Maintenance
Your PiranhaMax® is designed to provide years of trouble-free operation with virtually no maintenance.
Follow these simple procedures to ensure your PiranhaMax® continues to deliver top performance.
If the unit comes into contact with salt spray, wipe the affected surfaces with a cloth dampened in fresh
water.
Do not use a chemical glass cleaner on the lens - this may cause cracking in the lens.
W
hen cleaning the LCD protective lens, use a chamois and non-abrasive, mild cleaner. Do not wipe while
dirt or grease is on the lens. Be careful to avoid scratching the lens.
I
f your boat remains inthe water for long periods of time, marine growth can reduce theeffectiveness of the
transducer. Periodically clean the face of the transducer with liquid detergent.
I
f your boat remains out of the water for a long period of time, it may take some time to wet the transducer
when returned to the water. Small air bubbles can cling to the surface of the transducer and interfere with
proper operation. These bubbles dissipate with time, or you can wipe the face of the transducer with your
fingers after the transducer is in the water.
Never leave the unit in a closed car or trunk—the extremely high temperatures generated in hot weather can
damage the electronics.
T
roubleshooting
Do not attempt to repair the PiranhaMax® yourself. There are no user-serviceable parts inside, and special
t
ools and techniques are required for assembly to ensure the waterproof integrity of the housing. Repairs
should be performed only by authorized Humminbird® technicians.
M
any requests for repairreceived by Humminbird® involveunits that do not actuallyneed repair. These units
are returned “no problem found.” If you have a problem with your PiranhaMax®, use the following
troubleshooting guide before calling the Customer Resource Center or sending your unit in for repair.
1
. Nothing happens when I turn the unit on.
Check the power cable connection at both ends. Be sure the cable is connected correctly to a reliable power
source — red lead to positive, black lead to negative or ground. Ensure the power available is between 10
and 20 VDC.
Check the power connection to the PiranhaMax®. It is possible to force the power cable connector into the
cableholder incorrectly. If the connector is reversed,theunitwillnot work.Examine the contacts on the back
of the unit to ensure there is no corrosion.
2. There is no transducer detected.
The PiranhaMax® has the ability to detectand identify that a transducer is connected. Whenpowering on, if
a message indicates “transducer not connected”, make sure that an appropriate transducer connector is
plugged into the unit. In addition, inspect the transducer cable from end to end for breaks, kinks, or cuts in
the outer casing of the cable. Also make sure that the transducer is fully submerged in water. If the
transduceris connected to the unit through a switch, temporarily connectit directly to the unit and try again.
If none of these actions identifies an obvious problem, the transducer itself is probably at fault. Be sure to
include the transducer if returning the unit for repair.
3. There is no bottom reading visible on the display.
In very deep water, it may be necessary to increase the sensitivity setting manually to maintain a graphic
depiction of the bottom. Inspect the transducer cable from end to end for breaks, kinks, or cuts in the outer
casing of the cable. If none of these actions identifies an obvious problem, the transducer itself may be at
fault. Be sure to include the transducer if returning the unit for repair.
4. When in very shallow water, I get gaps in the bottom reading and inconsistent digital
depth indication.
The PiranhaMax® will work reliably in water 3 feet (0.9 meter) or deeper. Remember that the depth is
measured from the transducer, not from the surface of the water.
5. The unit comes on before I press the POWER-MENU key, and won’t turn off.
Check the transducer cable — if the outer jacket of the cable has been cut and the cable is in contact with
bare metal, you will need to repair the cut with electrical tape. If there is no problem with the cable,
disconnect the transducer from the unit and see if the problem is corrected.
6. The display begins to fade out. Images are not as sharp as normal.
Check the input voltage. The PiranhaMax® will not operate on input voltages below 10 VDC.
7. The display shows many black dots at high speeds and high sensitivity settings.
You are seeing noise or interference caused by one of several sources. Noise can be caused by electronic
devices. Turn off any nearby electronics and see if the problem goes away. Noise can also be caused by the
engine. If engine noise is causing the interference, the problem will intensify at higher RPMs. Increase the
engine speed with the boat stationary to isolate this cause. Propeller cavitation can also appear as noise on
the display. If the transducer is mounted too close to the propeller, the turbulence generated can interfere
with the sonar signal. Make sure that the transducer is mounted at least 15" (380 mm) from the propeller.
International Purchases
A separate warranty is provided by international distributors for units purchased outside the United States.
