Where can I get a replacement Excal charger and adaptor?

[KyleinSac]

Hi all,

I used to come on these boards a couple years ago. I have a Minelab Excal 1000 and I haven't used it in a couple years. Surprisingly I came on the other day but quickly died. I lost the little adapter on the battery and the wall charger and can't seem to find them. Anyone know where I can get these?> Is the battery going to even recharge or should I order a replacement? Thanks!

 

[Buried Crap NJ]

I am betting your going to go two bills if you o Minelab all the way. I would buy a replacement battery (ebay) 49.99 and get a quick charger (Ebay) or any hobby store on line. And make your own adapter from radio shack parts. For about 100 bucks.. First look up quick charger on this site and buy the components to make the charger. See if your battery comes to life.Then proceed.

 

[KyleinSac]

Can you help me a little more with this?

What's the difference between the stock battery pack and the one shown above from EBAY? Does the EBAY one need an adapter to charge it?

 

[Buried Crap NJ]

Yes The adapter is only to match the water proof connection made by Minelab I see that adapter on ebay also its 71 bucks. The original charger that comes with the unit really sucks. That's why you should build your own. Check out all the posted comments on building your own. Check this thread out.
http://www.findmall.com/read.php?21,1444142,1449552#msg-1449552

 

[Neil in West Jersey]

He was very fair on the price. It was a lot less than Minelab was asking. Let me know if you need his info. Send me a PM.

 

[KyleinSac]

I just hit up the local metal detector guy I got my machine from. Charger and adapter about $90 or something. Charged the battery overnight and tried it this morning and it's acting crappy. Won't hold a threshold, acts choppy on my front lawn. Thinking about taking it to another spot and see what it does later. Sucks I wish it was running like it was before. I'm thinking this battery is FUBAR. If so can I just order that battery on EBAY for $49.99 and charge it with the Minelab charger?

 

[KyleinSac]

Still having issues. Threshold won't hold machine goes kinda crazy and it's got choppy signals. Anyone know what the battery voltage should be at normally? Can someone test a good battery for me so I can check mine with a voltmeter? I can't see anything else cause this but the battery.

 

[kered]

My batteries fully charged read about 14v (no load)

is the threshold choppy when stationary or only when you move it, could be too much sens or lots of iron if only when moving, the reason i ask is normally when you have battery problems you get a loud shreek every 30 seconds or so then the threshold rises in volume and is uncontrolable, could also be a dodgy lead if this choppy bit is the detector switching on and off.

 

[KyleinSac]

Thanks for the reply. When I tried it first time off the charger I had the sens up and when I lowered it it was working for a moment then would increase a little and go back down like it was hunting. I couldn't get it to stay steady.
Tried it again later and nothing I do can keep it steady. Sens low, sens high, auto, nothing. Bounces all around like I have metal in front of the coil or something. Really pissing me off. I just spent almost $100 on parts and can't get it going. Next weekend is going to be big so I'd like to get it working again. I'll get my Fluke out and check it and see where I'm at. I can't see anything being wrong with it from sitting so long unless salt got into it or something.
If it is the battery can I just order that green looking pack off EBAY and use the factory charger to charge it? Thanks

 

[KyleinSac]

I'm getting 13.75V right now. Think it's a problem?

 

[KyleinSac]

Just charged it all night and it's at 14.25 this morning. Put it into the machine and still has the issue. Won't hold a tone with the threshold. It trys to then acts like it has metal near it and wigs out. This really sucks.

 

[Critterhunter]

Anything above about 10.5V should work just fine if the Excal has the same voltage regulator as a GT. For sure that voltage shouldn't be a problem at all that you read. It's either one of two things I think. Turn on the machine and then take your hand and start slowly wiggling the coil cable, starting at where it enters the coil and working your way slowly all the way to the control box. Have the headphones on while doing this and keep the sensitivity all the way down or very low, while standing out in the open away from electrical interference. Don't move the coil around on the ground. As you move your hand up the cable and are moving it back and fourth here and there do you notice the noise getting more or less pronounced at a certain point? Then stay there and continue to wiggle to confirm that you have a short in the coil cable.

If that doesn't find the problem then you've probably got bad POTs or some other internal problem with the machine and it'll need to be sent back to Minelab.

 

[Rick(ND)]

If you have a alkaline pack I would put 8 fresh alkaline batteries and try this and see if it make a difference. The reason I say this is I have seen most will use a Multi meter to test the batteries and they will show the right voltage, but the amps are not there to run the detector. This is why you need a actual battery tester that will put a load on the battery to get a good test on the voltage. I have seen it on a GT as it tested good, but when it was in the GT and turned on it wouldn't work right, seen it on 2 Explorers too I had in my shop as the voltage was right, but when in the detector they showed almost dead, replaced them with the alkaline pack and they worked great. This is why I always recommend if I think it is a battery problem to put in fresh alkaline batteries and give it a try before doing anything else, can save you money and time.

