Vexilar FLX-18 Flasher Instruction Manual

Contents

• How Sonar Works
• Basic Concepts of Vexilar Use
• The Vexilar Display
• Interference Rejection Explained
• Vexilar Ice Fishing
• Seeing Your Lure
• The Ice-Ducer®
• About Transducers
• Dead Zone
• Boat Use
• Fishing Vegetation
• Features & Specifications
• FLX-18™ Operation
• SLA Battery Charging
• Vexilar Lithium Charging
• Battery Warranties
• DD-100 Digital Depth Indicator
• Storage & Prevention Tips
• General Troubleshooting
• Electrical Interference Troubleshooting
• Vexilar Support
• Warranty Information

How Sonar Works

SONAR stands for SOund NAvigation and Ranging. Sound travels through fresh water at a speed of approximately 4,920 feet per second. A sonar device (depth finder/fish-finder) measures the amount of time a burst of energy takes to travel to the bottom and return to the transducer. This time variation is then displayed on the readout of your sonar. When the depth gets deeper, the time of travel for the sound increases. The burst of energy, known as the transmit pulse, is generated by the sonar's transmit circuitry. This burst is delivered to the water via the transducer. The return signal, known as the echo, is received by the receiver circuit, also via the transducer. A central processing unit makes the calculations to determine the depth and signal strength of the bottom and other targets.

The sonar signal sent from the transducer will reflect, or bounce off of any object that has a different density than water. This makes it possible to detect not only the lake bottom, but also vegetation and fish.

How Flashers Work

The sonar portion of a flasher works in the same manner as any other graph or LCD sonar device. The difference is in how the return signal is displayed. Instead of adding the data to a progressive representation of the bottom to construct a history, the data on the flasher display always represents the current point in time, also known as "real time." The display consists of a wheel with indicator lights mounted in one location. The wheel is spun at high speed and the lights turn on and off rapidly to show the sonar readings.

The Vexilar Advantage

Vexilar's sonar design offers an optimal balance between the power of the transmitted pulse and the sensitivity of the receiver circuit. Excessive power has been shown to cause premature transducer failure, distortion of the sonar signal, and possibly spook fish from the audible noise they hear. Vexilar provides a balanced performance level for a wide range of fishing scenarios.

Basic Concepts of Vexilar Use

Vexilar FL/FLX series color flashers are great tools for open water and ice fishing. Once you learn to understand the basic concepts and meaning of the color display, you can apply this knowledge to greatly increase your fishing success. All the FL/FLX Series flashers can be used for:

• Determining the current depth at any boat speed.
• Locating fish-holding underwater structure.
• Determining the bottom hardness and transition lines.
• Penetrating thick vegetation to see what's below.
• Finding fish and the bait they feed on.
• Watching your bait and the fish around it.

Range Control

Depth Range determines the maximum depth of water in which the flasher can see the bottom. For example, the shallowest range available on the FL-18 is 0 to 20 feet. This means that if the water depth is between zero and 20 feet, the bottom will be displayed on the screen. If the water depth gets deeper than 20 feet, you will need to select a deeper depth range in order to see the bottom. It is usually best to select the shallowest depth range possible to see the bottom. This allows the water column below to be represented by the greatest amount of display screen area. This offers the highest resolution and makes things bigger and easier to see.

Gain Control

Gain controls the amount of amplification applied to the return sonar signal. Think of gain as your volume control. You turn up the gain to see more of what's below. You turn down the gain to see less of what you don't want to see. The goal is to find a gain level that shows you as much real information as possible without displaying stray signals of clutter and interference. Keep the gain setting as low as possible for best overall performance.

Gain can sometimes affect the total area of coverage below you. As you increase the gain level, you can see things farther away from the transducer. This can be helpful when looking for suspended fish, but only turn it up temporarily as the signal distorts your targets into big blobs of color. Unfortunately, a high gain setting won't work in weedy areas either, because the objects in the center of the cone will get amplified and overlap anything on the outside, making these objects impossible to distinguish.

Interference Rejection

This feature rejects sonar interference generated by other nearby depth sounders. Interference Rejection, or IR, comes on automatically when you turn the flasher on, and you can adjust it further if needed (see the Interference Rejection Explained section).

The Vexilar Display

Each FL/FLX series flasher display consists of multiple colors (marks) which appear at various positions on the screen. Understanding what the colors mean, and the position and size of the colored marks, is the key to being able to interpret the information correctly.

