It's Alive and Kick'in

[Sven]

Recently picked up a Compass X-100 in a combo deal. None of these detectors were tested by the seller, so claimed. Took a gamble that at least the X-100 worked. That's the main unit I bought the combo for.

Lets say the White's 6000 Di series 3, had no battery holder (C-cell). Wired up a AA cell holder, turned the detector on and it powered up. Works fine.

The Garrett CX II, took for ever to get the battery hatch cover off. popped in some batteries, bingo--powered up and works just fine.

Then it was the X-100's turn. Popped in batteries, turned on the power switch, not a peep. Oh-oh, I thought...
Popped off the top and bottom from each other and checked the power connector hooked up to the battery, not a thing.
Took a look in the battery compartment, spotted the problem, one of the battery tabs was bend inwards. No contact.
bent the tab back out, checked the connector, ya-hoo, power. Buttoned the detector back up. It works. But, had some scratchiness out of two pots, couldn't get a steady threshold out of the tuner pot unless it was in auto.

Figured I maybe just cleaning the pots would be a quick fix. Or may find the need to replace the pots, something I really didn't want to do since the circuit board is encased in some wax material. The pots were encased in the wax and didn't see any of the usual access breather holes to spray cleaner into them. After scraping the wax off, found each one had a very small hole. Was able to inject De-Oxit cleaner into them, turn the pots back and forth, then left them over night.

Tonight, I started re-assembling, gosh darn the tone control trimpot fell apart. Knew I didn't have anything like them around. Checked by box of RV6 mini precision pots, found the exact value. And by soldering it directly to the circuit board, it fit perfectly, enough clearance to fit thru the original hole on the top of the case. Now I have a real pot for tone control instead of that cheap junky trimpot.

After finishing re-assembly, popped the batteries back in. Crossed my fingers and turned on the power switch..............
powered right up, no more scratchiness, let's say, everything now works as it should.

 

[Mega]

Sven,your a real clever person when it comes too electronics for sure,glad they all work well,whats the game plan for these 3 machines ?? keep the X-100 and sell the other machines or keeping them all.As these new 'trio' work well will you be selling the custom built IDX Pro.Looking forward to some of your other 'Sven' custom modification in 2017

 

[Sven]

May keep the X-100, at least for now. Haven't experienced hunting with one yet. I like the Sharp/Norm Filter Response control, switches the coil to a narrower DD like knife blade detection zone or a normal width concentric detection zone.

Sold the IDX with Mr. Bills mods, sold really fast. The Teknetics Mark 1 takes its place. Already modified it. Bought the chest camera case mount harness told you about.
Which works great. Almost seems it was made specially for the Mark 1.

As for the Garrett CX II, the C-cell battery pack make it heavy, hooking up 3- 9 volt batteries, make it feel very light weight. Swings pretty easy.
Reminds me of a metered Gti1500 without Imaging. May keep it as a loaner.

The 6000/Di, will look to see if I can squeeze a bit more performance out of it...just to increase its value.

 

[trojdor]

As for the Garrett CX II, the C-cell battery pack make it heavy, hooking up 3- 9 volt batteries, make it feel very light weight. Swings pretty easy.
Reminds me of a metered Gti1500 without Imaging. May keep it as a loaner..

Sven,
Nice work.
I replaced the C-cells in my CX-III with AA's in plastic C-spacers...much, much lighter, and trivially easy to do.
Works great.


mike

 

[vlad]

n/t

 

[jbushore]

Sven

I purchased this exact Compass X-100 Challenger model in the early or mid 1970's and still have it. It worked very well till I loaned it to my brother, with instructions not to lave the batteries in it, like he did with my Lionel Train in the 1950's. He then struck out (strike 3) when I loaned him my new digital camera in the eighties, and he lost the wrist strap, and lens cover. Anyway back to the Compass, tracked down and got ahold of one of the Compass repair persons after the Compass factory burned to the ground and went out of business. He somewhat fixed my fried and battery acidic battery chamber, and I have continued to use it till the telescopic rod, between the coil and control unit, broke. In summary, if your telescopic rod is ever available, I would be interested in purchasing the rod (or possible the unit) or any other rod that someone might have available. I still use it, but it is now too short, and forces me to bend over. Thank you. Jerry in CA Gold Country

 

[JJdigs]

Very Nice ! Yup those Battery doors are jerks on those old Garrett's... I swore someone super glued the one I bought !