How to Check a Used Vexilar

Vexilar manufactures a line of electronic flasher units used for ice fishing. These devices use sonar to give anglers a view of what is going on under the ice. Instead of showing the action on an LCD screen, flashers use colored bars on a circular LED screen. This gives them a faster response time than LCD screen units, which slow down in cold temperatures. When purchasing a used Vexilar, it's best to test it out on the water, but you can perform a few simple checks when that's not possible.

Instructions

    • 1

      Inspect the transducer cable for damage. The plastic coating on the cable should be supple, without any cracks or kinks. The transducer should be free of scrapes and gouges.

    • 2

      Check the battery connections for corrosion. Some Vexilar units use standard batteries, while others use a rechargeable battery pack.

    • 3

      Plug in the battery charger, if the unit uses rechargeable batteries. Verify the battery is charging. Install fresh disposable batteries if the unit uses them.

    • 4

      Position the transducer so it hangs several feet above the floor and turn on the power. The screen will show the floor.

    • 5

      Wave a flat object the size of a book under the transducer and see if the screen reacts.