• RED = Strong Strength Signals. Strong signals are generally produced by significant underwater objects such as the bottom, heavy vegetation and large fish. However, smaller objects, such as bait fish, can display as red if the object is directly under the transducer.
• YELLOW = Medium Strength Signals. Medium signals are produced by smaller objects and softer bottom types. Also, medium strength signals can be produced by larger objects in the immediate area around, but not directly under, the transducer.
• GREEN = Weak Strength Signals. Weak signals are produced by small objects, such as light vegetation, bait fish, and even air bubbles or aquatic micro marine life. Larger objects off to the sides of the transducer can also be displayed as green.

Understanding the Display Marks

• Zero mark: The Zero mark always shows, even if the transducer is unplugged. This mark indicates the starting point.
• Marks just beyond the Zero mark can indicate algae, floating vegetation, or even "ice noise" caused by thick ice conditions.
• Reading direction: You read the display in the clockwise direction. The farther around you go, the deeper the water.
• Bottom is generally the most prominent mark on the display. Bottom usually starts with a wide band of red, with orange and green trailing.
• Read depth here: The current depth is indicated by the leading edge of the bottom mark.
• Fish, bait fish, and even your lure will show anywhere between the Zero mark and the Bottom mark.
• Marks beyond the bottom mark can indicate either hard objects within a soft bottom or large objects well off to the side.

Interference Rejection Explained

The purpose of interference rejection is to reduce cross-talk interference from other nearby depth sounders. This can be very helpful if you have another sounder mounted on your boat running at the same frequency as your flasher. It is also helpful when nearby anglers are running sounders operating at the same frequency as your flasher.

Cross-talk interference occurs when the signals sent from one depth sounder are received by another. If the two sounders' frequencies are the same, each unit is unable to differentiate between its own signals and others. What you see as interference is actually the signals of the other sounder displayed on your screen. The signals can circle around the display or remain stable. Beware of the stationary interference signals. They can lead you to believe the depth is different than it is, or that there's a fish hanging below you which isn't really there.

Usually, when you see interference on one sounder, the other sounder will show it too. Therefore, when you use your Interference Rejection to reduce or eliminate the interference on your display, the other sounder will see a similar reduction. This means you can use your Vexilar flasher next to another sounder which does not have the IR feature and both sounders can run more clearly.

If two Vexilar units are operating together, you will get the best results by leaving the IR setting at one level on one unit, while adjusting out the interference displayed on both units using the second unit's IR feature.

Vexilar Ice Fishing

The Vexilar FL & FLX series color flashers offer distinct advantages over LCD depth sounders for the sport of ice fishing. This unique style of fishing offers a stable platform on which to fish. Because everything is so stable, the only movements below are that of fish.

Additionally, this position allows you to drop your bait directly down into the center of the transducer's cone of sound. This allows you to observe your bait and the fish on the display simultaneously. You can tease the fish and see his reaction in real time.

With practice, you will soon be able to judge for yourself both fish species as well as the mood of the fish, and whether your lure presentation is working or not.

Seeing Your Lure

The key to ice fishing success when using a Vexilar ice fishing system is the ability to see your fishing lure and its relationship to the bottom, structure, and fish. Ice fishing with a Vexilar allows you to present your lure to the fish. You see the fish on the display, and you raise your lure so it is right above the fish on the display. If the fish is hungry, it will bite. If not, it will react in some way to your presentation, such as with disinterest or fear. You can see this reaction on the flasher display and adjust your tactics accordingly.

Setting the gain level correctly is important to be able to understand what's going on below you. Use the lure's appearance as your reference for adjusting the Gain Control. Set it so your lure appears as a green signal. Because the fish are much larger than your bait, they will appear as stronger signals. Be prepared to readjust the Gain Control up and down often, as small position changes and the condition of any bait attached will affect the strength of your lure's signal.

Typical Ice Fishing View

This illustrates a typical panfish fishing view. As you lower your lure, you see it going down on the display while the curious fish rise to see what it is. When the two signal lines meet, it is time to be ready for a strike.

• Lure: With the Gain Control set properly, your lure will appear as a weak signal. You want it to appear small next to the fish which are much larger.
• Bottom Fish: Several fish are holding near the bottom. The thin green line right on the bottom may be a fish just up off the bottom, as the others are, but some distance to the side.
• Fish: A pair of fish are rising to your lure as it is lowered. This is a good sign, as competition can make fish more aggressive.

