Maximum safe voltage in an older White's XLT.

[Lasivian]

So awhile back I converted a Whites XLT to an external battery pack with 8 D-cell rechargeable alkaline batteries. It worked quite well and got the battery weight out of the detector.

Now i'm moving on to 3.7v 18650 lithium cells in my projects and wanting to convert my detector rig to use them. But i'm not sure how much voltage it can safely handle.

My options are
7.4v
11.1v
14.8v
18.5v

I would of course like to go as high as I could safely go. The battery check screen tops out at 14v, but i'm wondering if anyone knows what the voltage regulator in the detector can handle.

(Probably a question I should pose to Whites support, but I figured someone here might know)

Thanks!

 

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[victhedog]

I would stay below 12v

 

[Twinkletoes]

New batteries start out just below 12 volts. Victhedog is right, don't go above 12 volts. I replace/recharge the batteries when they drops below 9 volts. Hope this helps, Tt

 

[airscapes]

You want higher capacity not voltage.. the machine will run properly on less than 9v Go with the highest Ah 11.1 volt. You might get away with 14.8 or you could fry one of the chips .. Safe is better than sorry..

 

[Lasivian]

You guys are kinda missing my point. The voltage regulator in the electronics *CERTAINLY* can handle over 12v just to be sure that any sudden spikes do not easily damage the hardware.

IE. A $0.44 voltage regulator can handle up to 35v input and step down to 5v output. http://www.mouser.com/search/ProductDetail.aspx?R=0virtualkey0virtualkeyL7805CV I just don't know what voltage regulator is in a Whites XLT. And I would rather go slightly over voltage safely than start out under alkaline voltage.

Hrrm, I guess it's time to just crack open the hardware and look.

 

[Twinkletoes]

You guys are kinda missing my point. The voltage regulator in the electronics *CERTAINLY* can handle over 12v just to be sure that any sudden spikes do not easily damage the hardware.

IE. A $0.44 voltage regulator can handle up to 35v input and step down to 5v output. http://www.mouser.com/search/ProductDetail.aspx?R=0virtualkey0virtualkeyL7805CV I just don't know what voltage regulator is in a Whites XLT. And I would rather go slightly over voltage safely than start out under alkaline voltage.

Hrrm, I guess it's time to just crack open the hardware and look.

Sorry...you might contact White's to see what they say. When you find the answer I'd like to know too. Thanks for posting! Tt

 

[Lasivian]

you might contact White's to see what they say.

I sent them a note, but they probably don't know what to do with it. LOL

I think I might just get a step down converter. This would do it, and be adjustable: DC-DC Adjustable Step-down Power Supply Module Voltage Current LCD Display Shell you could drive that with almost anything and feed a nice steady 12v into the detector.