Sovereign accessories sticky let's start with the rod assembly first and then to the next category.Thanks Ron
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Sovereign Accessories user input rod asm first.
- Thread starter Ron from Michigan
- Start date
Mel Parker
Member
n/t
Mel Parker
Member
The shaft is a Whites upper and middle shaft and the meter is a Sunray DTI II meter that works well. Underneath the meter by the hand grip is a mode change switch that allows you to choose between ALL Metal / DISC/ IRON MASK OFF. This also works quite well and is an extremely handy feature to have. When the extra jack in the back of the unit is unplugged the detector goes back to using the factory controls on the front pane.
Critterhunter
New member
You have got to check out this picture tour somebody made walking down memory lane of various Sovereign accessories (stands, etc), remote PP switches, home made meters, various meter mounting methods, and other such unique accessory or mod ideas. Very cool...
Critterhunter
New member
Sun Ray I guess sells a version for the Elite/GT and then one for the older Sovereigns. Not sure why that is. Anybody? Either way, I think there was also a "big box" version of these probes that had a bigger box than later ones. I remember reading where people would mod the big box one and cut down the size of the box because I guess (?) it was rather easy to do with a lot of dead air space in there I think. Somebody who knows more about that can chime in and correct me if I'm wrong. Many love these probes as you hear the target through the headphones for one thing. You throw a switch on the box that disconnects your search coil and switches to the search probe. You can also keep your detector in discriminate to only hear the "good" target in the hole or throw your detector into all metal mode to hear everything.
I had these probes on a few of my Explorers. I prefer the Garrett Pro Pointer myself for not adding weight to the shaft or having the extra mess of wires and the hassle of using two hands to unsnap/snap the probe to the shaft. Plus I can sit down my detector and use my Pro Pointer to help a friend find a target, and of course can use the Pro Pointer with any machine as it's not tied to one detector it can only be used for like the Sun Ray. I also don't want my pinpointer discriminating out targets anyway because when I bend down I want to dig any and all metal out of the hole in case a coin is hid by a nail or something, and also so I won't see hear that junk next time.
But anyway, many people swear by these Sun Ray probes and just love them...
http://sunraydetector.com/
I had these probes on a few of my Explorers. I prefer the Garrett Pro Pointer myself for not adding weight to the shaft or having the extra mess of wires and the hassle of using two hands to unsnap/snap the probe to the shaft. Plus I can sit down my detector and use my Pro Pointer to help a friend find a target, and of course can use the Pro Pointer with any machine as it's not tied to one detector it can only be used for like the Sun Ray. I also don't want my pinpointer discriminating out targets anyway because when I bend down I want to dig any and all metal out of the hole in case a coin is hid by a nail or something, and also so I won't see hear that junk next time.
But anyway, many people swear by these Sun Ray probes and just love them...
http://sunraydetector.com/
Critterhunter
New member
I know this isn't exactly an Sovereign accessory specifically but I feel it's the most important accessory to my GT in the field...
If I wasn't allowed to use this thing anymore I'd give up detecting. It makes life that much easier. I get close to a year out of the 9V battery. It vibrates and makes a noise faster and faster as you get closer to the target. I can get it out of it's harness, use it, and put it back all using just my left hand. It's mostly water proof as Garrett says you can wash it under a faucet if you are careful about the speaker hole. Gone are the days of holding a plug in my hands and waving it over the top of the coil to see if the target is in the plug. This thing makes recoveries so much faster, and it also helps a bunch when trying to fish a coin out of a web of roots as you can see just the right angle to get at it by using the tip to find the target. When I first heard the price of one of over $100 I laughed and said no way a pin pointer was worth that much. Then I saw and used my friends in the field and I was hooked in minutes. Worth every penny!