This warranty is included by your local distributor and this distributor maintains local service for your unit.
Warranties are only valid in the area of intended distribution. Units purchased in the United States or
Canada must be returned to our factory in the United States for service.
Powering ON and OFF
Pressand release the POWER-MENU key to power
the PiranhaMax® on. Press and hold the POWER-
MENU key until the unit shuts down to power off.
When the PiranhaMax® powers on, the Start-Up
menu temporarily appears. From this menu, use the arrow keys to select either Start-Up, Simulator, or
SetUp. If you do nothing, the unit will default to normal on the water use.
• Use Start-Up for on the water use
• Use Simulator for learning how to use the system with
simulated sonar data; access Simulator by pressing the
RIGHT Arrow Key once
• Use SetUp to display additional set-up menu choices;
access SetUp by pressing the RIGHT Arrow Key twice
(See
SetUp Menu
for more information).
T
he Menu System
A simple menu system allows you to access your PiranhaMax®’s adjustable settings. To activate the menu
system, press the POWER-MENU key. Press the POWER-MENU key repeatedly to display the PiranhaMax®
menu settings, one at a time. When a menu setting is on the display, use the RIGHT and LEFT Arrow keys
to adjust the menu setting. Menu settings are removed from the screen automatically after several
seconds. In Normal operating mode, most menu settings saved to memory will not return to their default
v
alues when the unit is turned off. See individual menu choices for more information.
NOTE: Each time the POWER-MENU key is pressed, the backlight momentarily illuminates for easy viewing
at night. Adjust the LIGHT menu setting to keep the backlight on.
NOTE: If Simulator Mode is selected from the Start-Up Menu and a transducer is plugged in, some menu
setting changes will be saved in memory even after the unit is powered down. Menu setting changes will
not be saved from Simulator mode when a transducer is not connected.
NOTE: Turning on the SetUp menu choice from the Main Menu System allows you to access additional set-
up menu choices. See SetUp Menu for more information.
Light
(Setting Not Saved in Memory)
Press the POWER-MENU key until LIGHT appears. Use the backlight for night fishing. Select either 0 (Off),
or 1 through 5 to activate the backlight at the desired level. (0 to 5, Default = 0)
NOTE: Continuous backlight operation will significantly decrease the battery life for PiranhaMax®Portables.
Sensitivity
(Setting Saved in Memory)
Press the POWER-MENU key until SENSITIVITY appears. Sensitivity controls how much detail is shown on
the display. Increasing the sensitivity shows more sonar returns from small baitfish and suspended debris
in the water;however, the display may become too cluttered.Whenoperating in very clear water or greater
depths, increased sensitivity shows weaker returns that may be of interest. Decreasing the sensitivity
eliminates the clutter from the display that is sometimes present in murky or muddy water. If Sensitivity is
adjusted too low, the display may not show many sonar returns that could be fish. (0 – 10, Default = 5)
Depth Range
(Setting Not Saved in Memory)
Press the POWER-MENU key until DEPTH RANGE appears. Automatic is the default setting. When in
automatic, the lower range will be adjusted by the unit to follow the bottom. (Auto, 15 to 600 Feet,
Default = Auto)
NOTE: In manual operation, if the depth is greater than the depth range setting, the bottom will not be
visible on the display. Select AUTO to return to automatic operation.
Zoom
(Setting Not Saved in Memory)
Press the POWER-MENU key until ZOOM appears. Select Auto to magnify the area around the bottom in
order to reveal fish and structure close to the bottom that may not be visible during normal operation.
When ZOOM is set to Auto, the upper and lower Depth Ranges are automaticallyadjustedto keep the area
above and below the bottom on the display. Select Off to return to normal operation. (Off, Auto, Manual
Ranges, Default = Off)
There is also a series of manual ranges
which can be selected. The manual depth
rangesare determined by the present depth
conditions.
Chart Speed
(Setting Saved in Memory)
Pressthe POWER-MENUkeyuntil CHART SPEED appears.Selecta setting from 1-5 to increase or decrease
the chart speed, where 1 is the slowest and 5 is the fastestchart speed. Chart speed determines the speed
at which the sonar information moves across the display, and consequently the amount of detail shown. A
faster speed shows more information and is preferred by most anglers; however, the sonar information
moves across the display quickly. A slower speed keeps the information on the display longer, but the
bottom and fish details become compressed and may be difficult to interpret. (1 to 5, Default = 5)
Fish Alarm
(Setting Saved in Memory)
Press the POWER-MENU key until FISH ALARM appears. Select Off for no fish alarm, or one of the
following symbols to set the alarm. An alarm will sound when the PiranhaMax® detects fish that
correspond to the alarm setting. Fish Alarm will only sound if Fish ID+™ is also set to On.
