Minelab Explorer II Question

[BC1969]

Hi, I know this should probably go in the minelab forum, but maybe somebody else knows something about it.
My question is, that explorer I recently got, is doing something weird, I put brand new Duracell batteries in it, went out this morning and was searching for 30 minutes or so and the machine said something along the lines of cannot get a target ID, because the batteries are to low, then turned itself off.
I turned it back on and it was fine for a few minutes then did it again.
The battery indicator shows them at a full charge, I went and bought more from a different location, and even some energizers, and it is still doing it, so I am kinda stumped and hoping I did not get a Craig's list lemon lol.
If anybody has any idea to why it would do that, I would appreciate it.
Thanks

Mike

 

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[cudamark]

I don't know for sure but it sounds like an internal detector problem to me. Hope it's not contagious! You might try PM'ing OBN on here. He does some minelab repairs and might have an idea. Good Luck!

 

[BC1969]

Well I hope thats not the issue, but maybe it has something to do with me trying out that excelerator concentric coil it came with, does not seem to do it with that stock 1050 coil.
Thanks Cuda...that name would be really cool if it had a Hemi infront

Mike

 

[cudamark]

Maybe after I find a cache of gold coins, it will! Until then, I'll just have to be satisfied with my small blocks....... I find it strange that a coil would have any effect on battery drain. I haven't noticed any significant difference in battery life with the three coils I use on my E-trac.

 

[jeff of pa]

do the batteries fit tight inside the pack ?
no crushed Springs ?

clean your connections on your battery holder.





You may also want to try & clean the Spring ends inside the detector
some how too,
if there is a way.

if that doesn't help,

When you put your battery into the handle, Do you have to push on it,
to snap in, or does it naturally just fall into place ?

If you don't get at least a little resistance pushing the battery in,
the springs may be compressed.

 

[BC1969]

Thanks Jeff, there was some corrosion on the pack, Lil baking soda and water cleaned it right up, and now its fine...so far.
The pack slides in then there is a little latch that holds it in tight.

Mike

 

[Iron Patch]

Thanks Jeff, there was some corrosion on the pack, Lil baking soda and water cleaned it right up, and now its fine...so far.
The pack slides in then there is a little latch that holds it in tight.

Mike

That's good news because if it's not the contacts you would probably be planning a detector funeral.

I'm curious if you got it cheap because the seller very likely thought he was ripping you off with a broken unit.

 

[jeff of pa]

Thanks Jeff, there was some corrosion on the pack, Lil baking soda and water cleaned it right up, and now its fine...so far.
The pack slides in then there is a little latch that holds it in tight.

Mike

the corrosion may have been the Problem.

If Not you say

The pack slides in then there is a little latch that holds it in tight

But, you don't say, Do you have to physically Push a little to get it to latch ?

You should hopefully have to Push in to latch it, remember there are Springs that should be getting solid connections to the Battery.

A quick test, turn your detector on & point the coil in the air straight up.
if you loose charge, your springs in the Battery compartment of the detector may be weak or crushed

 

[BC1969]

Yeah you have to push and hold it in to be able to latch it.
What I did notice, it only does it after I have recovered a target, soon as I stand up and lift the detector up to resume swinging, that's when it does it.
Also it seems to happen twice as much if I use the x-1 pinpointer during recovery.
If it keeps it up I will take it all apart and figure it out, just getting a little lazy in my old age lol.

Mike

 

[jeff of pa]

Hmm sounds like Coincidence on the Probe but

a bad connection could cause it to go off while lifting it off the ground

 

[BC1969]

Hey iron patch, I guess it was a good price, it came with the extra excelerator concentric coil, 160 bucks for those at kellyco, an extra upper shaft, the stock coil, x-1 pinpointer thingy, the stock battery pack, 2 extra packs, koss headphones made for it, and the lower shaft is carbon fiber, don't know if that's stock or not.
The detector looks like it is brand new, its mint.
Guy said he used it less than 10 hours, couldn't figure it out.
I paid 550 bucks for all of it.
But I guess since minelab still repairs them, I'll send it in.

Mike