8-PIN TRANSDUCER ADAPTER BOX

INSTALLATION INSTRUCTIONS
Important Safety Information
WARNING
See the Important Safety and Product Information guide in the device product box for product warnings and
other important information.

CAUTION
To avoid possible personal injury, always wear safety goggles, ear protection, and a dust mask when drilling,
cutting, or sanding.

NOTICE
When drilling or cutting, always check what is on the opposite side of the surface to avoid damaging the vessel.
This transducer adapter box is not intended for use with a Garmin differential 8-pin transducer. Do not cut a
®

Garmin differential 8-pin transducer cable. Connect it directly to the 8-pin port on the sonar module.
This adapter box connects a non-differential transducer, such as a Garmin or Airmar™ 6-pin transducer, to a
Garmin 8-pin sonar module. To adapt a non-differential transducer for use with a Garmin differential sonar
module, you must cut the connector from your existing non-differential transducer and connect the wires to the
wire block inside this 8-pin adapter box by following these instructions.

Mounting the Transducer Adapter Box

Tools Needed
• Drill and 3.2 mm (1/8 in.) drill bit
• #2 Phillips screwdriver
• 3 mm flat screwdriver
• Cable ties (optional)
• Wire cutter
• Wire stripper
• 21 mm (13/16 in.) wrench
• 15 mm (or adjustable) wrench (optional)

Mounting Location Considerations

When selecting a mounting location, observe these considerations.
• The adapter cable from the device should reach the transducer connector on the sonar module easily when
the device is mounted. The adapter cable length is 60 cm (24 in.).
• You must not submerge the device in water.
• You must mount the device at least 15.25 cm (6 in.) from a source of electrical interference, such as a motor.
• When a mounting surface is unsuitable for screws, you must secure the device to a structure using cable ties
(not included).

April 2022 GUID-DEB323BE-96FF-4D95-9C3E-75BF037B5402 v2

Mounting the Adapter Box
1 Using the 3.2 mm (1/8 in.) bit, drill the pilot holes.
2 Insert the screws into the pilot holes, but do not tighten them flush with the surface.
3 Place the adapter box on the screws and slide it into place.
4 With the adapter box unmounted, connect the wires.
5 Tighten the screws until the adapter box is securely fastened to the surface.

Connecting a Transducer to the Adapter Box

Preparing a Transducer to Connect to the Adapter Box
Before you can begin the installation, you must check your transducer compatibility.
NOTICE
This transducer adapter box is not intended for use with a Garmin differential 8-pin transducer. Do not cut a
Garmin differential 8-pin transducer cable. Connect it directly to the 8-pin port on the sonar module.
1 Cut the connector off the non-differential transducer cable, as close to the connector as possible.

2 Feed the cut end of the cable through the nut on the side of the housing, and pull it out through the
other side.
3 Use a wire stripper to remove about 90 mm (3 1/2 in.) of the outer cable jacket and foil shield.
1
4 Use a wire stripper to remove about 6 mm ( /4 in.) of the insulation from each internal wire .
NOTE: Tinning the stripped wires is recommended.
5 For transducers without a temperature sensor, you can use a 15 mm (or adjustable) wrench to connect a
separate temperature sensor through the nut on the bottom side of the housing (optional).
6 To add a separate water speed wheel sensor, you can use a 15 mm (or adjustable) wrench to connect the
speed wheel sensor through the nut on the bottom side of the housing (optional).

2
Connecting the Transducer Wires to the 8-pin Transducer Adapter Box
1 Using a 3 mm flat screwdriver, connect the transducer wires to the wire block in the 8-pin adapter box as
shown in the wiring block table.
NOTE: You can consult the wire color tables to identify the wire functions for some Garmin and Airmar
transducers (Wire Color Tables, page 3).

Wire Block Number Wire Function Description

1 Depth + Transducer depth positive

2 Depth - Transducer depth negative

3 Shield Transducer cable shield

4 Ground Sonar system common ground

5 Temp +1 Water temperature positive

6 XID Airmar Transducer Identification

7 Speed power Speed wheel sensor power positive

8 Speed data Speed wheel sensor data positive

2 When the wire connections are secure, use a 21 mm (13/16 in.) wrench to tighten the nut around the
transducer cable.
3 Place the lid on the adapter box and secure it with the four captive Phillips screws.