(Off, Large, Large/Medium, All, Default = Off)
Large fish only
Large/Medium fish only.
All fish.
Structure
Magnified Bottom
with More Detail
Lower Zoom
Range
Upper Zoom
Range
D
isplay
LEFT Arrow Key
P
OWER/MENU Key
RIGHT Arrow Key
Depth Alarm
(Setting Not Saved In Memory)
Press the POWER-MENU key until DEPTH ALARM appears. Select OFF for no Depth Alarm, or select 3 to
99 feet to set the alarm depth. An audible alarm sounds when the depth is equal to or less than the setting.
(Off, 3 to 99 feet, Default = Off)
F
ilter
(Setting Saved in Memory)
Press the POWER-MENU key until FILTER appears. Select either Off or On. Filter adjusts the sonar filter to
limit interference on the display from sources such as your boat engine, turbulence, or other sonar devices.
(On, Off, Default = Off)
User Mode
Press the POWER-MENU key until USER MODE appears. USER MODE selects the
user mode. (SMARTCAST, TRANSDUCER).
NOTE: If a transducer is not connected to the PiranhaMax®, the unit will automatically default to
SmartCast™ user mode. If a transducer is connected to the PiranhaMax®, then the unit will default to the
last mode used prior to powering off.
SetUp Menu
Press the POWER-MENU key until SetUp appears. Select either Off or On. (Off, On,
Default = Off)
When you choose SetUp, additional menu choices will become available that are not a part of the Main
Menu system. After selecting SetUp, press the POWER-MENU key to display the SetUp menu choices, one
at a time. SetUp Menu choices include:
• Contrast • Battery Alarm
• Fish ID+™ • Languages (International Units Only)
• Bottom View • Units.
Scroll through all SetUp menu choices to exit the SetUp menu.
Contrast (SetUp Menu)
(Setting Saved in Memory)
Make sure that the SetUp menu is selected, then press the POWER-MENU key until CONTRAST appears.
Select a setting from 1 through 5. (1 to 5, Default = 3)
Scroll through all SetUp menu choices to exit the SetUp menu.
Fish ID+™ (SetUp Menu)
(Setting Saved in Memory)
Make surethatthe SetUpmenuisselected,then press thePOWER-MENUkeyuntil FISHID+™appears. Select
eitherOfftoview “raw” sonar returns,orOntoview Fishsymbols. Fish ID+™usesadvancedsignalprocessing
to interpret sonar returns, and will display a Fish Symbol when very selective requirements are met. A select
number of possible fish returns will be displayed with their associated depth. (On, Off, Default = On)
Scroll through all SetUp menu choices to exit the SetUp menu.
Bottom View (SetUp Menu)
(Setting Saved in Memory)
Make sure that the SetUp menu is selected, then press the POWER-MENU key until BOTTOM VIEW
appears. Bottom View selects the method used to represent the bottom and structure on the display.
(Structure ID®, Black, WhiteLine®, Inverse, Default = Inverse)
Structure ID®
represents weak returns as light pixels and strong returnsas dark pixels. This has the benefit
of ensuring that strong returns will be clearly visible on the display.
Black
(Bottom Black)displaysall pixels below the bottom contour as black, regardless of signal strength.This
has the benefit of providing a high contrast between the bottom and other sonar returns on the display.
WhiteLine®
highlights the strongest sonar returns in white resulting in a distinctive outline. This has the
benefit of clearly defining the bottom on the display.
Inverse
is a method where weak returns are shown with dark pixels and strong returns with lighter pixels.
This has the benefit of ensuring that weak signals will be clearly visible on the display.
Scroll through all SetUp menu choices to exit the SetUp menu.
Battery Alarm (SetUp Menu)
(Setting Saved in Memory)
Make sure that the SetUp menu is selected, then press the POWER-MENU key until BATTERY ALARM
appears. Select Off or 8.5 to 13.5 Volts. Battery Alarm sounds when the input battery voltage is equal to or
less than the menu setting. (Off, 8.5 to 13.5 Volts, Default = Off)
Scroll through all SetUp menu choices to exit the SetUp menu.
