desire to use while fishing. To increase the power, turn the Mode Control back to the right.
Depth Range Control
When first turning the FLX-38 on, it will start in Auto Range. To set Manual Range, simply turn the Range Control knob to the right to a desired depth range. If Auto Range is needed, turn the Range Control to the left until "AR-(depth)" appears on the screen.
Example: AR-25 is "Auto Range 25ft", while R-25 means "Manual Range 25ft"
Interference Rejection
Interference Rejection (IR) is a feature that allows you to fish around other sonar systems without seeing interference from the sonar signals from those other nearby sonar devices. Interference shows up as random signal flashes or slow-moving signals that rotate around your display. Interference Rejection, IR, as it is called, is an automatic feature on the FLX-38 when the transducer is in the water and the system is turned on. The sonar system listens for other sonar signals and automatically selects a clean setting for your unit that will best reject other nearby sonar signals.
To manually adjust IR settings, push in Gain Control to cycle between the available 1-20 manual IR settings. There are 20 IR settings for each frequency. With 15 frequencies available, the FLX-38 offers 300 total Interference Rejection options.
Color Select
The FLX-38 includes five optional color palettes from which to choose. Push the Mode Control until "Color Select," (CS) appears on screen then rotate the Mode Control to cycle through the available palettes. The default setting is #4 (white, red, yellow, green, blue). A thorough explanation of each color mode can be found further into this manual.
Mode Lock
Once you have the modes set and the unit dialed in for the day, you can now "Lock-In" those modes, so they do not change. To activate the "Lock" feature, simply push and hold in the Mode Control for 2 seconds (2s). When the unit is in "Lock," the only functions that you will be able to adjust are the Range Control and Gain Control Knobs. If you need to "Unlock" the unit to change settings on your Mode Control, push and hold the Mode Control for 2 seconds (2s) or power the unit off and on again and the unit will be "Unlocked."
Battery Voltage vs Percentage of Charge Remaining
| Battery Voltage | Percent Charge |
|---|---|
| 13.26+ | 100% |
| 13.25 – 13.06 | 80% |
| 13.05 – 12.85 | 60% |
| 12.84 – 12.24 | 40% |
| 12.23 – 11.22 | 20% |
| 11.0 | 0% |
These values are based on the Vexilar Lithium battery.
(LOW BAT WARNING will appear at 11.0 volts. Temps below zero can slightly lower the voltage of the battery.)
Night Mode
The sunlight-readable display on the FLX-38 may start to cause discomfort if left at full brightness for a long period of time in a dark environment. Night Mode is an option that dims the display to make it comfortable to watch for hours at night with less eye stress. To access this feature, push and hold Gain Control for 2 seconds. The brightness of the display lights will be cut by nearly 50%. Repeat the process to return to standard brightness or turn the unit off and then on again.
LP Mode & Open Water Use
In Low and Medium Power Modes, accurate digital depth readings cannot be maintained, so the Digital Depth display is disabled.
The Auto Range technology was designed specifically for an ice fishing environment. It is recommended to use Manual Range settings for open water use and when in Medium and Low Power Modes.
If you lose the digital depth reading of bottom, or the digital depth reading does not seem to match the flasher signal, these factors may come into play:
- Very soft bottom
- Too many fish (depth readings will jump to the fish and back to bottom as fish pass)
- Too much vegetation
- Actual depth may be deeper than the current range selected (shift to a deeper range)
Advanced FLX-38BB Applications
Why does anyone need fifteen frequencies? Why would anyone ever change the power setting or adjust the color palette? These are questions to think about when you are considering the FLX-38. As you spend time on the water with this unit, you will realize that you can and will use the advanced features of the FLX-38 to your advantage in catching more fish. Several examples of how this works are provided below! The FLX-38 gives also you the flexibility to simply use the "AUTO" Range setting to set the unit if you prefer that over manually adjusting the unit.
Fishing in Weeds
Fish love weeds and can be caught in and around them with great consistency. Realize the wider the cone angle the more weeds you will see. The 160 kHz frequency transmits a 15 degree "cone" and the 300 kHz about 8 degrees. Changing the frequency changes the cone angle and will reduce the number of weeds shown on the display. In this case, wider is not better! Dialing back the intensity of the sonar output eliminates weak signals, but the strongest signals remain. A live fish will be more sonar sound reflective than a soft weed stem, so reduce the power to Medium or Low Power modes and you can see fish in weeds!
Fishing Suspended Fish
Many anglers love to fish 15–18 ft down, for example, over 50 feet of water for suspended panfish or trout. When using the Auto Range setting the entire display is dedicated to the 50-foot depth you are fishing. By using the Manual Zoom you can effectively shift your zoom window up to the fish to highlight the whole school or active portion of the school to increase success down to 6' for a much higher target ID on the zoom scale.
Fishing in a School
Utilizing your frequency control when fishing in a large school of fish is important. Using a wide cone angle (low frequency) will pick up more fish targets which can help you see if there are fish around. The downside to this is if there are too many targets on the screen, it could be tough to differentiate one from another. Adjusting your frequency to a high frequency will narrow your cone angle allowing you to focus on what is directly below you, reducing the number of targets on the screen and giving you better sizing of fish with the signal coming from the transducer being more concentrated.
Fishing Scenario Summary
- Shallow barren bottom: Low Power, Low Frequency to see a larger viewing area.
- Shallow weedy bottom: Low Power, High Frequency to shoot between the weeds.
- Deep water flats: Medium Power to High Power (use depth chart for power level) Low Frequency when searching for the fish and then switching to High Frequency when on top of the fish to achieve better sizing of the fish.
- Steep breaks: Use depth chart for power level, always use a High Frequency, this will give you the smallest amount of dead zone.
- Soft bottom: Manual Depth range, Medium Power (depending on depth) and a Mid-level Frequency 200kHz–220kHz.
| Depth Chart for Power Levels | |
|---|---|
| L1P, L2P, L3P | 20ft and Under |
| M1P, M2P, M3P | 20–50ft |
| HP | Over 50ft |
FLX-38™BB Color Palettes
Color Modes allow you to tailor the display to both control the presentation of the information displayed, as well as fit your viewing comfort.

