Humminbird TCR 101 Operations Manual

Transducer Mounting Procedure

Humminbird's high-speed transducer is supplied with your LCR. This transducer has been designed to give good high-speed readings on most boat designs, including aluminum. Please carefully consider the following before installing your transducer.

Diagram Description (Figure 1): Illustrates transducer beam patterns showing detection of bottom contour, fish at various depths (Fish "A" at 30 ft, Fish "B" at 50 ft), and a school of baitfish. It also shows a flasher display and an LCR display indicating what is under the boat and what has been passed over. A diagram shows the transducer mounted below the boat hull with beams extending downwards.

Transducer Mounting Options

A. Transom Mount

The Humminbird high-speed transducer allows the transducer element to be mounted below the bottom of the boat hull, keeping it out of turbulent water and ensuring good high-speed operation. The transducer can absorb the blow of obstructions by rotating up out of the metal spring bracket without harming the transducer or the boat. It can be re-engaged by rotating it down and snapping it back into place. (See Figure A)

Diagram Description (Figure A): Shows the transducer mechanism allowing it to pivot upwards and downwards within a metal bracket.

B. Inside Hull Mount

The high-speed transducer can be mounted inside the hull using a proper two-part epoxy, such as Humminbird's epoxy kit. While there is some signal loss when shooting through the hull, your LCR will perform well. This method cannot be used on aluminum boats.

C. Trolling Motor Mount

This type of transducer is not supplied with your LCR but is designed to mount on the foot of a trolling motor. You may exchange your unused high-speed transducer for a trolling motor transducer by contacting Humminbird Customer Service.

D. Bronz Thru-Hull Mount

This transducer is not supplied with your LCR but can be obtained for an additional cost by exchanging your unused high-speed transducer. The bronz thru-hull transducer has a threaded stem that installs through a hole drilled in the boat hull, with the housing exposed under the boat. This is suitable for boats with inboard engines where transom mounting is not feasible due to noise and turbulence from the prop. A bronz thru-hull transducer should be installed by qualified personnel only.

The LCR will operate well at high speeds with a properly mounted transducer. Remember, a transducer will not work effectively transmitting through air or air bubbles.

1. Transom Mounting Procedure

Step 1. Mounting Location

It is important that the transducer be mounted on the transom where water flow is in constant contact with it. Observe the rear of the boat while moving through the water to determine the best mounting location.

Step 2. Bracket Installation

(Aluminum Boats)

To install the metal bracket on an aluminum boat, locate the template on the transom between rows of rivets or ribs on the bottom of the boat. Align the template so that the bottom corner nearest the center of the transom is on the bottom edge of the transom.

Diagram Description (Figure B): Illustrates the transom mounting location, showing the center of the transom, deadrise angle, bottom edge of the transom, and the placement of the template for drilling holes parallel to the water.

Once the location is determined, mark and drill three 7/64" diameter holes as noted on the template. Attach the metal bracket using three #10 self-threading screws supplied. Ensure holes are aligned in the center of the bracket slots. On some aluminum boats, a wood back-up plate may be necessary. Use a silicone sealant between the screwhead and bracket to prevent leaking. (See Figure C)

Diagram Description (Figure C): Shows the components for bracket installation: a metal bracket, #10 screws, and silicone sealant.

(Fiberglass Boats)

If your boat has a stepped transom located below and under the main transom, the compact transducer design allows mounting in this area. This location is recommended for good readings at very high speeds. (See Figure D)

Diagram Description (Figure D): Depicts mounting the transducer on a stepped transom for extra high-speed operation on boats with a stepped transom, showing placement on either side.

To install the metal bracket on a fiberglass boat, locate the template on the transom in the same manner as for an aluminum boat. (See Figure C)

Note: On boats with more than a 15-degree deadrise angle, it may be necessary to mount the transducer slightly off parallel with the water level. (See Figure E)

Diagram Description (Figure E): Compares correct ("RIGHT") and incorrect ("WRONG") transducer angle alignment relative to the water level, particularly for boats with a deadrise angle greater than 15 degrees.

