GroundScanner
Active member
the 8" BBS 800 coil from the XS and the 8" tornado for the GT are they the same ? Thanks for some info.
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Are these 2 coils the same ......
- Thread starter GroundScanner
- Start date
Critterhunter
New member
Probably not, although some do call the Tornado 8" coil a BBS800. In general, the BBS800 coil is a heavier older version, while the 8" Tornado came out with the advent of the Elite along with the 10" Tornado and continued on with the production of the GT. I have heard some say the old BBS1000 heavier coil than the 10" Tornado was not nearly as stable as even the old BBS800 coil, and that some prefered the BBS800 for more depth and better separation, although I have heard some disagree with that.
A friend has the old BBS800 on his Excalibur as it came years back on it, and I can say having held this coil in my hand when working on it, along with now holding my new 8" Tornado in my hand, the Tornado feels much lighter to me, and is also less thick.
Many seemed to prefer the original white solid and non-epoxy filled (thus lighter) 8" Coinsearch coil over the later BBS800, and to this day prefer the Coinsearch on their more modern Sovereigns for use in various sites. The 10" Tornado and 8" Tornado are very expensive new from Minelab, so not too many people have bought a 8" Tornado, or at least you rarely see them come off for sale because most of those who did buy one love it and hold onto it.
And far as older Sovereigns prior to the Elite that didn't come with the 10" Tornado goes, since its an expensive coil many seemed to opt for cheaper aftermarket larger coils, and also because some of them are better to people, but that's not to say the 10" Tornado is not one quality DD coil. Best *stock* coil I ever owned that came on a machine, concentric or DD. But I much prefer the 12x10 for land in all respects, and relegate the 10" Tornado to my water shaft for it's lessor drag qualities over a squarish shaped SEF.
I have used the old heavier BBS800 coil on an Excalibur on land some in the past, when I was in between machines and a friend loaned me it, and I did make a few great finds with it in the short time I used one, but man was that stock Excalibur shaft a bear to use on land, and that little coil felt like a brick to me in weight.
A friend has the old BBS800 on his Excalibur as it came years back on it, and I can say having held this coil in my hand when working on it, along with now holding my new 8" Tornado in my hand, the Tornado feels much lighter to me, and is also less thick.
Many seemed to prefer the original white solid and non-epoxy filled (thus lighter) 8" Coinsearch coil over the later BBS800, and to this day prefer the Coinsearch on their more modern Sovereigns for use in various sites. The 10" Tornado and 8" Tornado are very expensive new from Minelab, so not too many people have bought a 8" Tornado, or at least you rarely see them come off for sale because most of those who did buy one love it and hold onto it.
And far as older Sovereigns prior to the Elite that didn't come with the 10" Tornado goes, since its an expensive coil many seemed to opt for cheaper aftermarket larger coils, and also because some of them are better to people, but that's not to say the 10" Tornado is not one quality DD coil. Best *stock* coil I ever owned that came on a machine, concentric or DD. But I much prefer the 12x10 for land in all respects, and relegate the 10" Tornado to my water shaft for it's lessor drag qualities over a squarish shaped SEF.
I have used the old heavier BBS800 coil on an Excalibur on land some in the past, when I was in between machines and a friend loaned me it, and I did make a few great finds with it in the short time I used one, but man was that stock Excalibur shaft a bear to use on land, and that little coil felt like a brick to me in weight.
GroundScanner
Active member
LOL , yes bbs800 is very heavy , the overall sov xs2a pro is a very heavy detector but i was thinking why buy a new coil if the bbs800 is just as good but a little heavy , i quess this one will do . Maybe minelab will make a new detector that will take the same coils and kellyco will come out w/a 8x6 sef , o ya i was dreaming when i typed that lol
Neil
Well-known member
Groundscanner if you would like to compare the 8" coils let me know, I can mail you my 8" Tornado or S8 so you can see yourself. I though I put the weights up for these coils here, critter knows where they are.
Critter if that little BBS feels like a brick to you I have a cure. Get yourself a bowl of wheaties and drench them in Johnny Walker black label......that coil will feel so much lighter
Critter if that little BBS feels like a brick to you I have a cure. Get yourself a bowl of wheaties and drench them in Johnny Walker black label......that coil will feel so much lighter
Critterhunter
New member
Yea, the coil weights from Neil and others along with my own weighed coil numbers of ones I've had my hands on are in the coil sticky thread at the top of the forum, first page near bottom. Click on that link to the coil weight/size chart and you'll find numbers in that thread. The current chart in there needs updated and re-done, so be sure to scroll past that chart to the re-posted messages of up to date coil weights from people, as some in that chart were either factory weights or tend to disagree with more recent user weights posts of various coils.