If I wasn't allowed to use this thing anymore I'd give up detecting. It makes life that much easier. I get close to a year out of the 9V battery. It vibrates and makes a noise faster and faster as you get closer to the target. I can get it out of it's harness, use it, and put it back all using just my left hand. It's mostly water proof as Garrett says you can wash it under a faucet if you are careful about the speaker hole. Gone are the days of holding a plug in my hands and waving it over the top of the coil to see if the target is in the plug. This thing makes recoveries so much faster, and it also helps a bunch when trying to fish a coin out of a web of roots as you can see just the right angle to get at it by using the tip to find the target. When I first heard the price of one of over $100 I laughed and said no way a pin pointer was worth that much. Then I saw and used my friends in the field and I was hooked in minutes. Worth every penny!
Critterhunter
New member
Notice it's got a v-clip mount on the top of the grip for easy mounting of the meter without having to mod your own using a pipe hanger or something to mount it there. I hear these are really nice shafts and you can also get a version meant for the older Sovereigns. I think the only difference is that this one has the box clip the Elite/GT use while the other has the V-clip mount the older Sovereigns used for mounting the box just like the Minelab meters mount using a V-clip. If you use a shaft that doesn't come with the proper clip or v-clip mount for the box, you can easily mount yours on a new shaft. I just drilled out the two rivets holding the GT's box clip together, as I wasn't using the original arm cup and used a Whites, so I just riveted the part of the two-part box clip onto the shaft that I needed to clip the box on. The stock arm cup normaly holds the box clip in place via one part of it. Since I didn't need that part I just used the other half that the box clips to and riveted that to my custom light weight shaft I built. The v-clip can also be drilled out for mounting a meter elsewhere via a pipe hanger and a couple flat head screws. None of this stuff needs done with the above shaft as it's all done for you and already has the box clip mounted on it.
Critterhunter
New member
Not sure but the second picture is of a bag that is just desribed for hip mounting. Not sure if it is the same bag or is set up for only hip mounting or something? I have the first bag seen and can hip or chest mount it. I only use it when water hunting chest mounted, as I don't like hip or chest mounting when hunting on land. That's why I built a light weight shaft for my land hunts.
Critterhunter
New member
You can also see the box clip in the picture that can be bought from Minelab if you ever needed to replace it...
Critterhunter
New member
IMO rubber switch boots are a must have for the Sovereign. If dirt or sand gets in there it will grind away each time you throw the switch and slowly destroy it. Here's a thread about where to find them and ihow to install them. I was looking for full boots but found out half boots are better as they won't wear a hole in the tip where you touch the switch and still seal out moisture and grime. In particular, if you are one to chest or hip mount then for sure get these boots because dirt or sand falls right down into the switches, but it's still a must have for those who don't even hip/chest mount IMO. It gives you extra piece of mind that you aren't getting moisture in there on a day it's drizzling and such.
Sun Ray is a Findmall sponsor and I believe carries these for the Sovereign.
http://www.findmall.com/read.php?21,1158037,1168023#msg-1168023
Sun Ray is a Findmall sponsor and I believe carries these for the Sovereign.
http://www.findmall.com/read.php?21,1158037,1168023#msg-1168023
I see you turned the control box around too so it is easier to get at the controls if and when needed. I did that on a couple I had and also on the shaft Plugger made for me to bring the control box back further to balance out so much better.
Looks like a nice set up and thanks for sharing.
Rick
Looks like a nice set up and thanks for sharing.
Rick
Critterhunter
New member
By the way, the prior Plugger shaft posted and other stuff are available at one of Findmall's sponsors such as Indian Nation Detectors here...
http://www.indiannationsdetectors.com/sovereignparts.html
Along with the following accesseries that can all be found at Indian Nation as well. I don't mind providing a link because he's a Findmall sponsor and carriess the Plugger's and the car chargers and such...
Another picture of a Plugger replacement shaft for older Sovereigns using the V-clip to mount the box. Versions using the right box clip for the Elite and GT are also available...Shaft extensions for mounting the box behind the elbow for better balance...A v-clip mount that can be used for the S-1 Sun Ray probe or mounting a meter somewhere else on the shaft other than the stock location...A selection of Plugger stands is last picture. All sold by Findmall Sponsors such as Indian Nation detectors...
http://www.indiannationsdetectors.com/sovereignparts.html
Along with the following accesseries that can all be found at Indian Nation as well. I don't mind providing a link because he's a Findmall sponsor and carriess the Plugger's and the car chargers and such...
