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Detector dropped in beach water - Dropped in sea water

breadman		Posted : Wednesday, 3 October 2012 9:16:50 AM(UTC)
Rank: Gold Flake Groups: Registered Joined: 3/10/2012(UTC) Posts: 24 Location: Auckland Thanks: 16 times Was thanked: 16 time(s) in 8 post(s)		Hi folks....first time here......I have an "older" Minelab, accidently dropped in water at beach yesterday, tried pulling it apart to dry out, unable to....Will it work again? lol Thanks breadman Thought I would add a few pics of the ol' Sovereign...had to make an armrest handle and used a length of dowel....forgot to bring the two items from the States years ago, so made do with some workshop attachments..... Sure am looking forward to the new one......Hopefull @ Christmas time with Son in Law :-) Edited by user Monday, 8 October 2012 10:15:48 PM(UTC) \| Reason: Not specified File Attachment(s): Photo0416.jpg Photo0417.jpg Photo0418.jpg

Lammerlaw		Posted : Wednesday, 3 October 2012 9:56:19 AM(UTC)
Rank: Gold Ingot Groups: Registered Joined: 24/05/2011(UTC) Posts: 1,721 Thanks: 72 times Was thanked: 579 time(s) in 396 post(s)		Was it going when it was dropped into the water - If it wasnt then all good - if it was then I do hpe that you turned it off right away. We have had four detectors completely submerged but all are as good as gold. They didnt go swimming in sea water though. My Garrett Deepseeker got dropped in the river, both my son andmy own Goldbugs got dropped in the river and a flood carried my big Minelab down the creek - all are as good as they ever were! Now I am no expert here but my own suggestion is to flush it out in fresh water - thoroughly - get all salt out of it as the salt will react with the componentry (according to spell check this word doesnt exist but according to me it does so it is still there) over time and bye bye detector gizzards. After you have flushed it out then put it somewhere to dry and alls hould be well; Good luck and hope to see your report as to what you did and whether it is alright or not - personally I think it will be

breadman		Posted : Wednesday, 3 October 2012 10:35:24 AM(UTC)
Rank: Gold Flake Groups: Registered Joined: 3/10/2012(UTC) Posts: 24 Location: Auckland Thanks: 16 times Was thanked: 16 time(s) in 8 post(s)		Thanks...It was going when hit the water, I took it out immediatly, it "died", I took batteries out but was unable to get box apart, undid all the screws I could see, still missing something cause it just doesn't want to come apart, seems like it's "catching/attached" to something...... I'm bout to put all the screws/nuts back in/on and "fire" it up. Trusting for a big :-) lol breadman

Metal Kiwi		Posted : Wednesday, 3 October 2012 10:51:49 AM(UTC)
Rank: Gold Ingot Groups: Registered Joined: 19/06/2011(UTC) Posts: 1,210 Location: Auckland Thanks: 498 times Was thanked: 484 time(s) in 322 post(s)		Originally Posted by: breadman Thanks...It was going when hit the water, I took it out immediatly, it "died", I took batteries out but was unable to get box apart, undid all the screws I could see, still missing something cause it just doesn't want to come apart, seems like it's "catching/attached" to something...... I'm bout to put all the screws/nuts back in/on and "fire" it up. Trusting for a big :-) lol breadman Bad luck there Breadman. If it was mine I think I would put it out in the hot sun to dry out a.s.a.p. and see if it still works. As an alternative to flushing with fresh water a good spray inside with CRC or similar water displacer may do the trick. Also the external coil plug and socket if it has one. MK
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oroplata		Posted : Wednesday, 3 October 2012 11:44:54 AM(UTC)
Rank: Gold Ingot Groups: Registered, Moderators Joined: 16/06/2011(UTC) Posts: 1,040 Location: Christchurch Thanks: 23 times Was thanked: 211 time(s) in 152 post(s)		Yep. Flush out with fresh water ASAP (distilled water if your local water reeks of chlorine) then force dry until completely dry (hair dryer/hot sun) After that, put it in a big ziplock bag with a cupful of rice and put back out in the sun. The rice will suck out any humidity left. Edited by user Wednesday, 3 October 2012 12:31:32 PM(UTC) \| Reason: Not specified
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kiwisouth		Posted : Wednesday, 3 October 2012 10:00:49 PM(UTC)
Rank: Gold Ingot Medals: Groups: Registered Joined: 3/04/2010(UTC) Posts: 326 Location: Blenheim (Renwick) Thanks: 39 times Was thanked: 105 time(s) in 83 post(s)		What model detector is it? If it is a Sovereign, this will save answering later, if not, sorry, have to try something else. Take all the knobs off the front, they should just pull off, unscrew the cable at the back of the housing then push the coupling in towards the box innards. I have used the blade of a small screw driver or knife at the front to help prize the front off, don't stab yourself. As the others have said, fresh water rinse then dry the best you can. Hope all goes well
		Nulli Illigitimi Carborundum
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breadman		Posted : Wednesday, 3 October 2012 10:17:42 PM(UTC)
Rank: Gold Flake Groups: Registered Joined: 3/10/2012(UTC) Posts: 24 Location: Auckland Thanks: 16 times Was thanked: 16 time(s) in 8 post(s)		Thanks kiwisouth...yes it is a Sovereign....I did take the screws out of the back and undid all the "nuts" around the dials/switches, was able to pull somewhat the top portion of the front out but seemed to be sticking on the bottom front......I put it all back together tonight, put the batteries back in and all it did was a little "Bzzz" lol. Maybe I "killed" the rechargable batteries in the water so am trying to recharge overnight and switch back on again in the morning. I would like to get the old machine fired back up again....heading up Far North next week hopefully hit some beaches where never before a metal Detector has been...lol Regards Breadman

