How to Identify Your Lowrance 3-in-1 Transducer
Quick answer: Find the part number on the transducer cable tag near the connector. Your Lowrance display model can tell you what 3-in-1 transducer probably came with the unit, but only the cable tag confirms what is actually installed.
The five current or recent families are Active Imaging HD 3-in-1, Active Imaging 3-in-1, TotalScan, TripleShot, and TripleShot HD. All combine traditional sonar, DownScan Imaging, and SideScan in one housing. They do not all work with the same fish finders.
Start with the common-pairing chart, then use the true-compatibility chart before buying a replacement or changing the transducer selection in your display.
Which 3-in-1 transducer commonly came with each Lowrance unit?
This first chart is a fast identification clue. It shows the 3-in-1 normally bundled with each display family, not every transducer the display can operate.
| Lowrance unit | Common factory pairing | What to check |
|---|---|---|
| Eagle 7 or 9 sold as a TripleShot model | TripleShot HD | The package name must say “TripleShot.” Eagle SplitShot HD, HDI, Bullet, and Eagle Eye packages use different sonar hardware. |
| HOOK² 5, 7, 9, or 12 TripleShot; HOOK Reveal 7 or 9 TripleShot | TripleShot (non-HD) | The package name must say “TripleShot.” SplitShot and Bullet packages are not 3-in-1 systems. |
| Elite Ti | TotalScan | TotalScan was the normal all-in-one imaging option, but verify the tag on a used boat. |
| Elite Ti² | Active Imaging 3-in-1 | Do not confuse the original Active Imaging transducer with Active Imaging HD. |
| Elite FS | Active Imaging 3-in-1 | Active Imaging HD is a different upgrade path and uses an S3100 module with Elite FS. |
| HDS Gen3 | TotalScan | TotalScan is the manufacturer-confirmed all-in-one match. |
| HDS Carbon | TotalScan or Active Imaging 3-in-1 | Both appeared in official Lowrance pairings as the product line changed. |
| HDS LIVE | Active Imaging 3-in-1 | Active Imaging HD requires the S3100 upgrade path rather than the original direct pairing. |
| HDS PRO | Active Imaging HD 3-in-1 | HDS PRO has built-in Active Imaging HD support. |
Important: A common factory pairing is not the same as the complete compatibility list. The next chart separates direct support from module-based support.
Which Lowrance fish finders are truly compatible with each 3-in-1?
The following combinations are confirmed in Lowrance product pages, specifications, or published package lineups. “Direct” means the display can use the transducer without an external S3100 sonar module. A matching plug alone does not prove compatibility.
| 3-in-1 transducer | Direct display support | Supported through a module | Do not assume |
|---|---|---|---|
| TripleShot 000-14029-001 |
HOOK² TripleShot 5, 7, 9, and 12; HOOK Reveal TripleShot 7 and 9 | None published | Eagle, Elite, or HDS displays |
| TripleShot HD 000-16285-001 |
Eagle 7 and 9 models sold as TripleShot HD | None published | HOOK² or HOOK Reveal just because the name is similar |
| TotalScan Skimmer 000-12568-001 |
HDS Gen3, HDS Carbon, and Elite Ti | None required for those displays | Newer displays not named on Lowrance's current TotalScan compatibility page; confirm with Lowrance before buying for an unlisted unit |
| Active Imaging 3-in-1 000-14489-001 |
HDS Carbon, HDS LIVE, HDS PRO, Elite Ti², and Elite FS | None required for those displays | HDS Gen3, Elite Ti, HOOK, or Eagle |
| Active Imaging HD 3-in-1 000-16062-001 Lowrance version |
HDS PRO | HDS LIVE, HDS Carbon, and Elite FS through the S3100 sonar module | Elite Ti², Elite Ti, HDS Gen3, HOOK, or Eagle |
This table deliberately avoids undocumented “it plugs in and partly works” combinations. If your display is not named, verify the exact SKU, display software, connector, and any required sonar module with Lowrance support before spending money.
Step 1: Find the part number on the cable
Start at the transducer and follow its cable toward the display or sonar module. Near the connector, look for the printed cable tag. Lowrance normally prints the SKU or part number in a format such as 000-14489-001.