Wire Color Tables

You can use these tables to help identify wire functions on certain Garmin or Airmar 6-pin non-differential
transducers.

1 If your transducer does not have temperature capability, you must install a jumper between connectors 4 and 5 on the wire block.

3
Garmin/Airmar 6-pin 50/200 kHz Dual-Frequency Transducers
On your chartplotter, you may need to set the transducer type to dual frequency, 50/200 kHz. On your
chartplotter, select Transducer Type > Dual Freq (200/50 kHz).
If your transducer does not have temperature capability, you must install a jumper between connectors 4 and 5
on the wire block.

4: Ground 7: Speed 8: Speed

Description 1: Depth + 2: Depth - 3: Shield 5: Temp 6: XID
(Temp -) Power Data

Garmin Dual
Frequency 50/200 Red Black Bare Green White N/A N/A N/A
kHz

Airmar B117 depth

Blue Black Bare N/A N/A N/A N/A N/A
only

Airmar B117 with

Blue Black Bare Brown White N/A N/A N/A
temp

Airmar B744V Blue Black Bare Brown White N/A Red Green

Airmar P66 Blue Black Bare Brown White N/A Red Green

Airmar B744VL long

Blue Black Bare Brown N/A N/A Red Green
stem

Airmar B117 with

Blue Black Bare N/A N/A N/A N/A N/A
temp

Airmar P319 with

Blue Black Bare Brown N/A N/A N/A N/A
temp

Airmar P79 adjust­

Blue Black Bare N/A N/A N/A N/A N/A
able in-hull

Airmar M260 for

Blue Black Bare N/A N/A Orange1 N/A N/A
500W sonar units

Airmar B260 for

Blue Black Bare Brown White N/A N/A N/A
500W sonar units

Airmar B60 with 20°

Blue Black Bare Brown White N/A N/A N/A
tilt

Airmar B60 with 12°

Blue Black Bare Brown White N/A N/A N/A
tilt

Airmar B45 narrow

Blue Black Bare Brown White N/A N/A N/A
stem

1 Brown for transducers made before February 1, 2007.

4
Garmin/Airmar 6-pin High-Power Dual-Frequency Transducers
If your transducer does not have temperature capability, you must install a jumper between connectors 4 and 5
on the wire block.

5: Temp 7: Speed 8: Speed

Description 1: Depth + 2: Depth - 3: Shield 4: Ground 6: XID
+ Power Data

Airmar B260 Blue Black Bare N/A White Orange1 N/A N/A

Airmar M260 Blue2 Black2 Bare2 N/A N/A Orange1 N/A N/A

Airmar R99 Blue Black Bare N/A White Orange1 N/A N/A

Airmar R199 Blue Black Bare N/A N/A Orange1 N/A N/A

Airmar B258 Blue Black Bare N/A White Orange1 N/A N/A

Airmar B164 with

Blue Black Bare N/A White Orange N/A N/A
20° tilt

Airmar B164 with

Blue Black Bare N/A White Orange N/A N/A
12° tilt

Airmar SS27-W
Blue Black Bare3 N/A3 White Orange N/A N/A
widebeam

Airmar TM260 Blue Black Bare N/A White Orange N/A N/A

Specifications
Dimensions (W x H x L) 59.1 x 48.97 x 104 mm (2.3 x 1.9 x 4.1 in.)

Cable length 61 cm (24 in.)

Water rating IEC 60529 IPX74

© 2022 Garmin Ltd. or its subsidiaries

Garmin and the Garmin logo are trademarks of Garmin Ltd. or its subsidiaries, registered in the USA and other countries. GSD™, Garmin ClearVü™, and Garmin SideVü™
®

are trademarks of Garmin Ltd. or its subsidiaries. These trademarks may not be used without the express permission of Garmin.
Airmar™ is a trademark of Airmar Technology Corporation and its subsidiaries.

1 Brown for transducers made before February 1, 2007.

2 Wires for terminals 1, 2, 3 are bundled together.
3 If
there are multiple bare wires, twist them together and connect to terminal 3.
4 The device withstands incidental exposure to water of up to 1 m for up to 30 min. For more information, go to www.garmin.com/waterrating.

5
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