Another picture of a Plugger replacement shaft for older Sovereigns using the V-clip to mount the box. Versions using the right box clip for the Elite and GT are also available...Shaft extensions for mounting the box behind the elbow for better balance...A v-clip mount that can be used for the S-1 Sun Ray probe or mounting a meter somewhere else on the shaft other than the stock location...A selection of Plugger stands is last picture. All sold by Findmall Sponsors such as Indian Nation detectors...
Critterhunter
New member
Sun Ray of course is a Findmall sponsor and many Sovereign users love the sound and features of the Sun Ray Pro Golds. They have individual ear volume controls and more importantly a limiter switch which keeps surface targets from blasting your ears. Minelab says to insure targets at maximum depth are heard you should turn up the Sovereign's volume all the way and then adjust it on the heaphones to a comfortable level. Not sure if that's important or not because the Sony V-150 studio headphones I use don't have a volume control or a limiter circuit so I have to keep the volume all the way down on my GT, yet I seem to be able to hear the faintest whisper at the outer edges of detection depth with no problem. I love the audio on these Sonys that Crazyman turned me onto for only like $20 at Walmart. Best audio of any headphones I've ever used for detecting, super comfortable, and since they are half the size of regular headphones they are very light and don't make my ears sweat. Crazyman said there is an upgraded model called the MDR-V500DJ that has minor improvements such as a coiled cord. Still, when I have the money to burn I want to get the Sony Pro Golds because I'd rather crank up the volume on the GT and use the limiter and volume controls on the Sun Ray's so I have no doubt I'm not missing any deep stuff for sure just in case. I have read where some say they can hear the limiter make a slight click when it kicks in so it's rather easy to tell the target is on the surface despite the volume being held back some when it approaches that level of volume where the limiter backs it down a bit if needed.
By the way, I was given a pair of the expensive Grey Ghosts headphones and found them flat and muffled on my GT so I gave them back to the guy. Maybe I had a bad pair because I have heard some people rave about those things. If anybody has any heaphones they love to use on their Sovereign please post some pics and info.
By the way, I was given a pair of the expensive Grey Ghosts headphones and found them flat and muffled on my GT so I gave them back to the guy. Maybe I had a bad pair because I have heard some people rave about those things. If anybody has any heaphones they love to use on their Sovereign please post some pics and info.
Critterhunter
New member
Good info from Rick that should probably be posted here about the Sun Ray probes...
Rick(ND) said:
Critterhunter
New member
I believe these pictures of my land rig are from when I was still using the 15x12, so if the coil looks a little bigger than my current 12x10 I always use on land that's why. I've also long since ditched the detector stand seen in the pics and now just have two rubber feet (from radio shack or office supply stores) stuck on the bottom of the control box to cushion the GT and keep it's bottom from laying on the ground. I feel that's important, because not only would laying the box on the ground with no rubber feet to cushion the impact be constantly jarring the machine, but also because the off/on/off/on pressure being applied to the battery compartment might make things get loose there.
As you can see in the pics, I mounted the meter on top of my hand grip (bike end bar). I also have a remote PP switch wired installed inside the end of the bike end bar and is hanging down like a regular trigger found on other detectors such as Whites. In the last pic where the land rig is standing up if you click on the photo to blow it up you can see the switch hanging down. Strangely though, I hardly ever use pin point mode and prefer to PP in discrimination mode these days. I guess the switch would be useful to me for hunting say clean/deep areas in say all metal or PP mode, and then switching back to check them in discriminate, but I honestly feel at least so far that in my soil the GT is deeper in discriminate, but that may change with more testing, as I know some like Gunnar swear by the all metal mode on the GT being one of the best they've ever used on a machine. Some even claim they can tell targets by how they sound in all metal.
