Some Things To Take Note Of With The Algoforce

[phrunt]

13 hours ago, Ndplumr said:

I'm thinking (2) 10,000 mah packs would be ultimate. Keep one in your pocket if you can swing that long. It would be super lightweight, but maybe not balance as well? Hmm I guess I have plenty of time to think about ot lol

If using the Sadie coil or something similar, a 10000 mAh would be brilliant, you'd be swinging a light VLF weight detector with PI Power 🙂

With a bigger coil, a 20000 mAh helps a bit balance it out. So one of each is ideal, either way they're going to last longer than a day's detecting so you don't need two very expensive batteries to last a full long day like the competitor.

[jasong]

I like the power pack method. I have to carry one with me anyways because with my GPS and camera, my phone is down to 10% battery towards the end of the day anyways and needs charged. Usually I need my GPS to get back out of new places, especially in dark. Can just use my detector battery now if I really need to, always there in a pinch.

I'll probably end up going with a large pack just to cover all bases. Keep a spare in my pack, a spare in the RV, and I still haven't spent what 1 ML battery costs, and it'll charge my phone too, and not need bizarre adapters and cords to work. 

If other detectors follow the same path than you can use battery packs for them too. Can use it to recharge a bit of my jumper pack for my ATV and sidexside too in a pinch, for 1 jump. USBC batteries have been on my list of wanted features on new detectors for years, I like it. Hope other manufacturers follow.

[Goldfish]

On 2/7/2024 at 7:56 AM, phrunt said:

So, we've had a lot of positives so far, and well deserved too however, now's the time to point out some other things that need to be known.

As I've talked about in previous posts with it being such a sensitive PI machine it picks up the coil cable, especially with smaller spiral coils, not so much the bundle wound coils like the Sadie.  Generally, this isn't too much of a problem and you only notice it putting down or picking up the detector when it sounds off on the cord moving, however if in bushy or rocky areas that coil cable can get moved around a bit causing false signals.  The supplied Velcro straps will hold the cable in place however not in position, if you want it in a certain spot so it doesn't move plastic clips are a far better option.  

I've managed to find my plastic clips, and fitted one, now my cable is in a much better position than with a strap that allowed it to slip around the shaft, this will help a lot with the coil cable being detected.

I don't know much about the clips, they maybe something designed for another purpose and someone discovered them and packaged them up as a detecting product and sells them off for a good markup, either way this place is where I got mine.  They fit the Algoforce shaft perfectly and come in a pack of 8 clips.

Next, the USB power bank shape can be beneficial too.  The design is quite well thought out with 2 straps that hold it in place, and a rail sliding bar with a hump at the end to hold it there, along with rubber pads on the rail to give some grip.  

You can adjust the length of the rail by loosening a couple of thumb screws with your fingers, expanding it out to fit your battery and locking it in place again, then the little lump at the end helps the battery hold in place.  This lump could probably do with being a little bit bigger, but it can't be too big as the USB ports on the battery bank and right there too so if it were bigger, it may cause some problems with some battery banks.  I found with mine the lump is too small as I've purchased a Belkin 20000 mAH which seems an awesome product, I've always liked Belkin gear, they've been around for decades but its a very rounded battery bank so the lump doesn't do the job as well as it could and my battery bank does tend to move a bit, I'll sort out a solution here, perhaps some sticky Velcro on one of the rubber pads, and on the battery bank to line up and give that little bit more stick, it really wouldn't take much to lock it in tight.

This is the Belkin, if only it had square edges 🙂  I have another battery bank laying around which appears a much better design for a detector.

The one below is another one with more Sqaure edges that holds in a lot easier, with minimal effort.

Solar panel on top.

On the bottom a torch and a little clip, it has very square edges so mounts into the Algoforce more solidly, that clip could potentially be used to lock it in even better, I've not looked into that yet although I doubt it would be needed.    This one also has a rubber housing giving even more grip.  Really with one like this there is absolutely no problem, so something to keep in mind when buying a power bank.

Next up, wireless audio, I've got an MPow atpX LL transmitter, it fits perfectly onto the back of the control pod with some adhesive Velcro on the transmitter and on the detector, I had no problems with this, even in my wild bushy hilly terrain, it held on no problems at all.  The thing I am going to change is the audio cable, I'll get one with right angle connectors on it, that way they don't stick out and I'll be able to use a Velcro strap to hold the cord in place nicely, if I can't find one the right length, I'll just make one, the right angle 3.5mm plugs can be bought at Jaycar and I'd imagine any good electronics parts retailer, or online of course.  

I noticed no extra EMI induced by having the transmitter on the control pod, it appeared to cause no issues at all.

You'll note it has a little rubber cover to put into the socket if you're not using headphones, a great thing to have and can be removed and stored away if you're having headphones or a transmitter in there permanently. 

Next up, the battery holder straps.  Positioning of these is vital to ensuring a good tight fit of your battery, having them tight means the little rail and rubber lump are not near as necessary, and to tighten them I've found this is the best positioning as then the clip is out of the way, if it's in the wrong position it will prevent a tight fit.

Now, the cable from the power bank to the detector itself, it goes up into the handle up plugs into the detector inside the handle using a USB C connector, wise as this is now the standard and remaining that way.  The other end of the supplied cable is USB A, I'd imagine they've done this for compatibility as older power banks won't have USB C but on mine at least it means the cable is offset on the side of the battery bank, making it more exposed to being hit by branches or rocks.  By using the centre USB C port on my power bank I'll be able to route the cable up onto the shaft to keep it out of the way.

