Warranty info

[SusanMN]

Haven’t ordered my Equinox yet but Minelab emailed warranty info to me that gave me pause. The lithium battery is only warrantied for a year but when it needs to be replaced, Minelab says it needs to be done by a authorized service center because doing it yourself could affect the waterproof seal and void the warranty for that. I don’t know how long the battery will really last but having to ship it off every few years seems like a real pain.

 

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[Peyton Manning]

yeah, but it probably only costs like $3

 

[SusanMN]

yeah, but it probably only costs like $3

The cost of shipping to Minelab, paying for service plus part and return shipping is going to cost a heck of a lot more than that. Anyone know Minelab minimum service charge?

 

[detectorben]

4 screws and about 3 minutes to replace the battery yourself. Battery is a common battery easy to get. Another thread had pics and instructions. It should be no problem.

http://www.treasurenet.com/forums/showthread.php?t=569474

 

[SusanMN]

Thanks Detectorben!

 

[Peyton Manning]

sure just ignore me!

 

[smokeythecat]

I think the Minelab warranty is 3 years on the machine and 1 on the battery. I doubt it will go bad before that. If it goes bad after that, you would have the choice of replacing it yourself and resealing the unit, or sending it to them to do it. If the unit does not reseal properly when you do it and moisture or whatever gets in it, you'll probably have to buy another machine because the main unit will be trashed. Now if you detect in dry weather only and not in the water, I'd fix it myself. I've always sent any units I have had back to their representative factories for work, it's only happened twice on units out of warranty I purchased used, and worked out very well. I wouldn't let the battery thing stop you from buying a machine.

 

[Peyton Manning]

I know Smokey, it's my bedtime

 

[smokeythecat]

No, Jeff, you can stay up as late as you want tonight. And can even have milk and cookies.

 

[detectorben]

I think the Minelab warranty is 3 years on the machine and 1 on the battery. I doubt it will go bad before that. If it goes bad after that, you would have the choice of replacing it yourself and resealing the unit, or sending it to them to do it. If the unit does not reseal properly when you do it and moisture or whatever gets in it, you'll probably have to buy another machine because the main unit will be trashed. Now if you detect in dry weather only and not in the water, I'd fix it myself. I've always sent any units I have had back to their representative factories for work, it's only happened twice on units out of warranty I purchased used, and worked out very well. I wouldn't let the battery thing stop you from buying a machine.

Why would it not seal right? It's just a rubber gasket and cover held down by screws. A person with a hand held tool at minelab would tighten those screws down the same way we would at home. As long as it isn't covered in dirt and you don't over tighten screws to the point of cracking the plastic there should be no issues. One could even replace the o-rings for a few extra bucks when replacing the battery just to be safe.

 

[vferrari]

Why would it not seal right? It's just a rubber gasket and cover held down by screws. A person with a hand held tool at minelab would tighten those screws down the same way we would at home. As long as it isn't covered in dirt and you don't over tighten screws to the point of cracking the plastic there should be no issues. One could even replace the o-rings for a few extra bucks when replacing the battery just to be safe.

ML still took the KYA route and mentioned the whole battery sealing thing in their warranty coverage blurb.

 

[vferrari]

Oh and don't forget:

"PERFORMANCE IS EVERYTHING!"

 

[Dan(NM)]

The cost of shipping to Minelab, paying for service plus part and return shipping is going to cost a heck of a lot more than that. Anyone know Minelab minimum service charge?

I had a 3 year old CTX and the battery still was holding an excellent charge, I wouldn't worry about your battery going bad if I were you.

 

[smokeythecat]

I think the battery thing is a non issue. Have never had one of those batteries go bad before it was 5 years old. Some of the batteries in my home security system are now close to 10 years old, and Vferrari is correct, it's a cya thing for Minelab. And just because I can use a screwdriver with great skill, I know a few people who would sincerely put an eye out with one. Some folks are not mechanical, they know who they are and would want to send it back or go to a dealer if the dealer would replace it if they felt uncomfortable. It's just a matter of choice. No biggie.

 

[vferrari]

Smokey - like I said in the other thread I will have already moved on to the Minelab Equinox Hovercraft Detector by the time the battery dies in the 800.

 

[smokeythecat]

Hugh, that's lame. I am SERIOUSLY looking at a ground penetrating radar unit for the fall. And if any dealers are reading this, send me a pm with your sales pitch. For real.

 

[tnsharpshooter]

Smokey - like I said in the other thread I will have already moved on to the Minelab Equinox Hovercraft Detector by the time the battery dies in the 800.

Or the CTX 6060.lol

 

[vferrari]

Hugh, that's lame. I am SERIOUSLY looking at a ground penetrating radar unit for the fall. And if any dealers are reading this, send me a pm with your sales pitch. For real.

Or get a LIDAR Drone survey done of whatever site you are thinking about. Huts will become very visible features on the plot. I know that Montpelier is doing this to map out their property to look for telling landscape features that might indicate former dwelling sites that don't look like anything with just the naked eye.

 

[smokeythecat]

Ground penetrating radar unit. Got cash?

 

[sprailroad]

Aw come on, I'm old and feeble, you guys are worrying me about the battery issue. I'll be brave and buy one anyway.