Humminbird 150SX User manual

Operations Manual

THANK YOU

Thank you for choosing Humminbird, America’s #1 name

in fishfinders. Humminbird has built its reputation by

designing and manufacturing top-quality, thoroughly

reliable marine equipment. Your Humminbird is designed

for trouble-free use in even the harshest marine

environment.

In the unlikely event that your Humminbird does require

repairs, we offer an exclusive Service Guarantee - free of

charge during the first year after purchase, and available at

a reasonable rate after the one-year period. Complete

details are included at the end of this manual.

We encourage you to read this operations manual carefully

in order to get full benefit from all the features and uses of

your Humminbird product. Also, to register your purchase

and help us learn more about you, please fill out the

warranty registration card at the back of this manual.

WARNING! This device should not be used as a

navigational aid to prevent collision, grounding,

boat damage, or personal injury. When the boat is

moving, water depth may change too quickly to

allow time for you to react. Always operate the boat

at very slow speeds if you suspect shallow water or

submerged objects.

WWW.HUMMINBIRD.COM

INSTALLATION PREPARATION . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 2

Parts Supplied . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 2

Accessories . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 2

Installation Overview . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 2

Alternative Transducers and Mounting Methods. . . . . . 4

Transducer Exchange . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 5

USING THE 150SX . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 6

How Sonar Works . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 6

Simulator Operation . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 6

What You See On Screen . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 8

Control Functions. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 10

Menu Functions. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 12

ADVANCED FEATURES . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 20

Using Diagnostic . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 20

MAINTENANCE AND WARRANTY . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 22

Maintenance . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 22

Troubleshooting . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 22

Warranty . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 25

Customer Support . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 26

Specifications . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 27

TABLE OF CONTENTS

Rev. 10522E

INSTALLATION PREPARATION

PARTS SUPPLIED

Before installing your 150SX, please ensure the following parts are included

in the box:

If any of these items is missing, contact your local distributor.

ACCESSORIES

Humminbird offers a wide assortment of accessories that complement and

expand the capability of your new 150SX. These accessories are designed

with the same high standards and are backed by the same one-year

warranty. The Humminbird Accessory catalog included with your unit

contains descriptions of the many accessories available and ordering

information. All Humminbird accessories are available through your full-

service Humminbird dealer or factory direct through our number listed in

the Customer Support section.

INSTALLATION OVERVIEW

The 150SX consists of two primary components to install: the control head

and the transducer.

The control head contains the sonar transmit and receive circuitry, as well

as the user controls and display. It should be installed in a location that

provides access to the controls and visibility while in use. The control head

mounts on a quick disconnect mounting system that swivels and tilts

providing flexibility for viewing from almost anywhere on the boat.

The transducer converts electrical energy from the transmitter into

mechanical pulses or sound waves. The transducer also receives the

reflected sound waves and converts them back into electrical signals for

display on the control head. It should be installed in contact with the

•150sx fish finder

•transducer with 20ft (6m) of cable

•transducer mounting hardware kit

•mounting system and mounting

hardware kit

•6 ft (2m) power cable

•operations manual

•installation sheet

•publications kit

INSTALLATION PREPARATION

INSTALLATION OVERVIEW

surface of the water in an area that has smooth water flow - usually on the

transom of the boat. There are several mounting options for the

transducer. Review the following section to determine the method that

works for you and your boat.

Determining How to Mount the Transducer

The 150SX includes a model XHS-6-24 transducer. This transducer can be

mounted on the transom of the boat, or

bonded to the inside of a fiberglass hull

boat.

The transom installation, which is the

most widely used, places the transducer

on the outside of the boat hull. This

technique produces the least signal loss,

and provides a way to adjust the

transducer after installation. The

mounting hardware included is designed

to protect both the boat and the

transducer should the boat strike debris

in the water or when trailering.

As an alternative to transom mounting, it is possible on many fiberglass-

hulled boats to glue the transducer on the inside of the boat hull. Since

fiberglass has similar sonar character-

istics as water, the sonar signal can

pass through the boat hull with

minimal loss. The hull of the boat

must be single layer construction

(not double-hulled). Also, any air

trapped in the lamination of the

fiberglass would prevent the sonar

signal from passing through.

Transom Mounted Transducer

Inside the Hull Mounted Transducer

For additional details reference the

TRANSDUCER INSTALLATION section of

the enclosed Installation Sheet.

Inside the hull installations require no holes be drilled into the boat and

through experimentation, high-speed operation comparable to transom

mounting can be achieved. Two part, slow cure epoxy is required to glue

the transducer in place.

ALTERNATE TRANSDUCERS AND MOUNTING METHODS

The 150SX comes with everything necessary for installation and operation

on most boats. However, there are several situations which may require a

different type of transducer. Inboard boats, wood or metal hulls, and sail

boats create unique transducer mounting needs. Alternate transducers and

mounting methods are detailed below.

Portable Mounting

The standard transducer can be adapted for

portable installations using part number MHX-

PT2. This accessory adapts your transducer to a

suction cup mount for temporary installation on

the boat hull or other surface.

Trolling Motor Mounting

The standard transducer can also be adapted to

mount on most trolling motors using part

number AD-STM-7. This accessory includes a

bracket and hose clamp that allows mounting

the transducer to the body of most trolling

motors.

