Excal Alkaline Pack W/P?

[cjc]

A pal of mine has a cracked rechargeable pod endcap-- dealers are telling him that the alkaline pod is for land use only?????
How can that be if its made for the Excal? I cloned an end cap from one and it works fine underwater.
cjc

 

[tvr]

The original battery pod on my old sword model developed cracks and leaked. I replaced it with a newer Excal II alkaline battery pod. The mounting ears got trimmed to fit the sword opening. Fitted the alkaline pod with a NiMH battery pack rather than the AA cell holder and it has worked fine since. It has spent many hours under water. Not at depth since I don't dive, but it has been just fine for wading in. I can't even guess where those dealers are getting information that the alkaline pod is only for land use.
Cheers,
tvr

 

[cjc]

Thanks for your reply TVR kinda what I thought too but didn't want to steer a buddy wrong.
cjc

 

[GeorgeinSC]

I suspect that the reason that the alkaline pack is listed as not being water proof is one can easily damage O rings taking off and replacing the end caps in order to replace batteries.

I am very familiar with how easily O rings can be damaged as I spent 20 years USN Submarines. We had to be extremely careful any time we worked on an antenna hull connection as a tiny scratch on an O ring meant a flooded cable.

If I were using the Alkaline Pack with alkaline batteries I would keep a supply of the appropriate O rings and replace them with regularity.

 

[Mel Parker]

Minelab rates it at up to 10ft and waging only.
http://www.ebay.com/itm/Minelab-Alkaline-Battery-Pod-for-Minelab-Excalibur-Metal-Detector-3011-0213-/171294447640?hash=item27e1f1d818:g:8RAAAOSwezVWu4TK

 

[OldBeechnut]

Should tell it's use and limits right on the pod, difference is the thickness of the pod. The endcaps are the same, and the best endcaps were the old black ikelite's of the sword models. Those you could swap out if you if the endcap cracked, but they never cause the were turned on a lathe and not cast like the new ones are.

 

[goodmore]

Keeping the contacts on the end cap lubricated will help keep it from cracking. As stated above the alkaline pack is only good for wading.

 

[cjc]

Thanks for the replies, guys. My buddy in Melbourne hookas-- I better warn him. Have gotten away with it (clear moulding) on mine at shallow depths that's why I asked.
Regards,clive

 

[dewcon4414]

You get a pretty good feel on how its going to seal when you push that end cap on.......... you should feel it pushing back and have to hold it tightly in place as you insert the allen screws. Thinner plastic..... not dive rated. BUT...... i suspect aqua seal along the cap would do the trick since very very few of us dive 200 ft.

Dew

 

[Harold in NC]

Hi Mel, this is what I use for my lipo battery.

 

[mike k.]

Also if its not the rechargeable battery pack , it wont take the heat the recharging creates . My battery pack cracked . Im thinking of coating cracked battery pod with epoxy . Should work ???