PROPER EXCALIBUR BATTERY POD CHARGING

[Chuck@TreasureHut]

OK Guys and Gals......here it is officially from the Technical Department of Minelab.......the Excalibur utilizes a NICAD (Nickel Cadmium Battery Pod). The NICAD battery pack MUST be brought down to almost total discharge (until you hear the machine start to click at you), before it is recharged!!!!! If you recharge after every use (which would be convenient) and let's say you use your machine for 3 or 4 hours each time before recharging, you will end up with a 3 or 4 hour battery. There is no plan from Minelab to change over to NIMH Battery Pods now, or in the near future, so please.......mind the use on the battery, before you recharge. Hope this helps alleviate the confusion, and keeps you from causing your battery pods from developing a short memory!

 

[brobox]

One thing I might add and this is from experience, is to have the alkaline battery pack on hand. After the Excal sits for a period of time (during relic season) the batteries will short charge for the first couple of charges before going back to normal. At least this has been my experience and I now have the spare battery pack. I learned this the hard way.

Chuck in Cape Coral

 

[Goldringer]

I don't like to just turn on the machine and go away with it running so built a holder and plug to accomodate a 12Volt light bulb. I would just plug that into the battery pod after each hunt and allow it to discharge till the bulb started to dim. Don't run it totally dry.

 

[Goldringer]

n/t

 

[hydrodog]

I have experienced battery problems with my excal and am wondering if you can run NIMH batteries in the alkaline pod and are they rechargeable?

 

[Chuck@TreasureHut]

Hello Goldringer.....the only problem with the Lithium Batteries in a metal detector is their output power is too low for the application. It takes considerably more power running through the circuits to make those coils fire constantly than it does to shoot pictures with a digital camera. Nice idea, but wrong application.

 

[greenmeanie]

I will have to check my manual that came with the detector then. I could of sworn it says you can charge them whenever you want.

 

[greenmeanie]

Well minelab owes some users new PODs I guess.
Under charging batteries section (D) page 12 of the Excal manual it says it is not necessary to discharge or flatten the battery it is recommended periodically.

 

[Steve in PR]

Take a look at this......

Used by permission, - Zbattery.com www.zbattery.com
(800) 624-8681

Almost anyone who uses rechargeable batteries has heard of the memory effect problem.

For those who have not heard of this problem it is commonly believed that when rechargeable batteries are not fully discharged between charge cycles that they remember the shortened cycle and are thus reduced in capacity (length of use per charge).

This problem was very common with rechargeable batteries up until about 5 years ago. With improvements in batteries and charging technology this 'memory effect' is becoming a thing of the past.

Little known facts:

'Memory Effect' is the common term used to replace the more accurate term 'Voltage Depression.'

Voltage Depression is more a problem with incorrect charging than a battery problem.

Voltage Depression does not necessarily permanently damage a battery. It can most likely be corrected by fully charging and discharging the battery.

Voltage Depression ('Memory Effect') is often incorrectly used to explain low battery capacity that should be attributed to other problems, such as inadequate charging, overcharge, or exposure to high temperatures.

Voltage Depression can be affected by the discharge rate of a battery. Generally speaking, the depth of discharge will be less on discharges at the higher rates. This increases the capacity loss as less of the active material in the battery is cycled.

Voltage Depression occurs primarily in NiCad batteries. NiMH batteries are almost never affected and Li-Ion batteries are NEVER affected.

 

[Goldringer]

n/t

 

[goldnugget]

While on the subject of batteries. I purchased an Excaliber for the 4 of July and did not get to use it at the beach. I was thinking of discharging the batteries since it has been put up for a month. Do you think this is a good idea..
Why I didn't use it at the beach is that I had my Minelab X P Pro with me. Question for the serious people that detect in the water in the 2 foot or more range..
Where did all of the sand go and the troughs.
We had a Riptide for almost a week along the South Carolina Coast and when I got in the water there was no sand, so I figured that the riptide took it out to sea with all of the goodies. I was not about to try a scoop in that hard surface. Do you detect in the water and do you have sand. Bring on that tropical system out in the ocean now.
Thanks

Detecting since 1979
Goldnugget Charlotte, North Carolina

 

[goldnugget]

While on the subject of batteries. I purchased an Excaliber for the 4 of July and did not get to use it at the beach. I was thinking of discharging the batteries since it has been put up for a month. Do you think this is a good idea..
Why I didn't use it at the beach is that I had my Minelab X P Pro with me. Question for the serious people that detect in the water in the 2 foot or more range..
Where did all of the sand go and the troughs.
We had a Riptide for almost a week along the South Carolina Coast and when I got in the water there was no sand, so I figured that the riptide took it out to sea with all of the goodies. I was not about to try a scoop in that hard surface. Do you detect in the water and do you have sand. Bring on that tropical system out in the ocean now.
Thanks

Detecting since 1979
Goldnugget Charlotte, North Carolina