Buying a used detector, have some questions.

[capri_auto]

Hey guys, I'm looking at a used detector, a fisher 1280x. The thing is 20 years old but has a newer 10.5 coil. This is my first detector, do these things wear out? It still works, but do they loose sensitivity? This is a great board with some excellent reads.

Thanks for looking.

[darkkitten2000]

Hi mate,
well, everything wears out. The detector(s) doesn't lose sensitivity and it may work for another 20 years or it will stop working at any time. No one can say. What usually are problems with old electronics are waren out (or corroded/oxidized) connectors and contacts, the electrolytic capacitors might (probably does) need replacement, the potentiometers might be waren out. But in general it's ok, or mignt be with little soldering. I used to have an 30 years old military detector, which still works (the naighboring children are playing with it).

regards,
d.

[darkkitten2000]

P.S. bear in mind that 20 years old cutting each technology cannot be quite compared with today's tech.

d.

[capri_auto]

Thanks for the reply, I will be buying this detector. I figure they still sell it and its a pretty hardy machine. I plan to use it for diving and on land. On land I'll end up digging everything anyway, I read about too many stories of people ignoring signals then deciding to dig anyway only to find a great relic.

[darkkitten2000]

yes, dicriminators can be misleading......

nice hunt,

d.

[sandsifter]

Try to find enough to buy a newer model. possibly a Sov GT or Ex-cal

[capri_auto]

Ended up buying the Fisher Impulse from the tech section. 250 in great condition with a case, extra batt. pack and belt clip shipped to my door, talk about a nice deal. I will be digging lots of trash apparently, and if she breaks I'm all but SOL. But I figure it'll be a good first detector....

[birdman]

I would say its according to your budget. I bought a 1280X off Ebay for 204.00 dollars. Works good. I just can't afford to pay the price for a high end machine. I will not be able to use it for a couple of months