Water in the control box!!!

[flyboy5]

Went out today, for the first 5 mins all was well, then disaster struck, put the machine down on the sand to recover a target and a wave lapped up and the control box was full of water!! I am very 'methodical' about this as i have read Clive's book and it warns you about a proper seal. Why would mine get water in it when there was a proper seal (i never hunt in water, just black / wet sand)

The machine, now only produces a high pitched whine, and it wont respond to metallic targets when passed over the coil, the pulse delay will not work, nor will the battery tester facility

I have completely dried the electrics with a hair drier on low heat - no more water in the box or the PCB

Does any tech guru's know if this is fried? this is the 2nd time i have used it and its 4 months old (purchased in the UK)

Thanks for the help, i'm at my wits end

Steve

 

[burlbark]

Went out today, for the first 5 mins all was well, then disaster struck, put the machine down on the sand to recover a target and a wave lapped up and the control box was full of water!! I am very 'methodical' about this as i have read Clive's book and it warns you about a proper seal. Why would mine get water in it when there was a proper seal (i never hunt in water, just black / wet sand)

The machine, now only produces a high pitched whine, and it wont respond to metallic targets when passed over the coil, the pulse delay will not work, nor will the battery tester facility

I have completely dried the electrics with a hair drier on low heat - no more water in the box or the PCB

Does any tech guru's know if this is fried? this is the 2nd time i have used it and its 4 months old (purchased in the UK)

Thanks for the help, i'm at my wits end

Steve

Pull the batteries out asap.....

Then you must rinse it under fresh water, distilled preferred. You must rinse all the salt away.

Then you can try to dry it with a hair dryer and let it sit out, then dry it again, and dry it again.

You may have fried it not rinsing the salt away. Or it may have fried as soon as it happened.

 

[flyboy5]

Just tried it again this morning and it's still the same, sent an email to Whites in the uk so hopefully something will get sorted

 

[Neil]

I just ordered the dual field(I think thats the machine your talking about).

Is it hard to tell if the control housing is sealed properly? sounds like yours was yet it still leaked?

 

[S.S.Tupperware]

If it was just lapped buy a wave, it was not sealed at all... was a latch loose? I have had no issues and I usually hunt waist to chest deep.

 

[cjc]

Hi Steve
Ya, i'ts a bit of a pickle. You will note though that my Dual Field book warns specifically against that kind of sit on the sand and "pop it open for a look" type of thing becasue a lot of bad stuff can happen--case in point. Be sure to get some fresh water on the board--use a soft toothbrush, top and bottom. Look for any whitish deposits. Not to do so will start a slow death. The high pitched noise is water in the pots which are slow and hard to dry out. Try: 1/ Sealing in every bit of Sicla Gel you have and leave it for a few days. Or 2/ put some salt in a coffee filter and SECURE it with an elastic. Then put this under the pots and seal it for a few days. You could also try leaving it in bright sunshine for an afternoon (not too hot). Using a hair drier is risky becasue they can be too hot and melt the wires (short) or damage the board. It also won't pull out all of the moisture. Be sure to let the unit cool before you try putting any power though it. (Ever seen a detector on fire? I have). Just keep at the drying process--its slower than you think. Hope that helps.
cjc
clivesgoldpage.com

 

[flyboy5]

Thanks Clive, ironic really, made a mental note to 'watch the seal' and this happens. Not bad though, i posted it of to Whites and they have repaired it and its as good as new, you were right, water in the pots!
Regards
Steve

 

[Mr.Bill]

It will be on the way to you this week.

 

[Furious T]

Sort of a tutorial in the field....glad to hear that it's fixed flyboy.