Mark and drill the three 9/64" diameter holes as shown on the template. Attach the metal bracket using the three #10 self-threading screws supplied. Ensure the holes are aligned vertically in the three slots found in the bracket. Use a silicone sealant between the screwhead and bracket to prevent leaking.

Step 3. Transducer Pivot Assembly

Assemble the pivot to the transducer main body using two 1/4"x5/8" allen head screws, two 3/8" tooth washers, and two 1/4" square nuts. Ensure the tooth washers are sandwiched between the transducer main body and the pivot. The square nuts are trapped inside the pivot and will not rotate as the allen head screws are tightened. HOWEVER, DO NOT TIGHTEN AT THIS POINT. (See Figure F)

Diagram Description (Figure F): An exploded view of the transducer pivot assembly, showing the pivot housing, transducer main body, allen head screws, tooth washers, and square nuts.

Step 4. Transducer Assembly

Insert the transducer assembly into the metal bracket from the bottom. Push up until the holes in the plastic pivot align with the uppermost holes in the bracket. Slide the O-ring onto the headed pin and insert it through both parts. Assemble by screwing the 1/4"x3/8" allen head screw into the end of the pin and tighten. (See Figure G)

Diagram Description (Figure G): Illustrates the transducer assembly process, showing the transducer main body, metal spring bracket, pivot, O-ring, pin, and allen head screw being connected.

Step 5. Angle Alignment

Set the transducer angle so that it is parallel with the bottom of the boat hull. Once proper alignment is achieved, tighten the two allen head screws using the 5/32" allen wrench provided. The screws are accessible through the access holes on each side of the metal bracket. Ensure the transducer main body is rigidly fastened to the pivot. (See Figure H)

Diagram Description (Figure H): Shows the correct ("RIGHT") and incorrect ("WRONG") alignment of the transducer main body relative to the pivot, emphasizing that the transducer body should be parallel to the hull. It also indicates the access hole for tightening the pivot to the main body.

Step 6. Check Position of Transducer

At this point, check that the bottom of the transducer is a minimum of 1/4" below the bottom of the transom. If it is not, remove the transducer assembly from the metal bracket by removing the pin installed during STEP 3. Loosen the metal bracket mounting screws, re-position the bracket using its slotted holes, tighten, and re-assemble. It may be necessary to replace the silicone sealant after this adjustment.

Note: Several high-speed runs may be necessary to adjust the transducer UP/DOWN or to re-adjust the angle to achieve optimum results.

Step 7. Cable Clamps

Install cable clamps as necessary by drilling a 1/8" diameter hole for the #8 screw supplied.

2. Inside Hull Mounting Procedure

Warning: For proper results with this type of installation, it is important that the transducer be mounted by someone familiar with two-part epoxy adhesives. Techsonic Industries, Inc. is not responsible for any damage due to the mounting of your transducer in this manner.

Note: An Epoxy Kit (Part N. EPK) is available from Humminbird and is formulated for Inside Hull Transducer Installation.

1. Select a flat area as possible near the aft end and center of the boat where the hull is thin and not double. If the bottom has a runner down the center, select an area to one side of the runner, but as close to it as possible.
2. Clean the inside of the boat with lacquer thinner in the area where the transducer is to be mounted. The outside of the boat in this area should also be cleaned (not with lacquer thinner).
3. Put approximately one inch of water in the bottom of the boat.
4. Place the transducer in the water. The bottom of the transducer should be in a flat area and in good contact with the bottom of the boat.
5. Operate the LCR with the boat moving at high speed. The transducer may need to be moved to find an area where satisfactory operation is observed.
6. When an area producing satisfactory operation is found, mark the location of the transducer.
7. Remove the water and transducer, and thoroughly clean the marked area and the bottom of the transducer.
8. Using the Humminbird Epoxy Kit or equivalent, mix an ample amount of epoxy without causing bubbles. Pour it into the area where the transducer is to be mounted, creating a puddle larger than the bottom of the transducer.
9. Coat the bottom of the transducer with epoxy, then place it in the center of the puddle and push down while moving it in a circular motion. This forces out any air bubbles trapped between the transducer bottom and the hull.
10. Let the epoxy cure. The transducer is now ready to operate. No water is required in the bottom of the boat, and spilled gas or oil will not degrade performance as it would if the transducer were only placed in water.