Language(SetUp Menu: Int’l Only)
(Setting Saved in Memory)
Make sure that the SetUp menu is selected, then press the POWER-MENU key until LANGUAGE appears
(InternationalUnits Only). LANGUAGE selects the displaylanguage formenus.(Settingsvary, Default= English)
Scroll through all SetUp menu choices to exit the SetUp menu.
Units (SetUp Menu)
(Setting Saved in Memory)
Make sure that the SetUp menu is selected, then press the POWER-MENU key until UNITS appears.UNITS
selects the units of measure. (Feet/F, Meters/C, Fathoms/C, Default = Feet/F for domestic units, and
Meters/C for international units, where F stands for Fahrenheit and C stands for Celsius)
Scroll through all SetUp menu choices to exit the SetUp menu.
Structure ID®
Black
WhiteLine® Inverse
2
00 kHz
Narrow beam,
Fish ID+
™
On
Raw Sonar
83 kHz Wide beam,
Fish ID+™ On
CON TACT HU M MI N BIR D ®
Transducer Mode Operations Manual
T
hank You!
Thank you for choosing Humminbird®, America's #1 name in fishfinders. Humminbird® has built its reputation by
designing and manufacturing top-quality,thoroughly reliable marine equipment. Your Humminbird® is designed
for trouble-free use in even the harshest marine environment. In the unlikely event that your Humminbird® does
require repairs, we offer an exclusive Service Policy-free of charge during the first year after purchase, and
available at a reasonable rate after the one-year period. For complete details, see the separate warranty card
i
ncluded with your unit. We encourage you to read this operations manual carefully in order to get full benefit
from all the features and applications of your Humminbird® product.
T
he PiranhaMax® is a combo unit that allows you to choose either Transducer user mode or SmartCast® user
mode. This manual addresses Transducer user mode only. See the PiranhaMax® SmartCast® Mode Operations
Manual also included with this unit for SmartCast® user mode information. With this purchase you should have:
• PiranhaMax® Control Head • Portable Mount Transducer
• One Advanced Remote Sonar Sensor - RSS • This Transducer Operations Manual
• The PiranhaMax® SmartCast® Operations Manual • Portable Carry Case.
If any of these components are missing or are not included, please contact our Customer Resource Center
at
1-800-633-1468
orvisitourweb siteat
www.humminbird.com
.
WARNING! This device should not be used as a navigational aid to prevent collision, grounding, boat damage, or
p
ersonal injury. When the boat is moving, water depth may change too quickly to allow time for you to react. Always
operate the boat at very slow speeds if you suspect shallow water or submerged objects.
WARNING! Disassembly and repair of this electronic unit should only be performed by authorized service personnel.
Any modification of the serial number or attempt to repair the original equipment or accessories by unauthorized
individuals will void the warranty.
WARNING!This productcontainschemicals known to the StateofCalifornia to cause cancerand/or reproductiveharm.
ENVIRONMENTAL COMPLIANCE STATEMENT: It is the intention of Humminbird® to be a responsible
corporate citizen, operating in compliance with known and applicable environmental regulations, and a good
neighbor in the communities where we make or sell our products.
WEEE DIRECTIVE: EU Directive 2002/96/EC “Waste of Electrical and Electronic Equipment Directive (WEEE)”
impacts most distributors, sellers, and manufacturers of consumer electronics in the European Union. The WEEE
Directive requires the producer of consumer electronics to take responsibility for the management of waste from
their products to achieve environmentally responsible disposal during the product life cycle.
WEEE compliance may not be required in your location for electrical & electronic equipment (EEE), nor may it be
required for EEE designed and intended as fixed or temporary installation in transportation vehicles such as
a
utomobiles, aircraft, and boats. In some European Union member states, these vehicles are considered outside
of the scope of the Directive, and EEE for those applications can be considered excludedfromthe WEEE Directive
r
equirement.
This symbol (WEEE wheelie bin) on product indicates the product must not be disposed of with other
household refuse. It must be disposed of and collected for recycling and recovery of waste EEE.
Humminbird® will mark all EEE productsin accordance with the WEEE Directive. It is our goal to comply
in the collection, treatment, recovery, and environmentally sound disposal of those products; however,
theserequirements do vary within EuropeanUnion member states.Formoreinformation about where you should
dispose of your waste equipment for recycling and recovery and/or your European Union member state
requirements, please contact your dealer or distributor from which your product was purchased.