INSTALLATION PREPARATION

ALTERNATE TRANSDUCERS AND MOUNTING METHODS

TRANSDUCER EXCHANGE

Other transducers are available as replacements for the standard

transducer. You may exchange your new and unassembled transducer for

another type by returning it to the address listed in Customer Support.

Some transducers may have additional costs. Refer to the Accessory cata-

log or call Customer Support for information.

BEGINNING INSTALLATION

Now that you have determined the transducer mounting method, you can

begin installation of the 150SX. The fold out installation guide included

provides detailed step by step instructions for installation of the control

head and transducer. For transom mount transducer installations, you will

need the mounting template at the back of this manual.

In addition to the parts included you need the following for installation and

operation:

•A powered hand drill and various drill bits

•Phillips and flat-head screw drivers

•A ruler or measuring tape

•Pen or pencil

•12 volt power source (your boat’s battery)

•A 1-amp fuse

•A fuse holder (if you are wiring directly to the boat’s battery)

•Silicone sealant (for sealing drilled holes)

•2-part, slow-cure epoxy (for inside the hull transducer installations)

INSTALLATION PREPARATION

TRANSDUCER EXCHANGE

USING THE 150SX

HOW SONAR WORKS

Your Humminbird unit uses sonar to

locate and define underwater objects,

define the bottom terrain, as well as

determine distance.

Sonar technology is based on sound

waves. Your Humminbird unit sends

out a sound wave signal. With this

signal it determines distance by

measuring the time between the

transmission of the sound wave and

when the sound wave is reflected off

an object. Your Humminbird uses the

reflected signal to interpret location,

size and composition of an object.

Sonar is very fast. A sound wave can travel from the surface to a depth of

240' (70m) and back again in less than ¹⁄₄ of a second. It is unlikely that

your boat can "outrun" this sonar signal.

The 150SX is a 200 kHz, single-beam fishfinder. The 200 kHz frequency

provides excellent sonar resolution (the ability to distinguish small returns

or returns which are close to the bottom), while providing depth

capabilities to 600’(185m). The shape of the sonar beam is symmetrical

and covers an area of approximately 24 degrees side to side and front

to rear.

Actual depth capability depends on factors such as bottom hardness, water

conditions, and transducer installation. Units will typically read to deeper

depths in fresh water than in salt water

SIMULATOR OPERATION

The 150SX contains a simulator that allows you to use the unit as if you are

on the water. The simulator is invaluable for learning how to operate the

150SX.

USING THE 150SX

SIMULATOR OPERATION

There are two ways to start the simulator. If

the unit is powered off, press and hold the

POWER button for approximately three

seconds until you hear a continuous chirp.

The simulator can also be started by

selecting the Simulator option on the start-

up screen after you power-up the unit.

When this screen is shown, simply press the DOWN ARROW until

“Simulator”is highlighted. When the screen times out, the unit will be in

simulator mode.

When in simulator operation, the 150SX responds to control inputs as if it

is in actual operation, so feel free to experiment, or to customize the unit

for your particular operation.

To exit Simulator mode, power the unit off.

When in simulator mode, the word “simulator” occasionally

scrolls across the display indicating the information on-screen is

not real sonar data.

FEATURE MEMORY

If your 150SX is installed with a transducer connected, any changes you

make to the set-up or User Options (see Control Functions) while in

Simulator are retained in the unit’s memory. This allows you to use

simulator to experiment with the various set-up options, and retain your

selected settings for normal operation.

If you are using the 150SX in Simulator when no transducer is connected,

any selected options are lost when the unit is powered off. The 150SX will

return to Factory Settings, or options selected when last used with a

transducer, if no transducer is connected.

IMPORTANT: A transducer must be connected to the 150SX in

order to retain user settings selected when in simulator mode. If

no transducer is detected, the unit defaults to pre-selected

options when powered off.

What You See On-Screen

Your 150SX uses a 128 V x 64 H matrix FSTN LCD display. This display

provides outstanding viewability in all light conditions over a wide range of

temperatures.

At initial power-up, the 150SX uses settings that were set at the factory.

After initial use, the 150SX will remember the settings you enter.

There are several elements on-screen that are common to all modes of

operation.

Depth. The digital depth number shows the water depth directly beneath

the transducer location.

Depth Range. The depth range is shown to the right of the screen. The upper

number is 0 indicating the surface of the water. The lower number is one of the nine

depth ranges available that best match the depth of the water. As the depth of the

water changes, the range changes as necessary in order to retain a bottom

representation on-screen.

When in Auto mode, the horizontal line at the top of the screen is the “zero line,”

representing the surface of the water. Occasionally there is a gap in this line. This gap

indicates the unit is updating the

display even if the bottom is not visible

on-screen, or if the bottom information

is not changing.

New sonar information appears on the

right side of the graphic area of the

display and moves to the left as new

information is displayed. The 150SX

automatically selects the appropriate

depth range to show the depth of

water beneath the transducer. This

range is selected so the bottom

representation is typically shown about

²⁄₃ down the display.

USING THE 150SX

WHAT YOU SEE ON-SCREEN

Water Depth

Bottom Depiction

Depth Range

Zero Line

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