How do i mod. my 550 meter

[surfshark]

would like to go to the 180 scale. I saw old posts about it but the links don't work,also thinking about waterproofing it ( won't need the meter then would I) this is a great machine just cant afford an excal Thanks in advance Hal

 

[Buried Crap NJ]

There's a guy on ebay that sells kits for this meter to convert from 550 to 180. there are so few parts that this kit 10 bucks would meet your needs to repair yours. There is about 6 components that can be replaced. I think its you pot that needs replacing. took me about 1o minutes to do. That does not include taking the decal off the front it took two days. I did not want to ruin it. I'll see if i can find him in my feedbacks?

 

[Rick(ND)]

I still have some of the kits left yet for the 180 meter and a copy of the instruction's to do this if you want to try to do this yourself, I have done a few myself and it works good and easy to do if you if you can solder with a solder pencil, but I have to cut out the decals where the screws go as those I have done the decal is hard to take off and get back on with no damage to them. There is the Pot to replace and 2 resistors , but the kit comes with 3 of them (I put 2 of each in the kits I have) as there was 2 different version of the Minelab 550 meter as one resistor is different so you have to use a different resistor in that one that come supplied in the kit, so which ever one you got in the meter you are covered.
The main thing some forget to do when it is apart is to connect it to the Sovereign and do the course calibration with the pot set in the middle of its adjustment and run a quarter by it and adjust the course calibration to 180 or as close as you can before putting the meter back together. It is all in the copy of the instruction's i have.

Rick

 

[larzam]

Rick, how much are you asking for them now? I bought 2 kits from you last year, so i need 1 more as i have another meter -thought you would have sold them all by now. As i remember,you gave them to me for less than anyone else on the net with fast shipping and great [updated] instructions. Thanks again.sam in ms

 

[ojm bc]

my meter to 180, I'm certain only changed one resistor? also was peeved because when I ordered the kit on line, there was no instructions sent.
As far as I know my 180 meter works with only a resistor change...though does act up if using coil a long time in moisture...the truth is most sounds will tell you your potential target.

I think it's best use is knowing if to dig soft deep signals(jackpot type digs) with the 180 number confirming a potential good deep target. hh

 

[Rick(ND)]

Yes i got 10 kits I made up to sell and still have a few left as i dont advertise them and just watch for people that are looking for them. Shipped I been doing them for $15 here in the USA. If I need more I can order more in as like I said before the shipping is more that what the items cost.



Rick

 

[mesha]

Rick, whats the advantage of the 180 meter over the 550?

Ron

 

[Rick(ND)]

The first digital meter that were made were the Sun Ray which used the 180 numbers so most of us learn the number and what target fell in certain areas of the meter. Minelab made a digital meter in 1998 and used the 550 numbers which we had to learn all over and found they seem to jump around a lot more and hard to lock on, some numbers even overlapped other numbers so some trash targets would fall in area of good targets, I think because of how many numbers there was with the early 550 numbers it got confusing when trying to ID a target. The 180 seem to lock on better so a good copper , silver and clad read 179-180 while with the 550 numbers they read like 543-550. On the 180 numbers a new zinc penny, some older wheat pennies and the IH pennies read 176-177 while many of the alum screw caps would read 177-178, but for me and others the 550 numbers where hard to tell the difference. It only go to reason with that many numbers on a 550 meter there would be more variance. Now the latter 550 meter of Minelab was a bit more stable and the numbers didn't jump around as much and some like them, but for many we liked our 180 numbers so I feel Minelab finally made the 180 meter which I feel was a great selling items, but now have discontinued them.
Someone came up with a way of doing the mod to the 550 meter to change it to a 180 meter which has helped many change there 550 meter to a 180 meter.
I remember selling the brand new 550 meters that came on the XS2s Pros for $35 each to those with no meters as I put on Sun Ray DTI 2 meters which were 180 meters, now I wish I had all them back again to do the mod as i could have sold them as 180 meters.

Some did like the 550 meters as that is what they learn with, some tried the 180 meters and switched theirs over to the 180s as they seen what we were talking about how easy it was to tell the good from the bad.

 

[mesha]

Thanks Rick
The reason I asked is I brought a second hand GT with a digital meter which seems to had the mod done already
On our Aussie Penny's the GT locks in at about 178 and 180 on bigger silver coins and on my MXT 78 for Penny's 80 for silver .So I guess I have to agree with you guys the 180 meter is easier to use than the 550

Cheers Ron

 

[crunchy]

Hi
Rick
I have a Minelab sovereign GT with a Minelab sovereign DTI meter serial No 08988 which I don't know what it is 550
or latest ??? the readings are four digits and is really erratic -1450 through 500's to 1350. Have pulled it apart
the pot looks ok no corrosion or junk. The pot serial no is B10K with turned over tabs. I have tried every
option mentioned in this thread with no success. I don't think its a 550 for conversion to a 180 as it has a four digit
read out. What's your thoughts and has anyone got this four digit meter.
TKS
Derry

 

[Rick(ND)]

Is the meter a Minelab meter?? It should say Minelab on it and if you took it apart there should be 4 small screws under the decal on the face of it plus the nut on the back that hold the calibration control that has to be taken off in order to pull the meter apart. The meter only works in disc as in all metal the numbers will go all over the place, but in disc is when you will get the 550 number or around there depending on where the calibration control is set. Being it has the 10K pot it is a 550 meter and can be modded to 180 numbers as I have some of the kits here which is 3 resistors and a 1 K pot, but you will only need 2 of the resistors as there was 2 different one Minelab made and and depending on which one it is is where the extra resistor is.
Being you are new you probably don't have a personal message though the forum, so you can E Mail me at Lschroe929@aol.com if you have any questions or need some help with the meter.

 

[crunchy]

HI
Rick
Just sent you an email. Forgot to say that I have a Minelab Soverign GT.
Cheers
Derry