Color Mode 1: Classic Vexilar – Red, Yellow, Green
In this application, green shows the weakest signals below you. Commonly weeds are shown in green and even your lure sometimes would be shown as green. If you turn up the gain setting, that same green signal will change to yellow or maybe even red. Yellow is the next strongest signal and then red, which will be on your display at the zero mark and again to show you bottom. The beauty of the Vexilar three-color system is that you are able to adjust your gain so that a fish target at the outer edges of the signal will be green, and as it approaches your lure will shift to yellow and then red when the fish is directly below the transducer.

Color Mode 2: Red and Yellow Only
The more you use a Vexilar flasher, the more you will be confronted with situations with a lot of green on the display. For example, this can be caused by heavy weeds, or by thick clouds of tiny bugs on some lakes at night. By removing the green, you eliminate many of the confusing signals that you normally have to fish around. In this setting, your lure will be yellow and you will notice that fish will "suddenly appear" more often since the weaker green signal is no longer there to alert you of a fish on the outer edge of your coverage.

Color Mode 3: White, Red, Yellow, Green
While color setting #2 limits some of the signals that are displayed, color option #3 does the opposite. Green once again represents the weakest signal, yellow stronger signals, red now shows the second to the strongest, and finally white represents the strongest signals. It is often called a "Christmas Tree" because of the wide variety of colored lights you will see when fishing over a large group of fish. When you see a fish in red turn to white, you know the fish is inches from your lure. The advantage of the four-color setting is seeing more individual targets, which might be too confusing to some, but you will gain the ability to target specific fish.

Color Mode 4: White, Red, Yellow, Green, Blue (Default for FLX-38)
In all other color modes, filtering is used to limit the total signal level shown on the display. The micro-processor decides when a target is worthy of your attention or not. The five-color option turns all filtering off to show you nearly every signal possible. The dynamic range of colors allows you, not the computer, to interpret the sonar signals. On one hand, you might think having all this information is a good thing, but if you can see the curl of your fishing line as a blue signal in the display, are you happy or just confused? To skilled flasher anglers, having five colors gives you more advanced warning of nearby fish, better understanding of fish attitudes and even indication of whether or not your bait is still on the hook. Give it a try and see if you like it.

