I just don't like the 8" bbs coil on my xcal, at least right now. I plan on replacing it w/ a 10" tornado eventually. I'm not sure I want to hardwire the new coil in, just in case I want to switch back and forth with the 8". One thing I do like about the 8" is the lack of falsing w/ higher sensitivity. Of course the only thing I can compare it to is my gt's 10". So I'm not sure if it's a matter of the smaller coil, different machine or combination of the two. That is a big reason I might want to switch back and forth between coils. Can anone recommend a good connector source for a replacable coil setup? Thanks for any advice.
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Want to replace 8"bbs w/ 10" tornado xcal
- Thread starter OBX Franz
- Start date
Critterhunter
New member
Also check in the coil sticky. Towards the end there are various links to threads on various ways to wire a plug to an Excal or to hard wire one. I might have posted a few links in the Excal acceries sticky too but don't remember. The links posted in the coil sticky might be a little light on links in terms of what plug types people like to use, as I think there are several routes for that. When I compile some headphone mod/replace links for the Excal to post in there I might a few more plug wiring threads if I can dig some good/different types up for that then what has already been posted links for. Also, there are many links around the last few pages or so too on the wiring colors for the Excal and various coils.
I've at least read some who say the old heavy BBS 8" coil wasn't as stable or as deep as the new lighter Tornado version of it, so I bet the 10" Tornado too would then be a noticable improvement over that old 8" BBS coil. But I have read a few I think who like the old BBS 8" coil just as well as the new Tornado version of it. Either way, the BBS version is still a pig in weight. I've held that thing in my hand when painting the bottom/sides with spray on bed liner and I couldn't get over how heavy that tiny little coil is. It's only 7 & 14" in actual size (like the Tornado version) so I never would have guessed that coil would be that heavy. I can only imagine how heavy the old BBS version of the 10" coil was. In fact, in the coil weight/price chart thread (linked to in the first page or two of the coil sticky) I think from memory the BBS 10" coil is either the heaviest coil for the Sovereign or 2nd only to the WOT.
I've at least read some who say the old heavy BBS 8" coil wasn't as stable or as deep as the new lighter Tornado version of it, so I bet the 10" Tornado too would then be a noticable improvement over that old 8" BBS coil. But I have read a few I think who like the old BBS 8" coil just as well as the new Tornado version of it. Either way, the BBS version is still a pig in weight. I've held that thing in my hand when painting the bottom/sides with spray on bed liner and I couldn't get over how heavy that tiny little coil is. It's only 7 & 14" in actual size (like the Tornado version) so I never would have guessed that coil would be that heavy. I can only imagine how heavy the old BBS version of the 10" coil was. In fact, in the coil weight/price chart thread (linked to in the first page or two of the coil sticky) I think from memory the BBS 10" coil is either the heaviest coil for the Sovereign or 2nd only to the WOT.
dewcon4414
Well-known member
I have a friend that has the OLD horseshoe 8"...... that thing is a KILLER coil considerably hotter than the newer coils. Its pretty normal that a smaller coil can be ran with higher sensitivity and do a little better on the smaller targets. Which is hard to believe since i find some pretty darn tiny pieces of gold with the 10 inch.
Dew
Dew
Critterhunter
New member
Yea, I've heard that. I think Ron or somebody also says good things about that coil on the first page or so of the coil sticky. I've read of others who loved that horeshoe coil so much that they use it on their Sovereigns on land, and I think (?) that coil was only sold on Excals back in the day maybe? Must be a great coil if people are cutting it off Excals and using on land with a Sovereign. I think I read too (maybe in the coil sticky?) that people cut off the "wings" on that coil for land use to lighten the weight of it.
I got into a little argument one time with one of my Excal using friends. The one who has the 8" heavy BBS coil on his. He believed the 8 and 10" BBS coils on the Excal were weighted for water use. I tried to explain to him that those coils are just plain heavy and that they were the same coils on the old Sovereigns, and that new Excals and of course the Elite and GT all now come with light weight Tornado coils. Tried to tell him the coil weight makes no difference so long as it doesn't want to float on you and that the BBS coils were beyond what they needed to be in weight to be of neutral boyancy.
Not sure he believes me but if he thinks a coil has to be weighted to use in the water then so be it I guess. I've tried to tell him he should put a 10" Tornado, an S-12, or maybe a 12x10 (if they aren't a lot of drag in the water...never used mine in the water as I just keep the stock 10" Tornado on my water shaft) on his Excal and drop some weight and get more depth. Told him I'd solder the thing up for him hardwired or put a waterproof plug on it so he could swap coils, but he just believes in that 8" BBS coil. Can't argue with results I guess, as he's dug a ton of gold rings over about 6 or 7 years (well over a 100 and probably about 150 or so by now since the last time we counted them).
