Question about ACE 250 (long winded version)

[indian40]

Hello, I have been having a blast with my Ace 250 and never had any problems recovering coins etc. I went to a local park this morning that I have had good luck at before. I was looking forward to easy digging due to due to a rather heavy rainfall the last couple of days. The grass still had alot of heavy dew on it, which in the past has never seemed to affect my coil. As soon as I started swinging the area (in the coin mode) the detector went crazy with the coin chime constantly.

I thought maybe I was around a buried wire or something so I moved to a different area and it did the same thing . I dried the coil off and did a "bench type" test using a nickel and a dime and it worked fine with appropriate tones.

Thinking about a post I seen here on T.Q, a week or two ago I started wondering if the coil had a scrape or nicked area and it was being affected by the wetness of the grass. The last time I had the detector out was last week at a friends house in his gravel driveway looking for a lost sandblaster part.

I was trying to been careful as I could to keep from scaping the coil to much on the white rock. Sometimes that was hard to do. I apparently caused a couple of nicks/ gouges that have penetrated the plastic coating.

Now here is my question! Does this plastic coating that is on the coil head need to be constantly checked and repaired? (100 % waterproof) Will this problem only show up when the grass is wet. I guess I need to get a plastic cover or spray something on it? Thanks for any help in advance ...Kevin (indian40)

[pris]

I'm not sure why the wet grass is making your MD go crazy, but I, like you, didn't get a coil cover right away. I bought one last month and I feel so much more secure. It's so cheap that you really can't afford NOT to buy one. How deep are the nicks? Also, did you try to turn down the sensitivity?

[PAPPY]

If your coil has holes ( or has been cut through ) the wetness WILL effect it's operation. The coil is completly waterproof as long as it has not been cut completly through.....YOU NEED TO INVEST IN A COIL COVER...Very cheap and I would not be without one myself...Our sponsors will be more than glad to help you with your coil cover.

[indian40]

I do remember Pris posts talking about the coil cover deal. I bought the detector pre T.Q. and to be honest I seen the covers on the shelf at the jewelry shop where I purchased the detector and thought it was some kind of storage type protector for the coil.

The shop owner made no mention of the fact that I might need one. I learned that I need to buy from someone who actually uses them instead of just selling them. I should have figured that out when I asked the guy if he detected and he said no. If I remember correctly, this cover was sort of a thin plastic mold of the coil itself.

I think that moisture could still get in side from the top when swinging through wet grass. So won't I need to fix the possibe problem then try the cover?

Like I mentioned earlier I have never abused the coil however there is a couple of noticeable scape penetrations in the plastic protectant..thanks .......Kevin...indian40

[pris]

Hey Kevin, maybe if you can take a photograph of the scrapes / cuts someone will be able to tell you if it's something that is affecting your coil and what can be done... Just a thought. I hope it's an easy fix.

[indian40]

Good idea pris however, I do not own a digital camera. I do know that after checking the coil out closer I found two nicks/gouges in the plastic coating about half the size of a pencil lead.

The only reason I even "suspicioned" that the wet grass was effecting the coil was due to the previous posts on T.Q talking about preventing coil head damage.

I also know that that wet grass never affected my coil prior to my gravel driveway hunt for a lost sandblaster part at my friends house.

T.Q is it is a constant learning experience for me! Thanks for everyones help........... indian40

[Jobo]

Personally I would never use a detector without a scuff cover to protect the coil. The first is the obvious reason, it protects the coil from damage and the second, it shows the detector has been looked after if you go to sell it (which we do here often !!)
Your problem could also be the slight ingress of water into the coil head where the cable joins the coil, especially if you were working over wet ground.
We have had so much rain here recently that it may be an idea to turn to an underwater machine !!
Iv'e just bought an Ace 250 as a back up machine for beaches only and to take abroad (assuming it gets past airport security - now a problem)

[indian40]

Thanks Jobo I will check that connection. I will also need to get a scuff guard. .....

[John's Detectors]

Hi Indian, I was hesitant to reply but I was thinking since Garrett is covering their coils with the Rhino Tough material that you maybe could go to a local Rhino Tough dealer and have him respray the areas that have dings and nicks. But I don't know if the coilcover would fit then. Might be worth a try. But coilcovers are very cheap and I use them always. I wish you the best and hope you can get your problem solved. God Bless Indian.

John Tomlinson,CET P=VI
John's Detectors
Blackwell,Tx.
Best Little Detector Shop in Texas!

[indian40]

Thanks John and all others for your suggestions!......indian40