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Excal 2 - NiMH battery question
- Thread starter Barry NY
- Start date
Yes Barry good question!!
We do not have to much information about the Ni-MH battery.
I bough 5 years ago, a battery powered drill, The kit came with a full instruction on how to take care and charge the battery. The "smart"chargers that came with it, have an over charge protection and have indication about the charge of the battery. The drill, flashlight, charger and 2 battery, very good quality for the price of $ 189.
Now: we have that $1400 machine, with very expensive Ni-MH battery and the CHEAPEST battery charger that the market can offer and no charging instruction. I did more research on the battery care than the woll machine.
On my drill, I put the battery on the charger and live it there for weeks, until i need it, and the charger it self have been plug to a 110/V for the past 3 years non stop.After 5 years, it still working fine.
With minelab , We can not live the charger plug or it may burn a fragile ship inside. The cheap charger does not have over charge protection, so don't forget your battery!!! $$$ The only instruction in the Excal book, is: when the battery need to be charge, put the charger plug on the battery and plug it to the wall outlet. If you see water in the battery send it back to Minelab......
I do use a voltmeter to check the battery, but the good propriety of Ni-MH is to keep is voltage very high for maximum time and get down very rapidly, so it make it pretty hard to check it.
I do think Minelab have a minus there. It is big $$ machine but they have to keep up with the accessory to. There is good competition out there on MD Co
In 2009, with all the communication, forums like this one, magazines,,,, and all of us pushing our metal detectors forward, the fabricator, have to know with ho they deal with. For what I saw in those forums, since i start reading you guys, we are good honest smart people, so, fabricator, watch out for quality control.
Thank Serge
We do not have to much information about the Ni-MH battery.
I bough 5 years ago, a battery powered drill, The kit came with a full instruction on how to take care and charge the battery. The "smart"chargers that came with it, have an over charge protection and have indication about the charge of the battery. The drill, flashlight, charger and 2 battery, very good quality for the price of $ 189.
Now: we have that $1400 machine, with very expensive Ni-MH battery and the CHEAPEST battery charger that the market can offer and no charging instruction. I did more research on the battery care than the woll machine.
On my drill, I put the battery on the charger and live it there for weeks, until i need it, and the charger it self have been plug to a 110/V for the past 3 years non stop.After 5 years, it still working fine.
With minelab , We can not live the charger plug or it may burn a fragile ship inside. The cheap charger does not have over charge protection, so don't forget your battery!!! $$$ The only instruction in the Excal book, is: when the battery need to be charge, put the charger plug on the battery and plug it to the wall outlet. If you see water in the battery send it back to Minelab......
I do use a voltmeter to check the battery, but the good propriety of Ni-MH is to keep is voltage very high for maximum time and get down very rapidly, so it make it pretty hard to check it.
I do think Minelab have a minus there. It is big $$ machine but they have to keep up with the accessory to. There is good competition out there on MD Co
In 2009, with all the communication, forums like this one, magazines,,,, and all of us pushing our metal detectors forward, the fabricator, have to know with ho they deal with. For what I saw in those forums, since i start reading you guys, we are good honest smart people, so, fabricator, watch out for quality control.
Thank Serge
Willee - Texas
Well-known member
There is a auto trickle charger available to charge Minelab NiMH battery packs with.
According to the experts NiMH packs do not need to be discharged completely before recharging like a NiCad to get max life.
Personally I never liked using rechargeable packs.
The alkaline packs can be "instantly recharged" by replacing the depleted cells with new ones.
They last longer, dont self discharge, require no maintenance, and as far as cost goes ... how much clad can you find in 30 to 50 hours of detecting?
Willee
According to the experts NiMH packs do not need to be discharged completely before recharging like a NiCad to get max life.
Personally I never liked using rechargeable packs.
The alkaline packs can be "instantly recharged" by replacing the depleted cells with new ones.
They last longer, dont self discharge, require no maintenance, and as far as cost goes ... how much clad can you find in 30 to 50 hours of detecting?
Willee
?JOHNMARKHAM
New member
Hello all
I'm useing a charger that will recycle battery and keep it up all time
plus I can fast charge in my car if needed, and it works on all battery types
it reads battery type and tells you at what rate battery is to be charged and discharged ..
we've used this type in the r/c modeling for years and have found it to be a great cost saver,
this can be purchased at most hobby shops !!
if you message me tommorrow I'll give name and model number as it's out in car now !
Hope this helps out !
John
I'm useing a charger that will recycle battery and keep it up all time
plus I can fast charge in my car if needed, and it works on all battery types
it reads battery type and tells you at what rate battery is to be charged and discharged ..
we've used this type in the r/c modeling for years and have found it to be a great cost saver,
this can be purchased at most hobby shops !!
if you message me tommorrow I'll give name and model number as it's out in car now !
Hope this helps out !
John
grumpyolman
New member
Johmarkham has the answer. RC modeling and HAM radio folks are the Gurus of the battery world. They need them and use them all the time. I too have a charger for Lithium/Polymer batteries that is for a RC helicopter. It is a sophisticated charger and will charge about anything other than a lead acid battery. It does it correctly every time. Cost about $40. You think Nicads or NiMhs are troublesome? Try the Li/Poly batteries used in RC modeling. They recommend that you charge them in a metal fireproof container. One guy lost his garage/model area. The LiPoly will start a massive fire if not tended properly. There'e even a video of it on the tube where some guys purposely set one up to do it so others could see and believe. Jim
JOHNMARKHAM
New member
the unit I use is from great planes it's called a triton computerized charger/discharger and cycler !!
It will keep your batterys up and ready at all times.
Now you can purchase thru most hobby shops or online thru great planes.
I've had mine for several years so they may have a newer version out.
I can go to beach and hunt awhile take a break to cool off and recharge my pack while cooling off.
of course sitting in my truck doing so,
grumpy I'll not explain about a field box yet !!
But yes I too fly r/c helicopters..
Hope this helps all !!
gotta catch low tide!!
John
It will keep your batterys up and ready at all times.
Now you can purchase thru most hobby shops or online thru great planes.
I've had mine for several years so they may have a newer version out.
I can go to beach and hunt awhile take a break to cool off and recharge my pack while cooling off.
of course sitting in my truck doing so,
grumpy I'll not explain about a field box yet !!
But yes I too fly r/c helicopters..
Hope this helps all !!
gotta catch low tide!!
John
S.TexasKevin
New member
Just received my second NiMH battery from http://www.onlybatterypacks.com/items.asp?db=48 for my wife's Excal. I had replaced mine over a year ago and it has been the best thing I have ever done. I also ordered the charger and adapter so I will not be over charging them. Plug them in and get a red light, when charged it will go green and will not over charge. I would rather use the rechargeable batteries over the use and throw ones, but I am just tight that way.
LoneCatDaddy
New member
Those packs and chargers are great!! I've rebuilt several with those packs and the chargers are just too cool, way better than the Minelab one. About 3 hrs. and it's done. I get the 1500mah nimhs to replace the funky nicads, really adds new life to my old Excal 800 and 1000.