4500 being very naughty!

Hi there,
Just came back from a trip and on the last day my detector decided it was going to start turning itself off. Made a very sharp woooo sound, then just switched itself off. I could switch it straight back on with no probs, but only got between 5 - 20 minutes then the same thing all day. First time its done this. Any similar experiences, or answers to what this might be would be welcome. I re-checked all the lead and coil connection points and tried someone else's lead, but still the same thing.....Help!

You have a flat battery.cheers bruce

Grandfather Johnson wrote:You have a flat battery.cheers bruce

Thanx Bruce, but have just had the battery rebuilt and it still had plenty of charge...Suz

Perhaps the rebuilt battery is faulty?

Sounds like the battery,worth trying another.

Sounds like a power problem to me as well....

Cheers.

Mike.

is this the first time with this battery.....sounds like a battery issue to me as well.

GDAY SUZZ
definitely a power problem girl !! what battery did ya have rebuilt? how old was it ?
i have a ploblem with my lucky lark battery on my 3500 (4 pin ) fullly charge it lasts about an hour then sh#ts itself . turn it off and start it up again lasts ten minutes and the battery is only 18 mnths old???????? so thinking of sending it back to reeds to have a look at it!!
allways have spare batteries and leads cos once ya out there ya cant come home!!!!!!!!!!!!!!
good scratchin
cheers the speciman

if i had a spare battery, id send it to you without a second thought

GDAY theHOward
ye thats gold GIRL POWER look after each other way to go.
good scratchin (girls)
cheers the speciman

TheH0ward wrote:if i had a spare battery, id send it to you without a second thought

thanx Dee.
and thanx for all your feedback. I have now taken the detector to Reeds and they have tested all the components out. Battery is fine, but may be a faulty on/off switch? Now been sent to minelab and will see what happens. Bugger! I was to go out next Monday on another trip, but will have to wait now...

Hi Suz
Good thing you took it in for a check up.. I had the same problem a few months back and it was a blown diode in the machine. Aprox $90 to fix mine.
Better early rather than being out and spoiling a trip.
Hope all is well ciao

vasilis wrote:Hi Suz
Good thing you took it in for a check up.. I had the same problem a few months back and it was a blown diode in the machine. Aprox $90 to fix mine.
Better early rather than being out and spoiling a trip.
Hope all is well ciao

Hi Vas, good to hear from you! Are you guys heading west this year? would be good to catch up again...
Good to hear (well, not good for you either...) that you had the same problem. ML called me today and hopefully will have it back by Monday and be off Tues or Wed. Yippee! Gold be mine....Suz
Hi Speci, yes us gals have to stick together as we're like hen's teeth (pardon the pun!)...How's the beautiful Pilbara going? Hoping to get up there later in the winter. Up for a scratch if I'm round your way?

It will come back in good order so have a great trip out. Have to talk to the team but hoping for July but not sure yet.
Stay well Suz and good luck.
cheers Vas

iluvthebush wrote:Hi there,
Just came back from a trip and on the last day my detector decided it was going to start turning itself off. Made a very sharp woooo sound, then just switched itself off. I could switch it straight back on with no probs, but only got between 5 - 20 minutes then the same thing all day. First time its done this. Any similar experiences, or answers to what this might be would be welcome. I re-checked all the lead and coil connection points and tried someone else's lead, but still the same thing.....Help!

Gday

I had something like that happen with my 4500 and it was the on/off switch, also if you let dirt build up in the cavity of the switch it can interfere with its operation, its like when you switch it on the toggle does not go all the way to the open position and does not fully engage the contact inside, it engages enough for the machine to work but after awhile the internal contact slips back to the off position and the machine shuts down.

Of course it does not happen all the time either which makes it hard to pinpoint the cause, but now when I clean my machine I use a toothpick and air to blow out the switches, switching them all from one position to another to make sure theres nothing trapped in them.

If this is the problem for you then you might be able to fit rubber water resisitant caps to all your switches, I did this with my Sovereign gt, and the got the switch covers from Jaycar, they look about the same size but I have not be able to get around to trying them.

cheers

stayyerAU

Thanx Stayyer, just heard from minelab and they said they left it on all day and all night and it didn't play up. So this could be the answer. I've been a bit naughty and never cleaned the switch since I've had the machine, so will do from now on. Hope it behaves better this trip out... Suz

good luck on your trip suz
and a note to your detector .... BEHAVE YOURSELF!

iluvthebush wrote:Thanx Stayyer, just heard from minelab and they said they left it on all day and all night and it didn't play up. So this could be the answer. I've been a bit naughty and never cleaned the switch since I've had the machine, so will do from now on. Hope it behaves better this trip out... Suz

Gday

Since its still in the minelab workshop maybe it might be worthwhile to ask them to replace the switch while its there?, might save you a frustrating next trip , and at least if the machine does play up again you have covered that possibility, the switch wont get any better on its own and will possibly play up again.

You know how these things are, it will behave itself at home but the moment you are in the bush or on to the gold it will do its thing and drive you nuts

cheers

stayyerAU

Thanx Dee, I have some severe reprimands in mind if it plays up again. Leaving in the morning for a trip with Eve.
Stayyer - thanx too and yes, they did clean, look at the switch for me. Got it back today so I'm all set to go now and hopefully won't have any further trouble. Have a friend who has a 4500 and she said hers has done the same thing a couple of days, at random in the last couple of years, so maybe just a girl thing? ... Suz