STRATABOX
™
Operations And Maintenance Manual
INSTALLATION 2-6
©
2006 SyQwest Incorporated
The transducer should be mounted adjacent to the ship’s centerline. The radiating face should be flush
with the hull and, wherever practical, the face should be parallel to the waterline. A maximum deadrise
angle of 3 degrees is allowable.
The transducer must be mounted such that it will always remain submerged during operation. Thus, the
depth of the transducer should take into account the location on the vessel and the worst case sea state
conditions. Turbulent flow across the radiating face of the transducer and/or the presence of air bubbles
will degrade system performance significantly as well and must be considered.
The area selected for mounting must provide sufficient space for access to the transducer and cable, and
for routing cable and conduit. In addition, there should be sufficient room to permit use of the necessary
tools to facilitate the installation-mounting requirements. Ideally, the location would provide a relatively
direct cable run to the site of the StrataBox Sensor Unit.
The cable path from the Electronics to the transducer should be routed as far as possible from other
electrical cables. Although the cable is shielded, the acoustic reply from the transducer can be on the
order of microvolts, thus any cable crosstalk emissions can cause a decrease in acoustic sensitivity.
Handling Transducers
The transducer is the heart of the StrataBox system and, in spite of its appearance and size, is a delicate
instrument. Although it is designed to be in contact with and survive tough marine environments, it
should not be dropped or mishandled during the installation. Caution is advised when handling the
transducer to prevent any damage to the transducer face or radiating surface.
The Line-in-Cone transducer is comprised of a large ceramic, cylindrical ring element affixed to a plastic
cone with baffling. The Transducer Mounting Ring is provided to make it easy to secure the StrataBox
Transducer to a mounting surface. This assembly also provides protection for the Transducer and should
be affixed to the transducer at all times. The transducer and mounting assembly should be as clean and
smooth as possible so the path of the sounding energy is uninterrupted. The transducer face must not be
painted with lead based bottom paint. In portable applications the transducer and mounting assembly
should be cleaned with fresh water after use.
WARNING: Do not expose the transducer to any solvents when cleaning any excess
sealants. Strong solvents may damage the face of the transducer.
