Best smaller coil for the ETRAC?

[khouse]

I agree with the open coils catching on stubs, stick and heck even grass. What the manufacturers should do is make solid bottom coil covers along with the open type.

 

[Sailorman]

I make 1/8' polycarbonate bottom plates for my open coils that I zip tie on when needed. You can glide across the worst stubble that way.

 

[ryanchappell]

I read every post I see regarding smaller coils for the Etrac and I can't understand why there aren't many more people swearing by the 4.5x7 Excelerator. I use it about 95% of the time and absolutely love it. I bought a 6x8 SEF because of all the great things I had heard about it. I really tried to make myself love it, but after having the open coil catch on every rock, every clump of grass and every bit of stubble, I gave up. None of those problems with the 4.5x7 plus I can't tell any difference in depth or stability. The 6x8 might be great on lawns or the beach, but in the desert ghost towns where I typically detect the open coil is just an absolute pain in the neck.

So my vote is for the 4.5x7.

Probably because they bought it on sale at Kellyco for $129 with free shipping last summer on that father's day sale that lasted for months, and never heard of the 4.5x7 until now.

Thanks for the information. I will start suggesting it as an option too.

Also, I did have to send my first 8x6 SEF back to Kellyco under warranty, after a year it went dead. I am rough on equipment. I have seen a couple of reports of having to get a new one.

 

[E-Trac-Ohio]

I make 1/8' polycarbonate bottom plates for my open coils that I zip tie on when needed. You can glide across the worst stubble that way.

That's a great idea Sailorman !

A few questions ...

Where do you get the material to make the bottom plates for the coils ?
Do you think these plates take away from the performance of the coil ?
Got any photo's ?

Thanks !

 

[niterider_58]

5 inch for the trashy sites and then the 6 x 8 SEF.

 

[Sailorman]

I have lots of it around the shop. Any plastics fab shop will sell small pieces of scrap. If you're in central FL I'll give some away if you come by the shop. There is absolutely no effect on performance.

You can shape them with an angle grinder, router or jig saw. I use polycarbonate because 1/8" acrylic is pretty fragile.

If there was some demand I could make them on my CNC router easy!

 

[DiggerODirt]

I am really liking the 6" EQ2 coil...It has great target separation, can handle high SENSitivity settings, and still hits deep targets...Also feather light and easy to pinpoint.

HH,

 

[dk dogs]

I got out a few weeks ago and used my Sun Ray X-5. I really liked it. Solid coil!

 

[Agseeker]

ryanchappell,

Yes, the 4.5x7" EQ Pro DD Excelerator Searchcoil for the E-Trac is available from Kellyco. I just got mine last week and have only used it once so I really can't say if it is good or bad at this point. I did find a couple of wheat cents that I missed with the stock 11" coil. It definitely pinpoints more accurately than the stock 11" coil; in fact I found that I really didn't need to use the pinpoint mode most of the time. The bad news is - it took 7 months from the time I ordered it to when I received it (it was out of stock).

The reason I chose the 4.5x7" is that it only slightly larger in the area than a 5.5" diameter coil. At 7" in length it has enough length to cover an area fairly quickly and with a width of 4.5" it can get 1/2" closer to a metal object , such as a chain link fence, than a 5.5" diameter coil. The area under the coil of the 4.5x7" is about 28% of the area under the stock 11" coil.

On a different note - Minelab no longer includes the connecting screws, nuts, and bushings with the lower rod. You have to buy a separate kit for $25. So, if you buy an extra coil and lower shaft you'll need to buy the connecting kit too.