Match the full number, including the final three digits, to this table:
| Part number | Transducer | What that tells you |
|---|---|---|
| 000-14029-001 | TripleShot | HOOK² / HOOK Reveal 3-in-1 family |
| 000-16285-001 | TripleShot HD | Eagle 3-in-1 family |
| 000-14489-001 | Active Imaging 3-in-1 | Original Active Imaging 3-in-1 family |
| 000-16061-001 | Active Imaging HD 3-in-1 FishReveal High/Wide | High/Wide CHIRP version of Active Imaging HD |
| 000-16062-001 | Active Imaging HD 3-in-1 | Active Imaging HD 3-in-1 family |
| 000-12568-001 | TotalScan Skimmer | Transom-mount TotalScan |
| 000-14257-001 | TotalScan M/H thru-hull | Single thru-hull TotalScan |
If your number is not in this table, do not pick the closest-looking number. Search the complete SKU on Lowrance’s website. A one-digit difference can mean a different transducer, mounting style, or sonar family.
Step 2: Use the housing as a clue, not proof
A 3-in-1 transducer normally has an elongated housing because it carries traditional sonar, DownScan, and left/right SideScan elements. That helps you separate it from many small 2D-only or 2-in-1 transducers, but shape alone is not enough to identify the model.
- TripleShot and TripleShot HD have long, narrow housings. Their similar names and appearance make the cable tag especially important.
- Active Imaging, Active Imaging HD, and TotalScan use broader skimmer-style housings. Photos can help narrow the choice, but angles, brackets, and replacement mounting hardware can make them look misleadingly similar.
- Mounting-hardware color is not a dependable identifier. Brackets and hardware can be replaced without changing the transducer.
If you cannot reach the tag, take clear photos of the top, bottom, side, connector, and any molded or printed markings. Do not rely on one side-view photo.
Lowrance 3-in-1 transducer pictures
These product photos help with the first visual sort. Use the caption and cable tag together because brackets, camera angle, and housing color can hide the differences.
000-14029-001
000-16285-001
000-12568-001
000-14489-001
000-16062-001
Step 3: Check the display and sonar source
Your display can provide a useful cross-check, but the menu shows how the system is configured, not always what is physically attached. A previous owner can manually select the wrong transducer type, and a networked sonar module can make the source appear somewhere other than the display’s local port.
On many HDS and Elite units, start at:
Home > Settings > Sonar > Installation
Look for the selected transducer type and the active sonar source. Menu names vary by display family and software version. If the selection conflicts with the cable tag, trust the cable tag and then correct the installation setting using the manual for your exact display.
Do not use “Channel 2” as a universal identification rule. HDS displays can separate sonar ports and sources, but Elite, HOOK, Eagle, and networked S3100 installations do not all present the same way. An empty Channel 2 field does not prove that the boat lacks a 3-in-1 transducer.
The five Lowrance 3-in-1 families, in plain English
Active Imaging HD 3-in-1
This is the current high-definition Active Imaging family. HDS PRO supports it directly. Lowrance says HDS LIVE, HDS Carbon, and Elite FS require the S3100 sonar module for Active Imaging HD support. Part number 000-16061-001 is the FishReveal High/Wide version also listed by Simrad; 000-16062-001 is the current Lowrance Active Imaging HD 3-in-1 shown above.
Active Imaging 3-in-1
This is the earlier Active Imaging family, part number 000-14489-001. It is the common 3-in-1 match for HDS LIVE, Elite Ti², and Elite FS, and Lowrance also sold HDS Carbon bundles with it.
TotalScan
TotalScan predates Active Imaging. Lowrance officially lists the TotalScan Skimmer as compatible with HDS Carbon, HDS Gen3, and Elite Ti. The transom-mount and thru-hull versions have different part numbers, so identify the mounting style as well as the product family.
TripleShot
The original TripleShot, part number 000-14029-001, belongs to the HOOK² and HOOK Reveal families. Only models sold as “TripleShot” include SideScan; SplitShot and other HOOK packages are not the same 3-in-1 setup.
