How To Tell If A Transducer Is Bad? (Symptoms Explained)

Transducers have a revolutionary change in our day-to-day interactions with machines. There’re about a dozen types of transducers working only for a single automobile or boat, and if one goes bad, it’ll cause havoc. So you might want to stay aware regarding how to tell if a transducer is bad or not.  

The common failure for all types of transducers is to display incorrect data or provide a faulty output signal. A bad transducer will show a fixed value or an overly fluctuating value. Installation issues and bad wiring systems are the root causes behind these problems.

However, to understand what makes a transducer faulty, you must acquire a basic idea about the type of transducer you’re dealing with and what to do when you find a faulty transducer. 

So let’s get started! 

Basics of Transducers 

A transducer is an energy converter type device that takes in mechanical or physical data and converts that energy into an electric signal for easier readability of that data and vice-versa.

Its function might seem simple, but this device comes with a spectrum of types and purposes, and its methods are used in several fields. 

Transducers are a crucial part at present age for vehicles, boats, bikes etc, for any other controlling and maintenance related systems.

We’d need to write a huge book if we include all the aspects of all the categories of users.

So to have a detailed discussion, in this article, we’ll focus on the most commonly used transducers based on what purpose they serve.

Read along to explore the transducers you’ve been using all along for your boat or your vehicle! 

How To Tell If A Transducer Is Bad? 

The problems caused by a bad transducer or a damaged transducer aren’t always easily detectable. But if you’re aware of some fault signs, you can take the right step in no time. 

Let’s get into it! 

Signs and Symptoms Of A Faulty Transducer

A fluctuating or incorrect output is one of the first signs that’ll giveaway for a bad transducer for both Boat Sonar Transducers and Pressure Transducers. 

Faulty Output Signal

If the transducer is bad, it’ll generate faulty output signals that show you display readings incorrectly. It can get stuck to a fixed value or have a complete loss of signal.

For bad Boat Transducers, your display might show only the surface reading but not the bottom reading. 

Inaccurate Output Signal

The fish finder or boat transducer displaying an inaccurate depth reading is mostly due to a transducer error. 

Not reading accurately or having a sudden significant change in the magnitude values for the pressure range or the sonar module can cause dangerous issues.  

However, the fault signs alone cannot claim that the transducer is indeed faulty. To verify the claim, we need to inspect the probable causes behind them.

Inspecting The Fault Signs

Here are the following factors you should check to verify a bad transducer-

Installation and Orientation

You need to check if the transducers are properly installed as specified by the owner or user manual.

Transducers won’t work accurately if they get bent in any way and so they need to be mounted correctly and have a correct orientation. 

Checking for Damage and Dirt

Make sure to check if the transducer or any part connected with it got harmed or not. Sonar transducers can get damaged, sometimes colliding with ice or hard particles. The piezoelectric element in these transducers can form crystals which can cause harm too. 

Also, look out for dirt or barnacles stuck in-between the instruments.

 Wiring and Cable Connections

Short-circuits is a common phenomenon for both boat and car engine systems that can disrupt transducers’ functions.

So check out for any wiring issue, worn-out cable, and loose connections. 

Cavitation and Interference

Here, cavitation denotes water turbulence. If the movement of your boat or vehicle causes severe turbulence, it may cause your transducer not to read accurately.

Moreover, if two or more transducers are close to each other and have the same kind of frequency, it would cause interference resulting in a false output signal. 

If the inspection operation is done carefully and you’ve pinpointed the errors– hopefully, you’re now sure if you’ve got a bad transducer or not.

We can now proceed into testing the transducer for troubleshooting 

issues and how to fix them. Let’s dive in.

How to Fix A Bad Transducer?

Note that, we’ll be discussing a bit about quick fixes for damaged transducers. In case of severe damage throughout the system, it’s better to replace your transducer with a new one. 

DIY Fixes

If you’ve got a broken boat transducer, you might want to look out for the DIY ways to fix it. 

For example, in the case of a broken neck of a transom transducer, some users have tried and succeeded by drilling a hole and joining in the parts with a bolt there. 

If it’s a cable issue, you can try cutting and re-connecting cables but make sure they’re waterproof and mounted properly.

Repairing and Replacing Cost Of A Bad Transducer

Repairing costs are supported mainly by warranty, and if not, they’re budget-friendly. 

But if the problem requires having a new transducer, you might have to break the bank.

You’ll find a good quality boat transducer within $200-$300. 

The car pressure transducers are a bit less pricy, costing about $30-$90. 

After the fixing procedure, it’s now time to test if the transducers are working how they should. 

Testing The Performance Of The Fixed Transducer 

As soon as you’ve solved the transducer issues, it’s time to check whether you’ve got it right or not.

Testing A Sonar Boat Transducer

Follow these steps to finish your performance test for a sonar boat transducer-

• Before you turn on the display, check if vibrations or sound pulses on the transducer feel alright.
• Make sure you have an idea about the depth of water when you’re carrying out the test; medium water depth is recommended.
• The boat should be still throughout the test, and when you turn on the display
• Check if the display is receiving a signal from the transducer and if there is accurate depth reading 
• If all of it seems okay, repeat the procedure gradually with the boat moving slowly and then faster. 

Testing A Pressure Transducer

In a pressure transducer, you’ve to check for the correct output signal here the same way for the sonar transducer. 

