Explorer turning off

[bazza]

Hi I have owned my Explorer XS for 5 years, I started getting problems about two years ago.
My detector randomly shuts down and turns itself on again.This can happen from every three minutes to every half an hour.
If I twist the handle or slightly shake the detector,it doesn't cause it to shut down.
I have recently purchased a new battery and the problem it still.
I checked the output of the charger (18 watts as specified)
The spare battery pack with conventional batteries has the same response.
I have cleaned the terminals of my old batteries, no change.
Has any7one had a similar problem, and is there any suggestions.
It seems to detect the same as always, but one can really be sure without another detector to compare with.

 

[Ace]

Have you checked the power button or any of the connections that lead to it? perhaps it's slightly stuck in the middle (between push I mean). I'd contact Minelab on this one. Also try checking the battery contacts, sometimes they get some kind of mold that later turns into a thin crust that prevents the detector from getting power from the batteries. Good luck.

 

[AK in KY]

May be the contacts inside the EX.

AK in KY

 

[bazza]

Thanks
I have tried to clean the spring points inside the machine yesterday with emery cloth, but to no avail.
My thoughts now is that it's is a circuitory problem.
Incidently the machine works fine, I am still locating deep targets, but I'm a bit unsure that it turning on and off doesn't impede it's ability in some way.
Any thoughts are welcome

 

[Cody]

There are four screws that hot the control box together. They are easy to remove and inside are connectors. Easy to check and easy to ensure they are connected properly.

 

[Captain Kirk]

n/t

 

[bazza]

Hi
Thanks for your question, no I have no probe, it's just a stock standard detector

 

[bazza]

TRhanks Cody
I'm looking right now, I'll post my observations
Cheers

 

[pruntyc]

I'm not sure if it would help you or not. But one of my first detectors, was a Whites and the dealer lived many, many miles from me. I had it in one time as it wasn't working just like I thought it should. And he told me, I don't generally tell people this, but beings you are so far away, I'll tell you. He said to turn it on, and then take the battery out, without turning it off. Leave it out for a few minutes, and it would reset the detector, and fix a lot of problems. I did this a couple of times and it seemed to work. I've also done it to other things, and it worked for them to. So I thought it might be worth a try for you.

 

[bazza]

Sounds good to me.
I have just taken the control box appart, checked the connections (they are layered) pulled it apart and re connected them, I will try it out this afternoon.
If I was unsucessful, yours is the next step, wish me luck

 

[Hard Nosed Dave]

Is it possessed?

I don't think so!

Due to some personal experimentations with the Explorer (mainly intentional but some un-intentional). I found, that if there was any shorting of the wires of the coil circuit, be it at the coil end (rare)or where the coil connects to the control box(inside the coil end of the connector)I would experience a very similar problem to what you have described. This also causes the loss of any saved discriminating patterns in SAVE and the loss of an A or B setting.

What I also found was that this COULD be a problem associated with a dry soldering joint (again, most probably very rare at a production level and due only to my own experimentations). The suggestion that you turn the detector ON and lay it down without moving it may also help with determining as to whether the problem might be due o the physically moving of the detector and that it may be the cause of the problem, is a good suggestion. Take note that a wire may have been

 

[LarryK]

Hey Bazza,

Last summer I had a problem where my explorer would turn on, then start buzzing and the screen would go blank. Just like puntyc suggested, I powered up the unit and pulled the battery. Waited a few minutes and replaced the battery and no problems since. Hopefully this will work for you. Good luck.

 

[bazza]

Your Question
"Do you mean that it shuts down in the normal way as to when you depress the on/off button or in a way such as when the battery is too low or does the screen just disappear?"
It simply turns itself off as you hear when you push the power button, however it immediately turns itself on again and you hear the factory settings sound.
Thjere is no0 womping "low battery noise"
The screen shows such as the normal reboot with the standard screen info.
I check soldering, joins, etc this afternoon, no obvious fault, it was suggested that I pull appart and rejoin these connections, I did so but no progress, it was also suggested that I turn the machin e off whilst in use, leave it for 3-4 seconds and reinstate them, all to no avail.
if I shake the machine whilst it is on there is no crackle or nulling, I am truly lost on this one.
It does detect as it always has, extremely well, and with depth etc, it's just so annoying when it decides to shut down and "reboot".
Thanks for your thoughts

 

[bazza]

Thanks
I only waited a few seconds, I'll try a few minutes next time, however, your symptoms sound slightly different, mine immediately boots up again as if I were turning it on

 

[wheelbubble]

Dave my ex2 did the exact same thing,I would turn it off ten to twenty minutes later it turned it's self on..I sent in to minelab,it was an easy fix...bad circuit board and bad key board.prior to sending back I talked to someone at minelab and they said they had sent some out that were indeed faulty...the turn around time was only five days,haven't had a problem since...

wheelbubble

 

[wheelbubble]

bazza read third post down...

 

[bazza]

Hi to all
I rang Minlab this morning, spoke to their technician, he thinks it's a faulty front board associated with turning machine on/off.
If all goes well the circuitry will cost AU $22 plus postage etc.
I will let you know how it pans out.
Thanks again for all contributors to this thread, it helped me greatly
Merry christmas to one and all