Shutdown probs

[B.T]

Ok, the guys at Minelab may gasp at this and so may some of you guys but heres a thing that might put the spotlight on the actuall prob, maybe not too.
I had a look at the batt compartment and reckon that there may be a slight movement issue as I once before posted.
Just enough to cause split second loss of proper contact and shut things down.
I reckon that if you have this problem and its everytime you use your Terra then maybe have a go at this.
Take a simple plastic straw, not the solid type but the ones you can easily squash.
Push one gently down the side of each seperate compartment, with the batts allready installed, and this will take up any slack or cause of movement without placing any stress on the components.
Cut the straws ends off with just enough exposed on the ends so you can easily take them out when you have to without causing the batts to become lodged.
This should stop any movement and show if that was the problem.
I have tried it allready, though I dont have an ongoing shutdown problem with mine only just now and then maybe once every 2 months, and it does make them fit more snuggly and not move.
"Digger or anyone else if you reckon this is a bit sus then by all means remove this post if you think it could cause a problem otherwise which I dont at this moment see."

 

[Digger]

B.T. I don't have a problem with any X-Terra user asking questions about, or expressing their opinions on, the operation (or lack thereof) of their detector. As I posted when I was asked to moderate the forum, opinions and discussions are welcome. What I do not want to see are personal attacks on other forum members, derrogatory comments toward the folks who provide this forum, or someone who has never used an X-Terra making negative comments about the product. That is not the case in this matter. It would be interesting to learn what Minelab has to determined to be the problem with those units that have been sent back for "repair". If the battery compartment is a bit large for some brands of batteries, your "temporary fix" has merit. If the shutoff problem does indeed have something to do with a loose fit in the battery compartment, it would also be interesting to find out what the X-Terra designers used as a guideline for determining the size of AA cells to be used. Without knowing those answers, we can only speculate that the cells being used by folks having difficulties are a smaller diameter than those referenced in the design process. Until we get the answers to those questions, I'll be sure to pack a plastic soda straw in my pouch, just in case. Thanks for the tip. HH Randy

 

[parrott]

Gosh... I believe B.T has a great solution. I suspected the problem may be in the tolerence between the control box battery tubes which were designed with about about .040" clearance depending upon the paricular diameter of the AA battery used. When I first experienced a shutdown I was using a particular set of batteries with a smaller diamer and also about .01" in length for each one. Also the - and -
contacts were not clean, so maybe the electrical contact between the + and - of the the two batteries can be marginal unless their terminals are roughened up slightly with something abrasive such as a pencil eraser to brighten them and remove any greasy film from handling.

Thus: Smaller diameter and shorted length batteries with possibly dirty contacts; used, and no longer full power can be the problem.

I'm one happy camper... I feel there is no problem and if there is
I will also use a straw that can be safely retrieved from the tube.

I bought my 70 from Rick Avery in Detector Central in Fontana CA. and mentioned the problem. Rick... if you see this... all is well.

Now B.T, lets go out and find some gold... at least you are (Grin). My Best to All...