The CTX 3030 is a "Leaker"... but does anyone have...

[GKMan]

Agreed...

 

[steve herschbach]

Just my opinion

 

[ML]

Just my opinion

Good point Steve, but Minelab's advertising "waterproof" to 10 feet, and I think that's what sold lots of folks on this unit. Curious, have you (or anyone) had the opportunity to submerge the new SDC 2300 yet?

 

[CutNShootKid]

I have read this forum for a few months now. I'm working overseas and can't get a detector till i get back to USA, but am almost convinced I want to buy the CTX 3030 when I get back.

Is there a better water detector out there that can also be used on land? If so what is it?

 

[steve herschbach]

I have a CTX 3030 and have had it submerged in fresh water. But frankly I shied away from subjecting it to rough salt water surf conditions in Hawaii, as early reports on leaking had me concerned. I like the detector too much to risk it in salt water, especially considering how I hunt. Easy wading in calm water is one thing, thrashing about in heavy surf is another.

I do also have the SDC 2300 but frankly I am less worried about it due to the design, which is based on the Minelab F3 Compact mine detector. That unit is designed to military standards and carries a full IP68 immersion rating. There is no USB port to worry about, and the battery door design has a simpler and much smaller o-ring area which should lessen the chance of leakage. On the flip side, the F3 Compact manual at http://www.minelab.com/__files/f/61797/F3 does state"Although the F3 COMPACT can withstand immersion to a depth of three metres for short periods of time, it is NOT designed for use as an underwater detector." So there you go. I plan on using it extensively in fresh water in the next few weeks before subjecting it to salt water use, so will be reporting back on that later.

That said, I still personally consider any detector designed to be waterproof to ten feet to not be in the same league as the true diving detectors when it comes to waterproof integrity. Anybody looking for day in and day out use fully submerged in salt water would do well to stick with units rated waterproof to 100 feet or more. Even those eventually have issues with heavy use, so it only makes sense that units with a 10 foot rating are a riskier proposition. As I say, just my opinion.

 

[ML]

Here in the Northeast I don't know of anyone who has bought one as of yet, as a lot of us are not really nugget hunters. Good luck with it and keep us updated.

 

[DaytonaGold]

Mine leaked in the salt water just last week, talk about damage...The salt water and battery caused electrolosys and the five chrome or silver plated battery contacts were literally destroyed, one fell right off an the battery was toast too. I spoke with John from MInelab and he said to send them the control box and battery, he assures me they will replace both asap. He kind of suggested there has been issues with the design and to make sure after every use to double-check the battery compartment for any leakage.

 

[Johnnyanglo]

I use mine in the Hawaii surf and it hasn't leaked ... but I do make extra effort to ensure that I've done all I can to prevent it. And this is the problem, I shouldn't have to make any extra effort. ML needs to do a redesign.

 

[GKMan]

I wonder how long before they come out with a new flagship detector, that will address this.. another year?

 

[ML]

I wonder how long before they come out with a new flagship detector, that will address this.. another year?

My guess would be that they attempt to address this particular issue on the existing CTX (if even possible) before they release something brand new.

 

[GKMan]

Eh, I doubt it. They will instead come up with the ctx 4040 that addresses the "issue" for only 2499.99

 

[ML]

$2499.99...... at the very least.

 

[GKMan]

True.......

 

[Stogger]

NiagracountyNY:

Just a note that my speaker stopped working (muffled) today after a shallow water submersion. Lots of bubbles came from the small hole near the grip. Not sure if this goes to the speaker compartment. Did you notice any problems other than the speaker issue?

Thanks,
Mike

 

[GKMan]

Bubbles always happen and the speaker is muffled until it drains...this is normal...

 

[Stogger]

Thanks Gary! I was hoping the hole was a vent hole. I've only submerged it during 3 trips. The other times were at the beach where there is no way to see bubbles. This time in a clear and completely calm lake/pond. With water in the USB port + bubbles + speakers not working + my ignorance of the internal design = slight panic on my part. Appreciate the feedback.

Mike

 

[greenmeanie]

The reason I sold mine with 2 months left on the Warranty.
I just don't have the extra money to repair if it decided to leak so I had to sell it
I had a Battery go down on me and I didn't see any water in there but minelab made good on it and sent me a new one.
But I guess any water machine could leak at some point.

 

[MARK (LI)]

As my trusty old Excaliburs are showing signs of their ages ( one is the original horsehoe shaped seasearch coil, 20 yearrs at least) I have been entertaining the thought of a DEUS or a CTX...the DEUS research determined that it is just not suitable fo the type of hunting I do ...salt water, so that is out....The CTX, although highly touted, is expensive and seems to commonly experience the problems discussed here. We have seen similar problems on many of the Minelab models...leaking coils on original Sovereigns, cables on early Excaliburs, cam locks and other issues with early Explorers....and Minelab did, at least in my experience, make good on the problems.....sometimes slowly, but never as slowly as some of the complaints I read about. I think everyone of us has thought to ouselves that we wish we had been there when some of these machines were designed...what insight and wisdom we could have provided....I honestly used to think that the engineers at Minelab never had been out detecting, the way some of the stuff was made and designed....anyway before plunking down a huge wad of $$$ for a CTX, I contacted Minelab Customer Service and asked if anything was being done to overcome or correct the design issues that lead to such thing as battery compartment failure..and if they do reach a solution, will it be offered to current owners of the machines with the problems..In my way of thinking, if one is paying the kind of money these machines command, they should be designed and built in such a way that it should not be necessary to take such extraordinary steps to prevent sand from causing o-ring problems to further prevent what seems to be this common battery compartment flooding....this is the response I received



Hello Mark,

To answer your question, should you purchase a CTX and experience any of the problems that you mentioned, we take care of it promptly. However the problem at the camlock is something I have not heard about, and should your machine leak, we repair that that promptly for you.

As far as a redesign is concerned, I am not certain of the progress of that or the details. The CTX 3030 is the state of the art of metal detectors and you should have all the confidence in your decision to purchase one. Thank you, we look forward to being at your service.



In fairness to the customer service rep, I have not included his signature ( if anyone doubts this is the actual response send me your email and I will forward his email to you my email address is mlsalamack@aol.com )......but it seems that they are indifferent about the problems......ok they will fix it...but who pays the postage, and who makes up the "lost time"?.....when you pay that kind of money for a detector you don't want to have down time

Many Minelab users have complained through the years that Minelab does not listen....they may be right.....anyway despite the Minelab claim that I "should have all the confidence in your decision to purchase one".....my decision is to not buy one until they produce a product whose hardware is equal to its electronics.

Was wondering if anyone else has similar thoughts.

 

[ML]

Wow, that response certainly doesn't make one confident that they ever intend to address some pretty obvious (and correctable) design issues. But to be honest, I really wasn't expecting them to say "yes, we are working diligently to address our valued/loyal customers concerns". Nice try though. Let us know what you decide to buy.

 

[MARK (LI)]

For now I will just keep patching the old Excals