Caution: Do not use silicone seal or any soft adhesive to bond the transducer to the hull, as this will reduce the unit's sensitivity.

Cautions

• Occasionally, the "eye" of your transducer may become dirty from storage or contact with oils in boats or marina environments. Oil can cause the "eye" to lose intimate contact with water, which is necessary for efficient operation. The "eye" can be cleaned with liquid detergent.
• Improper installation of the transducer can affect the efficiency and accuracy of the entire system.
• If your boat or transducer is out of the water for a period, it may take a short time for the transducer to become thoroughly "wetted" upon return to water. Re-entry may also cause turbulence, creating air bubbles in the "eye." Bubbles will disappear over time or can be removed by rubbing the "eye" with your fingers while the transducer is in water.
• If your instrument fails to function, check all electrical connections before removing the transducer or calling a serviceman.
• Inspect your transducer cable for cuts or damage that could affect performance. A slight nick exposing the outer cable can be repaired with electrical tape. Damage can occur if the inner and outer cables make contact. Proper splicing of the coaxial cable, if needed, should only be attempted by a qualified service technician.
• If your LCR is not working properly and you suspect the transducer is the issue, borrow a unit from a friend and test it on your boat. If the symptoms are the same, the problem is likely with your transducer.

Installing the LCR

The LCR should be mounted on a flat, solid surface for maximum stability. The low-profile swivel mount has four holes in its base; using all four is recommended.

Position the swivel base and drill four 1/4" diameter holes. The LCR hole pattern is the same as for all Humminbird flasher units. Use the provided hardware to mount this base to the boat.

Next, place the gimbal bracket on the swivel base and attach it with four small machine screws, provided. Place the LCR into the gimbal mount, ensuring the provided rubber washers are between the unit and the gimbal bracket. Important: Note the orientation of the gimbal bracket; slots on the gimbal bracket should face the rear. Rubber washers must be located between the unit and the gimbal bracket.

Install the mounting knobs and tighten snugly. The unit can now be swiveled and tilted to any desired position.

Diagram Description (Figure 9): Shows the mounting of the swivel mount to the deck using screws, nuts, and washers, and then attaching the gimbal bracket to the swivel mount.

Diagram Description (Figure 10): Details the placement of the rubber washer between the unit and the gimbal bracket, and indicates that the slots on the gimbal bracket should face the rear.

Other Mounting Options

1. The LCR gimbal bracket can also be mounted on the SM-4, quick disconnect swivel mount.
2. The LCR gimbal bracket can also be mounted directly to the dash without the swivel mount; however, this method is not recommended as the unit cannot be rotated.

Installing the Cables

Your LCR comes equipped with Humminbird's new Angle-Lock power and transducer connectors. The power connector is identified with the letter "P" on the back of the plug and connects to the outlet marked "Power" on the back of the unit. The transducer connector is identified with the letter "T" and plugs into the outlet marked "Transducer" on the back of the unit.

Note: An adapter (AD-4) is available to allow use of an old waterproof (BNC) transducer with the LCR, but ensure the transducer is 16-degree; a 32-degree transducer cannot be used.

A 1 1/8" hole must be drilled to pull through the transducer connector. After drilling, pull the transducer connector up through the hole. If installing two units, both transducer connectors can be pulled through this single hole. Next, push the power cable wires down through the hole. A provided hole cover will dress and hold the wires. Install the hole cover after determining the necessary wire length.

