Sand Scoop
New member
I've got a digital readout but its all over the scale.
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Anyone on the forum do repairs on the 180 Meter?
- Thread starter Sand Scoop
- Start date
Buried Crap NJ
New member
There's a guy on ebay that sells kits for this meter to convert from 550 to 180. there are so few parts that this kit 10 bucks would meet your needs to repair yours. There is about 6 components that can be replaced. I think its you pot that needs replacing. took me about 1o minutes to do. That does not include taking the decal off the front it took two days. I did not want to ruin it. I'll see if i can find him in my feedbacks?
I am with Buried Crap, it is probably the potentiometer. The pot should be 0 to 1K linear taper, not audio taper. They probably used inexpensive pots and it might be wise to pay more for a quality pot to replace it, as it will last and should make the calibration a bit more precise. If you know anyone who has soldering equipment, it is a snap to do.
Good Luck
Good Luck
Sand Scoop said:
If you think it is the calibration Pot I may have a extra new one, or you can try to take the meter apart and see that it hasn't got wet and has some corrosion in it as I hear this has been a problem with some that have detected in the rain or use it when beach hunting. If you cant find anyone to work on it and you don't want to yourself I can look at it as I am a electronic tech myself, but cant guaranty I can fix it as some parts i can not get for it.
Rick
Rick
Critterhunter
New member
Or if you've got the sensitivity too high or are near electronic interference. Anywhere around a house or garage and it will jump all over unless you go real low with the sensitivity or try Auto, and even then some times that won't help.
The POT is most likely the cause, and usually POTs can be fixed by cleaning them. Buy some non-residue contact cleaner (home depot or Radio Shack) and find a way to spray it into the POT as usually they have a hole here or there on them. If not then you've got to take the POT apart to clean it. Some have a C clip on the end of the shaft while others can be took apart by bending back metal lips on the sides. If you get it apart spray the black surface area as well as the metal "feelers" that come in contact with it. You can also bend those feelers down a hair to make better contact with the surface area on the other side. If that doesn't clean it some people will use regular printer paper as a mild form of sand paper and rub the surface, then spray it with the contact cleaner. Oxide or dirt builds up on the feelers or contact surface and causes crazy readings.
The POT is most likely the cause, and usually POTs can be fixed by cleaning them. Buy some non-residue contact cleaner (home depot or Radio Shack) and find a way to spray it into the POT as usually they have a hole here or there on them. If not then you've got to take the POT apart to clean it. Some have a C clip on the end of the shaft while others can be took apart by bending back metal lips on the sides. If you get it apart spray the black surface area as well as the metal "feelers" that come in contact with it. You can also bend those feelers down a hair to make better contact with the surface area on the other side. If that doesn't clean it some people will use regular printer paper as a mild form of sand paper and rub the surface, then spray it with the contact cleaner. Oxide or dirt builds up on the feelers or contact surface and causes crazy readings.
Sand Scoop
New member
dry it out and put it back together,work fine except for this time. I think I'll give the contact cleaner a try see if that does the trick.. I've tried soldering a few times but I'm not good at doing small stuff. If someone would give me a name of a good soldering iron and the type of solder they use I'd give another go. I know there is different wattage irons and I've thought mine gets to hot for this type of repairs. Thanks for the heads up on the Ebay parts and suggestions for fixing this thing.
If you feel it is the Pot then by all means replace it or you will have problem later on again as I have seen this over and over again, but cleaning it is a temp fix.
The problem I had was finding these Pot from the local electronic supply that was a exact fix and had to order them from Australia i believe it was, so I ordered in 10 plus the resistors to do the rescaling of the 55o meters. Not sure how many Pots i have left right now but know one is probably going out with the kit to rescale a 550 meter.
I will have to see if I can find the info to get more as the parts are not bad price, but the shipping cost more so I need to order many if i do again to make it cost effective.
On a soldering pencil I have a 15 Watt and a 25 Watt Weller brand so it don't get too hot to burn the circuit boards and yet hot enough to melt the solder. The Solder is a 60/40 solder for electronic circuits and get the real thin stuff as it is easier to work with and what ever you do don't use a acid core solder as it does make a big mess as we seen what it can do when I went to school for Electronic serving
The problem I had was finding these Pot from the local electronic supply that was a exact fix and had to order them from Australia i believe it was, so I ordered in 10 plus the resistors to do the rescaling of the 55o meters. Not sure how many Pots i have left right now but know one is probably going out with the kit to rescale a 550 meter.
I will have to see if I can find the info to get more as the parts are not bad price, but the shipping cost more so I need to order many if i do again to make it cost effective.
On a soldering pencil I have a 15 Watt and a 25 Watt Weller brand so it don't get too hot to burn the circuit boards and yet hot enough to melt the solder. The Solder is a 60/40 solder for electronic circuits and get the real thin stuff as it is easier to work with and what ever you do don't use a acid core solder as it does make a big mess as we seen what it can do when I went to school for Electronic serving
NHow I would try and see by touching the calibration pot will make a difference or even turn it a little, if it is bad it should make a difference. Also wiggle on the connector to be sure there isnt a bad wire too. If you have a probe mounted make sure you bypas it by connecting the coil wire right to the meter instead of the probe switching box as I have seen a couple with this problem and not the meter as the toggle switch was bad. One more thing is the meter just jumpy or is the threshold also, if the threshold is too you may have other problem . I answered the Pot replacement and the soldering pencil and what solder to use on " I agree" I may have a Pot that is the exact fit for a 180 meter or if you are using a 550 meter I have the old ones I took out that are good too if you need them..
Critterhunter
New member
I've fixed enough POTs in servos for RC planes to know that it does work so long as that's the problem. Some I could just spray contact cleaner on, others I had to bend the feelers down some on to make better contact, and still yet others needed a mild scrubbing with paper to get the oxide off...then clean it again with the non-residue contact cleaner. I've got servos in planes that I fixed well over 5 years ago and they are still centering and trimming just like new.
All that you say will work. My point is that why not replace the pot if you can when you have it apart. The time involved is minimal, and certainly no more than that of cleaning and bending feelers. You now you have a new pot, which should work as new. If the pot is hard to find are ultra expensive, then fall back on the cleaning and bending....just how I see this issue.
Which approach is most likely to fix the issue for an extended period, or said another way which method do you have more confidence in?
Which approach is most likely to fix the issue for an extended period, or said another way which method do you have more confidence in?
I used to clean them too on the TV and radios when I had my TV repair shop mostly with the audio control, and they did work great afterwords, but soon found out it was a temporary fix as some would develop a problem down the road and had to replace them anyway. Learn if the TV was in great shape I replaced the control, if picture not great or old I would just clean them and get by.
Most control were only a few buck with some less than a buck and some were around $10 too depending on what they were. Those in the Minelab digital meters are less then $2 so it don't take a rocket scientist to figure this one out if you can find the control. i have found a place to get them and make up a rescaling kit now for those that need them.
Most control were only a few buck with some less than a buck and some were around $10 too depending on what they were. Those in the Minelab digital meters are less then $2 so it don't take a rocket scientist to figure this one out if you can find the control. i have found a place to get them and make up a rescaling kit now for those that need them.