Joe Beechnut OBN

19 hours ago, cjc said:

Great run-down video on the capabiles of this machine for anyone wanting to learn more.  ton of information here--thanks Alexandre!

cjc

 

One thing that makes a difference in this video, is the JBL speaker he is using, the stock head phones will not give the same results. I found the JBL speaker will add a inch or a little more..... Which shows how important having the best audio source is with the AQ. I know this for I used the same JBL speaker for my beach testing, with head phones you will not have the same results.

On 11/25/2022 at 2:30 AM, eclipse said:

A quick question if I may. I have a batch of Excalibur boards marked as 3.3.X. Do you know which version of the Excalibur they correspond to /I or II/? I also have couple of older boards marked as 2.3.X. When I have time I plan to refurbish all these but will see.

3.3X is a Excalibur ll        Early Excal ll's were 3.2X,     I think most of the Blues were 3.2

2.3X and 2.4X, are the Sword models even though I did have one that had a blue stamp that said Rev 1.1 Sovereign, I can't remember for sure which goes with which but they had a Gold, and Aqua , seems there was another?.. AQUA, Black and Red head phones. The Kool about the Swords they marked each, the first had a hand painted Production number.. than they went to a sticker /  label. Some of the early blues had the sticker / label also, than the started the regular printed stickers in the early 2000's and still continue with the Excalibur ll's.

Yes, father time stops for no one, right now I have 7 usable xcals, all from parts collected over the years. I can honestly say I have purchased no new excaliburs in my 14 years of metal detecting, my first two I did buy used, both just under 500.00.

The first picture is a sovereign, the others xcals.

2 hours ago, bklein said:

Thanks OBN!,

Newbie question - does it matter if ground/hot signals are reversed on either the RX or TX coil wires?  I know I have the TX coil going to detector TX and same for RX wiring (and the detector works) but I could have phasing backwards somewhere.

Also that add on circuit you have on yours - is it a tx boost, rx boost, or both?

Wonder if any one’s tried one on the CTX.  When I first got it (years ago) I had to back off on Sensitivity from 30 - now I’m running 30 all the time.

 

Yes, ground / hot must be in the right spot, there are 3 ground eyelets.. If the TX and RX are wrong it will not Pinpoint correct. Center of the coil will not hit on a target in All metal.

I seen this years ago when the 12 x 10 SEF coil came out, someone put out a wiring diagram that was wrong. Me, a Pinpoint hunter picked it off right away. There was no signal in the middle of the coil and a major falsing issue when the coil was used in the water. 

On the afterburner, it is the TX, transmit only. 

2 hours ago, Tony said:

Joe…..I’ve been meaning to ask is coil cable length critical to the functionality of the Excal?

The stock cables on the Excal are crazy long for me because I always shaft mount and don’t need the extra mile or so of cable length !

Thanks

Tony

I cut mine short or install short, there is no gain or lose in performance. I've done straight shots and most with just a few turns at the top of the shaft than into the control Pod..

I asked this question many years ago when I was first starting, and had a Minelab person at KellyCo tell me the coil cable length was tuned to the machine. I asked this same question over on Findmall and was told by, Wirechief and Eric that a few feet difference would not affect performance. And they were correct. 

Pictured is a straight shot

Think I've done close to 50 or 60 repairs, sad is none has every had any problems. Using a better quality cable, maybe a few dollars more has ended any future issues, Something a Million dollar company can't be bothered with?  Mel Parker uses the MEK mix, I switched to a 2 part, slow dry/24 hour Epoxy, sometimes with a black dye added. Never any issues(Since 2016). Also after experimenting with the different ways to repair, I found the straight out of the "fix holder" is the best. Seems if you come out of the side, like pictured in some below.............. the coil / threshold is noisier. 

Listed below are the (2) cables I have used, one is grey, very flexible, never  had a fail. The other is black, I started with that one in 2012, all are still out there, no issues.

. 

Both the Minelab Excalibur and the Fisher AQ are much deeper in All Metal. Both work best when a quality head set (helmet) is used....  in AM.

Using discrimination on either will loose you several inches of depth.

Good save on the gold! 

Go AQ!  

I'm all about the depth, if it can give me 50% (More) power in the saltwater and can match the AQ I'll buy one, but if that 50% is like turning your high beams on in a snow storm ..it's just another steak on the grill..

No way 50% more power to the coil. I have a afterburner for the excalibur and it adds about 17% to the coil and that is  3 to 4 inches more depth. And once I hit the saltwater the machine will go nuts if I don't turn the power down. On the wet sand and dry it is fine. I do know the excalibur is not set up to handle that 17% extra but 50%?  Like all new machines lets set back and give it a year.

In the video you can hear the transmit field change as I turn the burner on...

Out of the 12 or so owners I know of the AQ Limited, only 4 are really happy with it. (Mike, Carolina, TVR and me) I've come to the conclusion it takes a special breed to understand what the machine can do, how to use it and most important.. where to use it... Mike and I use it as a PI, Carolina and TVR use both sides of it, Disc/PI. 

No doubt the AQ is not the perfect machine but I would not sell or trade the (2) I have for anything out there. I love them!

Would I recommend a AQ Limited to anyone.. right now, no.  Take a chance and let them sell thru the 40 or so they have left and see if they offer the new one with the upgraded battery setup. A 3 hour and 20 plus minute battery is Sad. A extra is 200.oo! Ouch! Also, if you plan on using it in moving salt water it may not be the machine for you, on the open beach (wet/dry sand) its at home.

