I'm hoping to share my observations on this topic and elaborate in a way that might make sense to someone and help prevent their loss...
On close inspection, it is evident to me that the new CTX3030 battery lip/rim or mating surface that fits down into the control box o-ring groove in order to compress against the o-ring, is not the same as the rim/lip on the prior CTX battery design.(My CTX is almost three years old).
However, Marty at the Minelab repair center has assured me that the new battery pack minelab sent to me will work correctly with my existing CTX-3030 control box without requiring any additional upgrade or modifications.
I find that the new battery does not install smoothly into the control box. It seems as if the new battery rim/lip design is more squared off in shape, and even has the slightest concave characteristic to its o-ring mating surface, creating sharp edges which present no small issue when mating the battery pack to the pre-2016 control box.
While there may be some out there that don't physically seat the battery prior to closing the latches; I, have used the CTX3030 for nearly 3 full years, following Minelabs' simple instructions as located in the user manual:
" push the pack onto the control box ensuring that the connector pins line up. Fasten the control box latches."
I think its pretty hard to imagine a more simple design. Please understand I'm not trying to insult anyone or argue if it has or has not been done, I guess it is possible, but Minelabs' simple straight forward design of the CTX3030 battery connection practically requires the battery to be hand seated before the latches can be closed. Therefore, for me, hand seating the battery prior to closing the latches has always been the only way to do it.
So trust me when I say this: When I hand seat the new battery into my CTX3030 it does not stay in place but instead pushes or raises back out of the groove as soon as I release the pressure of my hand and will pop out of alignment if you continue to begin closing the latches. It behaves as if the thickness of the new battery lip, or the lips perimeter dimension, is ever so slightly larger than the groove it is being pressed into. At first I thought maybe it was the new o-ring thickness so I removed the new o-ring and hand seated the battery pack without an o-ring and it still pops back out on its own just as before.
I find that I must hand seat the battery into the control box, as you normally would, only now being sure to maintain sufficient seating force pressure against the battery pack while engaging the battery latches. If you do not physically press the battery pack in place while closing the latches I believe you will risk allowing the battery pack lip or control box o-ring groove mating surfaces to be damaged by misalignment when you attempt to close the latches. Obviously damage to these surfaces would compromise the battery compartments water proof integrity.
I hope you find this helpful.
Respectfully,
Dighistory
