Advice on used Equinox

[kansasexp2]

I have been looking for a used Equinox 600 for a little while and have found a couple I am considering. One has 2 years of warranty left and is completely stock and the other has a carbon fiber shaft and an extra arm cuff but has no warranty left. They are similar in price. I tend to be pretty easy on my machines and have never had a warranty issue on anything but my main concern is with water. I may occasionally take it to the lake and hunt the beaches. I know it's waterproof but I have heard of water issues with them and a warranty would cover that. I guess my question is, what would you do???

 

[sprchng]

Go with the warranty

 

[Ted S]

What he says^^^^^^^^

 

[kansasexp2]

After doing some more reading in the forums I am seeing the value in the warranty. I'd hate to have to pay out of pocket if something broke.

 

[Donna(NJ]

Its almost a given the ears will snap off on the coil. Buy one of those 3D printed ear re-inforcer, just in case.

Can never go wrong with extended warranty. Especially with the Nox. Too many factory defects !!!

HH
Donna(NJ)

 

[kansasexp2]

Another question. How many of you use your Nox in the water? Any issues with water getting in?

 

[silvercoinboy]

Go with warranty because if it gets wet, it is covered

 

[sgoss66]

IF you were not hunting in the water, and easy on your equipment, I would DEFINITELY have said the one with the carbon-fiber shaft upgrade. BUT -- if you plan to go in the water, that changes the equation; in that case, I'd go with the one with warranty.

Coil ear breakage can be made "rare," if you keep an eye on your washers (change them if they wear), and similarly, don't over-tighten your coil bolt (if the coil ears bend inward substantially when tightening the bolt, it's time for new washers). And IF the ears do happen to break, they can be repaired inexpensively. Meanwhile, if you opted for a new coil, it's still only a couple hundred dollars (though not sure if the new coil would include a new warranty, and if so, for how long). Anyway, from that view, not having a warranty on an Equinox would thus not bother me; in fact, my own units are out of warranty and I don't worry about that at all. Further, regarding shafts, the stock shaft leaves alot to be desired in my opinion, so a carbon-fiber shaft is a very nice addition. BUT -- I don't take my machine in the water. If I did, I'd be purchasing an additional Equinox, WITH warranty, and would ONLY use the one with warranty in the water.

For comparison's sake, I believe a new control pod (if your control pod had to be replaced by Minelab outside of the warranty) runs $350 (though I will note that I have also heard that you can get a "refurbished" one for $225, but not sure what a "refurbished" one would entail). Also, for that $350, the new unit would be under a new 3-year warranty, I believe. Meanwhile, as noted, a new coil runs about $250, and a carbon-fiber shaft runs about $150. So hopefully that helps you to "value" your decision properly.

Again, coil ears CAN be repaired, but a drowned machine can't...so I'd say if you plan to use it in the water, unless you put $350 aside "just in case," I'd go with the warrantied unit and then save my pennies for a shaft upgrade, if it were me.

Hope that helps!

Steve

 

[sprchng]

Minelab cheaped out on their build with the NOX. With no warranty every push of the button could be a $350 repair bill. Not a screen or button replacement but the entire control unit. You can replace a simple switch on a Dirt Devil but not the NOX.

 

[TheMetalDetective]

Go with the warranty machine. The carbon fiber shaft isn’t that much to purchase for the Nox.

 

[kansasexp2]

600 with the warranty fell through. I found another 600 without warranty but has the Steves carbon fiber rod and wireless headphones. Those are 2 things I feel are a must for me. Just waiting for the seller to send me some pics tonight and hope we can make a deal.

 

[Mark kus]

And if you get a new controller for a replacement the warranty is only what was left on the original from what I’m told.
I just epoxied my coil saver on my coil with JB weld plastic epoxy to really strengthen it .
Mark

 

[laplander]

Don't get in a hurry there are lots of fishes in the sea. Warranty would be a no brainer on used machine. I water hunt regularly and have never had any issues with coils or swamped machines go figure. Must be lucky LOL (knock on wood)
HH Jeff

 

[bootyhoundpa]

if hunting for gold objects especially in the water I would go for the 800 just to have the added higher frequency..I find it can make the difference between finding small gold or no gold…I’ve used mine many times on land and water,no issues yet.. I also have the minelab water proof headphones so I can submerge the machine which I often do…take care of it as you would a cell phone or any electronic device and you should have no problems..

 

[LawrencetheMDer]

I have been looking for a used Equinox 600 for a little while and have found a couple I am considering. One has 2 years of warranty left and is completely stock and the other has a carbon fiber shaft and an extra arm cuff but has no warranty left. They are similar in price. I tend to be pretty easy on my machines and have never had a warranty issue on anything but my main concern is with water. I may occasionally take it to the lake and hunt the beaches. I know it's waterproof but I have heard of water issues with them and a warranty would cover that. I guess my question is, what would you do???

I'd buy the 1 w 2 yr warranty left.

 

[Grunter]

Buy the one that has the coil protectors on it. The stock coil is guaranteed to break off at the coil ears.

 

[JimmyCT]

Buy the one that has the coil protectors on it. The stock coil is guaranteed to break off at the coil ears.

Guaranteed? That’s going overboard.
I have had my equinox over 3 years and not one issue with the coil ears. Some crank the nut so damn tight no wonder the ears snap. Snug is sufficient.

 

[laplander]

Guaranteed? That’s going overboard.
I have had my equinox over 3 years and not one issue with the coil ears. Some crank the nut so damn tight no wonder the ears snap. Snug is sufficient.

Coils don't break, people break coils.
I have never broken a coil ear off yet as well. Equinox or another brand or model.
Streak might change tomorrow but with 50 plus years of detecting I doubt it's an accident.
What is with people throwing their detector to the ground every time they go to retrieve a target you tube is a fun to watch but very telling.

 

[fwcrawford]

Guaranteed? That’s going overboard.
I have had my equinox over 3 years and not one issue with the coil ears. Some crank the nut so damn tight no wonder the ears snap. Snug is sufficient.

I have not had any issues with the ears either…. I did try a coil stiffener though, but did not see and advantage in the one I had and took it off.
I remember people complaining about the XTerra coils experiencing cracked and broken ears too, but I never had one issue with any of the coils I had and still have.
I will say that I did not like the coil on the Equinox flopping down every time I set it down to dig a target, and after a couple outings with it, I made a bracket to keep it in position without having to tightened the coil bolt.
Been using it for the last two and a half years like this with no issues.

 

[JimmyCT]

Coils don't break, people break coils.
I have never broken a coil ear off yet as well. Equinox or another brand or model.
Streak might change tomorrow but with 50 plus years of detecting I doubt it's an accident.
What is with people throwing their detector to the ground every time they go to retrieve a target you tube is a fun to watch but very telling.

Exactly