Color Mode 5: White, Red, Blue
Designed to function exactly like color option #1, but helps people who are color blind and have difficulty distinguishing the red/yellow/green color palette. Setting #5 is an alternative that has proven to be much easier to use for these people. Blue replaces green as the weak signal color, red replaces yellow as the medium strength color, and white represents the most intense sonar signals. Anyone can use this color option.
Vexilar Lithium Charging
Care and Maintenance
The power supply options for fishing are changing rapidly. Now anglers can use the traditional SLA (Sealed Lead Acid) battery for their Vexilar system or the next generation of battery, Vexilar Lithium. As with all batteries, its maintenance is the key to years of reliable use. Understand that not all lithium batteries are the same. The Vexilar Lithium battery has been specifically designed to work with the V-410 SLA charger with some limitations. Also, please do not attempt to use a Vexilar V-410 charger on other brands of lithium battery and assume the charger will properly charge a non Vexilar battery. Learn more about Lithium battery charging at vexilar.com
Vexilar Lithium Do's
- Recharge the battery after every use even if the battery status indicator says the charge is at 100%.
- Disconnect the charger as soon as the charge is complete.
- Charge the battery only when it is warm.
- Unlike the optional V-420L, the standard V-410 / V-420 chargers are not rapid chargers, expect to charge your battery over-night after each fishing trip. Twelve hours of charging may be required after a long weekend of fishing.
- It is okay to store the battery over the summer at 30–50% of capacity.
Instructions for 1 Amp Digital Automatic Charger
- Plug in charger to a standard wall outlet (AC 100-240 volts) Foreign adapter may be required.
- A Green light will show you have power and ready to charge.
- Connect red clip to positive (Red) battery terminal and the Black clip to the Negative terminal.
- The Green Light will turn red and stay red until the charge cycle is complete.
- The Green light indicates the battery is fully charged. Remove the charger.
- When your red light is flashing it signals cold battery or reverse polarity. Remove charger connection and investigate the issue.
IMPORTANT: Charge the battery fully before first use.
NOTE - The V-420 charger can also be used to charge Vexilar SLA batteries. Please see the specific charging instructions at Vexilar.com
Vexilar Lithium Don'ts

- Do not keep the charger connected to the battery after the charge is complete (light is green).
- Never attempt to charge when the battery is cold.
- A sudden drop is bad news! The battery contains a specialized circuit called the BMS. If this circuit is damaged, the battery will go dead to protect itself. This is not repairable, and the battery will need to be replaced.
- Never puncture or expose to 150 or more degrees F.
- Never submerge the battery. It is water-resistant, but if submerged, it will fail and cannot be repaired. This type of accident is not covered under warranty.
- Do not use any brand of charger other than Vexilar to charge this battery.
- The Vexilar Lithium battery was designed to be charged with the Vexilar V-420 or V-420L charger. Do not attempt to charge other brands of lithium batteries with Vexilar chargers.
- DO NOT remove the fuse holder or use a fuse larger than 10 Amps. Additional fuse holders may be purchased directly: FH1000
Battery Warranty
Vexilar Lithium & Max Lithium Warranty
The Vexilar Lithium batteries have a full replacement warranty, two years from date of purchase. The battery must not have been submerged, damaged or improperly charged.
All costs do not include shipping.
FH1000 Fuse Holder

