Wide angle transducer or narrow angle? Can't find Lowrance 3500 PD-N replacement.

[spencerkechi]

Thanks in advance for your advice. I have a Lowrance 3500 in-dash depth finder in my 2000 Chriscraft Sportdeck 232. This is the original depth finder and transducer cable. The cable is shot. Splicing is not an option. When I went to look for a replacement, all I could find was PD-W. PD-W is what Lowrance says I should use as a replacement, but the factory transducer cable is a PD-N. We are most interested in as-accurate-as-possible depth readings at cruising speed or less. Would the PD-W work ok? When we really need the reading is when we go into coves where the water is less than 10 feet deep. This is a 192 hz transducer. I have attached a photo of a PD-W, but our PD-N looks almost just like it (connector is the same, puck is a little different). And if anybody knows where I can find the PD-N (none on ebay at the moment), that would be great!

 

[spencerkechi]

Since I posted this, I was able to find the narrow transducer part on eBay that I need for my boat. Still an interesting question, however, if anybody is interested in discussing it.

 

[dingbat]

Your way over thinking this...

The PD-W (wide, 20 degree) PD-N (narrow, 8 degree) provide equivalent depth readings.

From a purely technical standpoint, the 20 degree would provide a larger sampling area to calculate an "average" depth. Having said that, there are so many "environmental" variables (waves, rocking, water levels, orientation of transducer, etc.) involved that any difference between the two would go unnoticed.

Buy whichever one you can find and go boating.