Pub. 988-0161-001 www.lowrance.
Copyright © 2006 Lowrance Electronics, Inc. All rights reserved. No part of this manual may be copied, reproduced, republished, transmitted or distributed for any purpose, without prior written consent of Lowrance Electronics. Any unauthorized commercial distribution of this manual is strictly prohibited. Lowrance is a registered trademark of Lowrance Electronics, Inc. NMEA 2000 is a registered trademark of the National Marine Electronics Association.
Table of Contents Warnings and Cautions ............................................................. i Section 1: Introduction............................................................. 1 What is radar? ............................................................................... 1 Antenna...................................................................................... 1 Side lobe .....................................................................................
Caution: International Regulations for Preventing Collisions at Sea mandate that when radar is on a vessel, the radar must be used at all times, regardless of weather conditions or visibility. Numerous court decisions have not only ruled the radar must be used, but that the radar operator must be knowledgeable in all operational aspects of radar performance or otherwise face a greater risk of liability if an accident occurs.
Section 1: Introduction Thank you for purchasing this Lowrance Radar with the RIM 100 radar interface module. Your radar consists of three main components: the radar scanner unit, a display unit (sold separately) and the RIM 100 radar interface module which connects the scanner unit and the display unit. We know you’re anxious to begin the installation, but first, let us tell you how this manual is organized. The first section describes how your radar works.
rate targets at a distance. The critical factors are the antenna's beam width and side lobe level. Typically, a radar antenna will radiate a tightly focused beam from the front of the array. The longer the antenna array is, the narrower the beam width. Additionally, it will also emit smaller amounts of energy to each side. A lower side lobe level lessens the effect of a false echo. Side lobe The beam radiating the strongest radio signal from the antenna is called the "main lobe".
False echoes Sometimes radar will display targets on screen that do not exist in the real world. You should be aware of how and why this happens. A. Ghost echoes Sometimes one large object very near your boat will appear as two different targets onscreen. One is the actual radar echo. The other is a ghost echo generated by a re-reflection of the original signal. It comes back to your own boat, bounces back to the target, and then is picked up by the antenna on the second bounce.
Radar interference If another boat's radar is operating on the same frequency as yours, it can create interference on your display. The interference usually appears as spiral or radial patterns. This radar has an interference rejection control to eliminate interference. Turn it on to reduce or eliminate the interference. Installation Considerations Prior to actual installation of the radar scanner unit, several factors must be considered to assure maximum performance.
The scanner unit should be mounted on the center line of your vessel in a location that has an unobstructed view forward and is as clear as possible the rest of the way around the unit. A location as high as practical to improve maximum range is desirable, keeping in mind that minimum range objects may be overlooked if mounted too high. Position the unit forward of large structures and exhaust stacks. Large structures or stacks cause blind spots.
The recommended mounting surface thickness is 3/8" to 1/2" (9 mm to 13 mm). If the mounting surface is thin, a doubler should be added. If it is thicker, longer bolts must be purchased. WARNING: The scanner will be damaged if bolts penetrate more than 9/16" (15 mm). Also, consider the cable route from the scanner to the operator’s location. Avoid routing the interconnecting cable through areas of possible damage from moving objects, machinery, exposure to chemicals or high temperature.
vent microwave radiation exposure. This antenna is installed correctly. It safely exceeds the recommended separation distance.
Section 2: Radar Installation Preparations Unpack your new radar and check the contents against the packing list. Do not remove the cover from the unit. There are no connections or adjustments inside the unit that are needed for installation or operation. The cable must remain attached. For ease of handling, coil the cable and place it on top of the scanner, then secure it with tape. Invert the scanner and make sure the four mounting holes are clear to accept bolts.
6. Install and tighten four M10 x 25U (M10 x 1") mounting bolts. Use anti-corrosive grease on each bolt to avoid difficulty in removing the bolts later on. 7. Uncoil the scanner cable. 8. Secure the cable near the scanner to support the weight of the cable and prevent strain on the watertight cable seal. If the cable is to pass through tubing or a bulkhead, protect the unfinished end. Do not use the unfinished wires or fabric braid to pull the cable. Attach a fish cord only to the cable jacket.
Section 3: RIM 100sp Installation You can install the RIM 100 module in some other order if you prefer, but we recommend this installation sequence: 1. Select a flat surface near the display unit to mount the module. The location must be close enough for the RIM's RS232 data cable to reach the display unit's RS-232 data cable. Use the RIM 100 as a template to mark the location of the pilot holes for the four mounting screws. RIM 100sp Radar Interface Module 2.
