Steve Herschbach

This is an update of another post I made but the issue is confusing people, partly because inaccurate information is being posted on another forum. I therefore wanted to hi-light the options again and keep it as simple as possible. The Equinox is fully waterproof or totally submersible out of the box. It can be used in pouring down rain or dropped in the water while wading without fear. It has a built in waterproof speaker and built in wireless. The 1/8” connection for wired headphones has a plug in place that keeps water and sand from getting into the opening, but the jack is sealed internally and no water can get into the pod from here. If the pod is submerged to a foot (for instance) you can no longer hear the external speaker and the wireless can’t transmit from underwater. So all we are talking about here is how to hear an Equinox when the pod is underwater. As long as the pod is at or above the surface the external speaker or wired/wireless headphones or WM08 may be used. It should be obvious that the optional waterproof headphones come with a 1/8” waterproof connection that mates to the waterproof connection on the detector pod. Now you can hear the detector while the pod is submerged. You can also stick your head underwater. Unlike some waterproof detectors you can adjust the volume of the headphones via the volume control on the detector. Some waterproof detectors have no volume control. The waterproof headphones are optional and so if you want to use the Equinox and stick your head underwater, yes, you need an accessory item - the headphones. Minelab Part No. 3011-0372 If you want to wade and stick the pod underwater but not stick your head underwater, you can get the optional Minelab 1/8” to 1/4” adapter cable. This cable has the same 1/8” waterproof fitting on one end as the waterproof headphones and a standard dry land type 1/4” female jack on the other end. Attach the waterproof end the the detector. Keep the 1/4” end out of the water and dry. Like run it up your arm and attach to your shoulder. Now plug any 1/4” style metal detector headphones in and detect with the pod underwater. That is it - all the options you have for sticking the pod underwater and hearing the detector. The WM 08 wireless module that comes with the Equinox 800 has the same special 1/8” female waterproof socket as the detector itself. That means the waterproof headphones and adapter cable above can plug directly into the WM 08. The WM 08 is not waterproof and should not be submerged. The wireless headphones that come with the Equinox 800 are rechargeable. If they go dead while in the field, they come with a cable that has a standard male 1/8” stereo plug on each end. One end plugs into the headphone, the other end plugs into the Equinox directly or the WM08. The connections and headphones are not waterproof. The Equinox 600 comes with a simple set of wired headphones. The 1/8” connector on it is not waterproof nor are the headphones themselves.

And for a $250 detector it probably does well. You do get something for the money spending a little more of it.

Hi Jessse, welcome to the forum! Take your time because there is a lot of Gold Monster reading here.

A couple more....

And for those who have never seen it - Minelab's own Sweet Symphony!

E-gor E-gor Published on Oct 1, 2015 The music without the use of any musical instruments. In this time feature: Metal detector Minelab X-TERRA 705, top of the folk flute and old Russian coins.

Hi dew, please go up seven posts in the thread you are on now... http://www.detectorprospector.com/forum/topic/5139-steve-is-there-a-waterproof-plug-for-the-nox/?do=findComment&comment=54028

Thanks for the report back Jeff. I am always skeptical of detectors with a factory preset and locked ground balance setting for just this reason. Good to know.

I would expect a pulse induction pinpointer to perhaps have more interference issues with other detectors than an induction balance pinpointer. The only way to know for sure is to try them. I will let you know.

Vaquero is a great little detector - you just proved it! Tesoro Vaquero Thread

I sold most of my detectors recently, including the Gold Bug 2, but kept both the Gold Monster and Gold Racer. I can imagine the Gold Kruzer possibly replacing both those detectors with just one waterproof machine - assuming I replace them with anything at all other than the Equinox - that needs to sort out yet. For now the Gold Racer/GM1000 does the trick for me but I will be keeping an eye on the Gold Kruzer.

Well, last thing said was pinpointer shipping the week of Jan 22nd but no shipping notice in my In Box yet. Presumably in worst case land this means units shipping from First Texas by tomorrow (still week of 22nd) to distributors/dealers. Then maybe a week or two yet before mine shows up? My Garrett Carrot is getting nervous! The F-Pulse is completely waterproof to 10 feet and capable of operating in fresh and saltwater. Features: • Pulse Induction • Beep, vibrate or both • Lost mode alarm • Single button operation • 3 sensitivity levels • Proportional response • Retune • Adjustable LED light • Auto shutdown • 2-AA batteries (not included) • Belt holster included • 2-year warranty • Constructed from special abrasion-resistant materials (won’t wear through like other pinpointers) MSRP: $149.00 MAP: $129.00