The power cable has a red lead for the positive (+) post and a black lead for the negative (-) post. Install a 1 amp fuse between the red cable and the positive post of your 12-volt battery.

If a fuse panel is available, wiring the power cable into the fuse panel is recommended. Note: The LCR must be fused separately from any other accessory.

Your Angle-Lock connectors can only be plugged in one way. Position the connector so the letter P or T is readable and the 90-degree bend is pointed downward. Push the connector in as far as it will go. Turn the positive locking ring clockwise until it locks. Your connector is now locked into place.

Note: For easy access to the connectors, loosen the mounting knobs and tilt your LCR forward. The connectors will then be in full view and easy to plug or unplug.

Diagram Description (Page 11 Diagram): Shows a hand connecting a cable to the back of the unit, illustrating the Angle-Lock connector.

Reading the TCR 101 Screen

Your TCR has a liquid crystal display (LCD). The liquid crystal material aligns itself to either block or allow light to pass through, creating images on the screen. Since the display depends on light, increasing the light source makes it easier to see, which is why your TCR is visible in bright, direct sunlight.

The display can be seen better at certain angles. The TCR mounting system is designed for tilting and pivoting to help maintain a good viewing angle. Some polarized glasses may affect your view by causing a rainbow or prism effect, which can be improved by slightly tilting the unit.

The TCR 101 features a high-resolution display with 32 x 100 pixels, offering incredible detail of targets, structure, and baitfish.

Total Screen Update

Humminbird's exclusive Total Screen Update instantly updates the entire TCR screen with new information each time a function is changed, without waiting for changes to "march" onto the screen. This feature is valuable in two ways:

1. Changing Depth Ranges: When the depth range changes to a deeper or shallower scale, the entire screen updates to display the new depth scale. For example, changing from a 0-60' scale to a 0-30' scale makes the entire screen look as if it had always been in the 0-30' range.
2. Using Zoom and Bottom-Lock: Through Pixel Memory Capacity, the TCR 101 stores readings in much finer detail than the "regular" mode. When you activate zoom or bottom-lock functions, the entire screen changes to display the up-close detail stored in memory. Turning off zoom or bottom-lock reverts the screen to the full depth scale.

The best way to learn to read your TCR 101 is to use it, especially in familiar locations. Understanding what is underwater and seeing it displayed on the screen will help you become an experienced TCR user.

Diagram Description (Page 13 Diagrams): These diagrams illustrate various screen displays and what they represent, including: school of baitfish, individual fish, fish close to bottom, larger fish, bottom contour, thermocline, fish suspended over a ridge, fish suspended in brush, surface clutter, and double echoes indicating bottom texture. Each display shows depth scale, sensitivity settings, and fish alarm status.

Operating the TCR 101

Your new TCR 101 offers unique automatic features and many adjustable ones. If you are learning to operate the TCR 101 with its simulator, follow the directions for the "Built-In Simulator" on Page 17. If you are learning to use your TCR 101 with actual on-the-water readings, proceed with these instructions.

Power Button

Pressing this button once turns the TCR 101 on. Pressing it again turns it off. When the unit is turned off, holding this button down for about 2 seconds activates the built-in simulator.

Stop Button

Pressing this button once stops or "freezes" the display. Pressing it again restarts the display at its previous speed setting.

Light Button

The TCR 101 features a 2-level backlight that evenly lights the display. Pressing the "light" button once provides a soft glow, ideal for night fishing as it won't interfere with night vision. Pressing the button again provides a brighter light, making the display easier to read at dusk. Pressing the button a third time turns off the backlight.

Diagram Description (Page 14 Diagrams): Simple line representations of the POWER, STOP, LIGHT, and SELECT buttons.

Select System

The TCR 101 Select System allows access to numerous functions using only four buttons: Select, Up arrow, Down arrow, and ON/Off.