TripleShot HD
TripleShot HD, part number 000-16285-001, is the Eagle version. Lowrance describes it as exclusive to Eagle. It is not just a renamed HOOK TripleShot, so do not order one as a substitute based only on appearance.
Are Lowrance and Simrad transducers interchangeable?
Many are, but not every Lowrance and Simrad transducer is interchangeable. Lowrance and Simrad are both Navico Group brands. The two official sites sell several imaging transducers under the same SKU, so the brand name on the box does not matter when the part number is identical and the receiving display officially supports that transducer.
| Shared SKU on official Lowrance and Simrad sites | Transducer | What “interchangeable” means |
|---|---|---|
| 000-14489-001 | Active Imaging 3-in-1 | The same SKU is sold by both brands. Use it only with a display that supports Active Imaging 3-in-1. |
| 000-12568-001 | TotalScan Skimmer | The same SKU is sold by both brands. Display support still depends on the model and sonar port. |
| 000-16061-001 | Active Imaging HD 3-in-1 FishReveal High/Wide | The same High/Wide SKU appears on both official sites. An S3100 may still be required for the display. |
Do not turn that shared ownership into a blanket rule. TripleShot HD is officially exclusive to Lowrance Eagle, and connector shape, sonar generation, display software, and module requirements still control compatibility. Compare the full SKU first, then verify that SKU against the display or module documentation.
Before you change settings or buy a replacement
- Write down the complete part number from the cable tag.
- Write down the exact display model, not just “HDS” or “Elite.”
- Check whether the transducer plugs into the display, an adapter, or an external sonar module.
- Compare those three facts with the charts above.
- Only then select the transducer in the installation menu or order a replacement.
Once you know the hardware you actually have, you can stop applying advice written for a different sonar system. The 3-in-1 Sonar Bundle walks through 2D sonar, DownScan, and SideScan screen by screen so you can understand what you are seeing and make useful adjustments on the water.
- Hugh, Fish Finder Coach
Can I identify my Lowrance transducer from the fish finder model?
You can narrow it down, but you cannot confirm it. Used boats are often rewired, and some displays support more than one transducer family. Match the display to the compatibility chart, then verify the cable-tag part number.
Is TripleShot HD the same as TripleShot?
No. TripleShot HD is the Eagle family, part number 000-16285-001. The original TripleShot is the HOOK² / HOOK Reveal family, part number 000-14029-001.
Can I use a HOOK TripleShot transducer on an HDS or Elite display?
Do not assume you can. Lowrance publishes TripleShot for HOOK² and HOOK Reveal TripleShot models, not as the normal 3-in-1 transducer for HDS or Elite displays. A connector that can be adapted does not guarantee complete CHIRP, DownScan, and SideScan operation.
Does Active Imaging 3-in-1 work with Elite FS?
Yes. The original Active Imaging 3-in-1, part number 000-14489-001, is a direct match for Elite FS. Active Imaging HD is different: Lowrance specifies the S3100 sonar module when adding Active Imaging HD to Elite FS.
Will Active Imaging HD plug directly into Elite FS or HDS LIVE?
No. Lowrance specifies an S3100 sonar module for Active Imaging HD with Elite FS, HDS LIVE, and HDS Carbon. HDS PRO has built-in Active Imaging HD support.
Is TotalScan the same as Active Imaging 3-in-1?
No. Both combine traditional sonar, DownScan, and SideScan, but they are different Lowrance transducer families. TotalScan is commonly associated with HDS Gen3, HDS Carbon, and Elite Ti; Active Imaging 3-in-1 is the newer family commonly paired with HDS LIVE, Elite Ti², and Elite FS.
Can a Lowrance transducer work on a Simrad display?
Yes when the exact SKU is also sold for Simrad and that Simrad display supports it. Active Imaging 3-in-1 000-14489-001 and TotalScan 000-12568-001 are examples sold on both official sites. Do not generalize that answer to every Lowrance transducer.
Does a 9-pin connector prove a transducer is compatible?
No. The plug is only one part of the check. The display or sonar module must also support that transducer family, frequency set, and software feature set. Match the complete cable-tag SKU to the display documentation rather than shopping by pin count alone.