Steve Novakovich Joins Garrett Metal Detectors as CEO Garland, Texas (January 19, 2018) — Garrett Metal Detectors, a worldwide leading manufacturer of security, sport, and countermine metal detection products, has announced that Steve Novakovich has joined the company as their new Chief Executive Officer. “We felt that it was the right time to add to Garrett’s management team,” said Eleanor Garrett, the current President of Garrett Metal Detectors. In 1964, Mrs. Garrett co-founded the company from her Garland, Texas home with her late husband, Charles Garrett, who was considered to be one of the pioneers of hobby metal detecting. “Steve Novakovich brings more than 30 years of experience to us from all facets of the business world,” Mrs. Garrett added. “Adding Steve to our existing core management team, I feel secure that the company Charles and I founded 54 years ago will remain strong for its next 54 years.” Novakovich comes to Garrett from his former role as President and CEO of Graco Supply Company, an aerospace chemical distributor. He has also worked in the oil and gas industry as an engineer, and in various management roles with companies that include Exxon Company USA, Texas Instruments, and Texas Air Composites. Novakovich has two Masters degrees from the Massachusetts Institute of Technology, and he earned his Bachelor of Science in Mechanical Engineering and Economics from Northwestern University in Evanston, Illinois. “Steve Novakovich brings a wealth of knowledge and experience to the Garrett team in sales, distribution, accounting, manufacturing, and engineering departments,” said Vaughan Garrett, Senior Vice President of Marketing and Sales. Bob Podhrasky, Senior Vice President and Chief Operating Officer of Garrett, added, “We look forward to working with Steve to continue the level of customer service and product performance that has made this company so successful.” Garrett Electronics Inc. (dba Garrett Metal Detectors) is a worldwide leader in the metal detection industry. Its comprehensive line of products addresses the needs of the Security, Military and Consumer markets. Garrett maintains its product design, manufacturing, marketing, and service groups at its Garland, Texas facility. Worldwide sales are supported through a comprehensive network of warehouses and distributors. Most recently, Garrett metal detectors are being deployed to help protect numerous professional, collegiate, and international sporting venues, and have been selected for use in major international sporting venues that include the Olympic Games, the Pan Am Games, and FIFA World Cup soccer. Garrett Metal Detectors, founded in 1964 and headquartered in Garland, Texas, has proudly manufactured its complete line of metal detection products for more than five decades in the United States. For a complete listing of Garrett Metal Detectors’ products and services, visit www.garrett.com. Contact: Steve Moore 972.494.6155 x 762 steve.moore@garrett.com

Yes, kind of a sign of how desperate the trolls are. The entire thing is fake and there is no exploding battery issue. The funny/sad part is the picture in question being circulated originated with me! A person asked about how strong the handle is on the Equinox, and so I grabbed a screenshot from a video and enlarged it - typical pixelated enlargement. The only intent was to show the handle from the side. Come to find out somebody took that photo, then created a story around it as being the pod bubbling from battery overheat or some such stupid thing. The battery is in the handle for starters. Anyway, here is the link in question with the screen capture that started it all. The screen capture is from the video posted just a couple posts up on the same thread, and here is the full screen capture showing the source in the video at the 0:47 mark. Anyone watching the video can see the detector is not bursting into flames!

My VLF detectors are rapidly sorting themselves out and I am satisfied I am doing about as good in that regard as can be done. There really is only one area of metal detecting left that is bugging me. 2019 Update: The Manta is now called the Fisher Impulse AQ - see Fisher Impulse AQ Detector Data & User Reviews The Garrett Infinium was the first waterproof ground balancing PI and not a bad first effort. White's TDI might have improved on it but White's never did a waterproof TDI. Surprisingly, Minelab has never done what I would consider to be a true waterproof saltwater beach hunting PI. The SDC 2300 really is a prospecting detector first and second. I finally ended up with the Garrett ATX, which currently sets the bar for a waterproof ground balancing beach and water detector. Yet the ATX housing was designed more for military use than beach detecting. The coils are overly expensive due to an integrated rod design. Worse, the detector weighs in at 6.9 lbs and cannot be hip or chest mounted. In a sign of faith I am going to sell my ATX and wait on whatever First Texas has in the works. As Rick Kempf posted here previously, First Texas hired Alexandre Tartar and purchased the rights to produce a version of his Manta PI Project. And to quote First Texas engineer Carl Moreland from this thread "Yes, we've hired Alexandre. Yes, we are working on PI. I was personally working on PI before hiring Alexandre, but now we are seriously working on PI." Fisher has not made a PI since the Fisher Impulse was discontinued back around 2013. This collaboration with Alexandre Tartar gives me hope that First Texas can get something out in the next year or two. My bar is low - a waterproof ground balancing PI at least as good as the ATX in a more ergonomic package. Seems fairly doable. Another company that may come out of nowhere all the sudden is Nokta/Makro as we know they are working on a PI. I don't know, but I think this is First Texas' game to lose at this point. So there you go, ATX going up for sale and a spot held open for whatever company can meet the challenge. Good luck First Texas - I am rooting for you!

