Minelab SDC 2300 Field Recharging of "C" Cell Batteries

[Steve Herschbach]

All I can say is the whole battery issue has been somewhat of a non-issue for me. Been car charging for over a month now and I tried my new solar charger this morning. Worked like a champ on a somewhat overcast day, bring close to dead batteries to full charge in less than 3 hours. I am very pleased with that, looks like I have my super remote location solution.

[~LARGO~]

Hi Steve,

 

I will have to take a look at the solar charger set up.  That is incredible that you could charge your batteries in such a short time...  Very much like the lithium ion battery recharge time.  Do you discharge them before you recharge?  And is your inverter part of the process?  I suppose I need to read the particulars on the solar panel.  I will have to look at the Costco offering. 

Thanks again Steve!  It is always great to read of your adventures!

 

Gary 

[Steve Herschbach]

Hi Gary,

I just run my batteries in a detector until they go dead, put backup set in detector, and charge depleted set. One of the supposed benefits of NiMH batteries is you are not supposed to have to baby them and I do not.

The Tenergy batteries charge faster than the Minelab supplied batteries.

[~LARGO~]

HI Steve,

I visited Costco today, they didn't have the Goal Zero Nomad 20 solar panel in house.  I checked with Cabelas, they had Goal Zero 13 but no Nomad 20.  I also checked Costco on line, with no success, so it must have been an introductory sale you happened onto, happily...  I was all prepared to by a panel set like your, as it has the 12v. female receptacle.

I visited Finders.com.au in the past couple of days.  Some discussion there about lack of ability to use your own head sets with the 2300, so some enterprising folk will be on that issue right now.  I made up a attachment point for a bungee.  My old hands and shoulders talk to me when I swing a heavy detector very long.  A swing arm is on the horizon as well.

Thanks for the wonderful photos of your trip, they were spectacular!

Best regards and have a safe trip!

Gary

[Reno Chris]

Amazon is an option, but its the $199 price.

[~LARGO~]

Hi Chris,

That may be the way I have to go, unless I can snag one at a Costco showing of the product.

Gary

[Steve Herschbach]

Here we go - compact solar charger for four C cells, only $40

[~LARGO~]

Hello,

I am seeing there are several options for recharging of the SDC 2300 "C" cell batteries, as long as there are at least one or two extra battery sets on hand for the next detecting day.  I know there are questions in peoples minds about how to go about it.  You won't find that subject cussed or discussed in any other forum that I have found, but right here.   :-)  

Rechargeable batteries do take some significant time even with a 115v outlet, if you have it conveniently available, so I know it will take much longer with a solar panel setup.  The question that comes up next for these recharging setups, is how fast can those 4 batteries be recharged with what voltage solar panel?  A 7 volt.  A 12 volt.  A 15 volt.  A 20 volt, etc., with optimal sun exposure, or that absent, a solar battery that can be had for a few extra hundreds of dollars. 

Today I saw a Net Zero 15v panel at Sportsman's Warehouse for $159.00 on sale, problem there is it is wired to hook up to 12v. battery via spring clamps.  Now if it could be rewired, putting a female 12v receptacle on it, one could use it coupled with an inverter for use with the 115v charger that comes with the SDC 2300, but I still don't have any idea how long it would take, for a 15v solar panel to charge the batteries.   Lots of depends on this, and lots depends on that... 

To be brazenly honest, Minelab did no favors to the end user of this detector, by not providing a simpler solution for field recharging of the detectors batteries.  I have a Honda Eu2000i generator which could recharge my batteries very nicely, if I wanted to listen to that nice little generator for however many hours it would take, using that very inexpensive 115v charger that came with the machine, or I can plug in an inverter to my 12v. accessory plug in my truck and charge that way.  

While we are about it, a pigtail adapter for using your own headphones should be in the works by some enterprising soul by now.  I know it has been mentioned on a down under forum, but that topic was buried by hijacking of the thread by locals.  As with any new product, there are always glitches that can be dealt with by enterprising and thoughtful means.  I need to end this grousing here, lest my new 2300 be dealt a remote fatal blow...

I look forward to using my new detecta very soon, I don't believe I will be disappointed with the results!

Gary 

 

 

[Ken Walls]

I totally agree with this. I am sure Minelab figured people would just take some backup alkaline batteries in the field with them. But there still needs to be a better way to recharge them in the field, and it should be in the package. 

I can only wonder how long those solar panels will take to recharge these batteries, mine take all day plugged into a wall outlet.

Still a great detector.