Select your product to confirm this information applies to you
Cutting a Garmin Transducer Cable
Can a transducer cable be cut?
Typically it is not recommended to cut a transducer cable. It could ruin the transducer or cause diminished returns, but in some instances, it may need to be cut and wired to an adapter block if there is no adapter cable available. Garmin offers a wire block adapter for either an 8-pin or 12-pin connector. The 8-pin and 12-pin wire block adapter provide secure terminals for each wire inside an IPX7-rated housing and ensures the transducer can function as designed.
Below is a list of cable adapters that do not require cutting the transducer cable.
Additional Information
Early model Garmin ClearVu and SideVu and ClearVu transducers sold separately or bundled with units may have been CV transducers, as opposed to the current line of GT transducers. CV transducers are not forward-compatible with units capable of Ultra High Definition Sonar. CV transducers should not be adapted with the adapter above or the wire block adapters listed below for use with models that do not support CV transducers. For more information on CV transducers, see How GT Transducers Differ from CV Transducers.
Transducers and Sonar modules
The sonar module may offer more features than the transducer connected can provide. The transducer and sonar module must be compatible for all possible features to work if the option is missing from the screen, it is not fully compatible. For example, a non-ClearVu transducer connected to a chartplotter with a ClearVu sonar will not provide ClearVu as an option. To see which transducers are compatible with Garmin chartplotter or sonar module, see the Transducer Selection Guide.
The 8-pin transducer works with a 12-pin sonar module
The 12-pin transducer does not work with an 8-pin sonar module
12-pin transducers can be compatible with 4-pin sounders*
Transducers, still under warranty, should not be cut as it will void the warranty.
* units that support SideVu (STRIKER units & first generation echoMAP SV models).
If the transducer does not have a cable adapter and cutting the transducer cable is necessary, use a wire block adapter.