I decided to make my own battery pod as it would be difficult to change out the battery in the field with the stock NiCad/Alkaline one. I made it with 2" ABS drain pipe. It has a PVC threaded fitting that is close to the stock one - only it has a strong taper to it so I had to grind it down a bit to work. I made an adapter by cutting a piece of the pipe and using a heat gun to allow me to press it flat (cut a circle and drill out a hole for the PVC fitting, then glue it all to the 2" pipe). On the other end I used this perfect Oakley pipe plug from Lowes. Easy to remove and replace your battery if you have to. Not for scuba but the water should stay out for my normal beach hunting. I sprayed it with truck bed liner paint and for now will attach it with Velcro wraps. I also am including photos of my pinpoint mod. I put a clear plastic bumper on top of the switch I used to make it work better. Hope sand doesn't get in it and kill it. I used USB cable for the battery cable and the pinpoint cable - both exiting one port of the endcap (coil on the other one). I did the CTX jack on the other endcap for the headphones.
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DIY Excal Battery pod, etc.
- Thread starter bklein
- Start date
OldBeechnut
Well-known member
You put a lot of work in to her! Looks real good!
Looks is not enough, but thanks.
Something is wrong - maybe the coil? Air tests on most targets show a 7" detection range. Most are saying it should be like 12-13". (I have the 10" coil but it was used and could be a reject).
I was going to do an inline coil connection but I don't like the Amphenol connectors all that much. Also I read that generally pinpoint all metal mode has more depth but with mine there is like 2-3" less depth in all metal.
Any idea what the board trimpots do? Any affect on sensitivity?
Something is wrong - maybe the coil? Air tests on most targets show a 7" detection range. Most are saying it should be like 12-13". (I have the 10" coil but it was used and could be a reject).
I was going to do an inline coil connection but I don't like the Amphenol connectors all that much. Also I read that generally pinpoint all metal mode has more depth but with mine there is like 2-3" less depth in all metal.
Any idea what the board trimpots do? Any affect on sensitivity?
OldBeechnut
Well-known member
Is the coil oK? I have seen coils with water damage, blackened wires from the saltwater and this will cut down on the performance of the coil. Same goes for the head phone cable, as it gets worse the volume decreases. That would be my first thoughts
I had two 10" coils to choose from - both discards like the boards, case, battery, etc. This truly was a resurrection...
The coil on there is the best of the two functionally - but I think it had small cracks on the bottom that water may have come through at some point. I sprayed truck bed liner paint to cover that all up. I didnt notice any issues detecting in or after the water hunting the beach.
I may try purchasing a Nel Thunder but need to read more about it. I have a CTX too with all the coils and like the 11" best. 17" just too massive - so not sure how I'll like the Thunder.
Is there a standard for swappable coil connections for the excal?
The coil on there is the best of the two functionally - but I think it had small cracks on the bottom that water may have come through at some point. I sprayed truck bed liner paint to cover that all up. I didnt notice any issues detecting in or after the water hunting the beach.
I may try purchasing a Nel Thunder but need to read more about it. I have a CTX too with all the coils and like the 11" best. 17" just too massive - so not sure how I'll like the Thunder.
Is there a standard for swappable coil connections for the excal?
OldBeechnut
Well-known member
I use the 3m 4 pin M12, I can look up the part number and post. They are SS and I mount the one in the endcap. Used it for about two years, 95% of the time submerged. No issues...inline I'm not sure..