The Ice-Ducer®

Vexilar ice fishing systems include a special type of transducer patented by Vexilar in 1997 called the Ice-Ducer®. This transducer style is designed specifically for the ice fishing application. The Ice-Ducer® works off the "plumb-bob" theory. When suspended by the cable, the transducer cone is perfectly aligned to point straight down.

• Stopper — The stopper sets the depth of the transducer. It's adjustable so you can set the depth according to your preference or conditions. Generally, you want to set it so the bottom of the transducer is even with the bottom of the ice.
• Float — The float suspends the transducer in the ice hole. You can also use the eye-bolt included with the Vexilar ice fishing system to suspend the transducer. This can often be the best choice for early ice conditions.
• Cable — Ice-Ducer® cable is specifically designed to stay flexible in cold temperatures. This flexible cable will be more prone to be cut by your line or damaged if not stored correctly. It's a key part of the Ice-Ducer® system.
• Transducer — The transducer is designed to allow a perfectly downward alignment while suspended and be able to endure the severe conditions encountered in the ice fishing environment. Different cone angles are available to match your fishing needs: 9° Pro-View, 12°, 19° and Broad Band (FLX-30bb only). Transducer sizes will vary.

About Transducers

Cone of Sound

The cone of sound is the area the sound waves cover as they are emitted from the transducer. Generally, this area is thought of as a three-dimensional cone, such as an upside-down ice cream cone. Actually, the cone of sound is not so precisely defined. It is an irregular shape with edges that taper rather than end abruptly. Additionally, the cone of sound will vary slightly from transducer to transducer.

Most objects are visible inside the theoretical cone, but you can also see objects outside the theoretical angle yet within the side and main lobes. These objects must be large enough to sufficiently reflect the sonar signal. Some of these objects can be things like the face of a sharp dropping bottom, a large rock, or even a good size fish or tight group of smaller fish.

• Side Lobe: Not all of the sound waves come out of the transducer's bottom. Some sound comes out the sides and even the top.
• Main Lobe: The main lobe is where most of the sound waves go. They extend out in all directions, some sides more than others.
• Theoretical Cone Angle: The theoretical cone angle is what the transducer's specification defines. This is the area where the intensity of the sound waves drop to a specific point (-6dB).

Dead Zone

Beam angle has a large effect on the performance of your flasher. There is more to it than simply area of coverage. The correct beam angle to use depends entirely on your application. If you are fishing for suspended fish then you would be pleased with the performance of the 19° cone. However, if you were going after fish that are holding right on the bottom along a steep drop-off, you would have better results with the 9°. This is because of something called dead zone. Dead zone is an area within the transducer's cone of sound that is blind to you. The wider the beam angle, the greater the possible dead zone. The sonar will mark bottom as the nearest distance it sees. If you are fishing over a slope, it may see the high side of the slope, at the edge of the cone, and mark that as bottom. The fish that are holding on the bottom on the low side of the slope will be invisible to you because they are actually within the bottom signal on your depth finder. A narrower beam angle will reduce this effect.

Cone Angle vs. Diameter of Coverage

Output Power

Your depth finder puts out a constant amount of power, or sound energy. It does not matter where you have the gain level set. Gain simply controls how much you amplify the signal that is returned from below. Therefore, a narrow beam transducer will appear to be much more powerful than a wide beam transducer. This is because you are putting the same amount of power into a smaller area. This can be an advantage if you are fishing in deep water or a detriment if you are fishing in shallow water. A narrow beam transducer can be overpowering in shallow water. The use of the LP (Low Power) Mode on your flasher, or the optional S-Cable, will solve this problem.

Boat Use

Navigation

The Vexilar flashers are great tools for navigation while boating. The instantaneous readings offer the ability to identify depth changes quickly. Here are some tips to help you navigate safely.

Bottom Content: Hard & Soft Bottom

Soft Bottom

Hard Bottom

The Vexilar flashers are also great tools for determining bottom content changes. The colors allow you to easily see when the bottom changes from one type to another.

• Hard bottoms will generally appear as a narrow band with color content of mostly red and orange.
• Soft bottoms will appear as a wide band with more orange and green than red.

Fishing Vegetation

The Vexilar flashers are exceptional when it comes to reading inside vegetation. With proper transducer choice, the colors will allow you to differentiate vegetation from the bottom. Experience will even allow you to identify fish inside heavy vegetation.