Mounted on the positive terminal of your battery is a fuse holder and fuse. Vexilar knows your battery can cause fires if a dead short happens, so we have taken the added safety precaution to include this fuse holder with a 3 amp fuse for your battery.
Fuse Holder Notes
- It comes standard with a 3 amp automotive fuse, but you can put in a size fuse from 1 amp to 10 amps.
- If your sonar system does not power-up, check to see if fuse or fuse holder is loose.
- If your sonar system does not power-up, inspect the fuse itself, if the wire inside the fuse is burnt, the fuse must be replaced
- YES your Vexilar can run without the fuse holder by connecting directly to the battery, but please use it whenever possible for safety purposes.
- If for some reason you've lost your fuse holder or would like to put them on all your Vexilar systems, they are available directly at vexilar.com, order number: FH1000
Storage & Prevention Tips
- Store in cool dry area. Do not store in a sealed container like a bucket or Soft Pack, trapping moisture.
- Be sure an SLA battery is fully charged before storage and re-charged every 45 days. Vexilar Lithium batteries do not need to be fully charged when stored and can be stored for up to a year without issues. Ideally they should be stored at 50 to 80% capacity
- Clean the flasher body and screen with a soft cloth and a mild detergent. Do not submerge in water or other liquids.
- Do not expose the body or display to chemicals such as fish attractant or insect repellent. Damage to the surfaces can occur.
- Do not submerge the body in water or subject it to heavy wave splashing. The flasher housing is weather-proof for most conditions, but is not waterproof. Water damage is not covered under the warranty.
General Troubleshooting
| Symptom | Possible Cause |
|---|---|
| Unit is turned on, but no display and motor is not running. | Check for bad connections, proper hook up polarity, and make sure you have a good, fully-charged battery. |
| Unit is turned on and the motor is running, but there is no display. | Battery voltage too low. The unit will show no display if the voltage is below 8 volts. Check voltage while unit is running. |
| Unit runs well for a short time, then lights flash randomly or unit quits. | Bad battery or connection. Voltage may be good when checked, but will fall as unit runs. |
| Unit runs and shows display light, but does not read depth. | Transducer is not plugged in or not in contact with the water. |
| Unit works, but needs high gain to see bottom or targets. | Transducer is not aimed correctly or needs to be cleaned. 19° transducers will have trouble seeing small targets deep. |
| Unit works, but has too many lines on the display. Can't distinguish signal targets. | Improper transducer adjustment. Also, gain may be set too high or, if gain is set to minimum, switch to the LP Mode. |
| Unit works well when sitting still or at when slow trolling, but loses reading at higher speeds. | Improper transducer type, installation, or adjustment causing loss of clear water flow across the transducer when the boat reaches a certain speed. |
| Unit shows noise when engine or electric motor is turned on. | Defective engine or electric motor. Also can be improper grounding or missing ground in electrical system. |
| I.R. does not work. Can't eliminate interference from other depth finder. | Gain may be set too high or the transducer is weak. Also, check for ice or debris buildup under the Gain Control. |
Electrical Interference Troubleshooting
There may be situations where you experience interference from other electrical devices, not just from another nearby depth sounder. This interference will show on the display as random signals and interfere with your ability to see normal display signals. The most common sources of interference are electric trolling motors and engine ignitions systems. Your flasher's IR feature won't help much, as this is designed for cross-talk, but here are some tips that might.
Sources
Interference can be introduced into your sonar system through the power supply, transducer line or both. To identify the source, unplug the transducer and run the trolling motor or the engine. If the interference disappears, you know the noise is coming in through the transducer line. If not, it's coming through the power line or both.
Wiring
Power line interference can generally be solved by improvements in the wiring positions, connections and grounding. You want to be sure the sonar wiring is as far away as possible from the trolling motor wiring and that the wiring is neat. Make cable runs as short as possible and neatly coil extra wire and tie it off so it stays put in rough water or while pulling the boat. All electrical connections should be in very good condition. Push-on terminals should be tight. Wire crimp connections should not come free when pulled firmly. Conductors should be shiny, not dull or corroded.
Grounding
The boat's electrical system should have a common "Earth" ground to the water. In most boats, the electrical system is grounded through the outboard to the water. Many times an electric trolling motor interference problem can be solved by a "ground" wire from the negative trolling motor power source to the negative of the starting battery.
Equipment
Electric trolling motors and gas engines can have technical problems that can cause interference. If common wiring improvements do not solve the problem, be sure to check with the manufacturer to see if there are any recommendations or updates available regarding interference with depth sounders.
Vexilar Support
If you find that you need help, please contact us. Have the model number of your product ready and, if possible, the serial number. Please be sure to read this manual thoroughly and check vexilar.com for answers first.
Address:
Vexilar, LLC
6667 West Old Shakopee Road, Suite 101
Minneapolis, MN 55438-2622
Telephone: (952) 884-5291
Fax: (952) 884-5292
Email: service@vexilar.com
Web Site: https://vexilar.com
Business Hours: 8:00 AM to 4:30 PM M–F Central Time

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Go to https://vexilar.com/warranty
Warranty Information
This VEXILAR product is warranted against factory defects in material and workmanship for a period of 2 years from the date of purchase or receipt as a gift*. During the warranty period, VEXILAR will repair or at its option, replace at no cost to you for labor, materials or return transportation provided the unit is returned, shipped prepaid to Vexilar, LLC, 6667 West Old Shakopee Road, Suite 101, Minneapolis, MN 55438-2622. This warranty does not apply if the product has been damaged by accident or misuse, or as a result of service or modification by other than the factory. If a replacement is given, the original warranty period shall resume upon date of receipt.
Except as otherwise expressly stated in this previous paragraph, the COMPANY MAKES NO REPRESENTATION OR WARRANTY OF ANY KIND, EXPRESSED OR IMPLIED, AS TO MERCHANTABILITY, FITNESS FOR A PARTICULAR PURPOSE, OR ANY OTHER MATTER WITH RESPECT TO THIS PRODUCT. Company shall not be liable for, and purchaser assumes responsibility for, all personal injury and property damage resulting from the handling, possession or use of the product by Purchaser or others who obtain it through purchaser.
* A sales receipt with date of purchase may be requested before service work is done under warranty if no warranty registration information is on file. A serial number or UPC code on the box cannot be used to establish date of purchase.
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https://vexilar.com/pages/warranty
PROBLEM?
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Call: 952-884-5291
DID YOU KNOW?
Failure to disconnect battery terminals or to turn off your master power switch when not in use will drain the battery to the point it can never be used again.
This is not covered by warranty.
Please fill in the information below and retain for your records.
- Date of Purchase
- Model #
- Serial #
- Place of Purchase
Vexilar may request proof of purchase at time of service if the unit's purchase date is in question.
Vexilar®, LLC | 6667 West Old Shakopee Road, Suite 101 | Minneapolis, MN 55438
952-884-5291 | https://vexilar.com | © 2024 Vexilar®, LLC.
On The Web
For more product information, videos, tips and FAQs visit us on the web at vexilar.com
