First time out with a new Excalibur II 1000 and a few questions

[ninguid]

I spent most of this afternoon searching my backyard with a new Excalibur II and came up with a few newbie questions that you guys have likely heard a few times:

1. With the rechargeable NiHM battery pack, is there a way to know when it is fully charged? There is not a light or meter on the meter to indicate battery power. I'm sure it charges fully after being plugged in for a few hours but a "done" light would be great.

2. When pinpointing would you suggest staying in discriminate mode or switching over to the pinpoint mode? I mainly stayed in disc mode this afternoon (setting of 1) and pinpointed by moving the coil left - right, then sliding it towards me so that the target was supposedly at the outer edge of the coil at the 12 o-clock position. I'd then rotate myself 90

 

[mickance]

1. not really
2.
pinpoint is more accurate but any mode will do it
3.
a small item that is shallow will give much the smame sound as a large item that is deep .....such as an aluminium can ..if i have dug to a reasonable depth i soon can tell if its a deep can and usually give up
4
some people have better hearing than others so it will depend on how subtle your hearing is
5 someone else can answer that one

 

[NamVetLesTreasureSeeker]

Hi Ninguid, CONGRATULATIONS on your EXCAL-II!! As for checking the rechargable battery pod, you can go to Harbor Freight and purchase a CENTEC Digital
Voltage Meter, set the knob to DC Section, and place knob on 20 volts, because your battery pod has 14 volt of power ROUGHLY!! They sell for approx. $8.00, but you can catch them on sale for approx. $3-$4.00. OR you can purchase an
aftermarket battery charger like a MAHA Universal Charger or other brand and model, that has a digital read-out meter, that will tell you the voltage reading after
charging period. Otherwise, just fully charge it for 14hrs., and then monitor it and record hrs. of usage after each outting!!

Even though, this is a TRUE Turn-on and Go Detector, it still has a Learning Curve, especially with what I think is the BEST Multi-Tone ID System in the Industry!!
So, YOU HAVE TO PAY YOUR DUES, and simply put in the time with it to learn the tone ID!! I personally recommend that you take it to a beach and work with it,
where the sand scooping is ALOT EASIER, then digging in the dirt!! That way you won't tire out as quick, and can CONCENTRATE MORE on the tone ID!!

Very IMPORTANT!! If you do not have a aftermarket Straight Shaft, GET ONE QUICKLY!! It will prevent alot of Wrist/Elbow/Shoulder FATIGUE!! As far as Depth Determination and pinpointing, you have to practice and if you are going to be doing a significant amount of dirt detecting, BUY yourself a Hand Pinpointer, that will help alot!! But, I personally do not recommend the Detector-Pro Pistol Probe or the WHITES Bulls-Eye pinpointers, just My OPINION!! Hope this helps, hh, Les Robinson.

 

[JoeinMemphis]

The absolute best way you can learn that machine is to get Clive J. Clynicks book on the Excal called "Advanced Methods for Finding Gold in the Water with the Minelab Excalibur". It is an overwhelming machine when you don't have anyone around that uses one, and all of those tones sound the same... like jibberish! Get the book, it is WELL worth it, took months off of the learning curve for me. Don't let the "in the Water" part of the title worry you, it works the same in the wet as it does on the dry... HH Joe

 

[Bence]

5. Pinpoint/all metal mode vs. discriminate mode: I've been using disc mode with the disc knob in the 1 position. Is this rather similar to using pinpoint mode in regards to depth?

Thanks!

They are worlds appart. PPmode: better depth, better sens, better coverage, no disc.

 

[erikk]

The excal is/was designed to be a water detector as its primary use. It can be used successfully on land however there are others that will do it more easily and efficiently. That said I use mine only in the water. I have a nickel glued to my boot and check the sound from time to time to remind me what a gold ring will sound like. Other than the distinctive sound of most bottle caps I dig every target. Disc At lowest point, sens as high as I can get it and keep it stable, Volume high and threshold just barely audible