01-23-2006, 07:15 PM
Polo,
What do you mean that your sonar was frozen to the point of uselessness??? Would it not turn on? Was it not scrolling or what? What was it doing or not doing?
I've had my sonars out plenty of times when it has been well into the negative numbers without any problems. I do a couple of things to try to keep it warm.
1. I always transport it in the car to/from the lake to keep it warm to begin with.
2. My sonar ice rig is inside of a cooler which helps insulate it against extreme outside temps while transporting it from the car to the hole.
3. I always throw a hand warmer into the cooler before I leave home to help warm up the inside of the cooler and keep the battery and screen warm.
4. As soon as I open the cooler and mount the screen on top I turn my screen back light on high. They say that the light from the backlighting will help keep the screen from freezing. From what I have heard and read this is the biggest concern. I guess the LCD part can freeze and crack!
5. I usually mount my screen on top of the cooler with a ram mount however if it is really windy then I will just set the screen down in the top of the cooler to keep it out of the freezing wind but still be visable.
6. Last but not least I crank up the 14,000 BTU heater and point it that directions but not too close. But if it is that cold I am usually in the tent with the heater pointed at me!
Hope that helps some. Too bad the fishing wan't better. I'm going up tomorrow and hoping for better. The last few weeks have been slow!
[signature]
What do you mean that your sonar was frozen to the point of uselessness??? Would it not turn on? Was it not scrolling or what? What was it doing or not doing?
I've had my sonars out plenty of times when it has been well into the negative numbers without any problems. I do a couple of things to try to keep it warm.
1. I always transport it in the car to/from the lake to keep it warm to begin with.
2. My sonar ice rig is inside of a cooler which helps insulate it against extreme outside temps while transporting it from the car to the hole.
3. I always throw a hand warmer into the cooler before I leave home to help warm up the inside of the cooler and keep the battery and screen warm.
4. As soon as I open the cooler and mount the screen on top I turn my screen back light on high. They say that the light from the backlighting will help keep the screen from freezing. From what I have heard and read this is the biggest concern. I guess the LCD part can freeze and crack!
5. I usually mount my screen on top of the cooler with a ram mount however if it is really windy then I will just set the screen down in the top of the cooler to keep it out of the freezing wind but still be visable.
6. Last but not least I crank up the 14,000 BTU heater and point it that directions but not too close. But if it is that cold I am usually in the tent with the heater pointed at me!
Hope that helps some. Too bad the fishing wan't better. I'm going up tomorrow and hoping for better. The last few weeks have been slow!
[signature]