TedinVT

Lots of great comments here and I agree with all of them. I'm still learning the ins and outs of my 800 and feel very comfortable with my ATPro which I've had for several years. That said, I miss the ATPro battery setup and the ability to swap out weak batteries in a few seconds and actually go for many days on a rechargeable set of Eneloops. I am still getting used to the idea that I have to remember to charge my Equinox after every day of detecting. I have a good power bank, but that's not going to help in saltwater and it's one more thing to remember to bring along. The other difference I've noted (other than the Equinox being a hotter machine) is the Equinox has a very sharp pin pointer and it takes a little more skill to zero in on a coin, for example, than the broader ATPro pinpointer at depth. Part of the learning curve. At this point, I plan on keeping my ATPro as a worthy backup machine and for those times I forget to plug my Equinox into the charger and if the Equinox ever needs to go for a repair. Both great machines. Question of the day.... where are the Equinox waterproof headphones now that I have some time on a sweet Gulf of Mexico beach?

Hardware stores sell rubber “corks” of various diameters. I'd take the detector or WM 08 to the store and find one of those corks that is the correct diameter such that you could “screw” it into the jack port enough to seal it until the real cap replacement is available.

Much appreciated, Scott. Big thank you! HH, Ted

Dew, I'd have more faith in the WP headphones forecast if it came from ML. My dealer mentioned the same time frame a couple of weeks ago and when I recently checked back it had changed to 6 to 8 weeks. A call to ML in IL customer service produced no time frame estimate and no word on production either. No surprise there. I hope your dealer is correct. Oh, and check out Tony Eisenhower's latest YT video. He made his own WPs.

Enjoyed the show and getting to know Steve a little better. Very interesting discussions by all the participants.

I understood your question flak. I know some people have run a bead of silicone caulk around the top of the coil cover where it meets the coil. That's what I was referring to in my comment. I should have stated that more clearly in my comment. Sorry for any confusion.

I also do not plan on sealing my 800 coil. I've hunted around rocks at beaches without a coil cover on my ATPro and ended up chipping the edges of the coil. I've also hunted with the coil cover on and had some minor cracks to the coil cover - low cost replacement compared to replacing a leaking coil. Sealing the coil would make replacing it if it is damaged more of a chore. I've seen suggestions of putting marine epoxy on the bottom of the coil to prevent wear. While this may protect the coil's bottom surface it probably won't save the edges from dings. It will also probably prevent proper reinstallation of the coil cover again. I hunt beaches (salt & fresh) as well as land and prefer to use the coil cover for both. FWIW, when hunting in salt water I take the shaft pieces apart and thoroughly wash all the pieces so taking the coil cover off to remove a little sand is a minor inconvenience.

Did some more research.... The Eq will not fit into most generic carry bags due to the height of the control pod. Most generic bags are around 16" wide or less, ruling them out. This means a case with a width at the widest section would have to be 17", or preferably 18" wide. This narrows carry bag choices down to the bag for the CTX. I verified this with ML in Naperville, IL.

Still no accessories page, so I'm wondering what owners are using for a soft, padded carry bag for their Eqs. Most padded bags I've seen aren't wide enough to accommodate the control pod. Any ideas?

Are any Equinox owners seeing the "shaft play" issue where the coil is misaligned with the control head and there is play in the shaft where the control head can be moved left and right? This issue is being reported in another forum: Link deleted since Findmall Forum update broke all old links

Thanks, Dan.

Are the 2 O-rings the only waterproof seal or is there another seal associated with the “trap door” that is held in place with the single screw which is removed to remove the battery? What is the purpose of the black plastic piece with the 2 O-rings that appears to be attached to the battery? Also, curious about the yellow wire.

Then there's the whole “where does the third wire go? (shown in some of the photos of the battery and the down-the-handle photo).

The problem I see if someone decides to change the battery on their own with a third party battery is the wires with the plastic connector on the original battery are more than likely welded onto the original battery terminals. You will need the connector from the original battery to use with the third party battery. The green Panasonic battery doesn't have any wires or connector. Soldering the wires cut off from the original battery to the replacement will likely damage the battery's internal seals in the process because of the heat. Any battery replacement done at home should probably use the battery sold by Minelab to be safe.

Another example of why this forum is so great. The sharing of information, experience and knowledge is so helpful! Thanks, Dan, and the others who share.

More pics and info on Finds Minelab Equinox Forum: Link deleted since Findmall Forum update broke all old links Photo with wires and white connector is looking into the handle where battery connects to control board.

Call the Minelab service center Monday. I believe that's Fort Bedford Metal Detectors in PA or your dealer for some help. I've heard Fort Bedford turns repairs around in just a couple of days. Wishing you the best for a quick repair.

Where is the Minelab shipping statement for the US posted? I see one on a UK forum for Europe shipping on Feb. 19.

Good info, Mike. I appreciate your test and report. Did you by chance try Park 2 and both Field modes?

Consider looking for a small dealer who doesn't have a large internet presence. The big name dealers will be flooded with orders for some time. The lesser known, non-internet dealers are receiving product and they have shorter waiting lists.

Transparency would go a long way toward tamping down the furor and frustration that Minelab has created. I can see no credible reason why Minelab is not keeping the public around the world informed and showing their company in a better light than it is cast in now. They may have some geniuses in their engineering department, but it ends there. Ditto the comment above on accessories.

8:49 am Friday in Mawson Lakes, Australia as I'm typing.

Thanks for hosting the premiere Equinox forum. This is certainly the place where those of us seeking solid information presented in a professional manner turn. This forum stands head and shoulders above the rest. Thanks so much for sharing your valued time and knowledge with us, Steve.

It is Tuesday, January 30, 6:06 am right now in Australia.

Interesting video that adds more info for us to digest. I like the packability and quick assembly. Still looking for some in-the-saltwater video, but that probably won't be possible until the elusive waterproof headphones become available. One question - what material is the lower shaft (coil end) made from? Sounded like all sections are aluminum in the video. Oops, Dew already asked about the shaft. Sorry.