nuggethunter13
New member
Moderator's note: I've included nuggethunter13's "follow-up information to his original post. sorry I didn't get to it sooner, but I've been away from the PC for a couple days.
http://www.findmall.com/read.php?55,1552859,1552876#msg-1552876
This week I visited the Graves Creek GPAA claim in Oregon to try my machine in the prospector mode. I decided the other side of the creek looked more promising so I carefully held my 705 above my head to protect it from water exposure. What I did not plan for was stepping into a 7 foot hole that I would fall in. My machine experienced about 2 seconds of being submerged. When I got out of the creek my machine was still running but water was clearly visible inside the display. I shut the unit down and then panic set in. What to do?? I was unsure. If you are also unsure here is the answer so you know in advance how to save your machine.
First turn it off. Remove the batteries and head phone jack and drain all the water you can.
Then follow these important steps. This information comes to you at the direction of Minelab who immediately returned my call and who I credit with saving my machine.
Remove the 4 small Phillips head screws on that are accessed from the back side of the unit.
Carefully open the unit allowing access to the circuit board and the display to allow air flow to the inside of the unit. Then as soon as possible place the unit into white rice. Per Minelab, this will absorb all the moisture and protect the water from leaving mineralization on the circuit board which will kill the machine for good. The rice will not hurt the unit. As seen in the attached pictures there are three plugs that are held in by plastic clips. I did not remove these because I feared the rice dust may get into the connections. Minelab technicians suggested that you do. Then reassemble the unit and if all went well as did my experience the machine fired back up and seems to be working just dandy.
Suggestion that I make from my experience is make sure to carefully remove the screws. I stopped at a hardware store near my accident and bought a new screwdriver and still the screw heads almost totally stripped out while I removed them. Had that happened my unit would of been un-savable . During reassembly I replaced the poor quality screws that Minelab put into the machine with #4 flat head metal screws. They threaded in nicely without any damage. The thread pattern of this screw most closely matched Minelabs screw.
I want to thank Minelab for returning my call so quickly. Without their help I think I would be buying a new detector. Too things of interest I learned is that anyone should be able to make this repair. I have no skills when it comes to repairing anything and I had no troubles. Second. You will see in my attached pictures a small white disk stuck to the inside of the machine. It had a brown substance on it that was dissolved from the water. It seems to have no other purpose but to alert Minelab that the machine went into the water so if you are thinking of blaming Minelab for a bad machine after you fall into the river don't waste your breath. They will be onto you. Good luck and stay dry!!!!!!
http://www.findmall.com/read.php?55,1552859,1552876#msg-1552876
This week I visited the Graves Creek GPAA claim in Oregon to try my machine in the prospector mode. I decided the other side of the creek looked more promising so I carefully held my 705 above my head to protect it from water exposure. What I did not plan for was stepping into a 7 foot hole that I would fall in. My machine experienced about 2 seconds of being submerged. When I got out of the creek my machine was still running but water was clearly visible inside the display. I shut the unit down and then panic set in. What to do?? I was unsure. If you are also unsure here is the answer so you know in advance how to save your machine.
First turn it off. Remove the batteries and head phone jack and drain all the water you can.
Then follow these important steps. This information comes to you at the direction of Minelab who immediately returned my call and who I credit with saving my machine.
Remove the 4 small Phillips head screws on that are accessed from the back side of the unit.
Carefully open the unit allowing access to the circuit board and the display to allow air flow to the inside of the unit. Then as soon as possible place the unit into white rice. Per Minelab, this will absorb all the moisture and protect the water from leaving mineralization on the circuit board which will kill the machine for good. The rice will not hurt the unit. As seen in the attached pictures there are three plugs that are held in by plastic clips. I did not remove these because I feared the rice dust may get into the connections. Minelab technicians suggested that you do. Then reassemble the unit and if all went well as did my experience the machine fired back up and seems to be working just dandy.
Suggestion that I make from my experience is make sure to carefully remove the screws. I stopped at a hardware store near my accident and bought a new screwdriver and still the screw heads almost totally stripped out while I removed them. Had that happened my unit would of been un-savable . During reassembly I replaced the poor quality screws that Minelab put into the machine with #4 flat head metal screws. They threaded in nicely without any damage. The thread pattern of this screw most closely matched Minelabs screw.
I want to thank Minelab for returning my call so quickly. Without their help I think I would be buying a new detector. Too things of interest I learned is that anyone should be able to make this repair. I have no skills when it comes to repairing anything and I had no troubles. Second. You will see in my attached pictures a small white disk stuck to the inside of the machine. It had a brown substance on it that was dissolved from the water. It seems to have no other purpose but to alert Minelab that the machine went into the water so if you are thinking of blaming Minelab for a bad machine after you fall into the river don't waste your breath. They will be onto you. Good luck and stay dry!!!!!!
That HAD to have been a little chilly.)