Problem with my Pioneer 202...

[cowgirl]

Hello All!

I am a newbie here, and I hope someone can help me. I bought a Pioneer 202 Bounty Hunter at a yard sale this summer for $7. I figured it would be fun to try my hand at detecting. Only thing is it doesn't seem to work!!

I put new batteries in it, and when I turn it on it beeps 3 times and the two screens flash rows of arrows. After that, nothing. Nada. Zip. It won't do anything!!

I'm probably going to sound like a moron, but do you *have* to have headphones to hear the beeping? I still need to get an adapter for the plug is too large for the headphones I have. But I thought that even without the headphones, when I put the coil over something metal, *something* would appear on the screens!!!

Please help!!!

Thanks for reading,

The Cowgirl

 

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[seas1to2]

try looking here its a pdf file owner's manual http://websearch.cs.com/wm/boomfram...http://www.detecting.com/pdffiles/p202man.pdf

 

[Functional]

Hello All!

I am a newbie here, and I hope someone can help me. I bought a Pioneer 202 Bounty Hunter at a yard sale this summer for $7. I figured it would be fun to try my hand at detecting. Only thing is it doesn't seem to work!!

Good price if you can get it to work.

I put new batteries in it, and when I turn it on it beeps 3 times and the two screens flash rows of arrows. After that, nothing. Nada. Zip. It won't do anything!!

Are the batteries connected properly? If so, then are you using it inside near any metal, or electrical device?

Standard thing to do is check that all connections are snug. Then remove and reinsert the batteries. As mentioned by seas1to2, get the manual.

I'm probably going to sound like a moron, but do you *have* to have headphones to hear the beeping? I still need to get an adapter for the plug is too large for the headphones I have. But I thought that even without the headphones, when I put the coil over something metal, *something* would appear on the screens!!!

Please help!!!

I haven't used a bounty hunter before, but I would think it would have an internal speaker, (which doesn't mean the speaker works), and you should hear the beeping. Getting a headphone adapter is a step in the right direction. And yes, I would think something should appear on the screen if it was working properly. Keep in mind that it is a "motion" detector and it needs to move over a piece of metal, or visa versa.

My own detector (a Compass brand), didn't make a sound when I first got it. After extending the shaft out and making sure the coil cable was more, or less uniformly wound around the shaft, I turned it on and it beeped for the first time. It is possible that you have a break in the cable, or corrosion caused by water, or a damaged coil. Without seeing the machine up close and personal, its hard to tell. There may be little critters building a home in there for all I know.

Thanks for reading,

The Cowgirl

Any time, I enjoy reading.
If you don't have any luck with your machine, find someone like me who likes to fiddle with things until they work, or are useful only as parts.

Good luck!

F.

 

[cowgirl]

Are the batteries connected properly? If so, then are you using it inside near any metal, or electrical device?

Standard thing to do is check that all connections are snug. Then remove and reinsert the batteries. As mentioned by seas1to2, get the manual.

I haven't used a bounty hunter before, but I would think it would have an internal speaker, (which doesn't mean the speaker works), and you should hear the beeping. Getting a headphone adapter is a step in the right direction. And yes, I would think something should appear on the screen if it was working properly. Keep in mind that it is a "motion" detector and it needs to move over a piece of metal, or visa versa.

My own detector (a Compass brand), didn't make a sound when I first got it. After extending the shaft out and making sure the coil cable was more, or less uniformly wound around the shaft, I turned it on and it beeped for the first time. It is possible that you have a break in the cable, or corrosion caused by water, or a damaged coil. Without seeing the machine up close and personal, its hard to tell. There may be little critters building a home in there for all I know.

Any time, I enjoy reading.
If you don't have any luck with your machine, find someone like me who likes to fiddle with things until they work, or are useful only as parts.

Good luck!

F.

Hi F.!!

Thanks for the reply! I did download and read the manual. Afterward, I took it outside and turned it on, still just does the 3 beeps, flashes arrows, and then nothing. I waved it over our deck (the nails) but no arrows showed. I even got out a metal staple gun and waved it over that. No arrows, nothing on the screens. Now I realize that the settings could be set in such a way that it would ignore "junk", but I believe I had it set to "all metals".

I still have to get the headphone adapter (on my way to Radio Shack soon...), but I am first going to do like you said and check the wire. The thought did cross my mind that something might be amiss with the wire or coil. Is there a way to troubleshoot them? Will a voltmeter work? My hubby is very handy with one!

I'm not ready to give up on this yet!!! I will let you know how the wire and coil inspection goes....

The Cowgirl

 

[Functional]

Hi F.!!

Thanks for the reply! I did download and read the manual. Afterward, I took it outside and turned it on, still just does the 3 beeps, flashes arrows, and then nothing. I waved it over our deck (the nails) but no arrows showed. I even got out a metal staple gun and waved it over that. No arrows, nothing on the screens. Now I realize that the settings could be set in such a way that it would ignore "junk", but I believe I had it set to "all metals".