Tips for Reading in Vegetation

• Narrow transducer cone angles will perform better than wide cone angles.
• Keep the gain setting very low. Too much gain will make readings difficult.
• Move a boat slowly so you can identify openings that may hold fish.

Display notes:

• Bottom: Bottom will always be the largest group of red and orange signals.
• Canopy: Vegetation has grown up to a certain point. In deeper water (beyond several feet) this is known as the canopy. It's where the tops of the vegetation spread out.
• Possible Fish: A red target could indicate a clump of vegetation, but it could also indicate a fish just under the canopy.
• Orange within the green generally indicates thicker sections of the vegetation. It warrants watching, as it could also indicate a fish on the outer edge of your cone.

Features & Specifications

FLX-18™ Operation

Versatility is the key to success and the FLX-18 delivers! With two Zoom zone options, one for zooming in on the bottom six feet (low and high
power) and one for zooming in on the bottom twelve feet (high power), there is nowhere those bottom loving fish can hide. From the 300 foot
max depth range, to the Night Mode and Color Select for easy viewing, nothing rivals the FLX-18 for superior, multi-use performance, shallow
or deep, day or night.

Setting the Range

The FLX-18 has a total of twelve depth ranges to allow you to get maximum display resolution for the fishing conditions you are in. The primary ranges for the FLX-18 will be in the high power settings starting with 0–10 feet.

The x2 setting will mean you will need to double the depth on the display so you now have a 0–20 foot display, the x3 is 0–30, the x4 is 0–40, x8 is 0–80 foot and x10 will mean a 0–100 foot scale. You can also activate the other set of depth settings for deep water fishing to 300 feet. See the next page for instructions.

Mode Control

Control advanced features, such as zoom, power and color.

CS > Color Select Mode

Use this mode when you need to adjust the color palette. The FLX-18 will keep your choice even after you turn the unit off. LP > Z6: Low Power 6' Zoom This mode splits the screen into Zoom Mode and uses a lower power level. Use this in shallow, weedy, or turbulent waters.

• LP > Low Power This mode uses the standard display, but at the lower power setting. Use this mode in shallow or weedy waters.
• HP > High Power This mode uses full power and the full display. Use this for normal viewing and for a reliable starting point.
• Z6 > 6' Zoom This mode splits the screen into 6' Zoom Mode at high power. Use this mode for fishing conditions in deeper waters.
• Z12 > 12' Zoom This mode splits the screen into 12' Zoom Mode at high power. Use this mode for fishing conditions where the fish are higher off the bottom than 6 feet.

Deep Mode

To activate the Deep Water ranges, turn the Gain setting to “1.” Set the Mode to “HP”. Then press and hold the Gain knob in while you power on the unit. This triples the standard depth ranges. Now the display will start out at the 0–30 foot range, the x2 is 0–60, the x3 is 0–90, the x4 is 0–120, the x8 is 0–240 and the x10 setting is a 0–300 foot display on the dial. Turning the unit OFF will revert the ranges back to normal.

Know your depth! The 0–10 foot scale allows for an easy system to get your depth reading. If the signal shows the bottom at 6', then look at the Range control multiplier and do the math. If you are on the x3 setting, Then the bottom reading is 6 x 3, or 18 feet: it’s that simple!

FLX-18 — Auto Zoom

• THE RIGHT HALF represents the entire water column from the transducer to the bottom.
• THE LEFT HALF represents the zoom view from the bottom up to 6 or 12 feet. Read the distance from the bottom up using the green depth markers.

Zoom (Z6 or Z12) puts the flasher into a split-screen view, with the complete water column on the right and a magnified view from the bottom up on the left. When you switch to a Zoom Mode, the flasher automatically select the magnified bottom view for you, provided the flasher is set to a depth range in which the bottom is in view. There are two Zoom modes: 6 foot and 12 foot.

The Zoom scale reads in the opposite direction as the full view scale. The bottom will always be at the 7 O’clock position. Objects will appear above this point. You can only see objects as far off the bottom as the zoom setting permits, either 6 feet or 12 feet. Objects above this depth will only appear on the right side which shows the entire water column.