Anyway, my land rig is a custom shaft and a few other mods that dropped almost a pound and a half off the weight of the GT. You can also see my water rig in the photos. It's the stock shaft and arm cup. The only difference is I also put a bike end bar on it (I cut it down to just use the straight part of it) and of course you can see a really comfortable rubber grip on that that I also picked out at a bicycle store. It's so much more comfortable than the stock grip, and since it's not foam like the stock grip cover it won't hold water when water hunting. Since I always use the 12x10 on land, I keep the stock 10" Tornado on my water rig. That way to go water hunting I need only disconnect my GT control box from the land shaft, throw it in a plastic bag, and then throw that bag inside the Minelab hip/chest mount bag that I use chest mounted. Done like that I can get about belly button deep.
For explanations of all these mods please see this thread...
http://www.findmall.com/read.php?21,1164138,page=1
And if you want to wire up a remote PP switch for you GT, here
As you can see in the pics, I mounted the meter on top of my hand grip (bike end bar). I also have a remote PP switch wired installed inside the end of the bike end bar and is hanging down like a regular trigger found on other detectors such as Whites. In the last pic where the land rig is standing up if you click on the photo to blow it up you can see the switch hanging down. Strangely though, I hardly ever use pin point mode and prefer to PP in discrimination mode these days. I guess the switch would be useful to me for hunting say clean/deep areas in say all metal or PP mode, and then switching back to check them in discriminate, but I honestly feel at least so far that in my soil the GT is deeper in discriminate, but that may change with more testing, as I know some like Gunnar swear by the all metal mode on the GT being one of the best they've ever used on a machine. Some even claim they can tell targets by how they sound in all metal.
Anyway, my land rig is a custom shaft and a few other mods that dropped almost a pound and a half off the weight of the GT. You can also see my water rig in the photos. It's the stock shaft and arm cup. The only difference is I also put a bike end bar on it (I cut it down to just use the straight part of it) and of course you can see a really comfortable rubber grip on that that I also picked out at a bicycle store. It's so much more comfortable than the stock grip, and since it's not foam like the stock grip cover it won't hold water when water hunting. Since I always use the 12x10 on land, I keep the stock 10" Tornado on my water rig. That way to go water hunting I need only disconnect my GT control box from the land shaft, throw it in a plastic bag, and then throw that bag inside the Minelab hip/chest mount bag that I use chest mounted. Done like that I can get about belly button deep.
For explanations of all these mods please see this thread...
http://www.findmall.com/read.php?21,1164138,page=1
And if you want to wire up a remote PP switch for you GT, here
Critterhunter
New member
Coil cables on Minelab and aftermarket coils are more than long enough to hip or chest mount as the Sovereign is designed to do this for those who like to on land or water hunter. That's why the Minelab meters also have extra long cables, so some land hunters can still have the meter mounted on the shaft and yet hip or chest mount the box that way too. However, due to repairs and such, some people find their coil or such is no longer long enough to do these things. In that case, short of splicing in a new length of cable, you should consider adding a plug in extension...
deepdiger60 said:
Critterhunter
New member
A thread with pics on how people carry there Sovereign control box if hip or chest mounted, or their digger, pin pointer, probe, etc. I don't know if this thread shows it but some also hip or chest mount their external meter. I've seen those pics in the past anyway, so search for those if you are looking for ideas on that.
This pic below is how I carry my Pro Pointer, digger, probe, and ID chart. I've since cut the bottoms of the pockets for the probe and Pro Pointer to poke through so they sit down further and more snug, and also since removed the dog chain latch and the pocket flap that would fold down over the Pro Pointer.
Wearing it on my left hip, it makes for easy access during a hunt and makes it more effortless, no longer carrying the digger in my cheap Home Depot cloth apron that would poke me in the stomach or fall out all the time. If you haven't got a tool harness like this get one, their cheap and make hunts so much more hassle free. A good cheap cloth apron from a home improvement store with two pockets is a must have too. One pocket for trash and the other for keepers. The thread has other great ideas with pics from others on how they carry stuff. Makes no sense to tweak out your machine with the best coils and other stuff and neglect how you carry your tools...
http://www.findmall.com/read.php?21,1671697,1671697#msg-1671697
This pic below is how I carry my Pro Pointer, digger, probe, and ID chart. I've since cut the bottoms of the pockets for the probe and Pro Pointer to poke through so they sit down further and more snug, and also since removed the dog chain latch and the pocket flap that would fold down over the Pro Pointer.
