My "new" excaliber maybe another Ebay lemon-need help fixing please!

[arbolero]

Just got it in and noticed that sometimes the volume and threshhold knobs make a change in sound and sometimes they don't. I thought maybe its a battery problem so I go to recharge my waterproof pod but it does not have the silver-colored, female charger connection as does the extra alkaline pod.The black cable is fixed inside the head that connects to the battery pod thus i cant figure out how to charge it or how the previous owners obviously somehow did.

Is this right or has someone done a rig job or is it charged differently than the alkaline pod?

 

[alaskaseeker]

They look alike but you cannot charge the Alkaline Pod, you have to get the proper allen wrench so you can take the endcap off to replace the batts. You will also need some Silicone O ring lube available at a dive shop. If you get a Volt meter you can check the state of charge in either, but I think before you can make a diagnosis you have to know you have at least proper operating voltage in either Pod... There are some Alkaline recargable batts available, but you would have to get the batts and the Right Charger for them...HH...Geo

http://i20.photobucket.com/albums/b206/Alaskaseeker1/PHOTO264.jpg

 

[arbolero]

Thankyou Alaskaseeker

Dang thats right Alkaline does not usually charge but then how do I charge the nicad pod?

 

[arbolero]

Ok I get it finally. The seller had the charger connected to the alkaline and it threw me but man sorry.

However the volume and threshhold knobs still do not change the sound when turned so i guese I need a volt meter

 

[arbolero]

Well I think i have the nicad charging so i will see if that changes anything in the morning and test the voltage.

If I dont get enough voltage then can the nicad pod be modified as easily (any good web links?) as the alkaline with say 2500 mah rechargables?

Just curious what kind of alkalines are in the alkaline pod because it seems that my extra pod is not meant for rplaced batteries, at least not on a regular bases?

 

[Rick(ND)]

You can not use rechargeable AA nicads or Nickle Hydrides Batteries in the alkaline pod as each battery only has 1.2 volts. The ones in the factory nicad pods should have 10 of the cells in it. The voltage should be 12 volts for the Excalibur and the Sovereigns to make them work.
Now you say the volume and threshold make no difference?? Do you have any sound to it and if it does run a coin acrross the coil and see what you get it to do.
The volume may not make a difference in the threshold volume as it is for target volume, so as you turn it you will not notice a difference unless you are going over a target. The threshold should be adjustable to the fact that you should be able to have no threshold or a lot of threshold. If the batteries are weak you may get a loud threshold that is not adjustable.

 

[arbolero]

Thank you Rick

You say that "a weak battery will make the threshhold loud without any change in sound with the turning of the dial". That is exactly what is happening with both my pods and thus it seems both my pods are shot.

The machine will detect metal though for I have already found a variety of it in my little front yard and I think I am even getting it to discriminate but as I pointed out the threshhold and volume "usually show know sign of change. However, I once I got it to change while on pinpoint mode and it continued to work after switching it to disc. but I havn't been able to get it to do that again. I hope it is just the batteries and not a short or something more serious.

I figured 10 x 1.2 volt NIMH batteries would suffice for 12 volts but now I see that they probably wouldn't fit so I don't know what to put in these two pods? Do you recommend just buying new pods or carefully modifying them?

 

[Rick(ND)]

First thing I would charge the Ni cad pod and try it. Next I would just get 8 of the alkaline batteries and put in the alkaline pack and use it for a spare when the rechargeable one need recharging so you can keep right on detecting.
Charge up the rechargeable one and see how it will work and if it is bad you can get a new one, but these retail for $95 so you don't want to get one unless you have to.
Have you ever used a Sovereign or a Excalibur before to know that these will keep the tone of the last target it see, some don't know this and think something is wrong with their detectors when the tone does this.

 

[arbolero]

Thanks again Rick and I will take that advice!

This is only the second time in my life that I have metal detected and I did not know that it would keep the last tone but I do recall it doing that sporatically and so it may be more consistant with new batteries.

 

[Bob @ Sebastian]

This message is posted in the Beach and Water Forum.
Search for battery in the forum search box. There is a thread on how to construct a NiMh Pod yourself or you can have Battery Plus make one for you. Sounds like your only problem is the weak battery pod. You may get rid of the Ni-cad memory by repeatedly charging it and dis-charging it.

Hi lads,
just reading this topic re NiMh pods ?? i noticed that after a long hunting session my old 1000 became unstable and the threshold tone would constantly change,( i considered this to be wear and tear)? . Is this the same problem you mention ?? ( the battery output level low ) ??
I have just got a brand new yellow head phoned 1000 (still boxed) !! what are the advantages of NiMh pods ? over a brand new nicad pod unit ?? and why then do Minelab not supply the NiMh pods as standard kit with the new Excalibur model ??
regards tony weston. u.k.

 

[arbolero]

Well I put fresh batteries in the alkaline pack but still no change in threshhold or volume while turning of knobs. Like i said before there is a definate change in tone when passing over metal but the volume and threshold remain extremely loud all the time.

 

[Rick(ND)]

Some of the Excalibur's have knobs that slip and wonder if your threshold knob is slipping and not adjusting lower as you should be able to turn it until it goes silent. Just check and see if the shaft is turning when you turn the knob.
Being you bought this off E Bay I would E Mail the person you got it from and ask him if he had a problem with the threshold. The volume like I say is for the target volume so you wont notice a difference in it unless you are going over a target, the threshold will not change when adjusting the volume control.

 

[arbolero]

Thanks for that intersting info Bob. I will be calling batteries plus in the morning.

 

[arbolero]

Rick

The stems do turn with the knobs but while I was just checking them the threshhold suddenly started changing with the turning of the knob and I was finally able to get it at "just audible" but then when I turned it back on I was not able to get it again without a lot of fiddeling. Thus, maybe there could be a problem with the knobs.

I did not realize the the volume only changed when on target but man this maching seems to loud but then again if I where able to adjust the threshold to just audible, everything would be fine.