FLX-18 Lower Power Mode

Low Power Mode, or LP Mode, reduces the output power of your flasher. It is useful for situations where the gain cannot be turned down enough in High Power Mode. Low Power Mode has two view settings, Full Display Mode and Zoom 6' Display Mode. Use the Low Power Modes only when you need to. Usually, you’ll use it in only very shallow or very weedy conditions. Activate the Low Power Mode by switching the Mode Control to the left. The first Low Power Mode provides a normal view. The LP6 Mode places the unit in the split-screen 6' Zoom Mode and Low Power.

FLX-18 Color Select

On the Mode Control switch the “CS” option stands for “Color Select.” Switch the Mode Control to CS and then push in the top Gain Control while the flasher is on. The FLX-18 display will indicate which color setting you are selecting from scheme one through three

• 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 will sometimes 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 the strongest is red. Red will be on your display at the zero mark and will show you bottom.
• Color Mode 2: Red, 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: Red Only This color palette will show the cleanest display and only the strongest signals. This is best for when you are only interested in depth or navigation.

Night Mode

Night Mode reduces the brightness of the display. This can make viewing more comfortable in low light conditions. To activate Night Mode, push in and hold the Gain Control until the brightness changes. When you power off the FLX-18, it will revert to normal full brightness.

Low Battery Indicator

The FLX-18 will give you a low battery warning (10.6 volts) by flashing the green depth lines around the inner side of the display four times every four minutes. At 8 volts, the green depth lines will flash continuously just before the system shuts down completely (6.5 volts). All batteries are different, and how long you are able to fish after the first warning will vary. Note that this feature is designed for SLA type batteries. Vexilar Lithium battery voltage drops quickly at the end of the discharge cycle. Therefore, expect the battery to die very soon after the first low battery indications appear.

SLA Battery Charging (Sealed Lead Acid)

Instructions for 1 Amp Digital Automatic Charger (model V-410):

1. Allow the battery to warm up before charging. This makes it easier for the charger to charge the battery and the battery is more accepting of a charge.
2. Plug the charger into a wall outlet, verify that it is operating by noting the illuminated green light.
3. Connect the charger to the Easy Charge Jack attached to the unit. The charger's light will switch to red, indicating that it is connected correctly and the battery is charging.
4. Keep the charger plugged in and connected until the red light has changed to green. This indicates the battery is at full charge.
5. Unplug the charger from the wall outlet and disconnect from the battery.
6. When your red light is flashing it signals reverse polarity.

Charging times will vary depending on how much the battery has been drained. If the battery has been completely drained (approx. 24 to 30 hrs. of use on a 9 amp battery) the battery will require about nine hours of charging.

There is no need to disconnect the flasher when charging, although it should be switched off. Also, make sure the battery has a full charge and is disconnected, and that all power is switched off before putting it away for storage.

Charger Troubleshooting

A flashing red light indicates that the battery is connected in reverse. Check to be sure the red wire is attached to the positive battery terminal and the black wire is connected to the negative.

If the light never turns red and all connections are good, this indicates that the battery is not accepting a charge. Leave the charger connected so voltage will be applied. Later, unplug the charger, wait one minute, then plug it back in. If the light does not change to red to show the battery has accepted a charge, the battery will need to be replaced.

SLA Battery Maintenance

Keeping the Sealed Lead Acid battery in top condition is the key to your Vexilar system's reliability.

Common Problems

• Battery gets hot: A battery that gets hot while charging has become "resistive." Current passes through it, but the battery will not charge. The battery must be replaced.
• Battery recharges for a short time, even when discharged: This means the battery is not accepting a charge. The capacity of the battery has been diminished. The battery should be replaced.
• Battery will not charge: If you connect a room-temperature battery and the charger will not start, the battery may be over-discharged. When this happens, the charger does not even recognize it has been connected to terminals. Leave the charger connected to see if the battery will recover. If it will not accept a charge within 24 hours, the battery should be replaced.

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

1. Plug in charger to a standard wall outlet (AC 100-240 volts) Foreign adapter may be required.
2. A Green light will show you have power and ready to charge.
3. Connect red clip to positive (Red) battery terminal and the Black clip to the Negative terminal.
4. The Green Light will turn red and stay red until the charge cycle is complete.
5. The Green light indicates the battery is fully charged. Remove the charger.
6. 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

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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Visit the Vexilar website and register your new Vexilar product quickly and easily for free, plus opt in to receive helpful usage tips from the pro staff and the latest in Vexilar news and events delivered right to your email.

Register Your Warranty Online
https://vexilar.com/pages/warranty

PROBLEM?

Don't take it back to the store. Vexilar Support is Second to None!
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