Sov XS-2aPro battery Door question

[tony (Orlando FL)]

I did a search before asking this question in case it was already addressed, maybe I used the inccorect search words, but found nothing.

I find the battery door stays shut, nice and tight with the rehargables but not the alkalines.

It kinda looks like the alkaline battery holders have relaxed some and flare outwards at the bottom of the packs preventing the door from closing completely.

Has anyone else experienced this and if so, How did you resolve the problem.

Thanks
Tony

 

[Art (NWOH)]

Hi Tony........been a while.

Here's what I been able to figure......

The Ni-Cd on mine was a bit long, but plenty thick enough. Ground a little (about 1/16 - 1/8 inch) off the bottom tab on the pack because it wedged the door so tight it was about impossible to remove.

The alkaline won't hold the door shut...
About 1/8" thinner than the Ni-Cd so it don't press outward on the door and keep it latched. Also the alkaline is a bit too long and does not allow the door to close quite far enough to latch up good.....latch not fully engaged.
Adding a little foam or cardboard under or over the alkaline to thicken it up helps some, but the whole setup is just plain a poor fit.

HH

 

[Rick(ND)]

Hi Tony,

Good to see you back on the BBS forum which means you have a Sovereign again.
Now on the alkaline pack when you say it looks likes they flared outward could it be they are starting to split on the bottom from the spring pressure holding the batteries in?? If they are you will need new battery pack and I do have a brand new set here if you need them. They are hard to find and I got these right from Minelab as Radio Shack do have them anymore.
I never used the alkaline pack when I had the XS2. I found they never fit real good and would give a intermittent connection problem unless you put some foam or cardboard to hold the battery pack tight as Art is saying. I just got a extra rechargeable pack.

Rick

 

[tony (Orlando FL)]

Morning Art & Rick,

Man you guyz have a keene eye, yes I have a Sov again through a trade deal made the other day.

The recharge packs were flat so I figured I would just load up the alkaline packs and just put them in the sov at the beach some 60 miles away this morning. Right! Good thing I backed up a bit and checked.

The door closes, just never stays latched. Seems the tab never moves enough to get locked in the groove with the alkaline pack.

The door alone or with the recharge pack snaps securely in place.

I then put the two packs side by side to see if there is a huge amount of difference in length and strangely, I think the alkaline pack is a hair shorter in length ! Now this has me confused, but today is another day, and I will give it a good look even if I have to find my micrometer to measure. I do like a puzzle.

Rick, Thanks for offering up the alkaline holders, hang on to them rare hard to come by empty packs. My plan is to stop by a supply store to get some switch boots and see about the holders while I am there. I think I have seen em there.

I have always had the original Sovs, I have to say, this xs 2a works way different control wise and look forward to giving it a shot.

Its early and I am off to my morning workout....

thanks guys for the tips, suggestions and kind offer.

Later,

Tony

 

[Art (NWOH)]

Hey Tony........

A thing about my nicad.....

It's thicker at the contact end than at the back tab end. fits very tightly and pushes the door out at the latching end. This really holds the latch in place.

Had thought about rigging up some other extra kind of latching system for holding the door shut, but have not come up with any good ideas yet.

HH

 

[tony (Orlando FL)]

Hi Art,

I will see if adding some padding may help but the door fits and clicks right in the notch when the alkaline battery pack is not in there. It clicks in nicely too when the recharge pack is in there too. Will have to look closer.

Now I know why some folks have modified theirs to use the original sov system with the battery wires.

 

[Art (NWOH)]

Yeah.

Mine worked OK when I first got it, but got loose over time.

Think the gradual spreading of the battery holders lengthens the whole alkaline assembly and puts too much pressure on the back end of the door. Appears to cause some warping of the door that forces the locking tab to spring inward.

HH

 

[tony (Orlando FL)]

and while the situation IS better with the new ones, the door does not 'snap' into place like it should or like it does with the rechargeable pack.

BY placing a couple folds of paper under the battery pack right up front near where the door catches, all is well.

Art pegged the solution 100% by saying he adds foam or whatnot to the pack.

I was able to find some packs for buck and a half each at the surplus store I usually shop around at.

Got some toggle switch booties too, the kind that let the toggle stick through the rubber top. These were a buck a piece.

Thanks for all your tips, you guys are the best

Tony

 

[Art (NWOH)]

If you carry any money when you hunt....

You can fold up a few bills to take up the space.

HH