ROHS STATEMENT: Product designed and intended as a fixed installation or part of a system in a vessel may be
consideredbeyond the scopeofDirective2002/95/ECoftheEuropeanParliament and of the Councilof27January 2003
on the restriction of the use of certain hazardous substances in electrical and electronic equipment.
User Modes
The PiranhaMax® has two different user modes:
SmartCast®:
This user mode allows you to operate the PiranhaMax® with an
Advanced RSS.
Transducer:
This user mode allows you to operate the PiranhaMax® with the
Portable Mount Transducer.
Use the User Mode menu choice to change between these two user modes.
When “SmartCast”is displayedon the screen, the unitis in SmartCast® mode.
NOTE:Ifatransducer is notconnectedtothe PiranhaMax®, theunit willautomatically default to SmartCast
®
user
mode. If a transducer is connected,thenthePiranhaMax®will defaulttothe lastmode usedpriortopoweringoff.
PiranhaMax® Sonar Technology
The PiranhaMax® is the easiest to use fishfinder ever. For most anglers, all you’ll ever need to do is power
on and fish! The PiranhaMax® automatically determines depth and makes adjustments to keep the bottom
and fish visible on the display.
The PiranhaMax® uses sonar technology to send sound waves from the transducer into the water. The
returned “echoes” are plotted on the display, creating a very accurate picture of the underwater world,
including distance to underwater objects such as the bottom, fish and structure.
Dual Beam Sonar
When used with the Portable Mount Transducer, your PiranhaMax® uses
a 200/83kHzDualBeam sonar systemwith a wide(60°)area of coverage.
DualBeam sonar isoptimized toshow the greatest bottomdefinitionusing
a narrow (20°) beam yet can still indicate fish found in the wide (60°)
beam when the Fish ID+™ feature is turned on. Dual Beam is ideal for a
wide range of conditions - from shallow to very deep water in both fresh
and salt water. Boat speed, wave action, bottom hardness, water
conditions andtransducer installation can all affect depthcapability.
What You See On the Display
The PiranhaMax® displays underwater
information in an easy-to-understand format. The
top of the display corresponds to the water
surface at the transducer, and the bottom of the
display corresponds to the Depth Range
automatically selected for the current water
depth. The Bottom Contour varies as the depth
under the boat changes. Digital readouts provide
precise information for depth, fish and water
temperature.
As the boat moves, terrain and bottom
composition variations are displayed. Fish,
baitfish and thermoclines (underwater
temperature changes) are displayed when
detected. Underwater conditions vary greatly, so
some experience and interpretation is needed to
realize all the benefits of the PiranhaMax® – use the pictureas a guide to the most common conditions and
practice using the PiranhaMax® over known bottom types.
*Your PiranhaMax shows targets in the wide beam as hollow fish icons.
9 - 83 kHz, Wide Beam Hollow Fish Symbol*
10 - 200 kHz, Narrow Beam Shaded Fish Symbol
1 - Water Surface Line
2 - Depth - Measured at the Transducer
3 - Temperature
4 - Upper Range
5 - Surface Clutter
6 - Structure
7 - Bottom Contour
8 - Lower Range
1
4
5
6
8
2
3
7
9
10
Your Humminbird® accessory is designed for
trouble-free operation and is backed by a one
year warranty. If you have any questions,
contact our
Humminbird® Customer Resource Center:
By Telephone
(Monday - Friday 8:00 a.m. to
4:30 p.m. Central Standard Time):
1-800-633-1468
By e-mail
(typically we respond to your e-mail within
three business days):
cservice@johnsonoutdoors.com
For direct shipping, our address is:
Humminbird®
Service Department
678 Humminbird® Lane
Eufaula, AL 36027 USA
S P E C I F I C A T I O N S
Depth Capability ................................ 600 feet (185 m)
Power Output ....................................100 Watts (RMS)
Sonar Operating Frequency .............. 200 kHz/83 kHz
Dual Beam
Sonar Coverage ...................... 60° @ -10 dB in 83 kHz
................................................ 20° @ -10 dB in 200 kHz
LCD Matrix .............................................. 160 V x 132 H
Transducer....................................................XPT 9 20 T
Transducer Cable Length.............................. 20 ft (6 m)
Control Head Power Requirement.......... 8 AA 1.5 Volt
Alkaline batteries (not included)
5
31550-1_D
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