That BBS800 coil....Some say is just as good as the T800 (Tornado 8" coil), while I have read a few say the newer T800 is more stable, more sensitive to small stuff, and deeper. Same deal with the BBS1000 versus the T1000, and IF that might be true, because some say they perform the same while others say they don't, perhaps it has something to do with the newer version of pre-amps found in later BBS compatible coils. They changed the IC and the layout of the pre-amp a bit, and I have heard some say the newer pre-amp circuit is better when they've built coils. I plan to use the newer circuit when I build one or two of my own, like a 4x2 or 4x3 extreme sniper coil using an SEF coil as a template.
Really, I've heard more people say the old BBS800 is just as good as the newer T800, while in the case of the BBS1000 I've read many old posts were people say the newer T1000 is much more stable than the older version of that coil. Seems many in old threads I've ran across said the BBS1000 was not nearly as stable as either the old BBS800, T800, or T1000. All subjective of course though, so take it for what it's worth.
That BBS800 coil....Some say is just as good as the T800 (Tornado 8" coil), while I have read a few say the newer T800 is more stable, more sensitive to small stuff, and deeper. Same deal with the BBS1000 versus the T1000, and IF that might be true, because some say they perform the same while others say they don't, perhaps it has something to do with the newer version of pre-amps found in later BBS compatible coils. They changed the IC and the layout of the pre-amp a bit, and I have heard some say the newer pre-amp circuit is better when they've built coils. I plan to use the newer circuit when I build one or two of my own, like a 4x2 or 4x3 extreme sniper coil using an SEF coil as a template.
Really, I've heard more people say the old BBS800 is just as good as the newer T800, while in the case of the BBS1000 I've read many old posts were people say the newer T1000 is much more stable than the older version of that coil. Seems many in old threads I've ran across said the BBS1000 was not nearly as stable as either the old BBS800, T800, or T1000. All subjective of course though, so take it for what it's worth.
GS,I have used the older BBS 800 coil,it does have decent performance.It is heavier than the Tornado but its only a 7 inch coil so the swing weight isn't a factor.The Tornado is a better coil slight improved performance,more stable and less weight.My suggestion upgrade to the Tornado when you find one at a good price.Good Luck Ron
GroundScanner
Active member
Thanks Neil for the offer , very nice of you to ask and offer to do that. I think i am just going to buy the tornado 8" . LOL Maybe the sunray 8 too. I like to have plenty in case one breaks , i don't have to wait to get another. Thanks again.
Critterhunter
New member
I just bought the 8" Tornado a few months back from the Findmall sponsor Chuck at Indian Nation Detectors. He mentioned he was getting more of them before Minelab ran out of stock somewhere down the road, since they stopped making both the 8" and 10" Tornados when they discontinued the GT. They obviously though still make them for hardwiring to the Excaliburs they manufacture, so I wonder if when the ones with plugs run out in stock they'd be willing to sell one to somebody who offers to solder their own coil plug on it.
Chuck is a great guy to do business with. Very easy going and will answer any questions I had right away via Emails, which is a rarity with some detector dealers I've done business with, or should I say decided not to do business with when I couldn't get a simple question answered in a timely manner.
Many rave about the little 7.25" eight inch Tornado for both it's outstanding unmasking abilities in heavy iron or trash, along with very impressive depth for such a little coil. Don't think you can go wrong with one by the sound of it. Although I've only used mine an hour yet just to test it out and make sure it was working, I fully expect it to live up to the expectations I have based on the opinions and field reports of others.
Chuck is a great guy to do business with. Very easy going and will answer any questions I had right away via Emails, which is a rarity with some detector dealers I've done business with, or should I say decided not to do business with when I couldn't get a simple question answered in a timely manner.
Many rave about the little 7.25" eight inch Tornado for both it's outstanding unmasking abilities in heavy iron or trash, along with very impressive depth for such a little coil. Don't think you can go wrong with one by the sound of it. Although I've only used mine an hour yet just to test it out and make sure it was working, I fully expect it to live up to the expectations I have based on the opinions and field reports of others.