Leaky depth transducer

[Paul Beaurain]

Hi
We have a depth transducer inserted within an oil filled hull attachment.
Gradually over a 3 month period the oil leaks out and depth reading cease.
The leak is around the top seal. I have tried vasaline on the seal ahead of re attachment.
Is ther anything less viscous that I can use, to replace the oil - which will work?
thnaks
Paul

[Chris]

Thicker Oil

[Chris]

Serioulsy though why not silicone the top on

[Pete7]

Is the o ring in the right place?

Pete

[Paul Beaurain]

Hi Chris
When you say put silicon around it, were you meening with the oil already in?
To get the device full of oil you end up overfilling the base and then when you insert the transducer the spare oil runs out just as you tighten it up.
With oil everyehere and no easy access putting a bead of silicon around it would be impracticle.
Pete 7 Hi yes the rubber o ring is integral with the 'lid'
at a refill rate of 3 or 4 times a year it only just on the 'todo' list.
Can I take out the oil and use anything else?

[Nasher]

Paul

Can't actually be of any real help, but I've wondered the same thing as I have a Raymarine/Airmar in hull transducer that I presume is very similar to yours.
I filled it with Mineral oil, and got the top on good and tight, however the oil does still appear to evaporate or leak out somehow.

In theory any oil should do, as long as the signal is transmitted to the hull rather than having a pocket of air under it.
I think the reason mineral oil is used is because it's so inert, and doesn't contain anything that will attack the transducer, but there must be something a little less viscous.

At one stage I thought about using some kind of two pack jelly to fill it that you pour in liquid and allow to set, but didn't know how to get hold of any Ballistics jelly, and couldn't think of anything else that wouldn't glue everything together solid, even if you did coat everything with a release agent before hand.

Nasher.

[Into The Blue]

If I remember rightly Airmar, the transducer manufacturer now recommends using a Propylene glycol filler rather than oil. Perhaps it stops or slows the evaporation rate?
The link here is the installation instructions for Nashers transducer, might be the same for others though

http://www.airmartechnology.com/uplo.../17-217-01.pdf

[jyasaki]

If I recall correctly, many of the offshore fishing guys here glue the transducer to the hull using silicone sealant. Often they do this when mounting an external (transom mount) transducer in the hull.

You'd have to degrease all the surfaces prior to using the silicone, and make sure you don't get air bubbles when you glue the ducer in.

If you want to try it before committing, glue to a slightly different spot and see how it works.

jky

[biffer]

have to make sure there are no air bubbles underneath as well, sorry you've already said that, cant use a mobile and read it seems

[jyasaki]

Originally Posted by biffer

have to make sure there are no air bubbles underneath as well, sorry you've already said that, cant use a mobile and read it seems

:d