Hope I am right on my answer, I would hate to see this great machine die with only the limited model being made.

Anyone wanting to make a battery for the excalibur this would be the easiest. The 18500 Li-ion 1700 mAh batteries will fit into the stock battery pod. One needs to have 2 next to each other and the other on top. The run time is about 35 hours. Run time for the 18650's with 2200 mAh  3 cell is 57 hours. I would imagine a 6 cell 18650 battery would run easily over 100 hours, but than you have to consider the extra weight of the 3 extra cells. 

Looks great Tony! Very clean design and love the old style Ikelite fittings. I know they use to use them for underwater photo setup. I would bet your battery runs over 50 hours easy. 

I've played with a few batteries for the excalibur. Some I just throw together to test them.. Here is a couple. The smaller battery is 18500 which will fit the excalibur stock Pod.

This is interesting, I'm not sure where this came from but for sure a AQ board. Any thought's?

Looks like one of the PCB's from a machine used by Alexandre or LE Jag, (Denis)

I got the wired version of this, JBL Clip 2. I used it on my AQ, no doubt loud and able to hear thru lots of beach noise. When compared to head phones one can hear more details, and fainter targets. Not sure about the bluetooth model, Wired model you do have to be handy with wiring, I put a coiled cord with the M-8 fitting to fit the AQ. Clip the unit to my chest, to loud for near the ear. (FV)  Full volume I would say to loud for hunting where someone is with in 50/100 yards? They may complain about the noise.

On 7/20/2022 at 10:32 AM, bklein said:

I think for me it is my favorite machine to use but in some locations not always the best machine to use.

Love the photos.

Same here, some places nothing can come close. Over time you learn which to and which not to. 

Picture of early on, I would loved to seen the one with the clear faceplate.

On 7/9/2022 at 10:13 AM, Steve Herschbach said:

If they could only sell 60 out of the projected run of 100 Limiteds, then why continue on? Toms is cutting his losses.

I agree..... 40 x 1500.oo = 60 grand. I would hope they would discount them in order to move on, or is it ......... the end of the road.

2 hours ago, Dan(NM) said:

Thank you very much for your kind words. It's rather easy using Google and Facebook to track people down these days. I've had a couple of class rings that I just could not find the owner. I usually sell them for scrap gold.

Just a heads up if you can't find the owner and decide to melt. Send to Mid-west. The reason is they buy gold out right if you send in less than 3oz. So no matter what "K" you send in they pay you for 12k. And I believe they charge 5% for the service. I found out after a few send in's.. So the melt on 33 grammer is 12k/.500  (Not 10k as stamped)

Also, Great hunt!! Wow!

12 hours ago, bklein said:

I’m anxious to hear more about the Excal mods!  What is an S-amp? Are you boosting the TX or RX? Is there more detail on another site or best to stay here?

TX, I'll post more once I get all finished, in the Minelab section. I would recommend getting a D2 before going this route. And this is not my handy work, a gifted young man several years ago. I'm setting it up for the excalibur and in the water hunting. 

2 hours ago, Carolina said:

So what coil are you talking ? You know I got them all from 18” down to 6” lol.

i suspect I’ll be dead and gone by the time you buy a Deus. Probably be a 
deus lll 🤣. Nobody gunna pry that Excal out your hands!!!

I'm not sure if you have this setup, its a S-Amplifier for the coil which is 10 inch... Has a separate li-ion 12.6 volt battery for power. I get all done I'll post it up. It hits a few inches deeper than the D2, but the D2 has the 9 inch coil. Once it hits the salt water it goes nuts. Hits silver deeper than the "AQ" but not gold. "AQ"  is HOT on gold. 

And hope your around a long time buddy, for it maybe a D3.. 

2 hours ago, Carolina said:

Spank the D2 🙈 Good one Joe. I see you and Mike went out. What did he bring?

Mike has been the AQ every hunt. I've only had the AQ out once this year. 

Pictured ... Last hunt out with the boys, Mike and Joe.. Mike and I had the AQ's and Joe had the CZ20 

4 hours ago, Chase Goldman said:

...and the list just keeps getting longer.  😉 jk

Looking good.  Don't let "spanking" that pesky D2 detract you from more important work, Joe.    

Thanks CS, I'm going to end up getting one of those D2's .. the excalibur with the juiced coil does great on the wetsand but in saltwater.. overloads. Been a fun project.. 

3 hours ago, Steve Herschbach said:

knob corrosion

I've been slacking, I need to get back on this project. Got into a after burner project for the excalibur to spank the D2, it's sucked up all my bench time.

On 6/30/2022 at 10:51 AM, Steve Herschbach said:

Heading into July 2022, still nothing about an updated AQ with redesigned drop in battery system. Even less about the Impulse Gold. 2023 now, if ever?

Nice work Jeff! I can say over the years by testing and comparing I learned way more than just by hunting. You really put a lot of time in to this one!  Thank You!

That's about as close as I may get for now I would imagine.

Just dreaming here......... If I could purchase the Deus2 coil + RC, with a dive shaft or preferably, a stronger one for rough waters..😍

I'll be making my own head phones for sure. 

XP we need a Dive pack / package / kit