This is the USB A plug end on the supplied cable for those unsure what USB A is.

Now, even better there are USB C to USB C cables with a right angle at one end, you only want it at one end as inside the detector pod you need a straight plug, but on the power bank if you plug in a right angle one to the centre USB C port such as on my power bank the cable can be secured so it's well hidden from obstacles hitting it, the right angle cables come in various lengths, I'll work out the exactly length I need and order it today, 25cm should be the right size I think. 

Last but not least, the exposed USB ports on the power bank are going to get dirty, dusty and all sorts of things stuck in them, potentially damaging them or the battery bank, even water from sitting the detector down on wet grass seeing they're right near ground level.  An easy solution to this is little silicone USB port covers you can buy.  I've bought ones for USB A as I'm not going to use those ports and be USB C to USB C. 

 

Amazingly this Belkin battery is going to give me over 20 hours detecting on a charge, probably a few more hours than that.   Makes some other detectors battery sources seem a bit problematic running out so quickly.

On another note, my Sadie just arrived.

These are a few little niggly annoyances or just things it is wise to know about the Algoforce so if you're buying one you can be better prepared.   They're not necessarily faults with the detector but more advice on suitable products to improve it even further.

 

This is really helpful thank you!

[phrunt]

These clips look cool for cables/shafts, the dimensions they've got look like they'd fit the skinny little shaft of the 6000 but maybe a mm or two too small for the Algoforce shaft, however they can do different sizes, would probably have to be someone buying bulk to resell though.  

 

[matt]

9 hours ago, phrunt said:

These clips look cool for cables/shafts, the dimensions they've got look like they'd fit the skinny little shaft of the 6000 but maybe a mm or two too small for the Algoforce shaft, however they can do different sizes, would probably have to be someone buying bulk to resell though.  

 

Similar in concept to the cheap clamps I made. The problem I had was it spinning on the shaft even with the plastic nut until I installed the rubber piece. They will spin and slide unless they can be tightened.

[Yatahaze323]

17 hours ago, jasong said:

I like the power pack method. I have to carry one with me anyways because with my GPS and camera, my phone is down to 10% battery towards the end of the day anyways and needs charged. Usually I need my GPS to get back out of new places, especially in dark. Can just use my detector battery now if I really need to, always there in a pinch.

I'll probably end up going with a large pack just to cover all bases. Keep a spare in my pack, a spare in the RV, and I still haven't spent what 1 ML battery costs, and it'll charge my phone too, and not need bizarre adapters and cords to work. 

If other detectors follow the same path than you can use battery packs for them too. Can use it to recharge a bit of my jumper pack for my ATV and sidexside too in a pinch, for 1 jump. USBC batteries have been on my list of wanted features on new detectors for years, I like it. Hope other manufacturers follow.

For gps consider looking into getting a garmin fenix 7 or epix watch.  They have great built in gps that last the whole day for me, the fenix models even have solar to keep them charged and they can last days without charging.  I upload sites that I plan on detecting to the watch so when I'm out hiking to them I can just check the watch to make sure I'm heading in the right direction.  I've been really happy with mine and rarely use my phone map when I'm out.

[dig4gold]

19 hours ago, phrunt said:

If using the Sadie coil or something similar, a 10000 mAh would be brilliant, you'd be swinging a light VLF weight detector with PI Power 🙂

With a bigger coil, a 20000 mAh helps a bit balance it out. So one of each is ideal, either way they're going to last longer than a day's detecting so you don't need two very expensive batteries to last a full long day like the competitor.

That's a very good point.

Re the cable ties. I think people are really over thinking this but I will add what I have used. Quick & simple but don't tell my wife. I have used her hair ties, but without the metal bit that is in the photo.

[jasong]

Just epoxy one right onto the lower shaft if it needs to stay there anyways. Nothing to lose, always there, never moving. Or, if more powerful detectors+coils going forward require much less cable movement, maybe clips need molded into lower shafts in the future by manufacturers. 

These would be easy to 3d print BTW, if you had the shaft and cable dimensions. I wonder how much cable diameters vary though across brands?

[phrunt]

50 minutes ago, jasong said:

Just epoxy one right onto the lower shaft if it needs to stay there anyways. Nothing to lose, always there, never moving. Or, if more powerful detectors+coils going forward require much less cable movement, maybe clips need molded into lower shafts in the future by manufacturers. 

These would be easy to 3d print BTW, if you had the shaft and cable dimensions. I wonder how much cable diameters vary though across brands?

X-coils have pretty fat cables compared to other brands, more going on in there and they make their own cables.  I've noticed my new NF Sadie cable has twisted wires internally, I wonder if old models of the coil were like that, it would be good to know as then at least there are some possible improvements on a coil that's been around for ever.  I didn't notice the twist in JW's cable the other day, but I wasn't looking for it.  From looking at the mixed brands of coils I have laying around there is a noticeable difference between brands and cable dimensions so any cable mount would need to allow for that.  

The hair idea isn't half but, my Quest Wirefree mate comes with some big tubber band things that can be used to mount it onto things, so perhaps something like that, they're not your usual junk rubber band that snaps, some tougher design things.

Something like this, would fit any shaft, any cable as it rubber so would have grip.  It would have to be good enough quality rubber, something like the rubber @Doc uses on his gear.

It's a nice problem to have a PI that's got the guts to pick up the coil cable. 🙂

[dig4gold]

Or just silicon on the velcro straps & they will always be there & wont move & will fit any cable thickness & most people have these as they often come with a detector or coil.

D4G