One of our other Excal friends has the 10" Tornado on his Excal and he never seems to do as well as my friend with the 8" BBS coil, so he (the 8" coil user) thinks the 10" coil isn't as good as his 8" coil. Tried to explain that it's not the coil but the fact that he more intensly hunts because I've watched them both work the water, but he still believes the 8" coil is a better coil based on his finds. It's not like these water sites are full of iron or anything where a smaller coil could very well do better. I've used my 10" Tornado in the same water with him and I know I'm getting deeper, because I've re-worked some dry sand he's worked with that coil and I'm popping deeper stuff.
I've also tried to explain to him to think of all the much better coverage he'd have in the water with less chance of missing stuff by using a bigger coil, not to mention how much faster he could grid out a patch of water, but he just is convinced that 8" BBS coil is some kind of magic weapon. Since he doesn't own a Sovereign, he's got no other coils on BBS machines to compare it to for himself. If he tried an S-12, 10" Tornado, or 12x10 on land even for a few minutes, I'm sure he'd be begging me to cut that old boat anchor 8" BBS coil off his Excal and wire one up for him.
I had a short story posted here about my friend's 8" BBS coil Excal but I ripped it out to post in a seperate thread as I think it's a decent story about my oldest silver coin find thus far....
I got into a little argument one time with one of my Excal using friends. The one who has the 8" heavy BBS coil on his. He believed the 8 and 10" BBS coils on the Excal were weighted for water use. I tried to explain to him that those coils are just plain heavy and that they were the same coils on the old Sovereigns, and that new Excals and of course the Elite and GT all now come with light weight Tornado coils. Tried to tell him the coil weight makes no difference so long as it doesn't want to float on you and that the BBS coils were beyond what they needed to be in weight to be of neutral boyancy.
Not sure he believes me but if he thinks a coil has to be weighted to use in the water then so be it I guess. I've tried to tell him he should put a 10" Tornado, an S-12, or maybe a 12x10 (if they aren't a lot of drag in the water...never used mine in the water as I just keep the stock 10" Tornado on my water shaft) on his Excal and drop some weight and get more depth. Told him I'd solder the thing up for him hardwired or put a waterproof plug on it so he could swap coils, but he just believes in that 8" BBS coil. Can't argue with results I guess, as he's dug a ton of gold rings over about 6 or 7 years (well over a 100 and probably about 150 or so by now since the last time we counted them).
One of our other Excal friends has the 10" Tornado on his Excal and he never seems to do as well as my friend with the 8" BBS coil, so he (the 8" coil user) thinks the 10" coil isn't as good as his 8" coil. Tried to explain that it's not the coil but the fact that he more intensly hunts because I've watched them both work the water, but he still believes the 8" coil is a better coil based on his finds. It's not like these water sites are full of iron or anything where a smaller coil could very well do better. I've used my 10" Tornado in the same water with him and I know I'm getting deeper, because I've re-worked some dry sand he's worked with that coil and I'm popping deeper stuff.
I've also tried to explain to him to think of all the much better coverage he'd have in the water with less chance of missing stuff by using a bigger coil, not to mention how much faster he could grid out a patch of water, but he just is convinced that 8" BBS coil is some kind of magic weapon. Since he doesn't own a Sovereign, he's got no other coils on BBS machines to compare it to for himself. If he tried an S-12, 10" Tornado, or 12x10 on land even for a few minutes, I'm sure he'd be begging me to cut that old boat anchor 8" BBS coil off his Excal and wire one up for him.
I had a short story posted here about my friend's 8" BBS coil Excal but I ripped it out to post in a seperate thread as I think it's a decent story about my oldest silver coin find thus far....
Well, I got my 10" tornado today and my bulgin mini-buccaneers from mouser. Unfortunately the socket side inserts are back ordered. Everyone was out of them, so I'll wait patiently. I forgot to order stress relief thingies, so at least I have time for that now. The coil sticky was VERY helpful as well. I'll probably be returning to it for referal when I start cutting and splicing.
Critterhunter
New member
I just stuck a bunch more links in the coil sticky for wiring waterproof plugs to the coil cable and such. Those plugs you are using I know I posted at least two how-to links for too, so that should help. Some of those threads with that plug should have some good pictures and maybe even a how-to video or two.