Choice of Excalibur/Sovereign Rod material?

[seahunter34]

I believe BBS detectors are susceptible to radio/interference? Often while shallow water detecting I noticed interference when a jet-ski or outboard motor went by. Close and far away. Since good finds increase when my detector runs more stable, I've thought about ways to accomplish that, other than reducing threshold/sensitivity. Once with a fast approaching lightning storm, I hastily exited the water envisioning either my scoop or metallic balance shaft attracting a lightning bolt and turning me into a Crispy Critter! That made me wonder what else the metal rod might attract? Radio interference like an antenna? Could such reception be transmitted via saltwater to the coil field, causing detector interference?

Come to think of it it seems kind of strange any metal detector would have a metal rod? Obviously it works, but I wonder if I switched to one of those full carbon fiber shafts made by Anderson, if that might possibly increase Excalibur stability some in saltwater? Any thoughts? SH34

 

[Minelab50]

seahunter34, I don't believe changing to a carbon fiber lower, upper or entire rod assembly will help with stability or prevent lighting strikes. I do know that reducing interference by wrapping the circuit boards, in any detector, with a foil wrap shield will help block said interference and at the same time increase stability and allow the detector to better fine tune itself through it's computer chips. The chips don't have to calculate for the interference as much. I know this because I talked to a senior Tech from Minelab while in Los Vegas and was shown the foil wraps for the Excalibur II and Sovereign GT (some earlier models don't have these wraps). Later, I made a homemade wrap for my Explorer XS and it helped noticeably. I haven't asked Minelab if I could get my Excalibur 1000 circuits wrapped.

good diggin..................randy

 

[Minelab50]

seahunter34, just a note, Don't make changes or open your detector if it's under warranty as this will void the warranty.

good diggin...........................randy

 

[Ron from Michigan]

If these foil wraps work and make these metal detectors more stable this leads to an interesting question.Why not make a rain or box cover with a foil liner? This could be a money maker for some one to make this after market accessory.Maybe that guy with the foil cap wasn't that paranoid after all.

 

[erikk]

First of all if U start hearing static in your headphones, look around and you wont be surprised buy a "fast moving storm" Just get out of the water and off of the beach. IMHO the only thing a graphite rod will do for you is increase The manufacturers bottom line, not protect U from a lightning strike

 

[seahunter34]

I don't want to hunt in any lightning storm. I was just wondering if a detector rod made of aluminum/metal acted like an antenna, drawing in interference? Seems like that interference could be transmitted to the coil through saltwater? While fishing with down-riggers the positive or negative charge a particular boat produces in saltwater can be measured on the metal down-rigger cable. That electrical charge is transmitted through saltwater to the cable. Some claim such a charge can attract or repel fish!

While shallow water hunting I'm concerned that any interference the metal rod attracts, may be picked-up by the coil? The older CZ20 and newer CZ21 do not use metal rods. It would seem like a BBS machine would be more sensitive to such possible interference? If a detector rod of metal poised no interference problems, then why are the lower rods where the coil attached made on non-metallic materials? Perhaps a metal rod attracts no interference? On the other hand a carbon fiber rod might eliminate the possibility?

With the Excalibur II I see a foil type shielding blended with the outside case decal. I have not seen such shielding around the boards? Is there actually shielding on the electronics? If not, then perhaps to shield an older Excalibur would require simply getting a new decal? Then what about a ferrite filter?

I believe the more stable and quiet one can run an Excalibur the deeper it goes on gold jewelry! Trying a non-metallic rod just might be worthwhile on a BBS machine?

 

[larzam]

I had a few repairs done and one pro that used to work with minelab [long time ago] told me not to worry about the foil -it was to foil others. I have a few older sovs,some with shielding -one with not. No diff. I still do not know for sure - still testing -sam in ms
P.S. I also have an excal and the explorer xs-i like the new graphite types for the weight-but I think lightning will not care what rod you have .........