When you press the Select button, each function appears in a block on the screen with easy-to-understand instructions. Use the Up and Down arrows and the ON/Off button to adjust functions. The instructions then disappear, returning the display to its full screen reading.

Select System functions are "active," meaning the last function displayed can be adjusted without pressing Select again. This is valuable in two ways:

1. Re-adjusting a Function: If bottom alarm was the last function used, you can adjust it again by pressing one of the arrow buttons or the ON/Off button.
2. Often-Used Function: If you anticipate frequent use of zoom, you can go to the zoom function, let the instructions disappear, and then activate zoom when needed simply by pressing ON/Off.

Function Descriptions:

1. Sensitivity

Automatic setting: on, "O" (normal). As conditions change, the computer automatically increases or decreases the sensitivity setting. You can manually adjust the automatic setting from a range of "+5" to "-5." This level will be maintained as long as the unit is on, due to the TCR's Sensitivity Bias feature. For example, setting sensitivity at "+2" will keep it 2 settings higher than the normal automatic setting until the TCR is turned off.

Diagram Description (Figure 16): Shows a screen display with "SENS AUTO" and numerical sensitivity settings.

2. Bottom Alarm

Automatic setting: off. Use the ON/Off button to activate the alarm; an alarm cursor appears on the screen. Use the arrow keys to adjust the depth at which the alarm sounds. A continuous chirping sound indicates the bottom is within the defined area. This feature helps alert you to shallow water or maintain position over structure.

Diagram Description (Figure 17): Displays a screen showing "BTM ALARM" and ON/OFF controls.

3. Fish Alarm

Automatic setting: off. The fish alarm is activated by pressing the ON/Off button. This 2-level alarm can be set to sound for all fish or only for stronger signals (larger fish). You can also adjust the fish alarm volume. Pressing the Up arrow switches between alarms for all fish and large fish; the Down arrow controls volume.

Once the instructions disappear, you can tell which alarm is active: the "all fish" alarm shows small and large fish symbols at the bottom of the screen, while the "large only" alarm displays only a large fish symbol.

Diagram Description (Figure 18): Shows a screen with "FISH ALARM" settings for "ALL" and "LARGE" fish, with ON/OFF and volume controls.

4. Zoom

Automatic setting: off. When activated by pressing ON/Off, zoom creates a "window" of expanded, up-close information. This window is marked by a cursor on the right of the screen and can be moved up or down with the arrow buttons. The exact depths of the window's upper and lower limits are displayed as depth scales.

The size of the zoom window changes with the depth range: 7.5 feet in the 15' and 30' ranges, and 15 feet in the 60' and 120' ranges. You can move the zoom window using the arrow buttons while zoom is activated, without pressing Select again.

Diagram Description (Figure 19): Illustrates a screen display with "ZOOM" and "RANGE" controls, showing a selected zoom window.

5. Bottom-Lock

Automatic setting: off. This function is turned on with the ON/Off button. When active, it shows up-close zoom readings referenced to the bottom. The zoom window size depends on the depth range (7.5 feet in 15'/30' ranges, 15 feet in 60'/120' ranges). The zoom window automatically moves up or down to stay on the bottom, with the cursor indicating the portion of the total depth range being displayed. This is ideal for finding structure or locating fish near the bottom.

6. Display Speed

Automatic setting: one setting less than the highest speed. The speed at which the TCR display moves depends on the display speed setting. Press the Up arrow for a faster setting and the Down arrow for a slower setting. Higher speed settings allow faster updates, while slower speeds provide more information.

7. Depth Range

Automatic setting: on. The TCR automatically finds the bottom and sets the ideal depth range when the unit is turned on. If auto range change remains on, the bottom stays "blacked in" for easy readings, and depth ranges change automatically. If auto change is turned off, you can change the depth range manually. In this mode, the bottom is not blacked in, allowing you to see a double bottom echo, which some fishermen prefer as the width of the second echo can indicate bottom texture.