URGENT HELP NEEDED PLEASE!!!!!

[mckeekitty]

I know I should probably post this on the Tech page, but I'm hoping there will be more traffic on this page. I am in DESPERATE need of assistance. We leave tomorrow morning for the beach, and suddenly my detector has gone on the blink. I have a White's IDX Pro. It has 8 fresh batteries and after a few minutes of detecting the "ping" sounds drop off to a very, very faint signal. I have cleaned the connections in the battery case, but the problem continues. It isn't the headphones...I've disconnected them and the signal remains very, very weak. I am sure I need to ship it off for service, but I can't believe I've encountered this problem within hours of leaving for our once-a-year beach vacation!!!! ANY ideas/suggestions would be most appreciated!!!!!!

 

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[Tuberale]

So you have a signal at the first, but it fades out quickly? Sounds like you got some bad batteries.

 

[desertfox]

Just one bad battery in the lot will make that happen. Good luck and I hope it works out for you.

HH

 

[Mackaydon]

Suggestion, while working on other solutions:
Get online and see if you can rent a MD in the area where you're going.

 

[godisnum1]

I know it's a long-shot, but if you're vacationing here in the Saint Petersburg, FL area... I have an IDX Pro that you can borrow while you're on vacation. It does sound like the batteries (all of them) should be replaced with fresh brand name batteries. Duracell seem to work best for me. Any off-brand batteries or cheap ones like the cheap Rayovac alkalines sometimes don't work that well. I believe I had that problem once, but it was just the batteries needed to be replaced. You might also check the connections between the batteries and the pack, and the pack and the detector... could be a little corrosion in there breaking the connection.

Bran <><

 

[mckeekitty]

Thank you, all!!! It feels really good to have received so many helpful suggestions within minutes of my post. And thanks so much for the offer to borrow a detector...alas, we are heading to a Connecticut beach.

I've been using CVS Pharmacy Alkaline Long Lasting Energy batteries. I purchased these in bulk, and have had good success with them in the past. They have a 2015 expiration date. When the problem began I changed all 8 batteries. But I tested each one of the old batteries with my battery tester and all tested strong...still, I just replaced all 8 with brand new ones (but still CVS brand). After about 5 minutes of strong signals, the sound dropped off. I might be wrong, but I thought if one battery was weak the machine wouldn't respond at all.

I shall replace all 8 with Duracells and see if that remedies the problem. Thanks again all! Such good-hearted folks on this site!

Happy 4th and Happy Hunting!

 

[godisnum1]

Hope you get things fixed... I know it's frustrating when you're ready to get out and the machine isn't.

Happy 4th!

Bran <><

 

[urdaboss]

why not drop everyone off in conn and come down and borrow a metal detector? i think you would have a great time and the family will think you spent a long time at the store??

 

[vayank54]

It does sound like it could be the batteries and one weak battery can cause a machine to not act right. I don't know if this will help but where I live ( northern VA) I can buy Energizers and Duracells in large packages at Home Depot cheaper than anywhere else. It depends on the batteries you need as to how many you can get in a pack.

 

[BIG61AL]

I think this sounds more like a very low voltage short. Something may be allowing a circut to short the batteries. Dirt with a little salt and moisture will allow a very small current to flow and that's all you need to slowly drain a a battery. Open you unit and look for dirt or anthing that does not belong. Blow it out with canned air and try a new set of different batteries. You may also gotten a bad batch of Chinese junk batteries. While Whites is a top notch manufacturer even the best made units will have electronic failure occasionally.

 

[Woodland Detectors]

I know it's a long-shot, but if you're vacationing here in the Saint Petersburg, FL area... I have an IDX Pro that you can borrow while you're on vacation. It does sound like the batteries (all of them) should be replaced with fresh brand name batteries. Duracell seem to work best for me. Any off-brand batteries or cheap ones like the cheap Rayovac alkalines sometimes don't work that well. I believe I had that problem once, but it was just the batteries needed to be replaced. You might also check the connections between the batteries and the pack, and the pack and the detector... could be a little corrosion in there breaking the connection.

Bran <><

Brandon, what a generous offer!
Nice gesture friend

 

[mckeekitty]

Again...thanks so much for all the terrific suggestions!

Get this...the machine just started to work properly on its own. It is SO hot here in CT, and there is little relief even at the beach, but the signal is strong. It must have been a battery issue, and when the time comes I will upgrade to Duracells.

Another reason for my deep gratitude to you all is that appears I won't be shipping the detector off for repair...a tremendous savings of $$. I just sort of panicked when a change of batteries didn't resolve the issue, but it may very well have just been a miniscule, hair-thin connectivity issue that resulted in the very faint "pings."

For those here in the Northeast, I hope you are finding ways to stay cool...it is quite oppresive here.

Again, a big thank you for the suggestions, support, and offers to borrow a detector...Treasure Net clearly boasts a generous and knowlegeable following. You guys rock!

 

[luvsdux]

Sounds like the problem is gone, but I've got a similar case to relate. Had been detecting for a few minutes with my Tesoro Silver Sabre µmax when it went beserk. Replaced the battery, it was fine for a few minutes, then went beserk. Checked the replacement battery, which had not been used, on my battery checker and turned out it was near death also. The third battery worked just fine and the machine has been fine ever since.
luvsdux