I would think that even if the sensitivity it set too high, it would still emit a beep, or have something on the display screen. Before you open it up and gut it, you might contact support via the form on this webpage: http://www.detecting.com/knowledgebase/

I still have to get the headphone adapter (on my way to Radio Shack soon...), but I am first going to do like you said and check the wire. The thought did cross my mind that something might be amiss with the wire or coil. Is there a way to troubleshoot them? Will a voltmeter work? My hubby is very handy with one!

The coils on most metal detectors are sealed and the science behind them is beyond what most electronics technicians are willing to deal with. Even the slightest error in winding, or soldering, or insulating the coil usually means a dead, or useless coil. If you know of anyone else that has this type of detector, you might try swapping coils to see if that makes a difference.

About all your hubby could do is to use a digital multimeter to test the resistance in the coils and I don't know what readings are "normal" for a particular brand of coil. If your not concerned about it being damaged further, he could open it up and use a magnifying glass to carefully inspect for obvious things, like lose, or disconnected wires and corrosion, (but make sure the batteries aren't connected). If it has any socket type chips plugged into the board, check that they are well seated. And before touching any internal parts, touch the negative side of the battery connection on the board to ground yourself.

I'm not ready to give up on this yet!!! I will let you know how the wire and coil inspection goes....

The Cowgirl

As you may know, the Bounty Hunter brand isn't normally the most pricey, so I wouldn't suggest pouring much money into that machine. If you don't have any luck with getting it working and decide to buy another machine, there is no shortage of differing opinions on what brand to buy. It all comes down to price, type of soil, or water, and what you want to hunt for.

Good luck!

F.

 

[cowgirl]

Well, we figured out the problem...the wire that plugs into the unit and winds down to the coil is "hardwired" into the coil. Where the wire enters the coil, there is a plastic "collar" that is supposed to protect the wire from excessive bending. Well, the collar is partly broken and we can see that the wire has rubbed on the broken part so much that the ground wire has been severed!!! No WONDER it didn't work!!! *doh*

The case of the coil is all plastic, and seems to be glued together. So taking it apart to fix the wire is not possible.

Anyone have any suggestions? Should I shop for a new coil? Are they all made this way, with the wire "hardwired" into the coil? Do any have the wire that can be plugged into the coil, thus easier to repair? Or should I chuck it, and call it a learning experience and go shopping for a different one??

 

[seas1to2]

they are hardwire into the coil because most coils are waterproof,so yes they are all made that way. not sure what a new coil will cost,maybe you can ask around an find a good use 1.

 

[warsawdaddy]

Here's the parts site you need---

http://www.detecting.com/products/part_search.cmdl

 

[Functional]

Well, we figured out the problem...the wire that plugs into the unit and winds down to the coil is "hardwired" into the coil. Where the wire enters the coil, there is a plastic "collar" that is supposed to protect the wire from excessive bending. Well, the collar is partly broken and we can see that the wire has rubbed on the broken part so much that the ground wire has been severed!!! No WONDER it didn't work!!! *doh*

Sounds like someone put some weight on top of the coil and connection while it was stored, (or stomped on it). I think it would be repairable if your hubby has a soldering iron and theres enough exposed wire coming out of the coil before the break. Bare some of the wiring and don't apply heat too long. Just enough to melt solder onto both ends and join them together.

The case of the coil is all plastic, and seems to be glued together. So taking it apart to fix the wire is not possible.

Its been done before. Know anyone with a dremmel? Its not like you can hurt the coil anymore than it already is and if you destroy it, you can always pick up a used coil on eBay. A new 4", or 8" coil will run you about $40 plus shipping, (the 10" is $60), or you could sell your MD on eBay as is and put that money against another MD.

1) Anyone have any suggestions?
2) Should I shop for a new coil?
3) Are they all made this way, with the wire "hardwired" into the coil?
4) Do any have the wire that can be plugged into the coil, thus easier to repair?
5) Or should I chuck it, and call it a learning experience and go shopping for a different one??

1) Its up to you, but I'm thrifty be necessity, so I'd repair it.
2) Yes if you want to keep it and decide not to send it to me, (either that or frame it and mount it on the wall).
3) Yes again, as seas1to2 said.
4) I don't think so.
5) Feel free to chuck it my way if you so desire. There are many brands to choose from out there and as many widely varying opinions on each one. If you do decide to buy one weigh the opinions you see on TNet and draw your own conclusions based; a) on which machine would best suit your needs for the type of detecting you wish to do, b) the type of soil conditions, (use in water, or on fresh, or salt water beaches is something not every detector can do), in the areas you plan to use the machine in.

Whatever you decide to do with that MD is up to you. Good luck!

F.