Wearing it on my left hip, it makes for easy access during a hunt and makes it more effortless, no longer carrying the digger in my cheap Home Depot cloth apron that would poke me in the stomach or fall out all the time. If you haven't got a tool harness like this get one, their cheap and make hunts so much more hassle free. A good cheap cloth apron from a home improvement store with two pockets is a must have too. One pocket for trash and the other for keepers. The thread has other great ideas with pics from others on how they carry stuff. Makes no sense to tweak out your machine with the best coils and other stuff and neglect how you carry your tools...
http://www.findmall.com/read.php?21,1671697,1671697#msg-1671697
Critterhunter
New member
Hip Mounting The Box And Meter (pic below)...
http://www.findmall.com/read.php?21,633381,633381#msg-633381
Another guy who dropped a bunch of weight on his GT too by using Whites shafts, armcups, etc (2 pics below)...
http://www.findmall.com/read.php?21,1219718,1220163#msg-1220163
Easy homemade detector stands made by simply putting some PVC together, & other ideas...
http://www.findmall.com/read.php?21,1225021,1225241#msg-1225241
Fixing the lower shaft coil mount plastic insert that goes up inside the shaft if it comes loose, & Plugger's bolted camlocks to take the slop out of the shaft (can be found at Findmall sponsors). Very important for water hunters or the play could get worse over time due to drag. Any play in the shaft is a bad thing, but even worse in water hunting due to the drag...
http://www.findmall.com/read.php?21,1346303,page=1
http://www.findmall.com/read.php?21,633381,633381#msg-633381
Another guy who dropped a bunch of weight on his GT too by using Whites shafts, armcups, etc (2 pics below)...
http://www.findmall.com/read.php?21,1219718,1220163#msg-1220163
Easy homemade detector stands made by simply putting some PVC together, & other ideas...
http://www.findmall.com/read.php?21,1225021,1225241#msg-1225241
Fixing the lower shaft coil mount plastic insert that goes up inside the shaft if it comes loose, & Plugger's bolted camlocks to take the slop out of the shaft (can be found at Findmall sponsors). Very important for water hunters or the play could get worse over time due to drag. Any play in the shaft is a bad thing, but even worse in water hunting due to the drag...
http://www.findmall.com/read.php?21,1346303,page=1
Critterhunter
New member
Hey Ron, if you don't think this link is proper for the accessories sticky then feel free to delete it. It might be a stretch for this sticky I guess, but it looks like this sticky isn't filling up fast anyway and so I figured (?) it might not hurt to have some basic troubleshooting stuff in a link right at people's fingertips? If you don't feel that though then by all means delete it and I understand.
Here's a thread with some basic troubleshooting tips to rule out or find things like a bad switch or pot (and how to clean or fix those), loose wire connections inside, bad solder joints on circuit board components, and so on. Often in devices using electronics if it isn't working or is working erratically it may be only due to one of these simple problems or even something even more simple like a bad battery or dirty battery contacts. By my experience it's usually not a real complex problem like a component failure, but rather something that can easily be found and fixed.
If anybody has any further troubleshooting threads or your own advice for troubleshooting the Sovereign please share and post them in this thread link below. Coil troubleshooting thread links have already been posted in the coil sticky before, and ID meter troubleshooting tips have already been posted before in the ID Chart/Meter sticky too.
http://www.findmall.com/read.php?21,1755142
Here's a thread with some basic troubleshooting tips to rule out or find things like a bad switch or pot (and how to clean or fix those), loose wire connections inside, bad solder joints on circuit board components, and so on. Often in devices using electronics if it isn't working or is working erratically it may be only due to one of these simple problems or even something even more simple like a bad battery or dirty battery contacts. By my experience it's usually not a real complex problem like a component failure, but rather something that can easily be found and fixed.
If anybody has any further troubleshooting threads or your own advice for troubleshooting the Sovereign please share and post them in this thread link below. Coil troubleshooting thread links have already been posted in the coil sticky before, and ID meter troubleshooting tips have already been posted before in the ID Chart/Meter sticky too.
http://www.findmall.com/read.php?21,1755142