Metal Detector Repairs

[GaryO]

Just wondering if anyone here does metal detector repairs on the side or may be able to recommend someone.
My friend has a Minelab xt1800 that is playing up . It is constantly sounding eractic noises while just sitting there , with or without the coil. I understand it's an older machine but it's all he can afford at the moment and also worthless if he wants to sell it . I think he tried minelab but they were either to expensive or wouldnt repair it due to its age.

Thanks.

 

[grubstake]

I suggest you contact forum member/sponsor, AngerManagement (Mark): https://www.prospectingaustralia.com/forum/viewtopic.php?id=8525

 

[GaryO]

Thanks Grub , I will get in touch with him and see how I go . Prefer somewhere closer to home if possible to avoid the posting and payment issues. Be good to drop of and pick up with cash in hand sorta thing .

 

[Guest]

Another option is Phil from the Gold Mining Centre, SA who was the Australian Garrett dealer for a
very long time who is expereinced at electronics.

 

[GaryO]

Ty wolf , the machines still like brand new so its a shame to just chuck it out . Even if it costs him $150 he can at least sell it working for 3 or 400 if he wanted to upgrade . But they weren't a bad machine really with the 3 frequencies and auto ground balance , and will still find gold.

 

[GaryO]

Ive made a few contacts with some options to follow up thanks to everyones replies. Phil from the mining centre phoned me with some tips to try first , super helpful bloke Hopefully the old machine will live on to search another day.

 

[PhaseTech]

It could potentially just be an old battery that's not getting to the required voltage, assuming you are using the rechargeable pack, and not fresh alkalines. Or a fault with the coil.

Anyway, if your mate gets it sorted and thinks he needs a new battery I've made up some lightweight NiMH packs, of a higher capacity than the original ones. These are the plug in style as used on the earlier XT17000, Goldstriker and early Musketeer & Sovereigns. The later spring contact style works fine as long as your battery door still grips. Very easy to convert a spring style control box to accept the plug in style battery. Here's some pics:

 

[GaryO]

Actually I did mention the battery pack to him , not only for the xt but we both have sovereigns.
Whats a ball park cost to get this mod done ?

Ps , with the xt im looking into the coil as the fault at this stage , just need 5 mins to have a play with it.

 

[PhaseTech]

It's a pretty straight forward conversion, I'd do it for $35 per control box. The battery packs are $70 each.
I'm in Adelaide, so postage may be your biggest killer.

If you're handy with a soldering iron and you wanted to tackle it your self, I could supply the battery pack and the extra plug required.

Let me know if you're interested.

 

[GaryO]

Definitely interested , ill get back to you as soon as the XT is sorted. How do u charge the pack by the way , does it come with a charger.

 

[PhaseTech]

You can use the standard chargers. Current Excalibur chargers are the same.

 

[GaryO]

Another option is Phil from the Gold Mining Centre, SA who was the Australian Garrett dealer for a
very long time who is expereinced at electronics.

Just some feed back .
Phil was fairly certain it was the coil lead connection , so I finally got around to re wiring the plug. I can now say its working perfectly again , pretty glad its going as my mate was going to offload it for $80 for parts. So it pays to try a few simple things first

 

[Diamo gold]

Ok people here is where I'm at , took the old girl ( xt 1700 extra tracker ) to a local electronic shop for him to try and fix the problem ! A bit of back ground info for you - last time used perfect always cleaned and kept dry . Went to turn it on a while back and nothing ! The electronics bloke checked everything and told me everything is all good , power getting throu to all the places it should , switches and controls all good , connections all good , batteries charged . He said water might have got in but I've ruled that out . And yes I did post a while ago requesting info on where I may be able to take it to get repaired but didn't have many suggestions apart from some place in ballarat ! If need be ballarat it is but would like to hear back from members with possible causes that experienced users might know of or somewhere closer to home that I could take it to be looked at ? I'm in the northern burbs of melbourne . Any tips and advise will be welcomed .
Cheers for now
Diamo gold

 

[Diamo gold]

Quick update
Just rang miners den and they can send it to there repair techs in bendigo !
I'm just wondering if the price they will charge would be worth it considering she is an older unit ?
Good news they have the gm 1000 in stock so I'll be going to grab one very soon !

 

[GaryO]

Just a suggestion ,have you tried it with headphones and not just the speaker ? Sometimes the switch in the headphone jack can stick and doesnt switch over to speaker mode and the unit will sound as though it doesnt work.
Gaz

 

[Firey10_0]

I'm sorry for hijacking this post, but I'm new to this forum and was wondering how to write my first new post. Any advice would be greatly appreciated. PS. I have an ft16000 which I think is the model before yours. Its a nice machine and detects well. Be worth fixing yours as a backup if nothing else.
Thanks in advance

 

[Northeast]

Diamo - I not familiar with your detector but I'm wondering if is the speaker as well. It may be working but you're just not hearing anything.

Firey10_0 - you have just done your first post If you mean start a thread, suggest going into the Introduction section and over to the right is says Start new Topic. Click on that and tell us a bit about yourself :Y:

 

[Diamo gold]

Yeah I tried head phones as that was my first thought but no go ! It's really giving me the shits as I'm not keen on retiring her yet !
I would send it of to the techs at bendigo but don't want that heart attack when I get the invoice . Ha ha
If you can think of anymore scenarios I'll tick them off as I receive them .
Thanks again guys

 

[Occasional_panner]

Have you tried another coil?

 

[Diamo gold]

Have you tried another coil?

No I haven't , the unit should still make a sound even if the coil is dodgy shouldn't it ???