Funny thing how the BBS patent expired years ago, no third party copies.... yet. Here is the best and only actual Gold Kruzer photo I have found so far:

Welcome to the forum! This recent thread has a person just starting out detecting gold finding his first nuggets, so it may help inspire you.

My V3i, ATX, Gold Racer, and Gold Monster all run off AA batteries. Due to that all my flashlights, GPS, etc are AA also. I have a couple dozen high quality NiMH AA batteries ready to go right now I am sure. I never travel without two detectors as a rule so I always have AA batteries around. Therefore my interest in a gadget that might let me have yet another use for those batteries in a pinch. I have a small fold up solar panel that runs any charger that has a 12V cigarette type adapter. My panel has the 12V receptacle and I plug it in. I only ever used it two times I can remember though. Worked great.

You can charge the detector from an external source, or you can run it while attached to an external source. You cannot do both at the same time. So if the detector is attached to a power bank and the detector is turned off, it will charge the detector. If the detector is turned on when attached to an external battery source, it will run off that source instead of the built in battery. Power packs and runtimes are being discussed here

I have a RAVPower 16750mAh External Battery Pack that I have for travel for phones, etc. I did use it once to charge the Equinox while on the road and it barely put a dent in the capacity of the power pack. I also have a couple smaller emergency packs. So I am in theory already set in that regard but the idea of using simple AA batteries was appealing. Just exploring options and saving you all money in the process!

Yes, ground phase number. There is no Fe3O4 meter or "mineral strength" indicator. Ground phase does not indicate the level of ground mineralization directly, though they are related. GB Numbers = Mineralization?

Hi, I decided to test the Equinox battery and stated run time. The test was simple. Full charge, then let sit in a corner with the threshold turned up to make a continuous but not overly loud tone. The machine was down to a flashing battery indicator at 12 hours and sometime before it hit 12.5 hours the unit went dead. That jives with Minelabs stated battery life of up to 12 hours. However, running the coil over the ground makes the circuit work harder, as can numerous options, like using the external speaker at high volumes, ground tracking, wireless, backlight, etc. that can all contribute to a shorter run time. I will try and load it all up sometime to get the short run time. For now I was extremely pleased to see Equinox match the stated spec of up to 12 hours on a charge.

Good catch - I did not notice that and it could be quite interesting. Underwater detecting without needing headphones could be a killer feature for some people. I am a little surprised that did not get ditched as a feature going to waterproof. Intriguing. I sold most of my detectors recently, but kept both the Gold Monster and Gold Racer. I can imagine the Gold Kruzer possibly replacing both those detectors with just one waterproof machine - assuming I replace them with anything at all. For now the Gold Racer does the trick for me but I will be keeping an eye on the Gold Kruzer.

Yeah, that is the part I am curious about. If that proves to be the case I will use it for parts to make something that holds more AA batteries. It seems like all these are set up for 4 AA batteries max, and 8 would be better. I hear you Chuck but being an old Alaskan I hope for the best and plan for the worst. The Equinox does get a genuine 12 hours on a charge so I am unlikely to need anything like this. The bottom line in this case is the insurance is too cheap to pass on - if it works.

I just ordered one of these as an experiment. In theory I can put regular AA batteries or rechargeable batteries in this power pack, and use it to run the Equinox as an external battery pack in case the internal battery goes dead. The question of course is how long will it power the Equinox depending on the batteries used? I always have a ton of AA batteries around, both alkaline and rechargeable, so this seems like a cheap experiment. Report back later. "This compact, portable USB power bank allows devices to be charged from 4 AA batteries while on the move. Ideal for smartphones, tablet computers and many other devices. • Powered by 4 AA batteries • Features a battery level indicator (green for alkaline and blue for rechargeable) • Power supply: 4 x AA batteries (not supplied) • Output voltage: 5Vdc • Output current: 800mA • Dimensions: 79 x 34 x 34mm • Weight: 40g" EMERGENCY USB BATTERY POWERED POWER BANK