Lowrance Transducer Compatibility Guide (Comprehensive Chart)

UPDATED 03 NOVEMBER 2023

by Robert Ceran

Not sure if your Lowrance fish finder unit is compatible with a specific transducer that you want to use?

Keeping track of Lowrance transducer compatibility is a challenging task, since there are dozens of Lowrance transducers on the market, each of them with a different compatibility profile.

To make things easier for you, we systematically went through all Lowrance transducers, and checked what units they are compatible with, and summarized our findings in this Lowrance transducer guide.

For this article we’ve created an in-depth chart that summarizes Lowrance transducer compatibility, to help you choose the right one for your purposes.

Lowrance transducer compatibility chart

The chart above shows the compatibility of Lowrance transducers with different Lowrance fish finder units.

Keep in mind that you may need either an adapter, a sonar module, or a PSI performance sonar interface in order to achieve compatibility. The cases where this applies are covered in the table above.

If you’re currently in the market for a new Lowrance transducer, check out our article on what is the best transducer for Lowrance?

Are all Lowrance transducers interchangeable?

No, currently none of the Lowrance transducers are universally compatible with all Lowrance fish finders. However, most Lowrance transducers are compatible with multiple Lowrance units, and most Lowrance fish finders are compatible with multiple transducers.

In other words, you can definitely change the transducer on your Lowrance fish finder unit, as long as you choose another transducer that’s also compatible with your current unit.

If you have either an HDS Live or Elite FS unit, check out our article on what is the difference between Lowrance HDS Live And Elite FS? 

Lowrance transducer types explained

While there seems to be a bewildering array of different Lowrance transducers, they fall into a few main categories, and you can refer to these to help you choose the right one for your purposes. 

This Lowrance transducer guide wouldn’t be complete without taking a closer look at each of the different transducer types:

HST skimmer transducer

These are the most basic skimmer transducers provided by Lowrance. They only provide traditional 2D sonar with 83/200 kHz wavelengths, though they also come with CHIRP capability (if your control unit is able to process this). 

HDI transducer

The HDI transducers come with down imaging in addition to 2D sonar, and come with the added advantage that you can put them on your trolling motor with the appropriate adapter.

StructureScan transducer

Also known as the StructureScan HD, this  transducer provides both down imaging and side imaging, but does not include 2D sonar or 3D imaging. Traditionally, this was combined with an HST skimmer to add 2D sonar into the mix, but a better option at this time would be the Active Imaging 3 in 1.

TotalScan transducer

The TotalScan was the first all-in-one transducer produced by Lowrance. It comes with 2D traditional sonar, side and down imaging, as well as being CHIRP capable. However the newer Active Imaging all in one transducer comes with superior performance, and is the better choice at this time.

Active Imaging transducer

Active Imaging transducers are the latest all-in-one options built by Lowrance, and come either as a 2 in 1 or 3 in 1 variant. They provide very high quality sonar images, and come at a competitive price point, which explains their popularity. The Nosecone variant of this transducer is required for Lowrance Ghost 360 imaging.

3D Transducer

Also known as the StructureScan 3D, this transducer comes with side imaging and down imaging, as well as 3D imaging. In order to use it, you need to run it through a module that is sold together with the transducer. 

Active Target transducer

Active Target was released as Lowrance’s answer to Garmin LiveScope, and provides very high quality live sonar images.

Like the StructureScan 3D, the Active Target transducer also requires a module to process the sonar data before relaying it to a display unit. The module comes together with the transducer, but can also be purchased separately.  

How to identify what Lowrance transducer you have

The best way to identify your Lowrance transducer is by referring to the small tag located close to the connector end of the cable.

If this tag is missing, check the box that you got it in, or look up the transducer model on the Lowrance website, to get the full details of its model name. 

You need to have the full model name in order to select the right transducer on your fish finder control unit. 

How to choose a Lowrance transducer compatible with your fish finder unit

If you already have a Lowrance fish finder unit, the easiest way to check which transducers are compatible with it is to turn it on and then go to “Settings.” Next, select “Sonar” and then “Installation” at the bottom of the menu. 

On the next screen you’ll see “Transducer Type” with a box next to it (which should say “unknown” if you’re doing this for the first time). When you press on the box, this will generate a drop down menu of all the transducer options that this unit is compatible with.

You can then make a note of the transducers on this list, and decide which one you want to pair with your unit.