creamer		Posted : Thursday, 4 October 2012 7:59:39 AM(UTC)
Rank: Gold Ingot Medals: Groups: Registered Joined: 19/06/2011(UTC) Posts: 2,022 Location: Bay of Islands Thanks: 2289 times Was thanked: 525 time(s) in 391 post(s)		....heading up Far North next week hopefully hit some beaches where never before a metal Detector has been...lol Regards Breadman Hi there Breadman. Headin to my turf. I better get cracking and check my hot spots before you arrive then.. If you are any where near kerikeri give us a call or a PM. .
		Garrett Ace 350 Xpointer www.nzfossickers.co.nz
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hoppy		Posted : Thursday, 4 October 2012 2:43:17 PM(UTC)
Rank: Gold Flake Groups: Registered Joined: 6/09/2010(UTC) Posts: 11 Location: Franklin area Was thanked: 4 time(s) in 3 post(s)		Hope all is well with it. What I do with my machine is have a shoestring tied to the shaft, the other end a clip and that goes on my jeans belt loop. Nearly had the same happen to me once so decided there and then this was the safest way of not dunking it.......not much chop though if you fall over with machine tied to you! Lol.

breadman		Posted : Thursday, 4 October 2012 6:26:03 PM(UTC)
Rank: Gold Flake Groups: Registered Joined: 3/10/2012(UTC) Posts: 24 Location: Auckland Thanks: 16 times Was thanked: 16 time(s) in 8 post(s)		Originally Posted by: breadman Hi folks....first time here......I have an "older" Minelab, accidently dropped in water at beach yesterday, tried pulling it apart to dry out, unable to....Will it work again? lol Thanks breadman Well, just put everything back together again, changed the batteries, found a loose wire, fired up and got a great signal. :-) Thanks for all the support/suggestions. Leeeeet the sun shine...laaaaa la la la lol

kiwisouth		Posted : Thursday, 4 October 2012 10:15:00 PM(UTC)
Rank: Gold Ingot Medals: Groups: Registered Joined: 3/04/2010(UTC) Posts: 326 Location: Blenheim (Renwick) Thanks: 39 times Was thanked: 105 time(s) in 83 post(s)		Well done Breadman. I wish my Sov still worked but it is well past its "Use by" date. I still have it in the garage, can't bear to part with it. I still take it apart from time to time, check all the contacts, put in some new batteries but the only thing it will pick up these days is something the size of a shovel. Any one missing a shovel? I might be able to help, or a car? By the way, there is a little lip behind the front face, if you can get a blade underneath and flick you may be able to get the face over it. At least there is on mine
		Nulli Illigitimi Carborundum
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digger		Posted : Friday, 5 October 2012 12:35:38 AM(UTC)
Rank: Gold Nugget Groups: Registered Joined: 13/09/2012(UTC) Posts: 40 Location: Wellington Thanks: 14 times Was thanked: 3 time(s) in 3 post(s)		Originally Posted by: kiwisouth Well done Breadman. I wish my Sov still worked but it is well past its "Use by" date. I still have it in the garage, can't bear to part with it. I still take it apart from time to time, check all the contacts, put in some new batteries but the only thing it will pick up these days is something the size of a shovel. Any one missing a shovel? I might be able to help, or a car? By the way, there is a little lip behind the front face, if you can get a blade underneath and flick you may be able to get the face over it. At least there is on mine Hey Kiwisouth, have you tried another coil ? I had an old Garret Gtxa that did a similar thing of naff all ability even on full sens. A dealer suggested a new coil. He was right,,, though it cost me about $348 to get the factory to tool up and, make me one.. Still not sure if the detector was worth spending all that money on, but it goes very well now. Might sell it on Sella or take it out beach hunting to help pay for its self lol :) Lol Good luck out there
		Current; (Garrett pinpointer), Fisher, Whites, (Old)Minelab. Previous; GC1009, Bounty Hunter 505, Gta-x 1000, AT-Pro
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kiwisouth		Posted : Friday, 5 October 2012 7:55:45 PM(UTC)
Rank: Gold Ingot Medals: Groups: Registered Joined: 3/04/2010(UTC) Posts: 326 Location: Blenheim (Renwick) Thanks: 39 times Was thanked: 105 time(s) in 83 post(s)		Perhaps I could sell my Quattro, then I might be able to afford a new coil. Have to keep an eye out methinks. All those wasted years in Chch and I was too nervous to hit Hagley Park. I had my Sovereign since 1995 and really only hit the beaches.
		Nulli Illigitimi Carborundum
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