But you might also want to look out for the voltage or current magnitude to ensure it’s working properly.

The output signal magnitude you should be looking out for is 4-20mA.

You can verify this by using a multimeter or voltmeter. 

The whole inspecting, fixing, and repairing procedure can get super exhausting and you do not want to go through this frequently. 

Hence it’s important to learn about the ways you could keep your transducer in good condition. 

How To Prevent Faulty Transducer Issues?

The following preventive measures can save you and your transducer from a lot of hassle-

• Avoid extreme vibration and shock. Make sure you’re ruining your car and boat precisely without sudden shudders and if you do so, check as soon you can if the transducers are all set in their place 
• Keep cables and wires in check. It’s recommended to give a schedule check to all the circuit boards and connectors linked with your transducer.
• Avoid Overpressure. You should have an idea about how much pressure your transducer can tolerate. Based on that, make sure that when you install a new transducer, you’re taking all the pressure valves and switches into account. 

Transducers can run smoothly for about 10 years at a stretch, and just like any other machine, they can get worn out by time. And so, if you want to ensure it gets a long life, preventive measures are your go-to option, or else you’ll be stuck into a loop of getting and installing new ones over and over again. 

The Different Types Of Transducers 

The first way to categorize transducers is to focus on in what way it converts energy. Based on this, we’ve Input Transducers that convert non-electrical data to electrical.

And there’re Output Transducers that do the opposite work and take in electric data. 

Now let’s explore the other type and the factors their classification is based upon.

Depending on the Source of Energy

There are two types of transducers under this classification: Active Transducers and Passive Transducers. 

Depending on Physical Quantity

Transducers take in data from a particular physical quantity, and based on that, the types of transducers are:

1. Temperature Transducer
2. Pressure Transducer
3. Level Transducer
4. Flow Transducer
5. Force Transducer
6. Acceleration Transducer
7. Displacement Transducer. 

Depending on Working Principle

This can simply be categorized into two types as Mechanical Transducer and Electrical Transducer.

Depending on its Application

Based on how and where you’re going to use a transducer, it has about seven different categories-

• Electromechanical: pressure sensors, LVDT, Load Cells. 
• Electrochemical: Oxygen sensors, pH meters.
• Electroacoustic: Sonar, Piezoelectric Crystals, Speakers, Microphones.
• Electromagnetic: Antennas, Magnetic Cartridges. 
• Thermoelectric: Thermistors, Thermocouples. 
• Radioacoustic: Radio Transmitters and Receivers 

As mentioned earlier, we’re going to dissect the issues with Electroacoustic Sonar Transducers used in boats and Electromechanical Pressure Transducers used in cars.

The Use Of Transducers In The Automation Sector

Without knowing the proper use of transducers, the world of transducers might look vague to you. So, let’s share a bit of knowledge. 

Watercrafts

There’s a wide range of transducers that are used for boats and ships. 

These devices blend well with all other instruments and modules of the boat engine, be it for measuring temperature, depth or speed. 

Transducers that work with a sonar module to detect the underground structure of the sea, create a river or sea bed topography, and find fish are called Sonar Transducers. 

The whole fish-finding operation now depends on these sonar transducers; they can take in electric pulse and convert it into sound waves and convert the sound waves back to electric signals to help find fishes underwater the most effective way. 

And as mentioned, its signals aren’t just limited to the whereabouts of fishes, but everything there can be below water surface level. 

Depending on the location of their installment on the boat, they’re called Transom Mount, In-Hull, Through-Hull, and Tilted Element Transducers. 

Vehicles 

In the case of vehicles, transducers are generally referred to as sensors or transmitters; although they’re not the same, they help in similar ways.

Just like for watercraft, the four-wheelers comprise a variety of transducers. 

One of the most common ones among them would be the Pressure Transducer. Pressure transducers convert pressure magnitudes into electrical signals, which assist our vehicles with running smoothly.

Although pressure transducers are a lot different from sonar transducers, their fault signs, repairing ways, and preventive measures are linked one way or another since they use the same technology and methodology.

Emphasizing that, we’ll discuss in detail the problems and solutions relating to the sonar transducer and include a brief discussion of the pressure transducer. 

Now that we’ve a basic idea of what these two types of transducers are, let’s find out a bad transducer.

FAQs

How should I clean a transducer?

Using mild cloth detergent and a soft cloth is recommended for cleaning transducers. If the dirt is sticky, you can use something a bit more rough like the Scotch Brite pads but avoid scratching the transducer’s body.

What are piezoelectric elements? 

Piezoelectric elements can generate electricity by taking in external pressure or voltage. This element is incorporated with transducers for heightened efficiency. 

Can cut the transducer cable wire cause issues?

The transducer cable can be cut, but you must not cut off the connector it comes with. You can cut the cable, keep the connector away, and make sure the tools you use and the cable are waterproof.

Conclusion 

How to tell if a transducer is bad? Well, if the transducer is providing faulty signal, wrong readings, it’s surely a bad transducer. 

We can’t think of smooth automation operations without an efficient transducer and so every automobile owner must find out faulty transducers.

You should never compromise on getting the perfect signal output for when you’re running your vehicle, your life depends on these signals. 

We hope this discussion would help you with any future transducer issue you might have to overcome. Good luck!