 

[Critterhunter]

Rick, that's called surface voltage. Meaning, it will read high but as soon as a load is put on it the voltage sags. The Excal and Sovereign are drawing from memory what....50MA? That's so low that I doubt it's going to be the problem. Not saying you haven't seen it happen but usually surface voltage becomes a problem with devices that put a larger draw on the battery than that, so I'd think the odds are pretty low.

A while back a friend's Excal had a similar issue as his. The threshold was going crazy. Turned out it was an internal problem that Minelab fixed.

 

[Buried Crap NJ]

There one on Ebay 23 hrs to go
http://cgi.ebay.com/Minelab-Wall-Charger-Excalibur-Metal-Detector-/190533210575?pt=LH_DefaultDomain_0&hash=item2c5caa11cf

 

[Rick(ND)]

That is correct it is called surface voltage and it is higher reading when using a multi meter versas a actual battery tester as it puts no load on the battery and read higher than when a load is on it. Metal detectors with probably Minelabs most are a high drain device, not sure on the uA but it is a high drain device, so it may test good on a multi meter, but in the detector it may not or show low shortly after using it.

I mention to double check the battery and try a different one as like i say if it sound and act like a battery problem it is better to check it out with a new battery pack to be sure as I wonder how many detectors get sent in for repair and all it is is a bad battery pack and also why all the company's I know of want the original pack you have been using when sending in a detector. Like I say I have had a few people wanted me to send it for repair and some were only the battery pack that was the problem.
I am sure many are other problems too, but it is easier to do a little simple checking yourself before sending it in and wait for weeks to get it back for something as simple as a battery pack.

Critter i see you are starting to see from your post you are understanding the Sovereign more and more all the time which is great.

 

[kered]

The sovereign only draws arround 50ma on threshold and slightly higher over a target so i would imagine the excalibur is the same, its a low drain amount, especially compared to a light bulb hence the 12 hour ish duration from such a small battery(a torch wouldn't work continuous for that period). If the battery was bad under load it would turn on for a few seconds then die permenently untill switched off, the battery voltage would then bounce back and once switched on would soon die again.

Logic would tell me that being that it is working intermitently(choppy) i would go for the battery connector wire or plug or maybe the coil wire, if it has been stored for a long time with the battery conected the pins will be closed a bit and could make an intermitent conection, or it could be the wire to the plug if maybe some salt water got in there and ate at the conection while in storage. If all this is ok then we are probably looking a a dirty pot, turning them fully one way then the other a few times may clear it as to get switch cleaner into them its a breakdown job.

Checking with new alkalines won't hurt and If you can't rig up some alkalines to test it you could use a 12v car or motor cycle battery and connect it with wires directly to the plug(make sure you get the polarity right) even a 12v transformer if it puts out more than 50ma. You may even have someone in your area that will let you hook up thier battery just for a test. Make sure you wobble the battery connector when doing this test to simulate your swing.

 

[KyleinSac]

Don't have the alkaline pack. What's a good number for Minelab? I called the number I found online for tech support and left a message last week, no return call so far. Lame.

 

[KyleinSac]

I called again and they called back. NO HELP whatsoever. While they are nice on the phone they really can't do anything for you if you have an issue with a machine.
I told him it was at 14 volts on the battery pack and he said all I can do is send it in. Min. $130 to look at it plus parts and it's a 30-45 day wait time..

I'm selling it not worth the time to eff with this thing. Used it like maybe 20 times and it craps out from sitting in my closet? Great machine Minelab...Pissed over here.

 

[Drenthe]

I called again and they called back. NO HELP whatsoever. While they are nice on the phone they really can't do anything for you if you have an issue with a machine.
I told him it was at 14 volts on the battery pack and he said all I can do is send it in. Min. $130 to look at it plus parts and it's a 30-45 day wait time..

I'm selling it not worth the time to eff with this thing. Used it like maybe 20 times and it craps out from sitting in my closet? Great machine Minelab...Pissed over here.

I know your frustrated, but............
If you left the machine sitting with the battery connected for a long period of time you are inviting problems. The biggest one is the battery. It needs to be maintained just like any other battery.
There is lots of help on these forums and I hope you get it figured out. The best advice that I can give you for the battery is to get a Battery Tender or similar product and that battery will last a long time. The factory chargers are crap.
If you choose to sell it, try the classifieds on this forum. It wont last long.