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Batteries
chrischch  
Posted : Sunday, 8 July 2012 1:42:06 PM(UTC)
chrischch

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Has anyone else noticed any difference in the max depth of finds with different batteries? Since changing from the expensive alkalines to rechargables, I just dont seem to be getting the older pennies/silvers etc. I seem to be getting 4 to 5 inches max on target id when I used to get 5 to 6 inches. Ive never come across anything over 6 inches deep other than very large targets. I'm using the Fisher F2.

So I guess my question(s) are:
Whats your max depth? what batteries do you use? What detector?
Fisher Goldbug Pro, Fisher F2, Garrett Propointer.
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oroplata  
Posted : Sunday, 8 July 2012 1:48:46 PM(UTC)
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Interesting theory.

I guess the way to test this would be to have 2 sets of batteries on you, and when you get a ping that seems to be a faint signal, swap out to the rechargables and see if the signal is still there.
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expat  
Posted : Sunday, 8 July 2012 1:50:35 PM(UTC)
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I use the F4 and agree that battery choice makes heaps of difference. The F4 stipulates alkaline only, no rechargeables interestingly.

I usually buy 8 of the 9vs at a time for about 18 bucks or so for duracells, from this guy on trademe and they always turn up the next day, the fastest postage I've encountered.

His trader name is tradememike1



My greatest fear is that when I die my wife will sell my collection for what I told her it cost me.
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chrischch  
Posted : Sunday, 8 July 2012 2:15:35 PM(UTC)
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Thanks guys, I will try a test sometime this week. I do recall seeing something about alkalines only in the manual but heaps of appliances say that and still work fine on rechargables. I shall look up tradememike1 then Expat, cheers for that! Those energisers at the supermarket get bloody expensive after a while!
Fisher Goldbug Pro, Fisher F2, Garrett Propointer.
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number8wire  
Posted : Sunday, 8 July 2012 2:28:26 PM(UTC)
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VERY interesting observation there chrischch. I think I'll give the battery change-out a try in both bench test and field sometime soon. After both bench and field testing with my Garrett Scorpion using 9V Duracell, I seem to get nothing over about 4 inches depth which I know, is not enough for much of the older stuff. I've got access to some so-called industrial 9V batteries (at a price!) so I might try these also and let you guys know how I get on.
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oroplata  
Posted : Sunday, 8 July 2012 2:32:14 PM(UTC)
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Might be worth trying the Nickel-Zinc batteries now starting to appear. Rechargeable but with higher voltage/cell than nicad/NiMH...

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Nickel–zinc_battery

http://www.hobbyking.com...ltage_ready_to_use_.html

Biggest problem right now is finding a suitable charger. Probably best bet would be to build an Arduino NiMH charger and modifying the controller code.

If anyone in CHCH wants to pool an order to reduce shipping costs, I'm keen.

One option for the 9v users might be this...

http://www.alliedfusion....ah-ready-when-you-are-24
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chrischch  
Posted : Sunday, 8 July 2012 3:26:49 PM(UTC)
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Originally Posted by: oroplata Go to Quoted Post

Might be worth trying the Nickel-Zinc batteries now starting to appear. Rechargeable but with higher voltage/cell than nicad/NiMH...

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Nickel–zinc_battery

http://www.hobbyking.com...ltage_ready_to_use_.html

Biggest problem right now is finding a suitable charger. Probably best bet would be to build an Arduino NiMH charger and modifying the controller code.

If anyone in CHCH wants to pool an order to reduce shipping costs, I'm keen.

One option for the 9v users might be this...

http://www.alliedfusion....ah-ready-when-you-are-24



Sounds like a plan! Then i get to combine two of my hobbies....electronics/robotics and fossicking. I have an arduino around here somewhere. played with picaxe quite a bit a wee while ago but havnt done much in ages.
Fisher Goldbug Pro, Fisher F2, Garrett Propointer.
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oroplata  
Posted : Sunday, 8 July 2012 7:58:16 PM(UTC)
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Yes. I wanted to get some pretty pink IMME's while they were going cheap at Amazon for radio hacking purposes http://ossmann.blogspot....t-spectrum-analyzer.html and since I have a buddy who consolidates me Amazon deliveries in California and then send them to me slow post USPS, I ordered an Arduino and a 2x16 char LCD "just in case" I found a use for them. Then promptly stuck them away in a cupboard months ago.

Then a few days ago I happened on this thread http://www.geotech1.com/...s/showthread.php?t=18958 for using one to indicate conductivity for a PI detector. Bam! Got it out of the cupboard and started talking to the Arduino from Ubuntu and getting the hang of it all. I only have one PI detector, the Deepers X5, so looking for the right chips/pins to make it work with that machine.

