GMT - Education/Training & Preferred Batteries

[LookandSee]

Hi Folks,

I am new to prospecting and gold detecting. I have decided to purchase the Whites GMT for prospecting and nugget shooting exclusively.

I intend on using it quite a bit this winter searching in the desert areas of the US (mountain areas in the summer). I know that Whites has a Nicad rechargeable kit for the GMT but can I use the Whites NIMH charger and battery? Can I use regular NIMH batteries? What are the best batteries to use for the GMT economically and performance wise?

Also, besides the manual that comes with the GMT - what are some other good training books, dvds, guides, etc., that I can use to help me get up and running quickly with the GMT.

Any advice would be greatly appreciated. Thanks.

 

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[Tom Slick]

Welcome to the Forum. I'll try to answer your questions. Yes, you can use the White's NiCad battery or the Nimh battery. A better choice is to use the new battery by RNB Innovations. They have 2 different batteries that will work. The first is the HP2200. It's lighter than the White's battery and lasts longer. It comes with a charger for the same price as the White's Nimh. The second is the HP2900 and it lasts even longer than the HP2200 and is about $10 more.
As for books, there are many to choose from. I recommend the "Follow the Drywashers" books by Jim Straight. He has 3 or 4 different versions and all are excellent. Jim's books cover eveything form using your detector to where and what to look for. Successful Nugget Hunting by Pieter Heydelaar is another very good book on "How To". Advanced Nuggetshooting by Jame McCulloch is informative. Then you also need info on where to look or go for nuggets. A couple of excellent books on Arizona are - Placer Gold Deposits of Arizona by Maureen Johnson, and Arizona Gold Placers and Placering by Eldred Wilson. Remember that there are lots of places that have or had gold but it's not always large enough pieces to be found with a detector. You have to go where nuggets have been found in the past.
Good Luck!
Tom

 

[Terry Soloman]

Welcome to the Forum. I'll try to answer your questions. Yes, you can use the White's NiCad battery or the Nimh battery. A better choice is to use the new battery by RNB Innovations. They have 2 different batteries that will work. The first is the HP2200. It's lighter than the White's battery and lasts longer. It comes with a charger for the same price as the White's Nimh. The second is the HP2900 and it lasts even longer than the HP2200 and is about $10 more.
As for books, there are many to choose from. I recommend the "Follow the Drywashers" books by Jim Straight. He has 3 or 4 different versions and all are excellent. Jim's books cover eveything form using your detector to where and what to look for. Successful Nugget Hunting by Pieter Heydelaar is another very good book on "How To". Advanced Nuggetshooting by Jame McCulloch is informative. Then you also need info on where to look or go for nuggets. A couple of excellent books on Arizona are - Placer Gold Deposits of Arizona by Maureen Johnson, and Arizona Gold Placers and Placering by Eldred Wilson. Remember that there are lots of places that have or had gold but it's not always large enough pieces to be found with a detector. You have to go where nuggets have been found in the past.
Good Luck!
Tom

X2 Great advice!

The GMT does require some fine tuning in Arizona's heavily mineralized areas but can certainly handle them. I have found pickers as small as .03 grams with a GMT, so it is very sensitive. It discriminates iron very well. I use the Tesoro Lobo Super Traq now because of its auto ground tracking (I am always prospecting in really hot Arizona caliche). You will find gold with the GMT - Good Luck!

 

[Giant056]

I never used the nicad rechargeables on my MXT however about 3 years after I bought it I purchased the nimh rechargeable setup from Whites and they really work great in it. Whites advertises 40 hours on a new set of alkaline batteries on the GMT it should do very well in the NIMH's.

 

[LookandSee]

Thanks for the info guys - I really appreciate it !!!