Lets talk coil cables and how to protect them

[MarkCZ]

First the coil cables.

I've got some older detecting stuff that's looks like its going to be with be for a few more years anyway and I've noticed that the cable's outer jackets turning from a soft nice black to a dirty, little stiffer brown color. On my Teknetics 8500 the cable is a smaller gray jacketed cable (and so is my whites 5900) but the Tek cable is getting pretty stiff and I fear (a little) that the outer jacket on these older cables are going to start cracking and giving me problems. Now I'm thinking that the cables like everything on this planet is going to expire someday, but meanwhile I was thinking of the possibility of ways to protect them for as long as possible. So I had some Armor-All low shine plastic, rubber protectant and so I've been applying that to the cables in hope that it helps a little.

Now the question,
Does anybody else share my concern about the coil cables?
If so do you do anything to lengthen the cable life? (and what might that be?)
I realize that some people only keep a detector for a couple of years and then they are off on the newest latest thing and so they don't worry about the cables getting old and having problems.

What's your take?

Mark

 

[JimGilmore]

This is a good question. Though I've never done anything to any of my detectors. And I do not sell them off ever.

 

[bootyhoundpa]

i also have a 5900 which i often use in cornfeilds....ive had this same concern and the way i adressed it was to take a foot long piece of electrical sealtight or a piece of old garden hose will work just as well ...... unscrew the coil plug from the box and slide the hose or sealtight down to the coil....ideally you want the hose to slip over the reinforced piece where the wire exits the coil and strap a zip tie or two to it also zip tie the other end to the shaft.....this protects the coil wire from wear and tear from constantly brushing up against cornstalks and whatnot....

 

[jerry reed]

n/t

 

[jerry reed]

Spiral wire wrap is available which works perfect. J.Reed

 

[ZOFCHAK]

The way I go through detectors I doubt I'll ever have one that becomes brittle from age . That being said, I use a small section of rubber fuel line to protect the bottom portion of the cable on my E-trac coils. Where the cable enters the shaft the plastic has a sharp edge that always concerned me a bit. I simply cut about an 8" piece of rubber hose, sliced it down the middle and secured it in place with a couple tie straps. Not sure that it's necessary, but I worry less about it.