Carbon Fiber Telescopic Rod For Explorer

[bluemask]

Has anyone mounted the Explorer's control box on a carbon fiber telescopic shaft? The weight and convenience advantages of being telescopic would be obvious. I've seen some telescopic shafts on eBay, but they're for other Minelab models (and other brands).

[Luki]

Ciao, guarda il mio etrac..

Notevoli vantaggi in termini di peso e bilanciamento..

Completamente zainabile in modo rapido

Con batterie al litio 4000mha

Translate :

Hi, check out my Etrac. Significant advantages in terms of weight and balance. Quickly packable. With 4000mAh lithium batteries

 

[bluemask]

Luki your Etrac is awesome!!!  Could you list the materials you used and any assembly precautions you should take? How did you do the battery pack? How much does the Etrac weigh now?

[Luki]

It is mounted on a Deus rod, and the package under the armrest is homemade and inside contains a battery pack (n. 3 18650) for 4000mAh and the headphone jack. The work is perfect, the detector has been working this way for over 8 years and never had any problems. Backpackable with a click. Consider that the Minelab FBS, like all simultaneous multi-frequency detectors such as the Spectra VX3 or V3i, consume a lot of energy and if the batteries drop in voltage, performance and stability also decrease, increasing false signals. Therefore, changing the batteries with lithium is essential in these detectors.

[bluemask]

On 10/20/2025 at 10:13 PM, Luki said:

It is mounted on a Deus rod, and the package under the armrest is homemade and inside contains a battery pack (n. 3 18650) for 4000mAh and the headphone jack. The work is perfect, the detector has been working this way for over 8 years and never had any problems. Backpackable with a click. Consider that the Minelab FBS, like all simultaneous multi-frequency detectors such as the Spectra VX3 or V3i, consume a lot of energy and if the batteries drop in voltage, performance and stability also decrease, increasing false signals. Therefore, changing the batteries with lithium is essential in these detectors.

Did you have any trouble installing the Etrac control box on the Deus shaft? Did you need any pins, screws, or anything else?

[bluemask]

I've finally modified the Explorer II, thanks to the indispensable help of my electronics expert friends Roberto and Mirko, so I want to show it to you. The approach adopted was maximum practicality so that it could be as backpack-friendly as possible. The new handle (made with a 3D printer), which folds by removing a screw, houses the 11.1V 2000mAh 30C 3S rechargeable lithium battery, typical for drones and airsoft. The appropriate modifications were made in the control box by inserting the audio connector and the plate. In terms of weight balance, it's slightly forward, but still very easy to handle.

[Luki]

On 06/01/2021 at 01:52, EL NINO77 said:

Luca.... se vuoi rendere lo Spectra V3I qualcosa di simile all'Mxt pro con la modalità mix a 2 toni relic, allora dovrai adattare il programma Relic o Hi alla modalità mix dello Spectry.... soprattutto per velocità e separazione, così come per una sensibilità e un impatto sufficienti su piccoli oggetti... così come una resistenza sufficiente a condizioni più mineralizzate...

 

Prima di tutto, abituatevi a usare la multifrequenza 3F con TX bost ON... come impostazione multifrequenza standard per Spectra... poi, Spectra ha un'eccellente sensibilità e portata...
Ulteriore regolazione della stabilità del rilevatore risolvendo diversi terreni solo modificando l'impostazione del guadagno RX...

 Ho modificato il programma Hi-pro con modalità mix... in multifrequenza 3F con Tx bost ON... - Guadagno Rx 5-7, banda 10hz o 12,5 hz Filtro di terra, ritardo di recupero 30, Sat a 40, sensibilità All metal 60, sensibilità DS 90-93, audio 2tone, modalità Mix...

Puoi anche usare la frequenza 1F 22,5 kHz con TX bost ON e guadagno Rx 5-6... questa impostazione è molto potente... ma nel caso in cui questa impostazione sia troppo netta per terreni fortemente mineralizzati... allora disattiva TX bost...

 

On 05/12/2025 at 11:21, bluemask said:

Ho finalmente modificato l'Explorer II, grazie all'indispensabile aiuto dei miei amici esperti di elettronica Roberto e Mirko, e voglio mostrarvelo. L'approccio adottato è stato la massima praticità, per renderlo il più possibile trasportabile nello zaino. La nuova maniglia (realizzata con stampante 3D), ripiegabile tramite la rimozione di una vite, ospita la batteria ricaricabile al litio da 11,1V 2000mAh 30C 3S, tipica dei droni e del softair. Le opportune modifiche sono state apportate al control box, inserendo il connettore audio e la piastra. In termini di bilanciamento del peso, è leggermente avanzato, ma comunque molto maneggevole.

Hi, the modification isn't bad.. But I sent you the photos of mine, you should have taken an example.. The biggest problem is that you have the batteries in the handle and they make the metal heavier (it is unbalanced) and what's more inconvenient is that you have the headphone connector on the box and it makes it uncomfortable.. You should have done everything under the armrest.. Look carefully at your modifications..

[EL NINO77]

On 10/17/2025 at 12:43 PM, Luki said:

Ciao, guarda il mio etrac..

Notevoli vantaggi in termini di peso e bilanciamento..

Completamente zainabile in modo rapido

Con batterie al litio 4000mha

Translate :

Hi, check out my Etrac. Significant advantages in terms of weight and balance. Quickly packable. With 4000mAh lithium batteries

 

Perfect tuning adjustment of Etrac...Luki... ..Li-ion batteries under the armrest prove to balance the detector correctly... and it will be more comfortable to use... especially when operating the detector on larger coils...👍..

My last detector modification so far..to a telescopic rod was with the AKA Intronik detector..

[bluemask]

On 07/12/2025 at 20:55, Luki said:

 

Ciao, la modifica non è male.. Però ti ho mandato le foto della mia, avresti dovuto prendere un esempio.. Il problema più grande è che hai le batterie nell'impugnatura e rendono il metallo più pesante (è sbilanciato) e la cosa più scomoda è che hai il connettore delle cuffie sulla scatola e lo rende scomodo.. Avresti dovuto fare tutto sotto il bracciolo.. Guarda attentamente le tue modifiche..

Luki I respect your work, I looked at it carefully, but my idea is different. I wanted the smallest possible size to carry the Explorer in my backpack, and that's what happened. The unbalanced weight? The handle is made with a 3D printer and is very light, the battery weighs 100 grams, so I don't think it's a weight issue... and I'm someone who plays sports and goes to the gym... I use metal detectors like the Fisher CZ3D, which weighs a lot, no problem... For headphones, I don't use wired ones, but the low-latency Bluetooth ones from Quest, with a small transmitter.