4. Route the radar cable to the RIM 100 location. Connect the RIM 100 radar data cable to the radar antenna power/data output cable using heat-shrink butt connectors. Follow instructions on the wiring diagram that corresponds to your radar antenna — Detail Drawing A for radome models or Detail Drawing C for open array models. Diagrams are shown on pages 11 through 14. 5. Connect the RIM 100 RS-232 data cable to the display unit RS-232 cable using heat-shrink butt connectors.
Cable Connections and Wiring Diagrams See following detail drawing A LRA-1000, LRA-1500, LRA-2000 radomes RIM 100 SP Dark gray (not used) Purple/Transmit White/Receive Drain/Ground Data cable for future serial device.
Detail Drawing A black/pwr – Radar motor power{ Large Large white/pwr + Small black (not used) Data Out +/Brown/Data In + Data Out –/Red/Data In – Data In –/Yellow/Data Out – Data In +/Orange/Data Out + SW1 On Signal/Blue/On Signal SW1 SW2+/Green/+V SW2 Crimped connection To radar unit RIM 100 SP Detail drawing A: wiring diagram, RIM 100 to radome unit.
LRA-4000, LRA-5000 open array radars See following detail drawing C RIM 100 SP Dark gray (not used) Display unit Purple/Transmit White/Receive Drain/Ground Data cable for future serial device.† RIM power/data cable Display unit power/data cable Display unit data RIM Data RIM Power ** (red/power +; black/ground –) Display unit pwr NMEA 2000 network pwr See following detail drawing D Cable connections and wiring diagrams for Lowrance radar, RIM 100 interface module and display unit.
Detail Drawing C Large red + Radar magnetron power{ Large black – white + Radar motor power{ Large Large Blue – Small black (not used) ----------------------- Brown ------------------------------------------------- Red ------------------------------------------------- Yellow ----------------------------------------------- Orange -----------------------Blue Blue Green Green Crimped connection To radar unit RIM 100 SP Detail drawing C: Wiring diagram, RIM 100 to open array unit.
Lowrance Radar Specifications Model LRA-1000 LRA-1500 LRA-2000 LRA-4000 LRA-5000 Radome 1.0 ft. 1.5 ft. 2.0 ft. N/A N/A Diameter Open Array N/A N/A N/A 4.0 ft. 5.0 ft. Length Power 2 kW 2 kW 4 kW 4 kW 4 kW Output Power 30 watts 55 watts 70 watts 85 watts 95 watts Required Voltage 10.8-41.6 10.8-41.6 10.8-41.6 10.8-41.6 10.8-41.6 Required volts DC volts DC volts DC volts DC volts DC Slotted Wave yes yes yes open array open array Guide Antenna X-Band yes yes yes yes yes (10 GHz) Rev. Per Min.
FCC Compliance This device complies with Part 15 of the U.S. Federal Communications Commission (FCC) Rules. Operation is subject to the following two conditions: (1) this device may not cause harmful interference, and (2) this device must accept any interference received, including interference that may cause undesired operation. Changes or modifications not expressly approved by the manufacturer could void the user's authority to operate the equipment.
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LOWRANCE ELECTRONICS FULL ONE-YEAR WARRANTY "We," "our," or "us" refers to LOWRANCE ELECTRONICS, INC., the manufacturer of this product. "You" or "your" refers to the first person who purchases this product as a consumer item for personal, family or household use. We warrant this product against defects or malfunctions in materials and workmanship, and against failure to conform to this product's written specifications, all for one (1) year from the date of original purchase by you.
How to Obtain Service… …in the USA: We back your investment in quality products with quick, expert service and genuine Lowrance parts. If you're in the United States and you have technical, return or repair questions, please contact the Factory Customer Service Department. Before any product can be returned, you must call customer service to determine if a return is necessary. Many times, customer service can resolve your problem over the phone without sending your product to the factory.
Accessory Ordering Information for all countries To order Lowrance accessories for your radar, please contact: 1) Your local marine dealer or consumer electronics store. Most quality dealers that handle marine electronic equipment or other consumer electronics should be able to assist you with these items. To locate a Lowrance dealer near you, visit our web site, www.lowrance.com and look for the Dealer Locator. Or, you can consult your telephone directory for listings. 2) U.S. customers: LEI Extras Inc.
Visit our web site: Lowrance Pub. 988-0161-001 Printed in USA 022406 © Copyright 2006 All Rights Reserved Lowrance Electronics, Inc.
