Replacing my Faria Commander speed & depth gauge

[JahBold]

My Faria Commander speed and depth gauge died, and repairs aren't available, has anyone replaced just the gauge? Did you buy a full new set with transducer or just a separate depth gauge? and how'd you handle the wiring?

 

[Legit Mike]

I replaced just the depth gauge on my Faria Commander and bought a separate unit, reused the existing wiring with some careful splicing, it worked fine, saved me from buying a whole new set

 

[T1garr]

Happened to my sister a while back, I reused the existing transducer since it was still working fine, just needed to check compatibility, the wiring wasn't too bad, but I had to trace everything slowly and label as I went.
@Legit Mike cool to here you've done this same thing

 

[TigeWaveMaker]

Last time, I only swapped out the depth gauge because fixing the whole thing wasn't really an option. If your transducer is still in good shape, you might just want to stick with it and change out the gauge, just double-check that it matches your transducer model.

When it comes to wiring, try to avoid cutting any cables if you can. Instead, go for proper connectors to keep everything waterproof.

By the way, have you tested your transducer lately? That could really help you figure out whether you need the whole kit or just the gauge.

 

[FloofTroop]

My Faria Commander speed and depth gauge died, and repairs aren't available, has anyone replaced just the gauge? Did you buy a full new set with transducer or just a separate depth gauge? and how'd you handle the wiring?

I don't recommend you to replace only the gauge. cause it's almost always a matched set with their specific transducer. Think of it like a pair of shoes, one won't work without the other, right? Your old transducer likely won't "talk" to any new, different brand of gauge you buy. So, yeah, you're pretty much looking at a whole new setup if you want both speed and depth back

 

[BeetleKing78]

Yeah, you definitely can replace just the Faria Commander depth gauge without buying a full set, but you have to make sure the new gauge is compatible with your existing transducer. Many opt for a separate depth gauge with its own transducer if compatibility is an issue. Wiring is usually pretty straightforward, just match the power, ground, and signal wires

 

[JahBold]

I replaced just the depth gauge on my Faria Commander and bought a separate unit, reused the existing wiring with some careful splicing, it worked fine, saved me from buying a whole new set

That's really helpful, thanks, I'd prefer not to replace the whole set either, did the new gauge match the existing transducer, or did you have to replace that too for accurate readings?

 

[JahBold]

Last time, I only swapped out the depth gauge because fixing the whole thing wasn't really an option. If your transducer is still in good shape, you might just want to stick with it and change out the gauge, just double-check that it matches your transducer model.

When it comes to wiring, try to avoid cutting any cables if you can. Instead, go for proper connectors to keep everything waterproof.

By the way, have you tested your transducer lately? That could really help you figure out whether you need the whole kit or just the gauge.

I haven't tested the transducer yet, but I'll do that first, good call on using connectors instead of cutting , I definitely want to keep things sealed. Did you match brands exactly?

 

[JahBold]

I don't recommend you to replace only the gauge. cause it's almost always a matched set with their specific transducer. Think of it like a pair of shoes, one won't work without the other, right? Your old transducer likely won't "talk" to any new, different brand of gauge you buy. So, yeah, you're pretty much looking at a whole new setup if you want both speed and depth back

Thanks for explaining it like that. I'll probably just replace the whole setup to avoid compatibility issues. Did you go with Faria again or switch to a different brand?

 

[JahBold]

Yeah, you definitely can replace just the Faria Commander depth gauge without buying a full set, but you have to make sure the new gauge is compatible with your existing transducer. Many opt for a separate depth gauge with its own transducer if compatibility is an issue. Wiring is usually pretty straightforward, just match the power, ground, and signal wires

I'll check my transducer model and see what gauges are compatible, if I do go with a separate unit, any tips on mounting the new transducer cleanly?

 

[BeetleKing78]

I'll check my transducer model and see what gauges are compatible, if I do go with a separate unit, any tips on mounting the new transducer cleanly?

If you go with a separate unit, try mounting the new transducer near the old one to avoid interference and keep it in clean water flow, ideally near the centerline and away from turbulence. Use a fairing block if needed for proper angle, and seal everything well to prevent leaks.