Sounder lubricant

Erin · 02 April 2010, 19:48

I've just finished wiring up a sounder and will be mounting the transducer head in the bilge of my vipermax. The Airmar instructions call for filling the mounting boss with propylene glycol before inserting the transducer itself. Anyone got any bright thoughts on where best to buy such stuff. Not sure it'll be on the shelf at Morrisons somehow.

martini · 02 April 2010, 20:09

Quote:

Originally Posted by Erin

Not sure it'll be on the shelf at Morrisons somehow.

Apparantly it's the main ingredient in deodorant sticks so you're in luck!

Seriously though, I've no idea what purpose it has on your transducer, perhaps to fill the air gap between the transducer and hull? Most people use sikaflex as that would bond the transducer in at the same time.

Erin · 02 April 2010, 20:15

Quote:

Originally Posted by martini

Apparantly it's the main ingredient in deodorant sticks so you're in luck!

I found that on Wiki as well!

I'm presuming it must act as a good conductive medium between the base of the transducer and the hull. I've read that some use oil, and I guess anything that is gloopy but doesn't readily hold bubbles of air will work. I am toying with the idea of just siliconing the thing straight into the hull on a 'suck it and see' basis.

martini · 02 April 2010, 20:24

When fitting mine I just pumped a huge dollop of sika on the floor and sat the transducer in it. If you work it around a bit you should get rid of any air.

Erin · 02 April 2010, 20:29

Its one of these https://buy.garmin.com/shop/search.d...r=010-10327-00 that I've got. I s'pose it'll be fine without its mounting base, adn just glued to the hull.

jwalker · 02 April 2010, 21:13

Erin, do a search cos it's been discussed umpteen times before.

m chappelow · 02 April 2010, 22:48

with my hard boat transducer i glassed a peice of grp tube about the same diameter as the transducer to the hull and then filled it with normal car antifreeze and slid the tranducer firmly inside and made a bung to go in the top ,on another boat we used hypiod 90 gear oil , have had no problems with either .and ones been fitted over 20 years . my instuction /fitting manual says i could use antifreeze or oil ,or any other fluid as long as it wont freeze up in winter perhaps causing damage .

chewy · 02 April 2010, 22:52

Used KY Jelly on ultrasonic flow sensors, works well, also contains your vital ingredient:

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/K-Y_Jelly

Dirk Diggler · 03 April 2010, 13:12

3 in 1 oil works for me.

Erin · 03 April 2010, 16:42

Thanks gentlemen. Unless I can readily find a source of propylene glycol I think I'm going just try sticking it in place with silicone or sika. If it ever breaks free then I'll upgrade to epoxy as a more permanent option.

Found another interesting use for the stuff though. Apparently it is the primary medium in lava lamps. The coloured floating blobs being mineral oil.

wavelength · 03 April 2010, 23:39

just silicon the thing in if you want you can always get it out again. We have been fitting them with silicon for years despite manufacturers instructions that it wont work. If you want to do a test run first put some water in the drain well and drop the transducer in there and it will work. wouldnt want to be mucking about with oils etc for no good reason whatsoever.

Erin · 16 April 2010, 16:18

Eventually got some propylene glycol. Spoke nicely to the pharmacist in Boots and they ordered a small bottle in for me for a few quid.