excalibur-what's my problem now

[dobbratacus]

Hey all, sent my excalibur back to Minelab back in July because it was chirping so bad even with the sensitivity turned all the way down. I had previously cut the coil cable and respliced it about a year ago because I found a place in the cable that I could tell a wire had broken. Worked fine for a year or so then starting chiping real bad so I figured it must be time for a new cord. Told Minelab guy I'd like a new cord put on between my coil and the control box. He informed me "no can do" but they could attach a new coil and cord to the unit making it perfect once again for 450 dollars. I opted to have them ship it back as I had plans to put on a WOT myself. I put the WOT on tonight and she's chirping just as bad as ever. I connected the wot cord using about 18 inches of the old cord (Figured all of the cord can't be bad, huh) coming out of my control box. Just want some opinions please. Think I should cut the WOT coil and try to hardwire inside my control box or send it back to Minelab with the WOT coil and let them tell me what's wrong. Sorry for long post. Thanks for any and all inputs. Bill.

 

[tomcatpl]

if u send the WOT to minelab they wont touch it ... the olny thing u got left is to try to hard wire it and c if it helped

 

[brobox]

The Excalibur is a great detector. With that said, with a $450 repair bill, it becomes a bite the bullet and pay the price (which I wouldn't do), a DIY project, or for parts only detector. Minelab will not touch one of their detectors with aftermarket modifications. You might ask around on the forums if anyone can solve and repair the problem.

Sorry to hear of the problem.

 

[goforgold]

n/t

 

[goforgold]

I hate to say this, but there is the risk and reward with aftermarket mods. Just my opinion, but until the warranty expires, don't touch the detector. After the one year, It's still not sure if I would make any changes.

 

[ZOFCHAK]

I would hardwire the WOT directly to the board (Or any good used BBS coil). It's fairly easy to do, and while you have the pod apart you can check all the seals and replace as necessary. If it's still chirping after it's back together you may have a more serious internal problem, or a problem with your headphones or headphone wire.

 

[hershey1]

Contact Old Beechnut or Mel Parker or errik. They have done the WOT modification along with headphones. Sounds like you may have a bad cell in your battery pack or like myself a cracked Ikelite battery connector. Good luck.

 

[Njcoinshooter]

I would get help from the guys here for the repair and put the 450 towards a new machine an this way you'll have 2 !!

 

[OldBeechnut]

If you had the same problem before and they fixed it by hardwiring, more then likely just do a complete hardwire yourself will solve the issue........ If you can solder and have a strong heart..easy done. I hope to be doing several this winter will do some video of all.



Highway robbery, 450.oo for a new coil and install. Almost as bad as 895.oo for a new main board install.
pic's of mine and grouperguys. And the link but the pics are gone.......

http://www.findmall.com/read.php?21,1459978,1459992#msg-1459992

 

[dobbratacus]

. Thanks for all replies. This never was a warranty issue because the unit is about 10 years old with a lot, a lot of miles. And yes I just bought another excal 1000 to use solely for diving and was preparing this older one I am working on now for lake and beach hunting up to my neck. Here's what I have done. Said to hell with any of the cord that had been attached to control box. Opened the box and removed the wires at the solder point in preparation to hardwire the WOT. Made the hole bigger in the cap because the WOT wire is a heck of a lot beefier than excal 1000 wire. Looked at youtube videos on how to solder because I've only done it a handful of times. Now after trying for several hours and not really pleased with my soldering job, I am looking for an old fashioned radio/appliance repairman, similar to Floyd on the Andy Griffith show, to solder 4 wires and I think I'll be good to go. Once I cut the wires off the unit today the crazy chirping went away. Hopefully it is the old cable. If not once the soldering is complete and if it still does it I'll look at the battery connections. Thanks all. Anybody know a Floyd?

 

[OldBeechnut]

If your having problem soldering try this.....flux is the secret..heat your iron up full. Put a small amount of flux on the wire and reciever, then dab the iron in the flux, while hot...put a small amount of solder on your iron, like a small drip...put all in position and just touch the reciever, the flux will draw the solder to the wire and the reciever in almost as fast as you touch the two........flux being the secret

 

[bootyhoundpa]

careful....floyd was the barber.........i think you meant emmit from emmits fix it shop.......sorry i just couldnt help myself......seriously i hope it works out for you...

 

[Joe19403]

go to radio shack and get some resin core solder. Strip the wires that need to solder and twist the strands together. Heat the wire and coat them with a good amount of solder. Place the soldering iron where you want to attach the wire heat while holding the wire in place. Once the solder melts remove the heat and hold until cool. Hope that helps.

 

[Bill - De]

Be very careful not to overheat the solder pads on the circuit board, or they will lift and the foil traces will break. You really have to get the soldering pencil clean, the wire clean and apply some resin flux, and apply the heat tip to the point where the wire and solder pad meet. Apply a small amount of resin core solder to that same point where the tip is, and the solder should quickly melt. Remove the heat, and let it cool ffor a few seconds, and it should be a solid, shiny solder joint.

 

[dobbratacus]

Thanks for all the soldering tips. Would have tried if I got them earlier but, took the board and coil to a place called ubreakifix this morning.. They said four solders were no problem and I said I'll pick it up next week. I'll let you know how it works out when I put it all back together. Thanks again. Bill.

 

[stateguyt]

This new minlab company does not give a s--t about the consumer
They wated to charge me 250 plus for headphones
bring back the old company that help out the customer or lets hope whites comes out with a bettter water machine wish ful thinking

 

[TheDualFieldBandit]

White's you can't beat their service! Garrett's is really good also! Makes me nervous just buying an excalibur.