Humminbird Airmar CHIRP Connection Guide
Overview
This guide provides instructions for connecting an Airmar CHIRP transducer to SOLIX®, ONIX®, or HELIX® CHIRP control heads. Please read this guide thoroughly before beginning the installation to understand the connection requirements.
Required Supplies (not included):
- Airmar CHIRP transducer cable with bare wires
- A junction or break-out box
- Cable cutter
- Wire stripper
- A Humminbird® transducer extension cable for your specific control head model:
| Control Head | Transducer Extension Cable |
|---|---|
| SOLIX and ONIX | EC 14W10 |
| HELIX CHIRP | EC M10 |
For purchasing cables or for installation questions, visit humminbird.com or contact Humminbird Customer Service at 1-800-633-1468.
1. Connect the Transducer to the Extension Cable
⚠ WARNING! Turn off power for all related equipment before starting the installation.
- Turn off the power for the Humminbird control head and all connected equipment.
- Review your Airmar CHIRP transducer installation guide for specific installation instructions.
- Cut the Humminbird transducer extension cable in half, towards the female-socketed connector side. Refer to the illustration "Cutting the Humminbird Transducer Extension Cable in Half".
- ⚠ WARNING! Do NOT cut the cable close to the connector.
- Remove the cable sleeve to expose the shielded wires.
- Strip back the shield on these wires just enough to expose the wires (approximately less than 1/2 inch), preserving as much of the individual shields as possible. Do not remove the shield from any unused wires.
- Determine which frequency wires (low, medium, or high) you will install from the Airmar CHIRP transducer cable. Only one frequency can be wired to the control head. For SOLIX or ONIX control heads, multiple frequencies can be wired using the Humminbird black box sonar module; see humminbird.com for details.
- Example: If the Airmar transducer has 200 kHz and 50 kHz frequencies, 200 kHz is the high frequency and 50 kHz is the low frequency. You can select either 200 kHz or 50 kHz. A medium frequency is present only if the CHIRP transducer has three frequencies available, and its connection is the same as the high frequency wiring.
- On the next page, select the column corresponding to your Humminbird model (SOLIX or ONIX to Airmar Connection or HELIX CHIRP to Airmar Connection) and consult the wiring chart for the low, medium, or high frequency connection.
- Use the installation guide included with the Airmar CHIRP transducer to confirm the wires you will be using. Verify with the Airmar manual that they match the designations (e.g., high frequency +, high frequency —) in the selected wiring chart.
- Connect the Humminbird transducer extension cable to the Airmar CHIRP transducer cable using the wiring chart selected in step 7.
Diagram Description: Cutting the Humminbird Transducer Extension Cable in Half
This illustration shows a cable with a female connector at one end and a male connector at the other. It indicates cutting the cable approximately 5 feet from either end, with a clear warning not to cut too close to the connectors. Exposed shielded wires are also depicted.
Wiring Diagrams
The following tables detail the wire connections for different Humminbird control heads and Airmar CHIRP transducers.
SOLIX or ONIX to Airmar Connection
Low Frequency Wires
| Humminbird Cable (EC 14W10) | Airmar Transducer Cable |
|---|---|
| 2D (gray) | Low Frequency + (blue/white striped) |
| Temperature (brown) | Low Frequency - (black/white striped) |
| Ground (bare) | Temperature (white) |
| Drain (bare) | Ground (brown) |
| Drain (bare) |
Medium Frequency Wires
| Humminbird Cable (EC 14W10) | Airmar Transducer Cable |
|---|---|
| 2D (black) | Medium Frequency + (blue) |
| 2D (gray) | Medium Frequency - (black) |
| Temperature (brown) | Temperature (white) |
| Ground (bare) | Ground (brown) |
| Drain (bare) | Drain (bare) |
High Frequency Wires
| Humminbird Cable (EC 14W10) | Airmar Transducer Cable |
|---|---|
| 2D (black) | High Frequency + (blue) |
| 2D (gray) | High Frequency - (black) |
| Temperature (brown) | Temperature (white) |
| Ground (bare) | Ground (brown) |
| Drain (bare) | Drain (bare) |
HELIX CHIRP to Airmar Connection
Low Frequency Wires
| Humminbird Cable (EC M10) | Airmar Transducer Cable |
|---|---|
| 2D (gray) | Low Frequency + (blue/white striped) |
| Temperature (brown) | Low Frequency - (black/white striped) |
| Ground (black and bare) | Temperature (white) |
| Drain (bare) | Ground (brown) |
| Drain (bare) |
Medium Frequency Wires
| Humminbird Cable (EC M10) | Airmar Transducer Cable |
|---|---|
| 2D (black) | Medium Frequency + (blue) |
| 2D (gray) | Medium Frequency - (black) |
| Temperature (brown) | Temperature (white) |
| Ground (black and bare) | Ground (brown) |
| Drain (bare) | Drain (bare) |
High Frequency Wires
| Humminbird Cable (EC M10) | Airmar Transducer Cable |
|---|---|
| 2D (gray) | High Frequency + (blue) |
| Temperature (brown) | High Frequency - (black) |
| Ground (black and bare) | Temperature (white) |
| Drain (bare) | Ground (brown) |
| Drain (bare) |
2. Finish the Connection
- Replace the wire shields where possible.
- Tape or apply heat-shrink insulation to each connection to prevent shorting the wiring.
- ⓘ NOTE: To protect the wire connections, use a junction or break-out box (separate purchase required).
- Fold back (or cut off) the extra wires and apply heat shrink insulation.
- ⓘ NOTE: Do NOT connect the orange wire on the Airmar CHIRP transducer cable.
3. Route the Cable to the Control Head
- Route the Humminbird transducer extension cable to the Humminbird control head.
- Connect the cable connector to the Transducer port (HELIX CHIRP) or Sonar-Temp port (SOLIX and ONIX).
- ⓘ NOTE: See your control head installation guide for port connection details.
Diagram Description: SOLIX and ONIX Sonar-Temp Port
This diagram shows a circular connector labeled "Sonar - Temp" with multiple pins, representing the port on SOLIX and ONIX control heads.
Diagram Description: HELIX 9, 10, 12 CHIRP (Cable Tray)
This diagram shows a row of rectangular connectors labeled "transducer", representing the ports on HELIX 9, 10, and 12 CHIRP control heads.