I think we might have to look at building an Arduino-based PI detector with an IB coil. Then it's robot-mounting time :)
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nzpoohbear40  
Posted : Sunday, 8 July 2012 8:13:57 PM(UTC)
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hummm very strange.....i use two dif rechargable batts in my sons F2 which i am using at the moment and still find targets fairly deep...i never thought to try normal batteries to see if i get deeper...
Chris - Fisher Dealer http://www.puiakisupply.co.nz/
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expat  
Posted : Sunday, 8 July 2012 8:18:23 PM(UTC)
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Here's how to get hold of cheaper AAs..........

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=...GVs0&feature=related



My greatest fear is that when I die my wife will sell my collection for what I told her it cost me.
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under the bedrock  
Posted : Monday, 9 July 2012 9:55:51 PM(UTC)
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i find when using my gold bug when the battrery level gets to one bar it goes completly flat within 5 mins so i start walking back to the car when this happens,im pretty sure it still finds at the same depth when it gets low,however when i use my old garrett (with 3 9 volt batteries) it will go on and on when the level is low.Wether this has anything to do with having 3 batteries or not im not sure.
Recharables give me 3 hours with the GB , in the manual im sure it says 15 hours for a new battery.
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rgmcbrid  
Posted : Friday, 13 July 2012 7:09:13 PM(UTC)
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I use an F75 which takes 4 AA cells. I use rechargeables and they probably last 30+ hours. I forget to recharge them and the detector shows fewer bars and after a couple of days of that the volume goes to nothing, but I never notice a decline in depth. I assume that they are using such a little amount of electricity that it would not matter what kind of battery it came from. Very dry ground seems to reduce depth, but I am not sure if it is really the case or just seems that way.
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chrischch  
Posted : Friday, 13 July 2012 7:37:11 PM(UTC)
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Originally Posted by: rgmcbrid Go to Quoted Post
I use an F75 which takes 4 AA cells. I use rechargeables and they probably last 30+ hours. I forget to recharge them and the detector shows fewer bars and after a couple of days of that the volume goes to nothing, but I never notice a decline in depth. I assume that they are using such a little amount of electricity that it would not matter what kind of battery it came from. Very dry ground seems to reduce depth, but I am not sure if it is really the case or just seems that way.


I think you are correct about the dry ground as when it's damp, the depth seems better. Seems like the moisture content helps in some way. I think there does seem to be some sort of "halo" effect. Could be all in my mind too. :)
Fisher Goldbug Pro, Fisher F2, Garrett Propointer.
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nzpoohbear40  
Posted : Friday, 13 July 2012 8:20:57 PM(UTC)
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wondering what type of rechargable you are useing ..under the bedrock....when i had my goldbug with those cheap orange ones from dick smith i found that i could normally get a good 8 hour day hunt and still a bit the next day befor i had to change the battery.
Chris - Fisher Dealer http://www.puiakisupply.co.nz/
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Apostle40  
Posted : Friday, 13 July 2012 9:24:13 PM(UTC)
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I use Soshine 2500 rechargeables from dealextreme. Work very well.
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under the bedrock  
Posted : Friday, 13 July 2012 9:45:58 PM(UTC)
under the bedrock

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Originally Posted by: nzpoohbear40 Go to Quoted Post
wondering what type of rechargable you are useing ..under the bedrock....when i had my goldbug with those cheap orange ones from dick smith i found that i could normally get a good 8 hour day hunt and still a bit the next day befor i had to change the battery.

could be my charger i think ,its quite old.-:)
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nzpoohbear40  
Posted : Friday, 13 July 2012 9:51:00 PM(UTC)
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oh ok..ya i had that happen with a charger..it got to the point i would charge my batteries and go to a park in walking distance..get there ..hunt a half hour and come home cuz batts are dead..lol

so got a new charger and getting full days again...yaaaaaaaaaa...lol
Chris - Fisher Dealer http://www.puiakisupply.co.nz/
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oroplata  
Posted : Saturday, 2 March 2013 2:42:20 AM(UTC)
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Those of you going out and buying alkaline batteries all the time instead of investing in some NiMH's and a decent charger should have a read of this... :)

http://eznec.com/Amateur...s_1.2_Volt_Batteries.pdf
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simon  
Posted : Saturday, 2 March 2013 8:37:52 AM(UTC)
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hmm, i don't know about less depth depending on rechargable versus non-rechargable batteries?

i use a rechargable type recommended by a friend. $18 bucks each off a guy online in nz but they hold a higher charge than those sold as so called 9volts.

if you investigate the 9 volt are usually only actually 8.4 volts. prob pay to get those that are 9.6 volts. they are also rated at 210 mAh.

cheaper than energizer rechargables that are around $25 each in the shops.

catch is if you use rechargables you will need a spare set as they go flat nearly instantly. that said i can go out of loads of trips with mine and they last ages.
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Lammerlaw  
Posted : Saturday, 2 March 2013 10:04:50 AM(UTC)
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I have been amazed at the rechargeable in my detector as it has lasted two days in the hills! My son got four each for him and me and he imported them from China - they cost very little and arrived here really quickly - a matter of a few days - faster than a lot of stuff sent internally!
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