Excal: Recargable batteries don't work in alkaline battery pod? Battery ideas??

SweetCorn · May 19, 2017

I ordered a set of the lithium batteries with the charger and an extra battery pod (factory pod from Minelab). The pod states on the side that it's not for diving, is for wading only, waterproof to only 10 ft (I can sorta deal with this) and to not use re-chargeable batteries in it (this however, really sucks). This pretty much ruins my plan for a backup battery system.

I want to use the lithium batteries for trips when I can't get my machine charged quite so quickly. How are others swapping out batteries?? The thought of using like 8 alkaline batteries in any situation but an absolute power emergency doesn't appeal to me.

Also, my machine is under warranty for 3 or 4 more months, so if I use this pod and it voids my warranty, I don't think I want that route (right now at least). Thoughts?

RobRieman · May 20, 2017

It won't hurt anything at all. Standard warranty procedure for any electronic item. There's no way they would ever know anyway.

ChampFerguson/TN · May 21, 2017

Seems like lots of hi$ electronics say no rechargables (and I usually comply) but it also seems to me that a hi$ electronic item should have a simple voltage limiter built into it.

cudamark · May 21, 2017

I think it's more the difference in the pods. For some reason, the rechargeable pod and the alkaline pod have a different depth rating. Maybe different plastic? :dontknow:

They might be worried it wouldn't hold pressure should an aftermarket battery cause some sort of gas buildup or expansion? I've been using the RNB batteries with great success......but only in the rechargeable pod in the Excalibur. I haven't tried it yet in the alkaline pod.

DeepseekerADS · May 21, 2017

I picked up the lithium battery in the middle of last Summer, and the alkaline pod. Used it for more than 20 hours last Summer, and hit the water a couple weeks ago with that battery still on it. Works fine! Still has a very good charge on it! Maybe one of the best purchases I made last year. I go chin deep in the water with it, don't dive with it, but zero problems on this end. Love it!!!

SweetCorn · May 22, 2017

DeepseekerADS said:
I picked up the lithium battery in the middle of last Summer, and the alkaline pod. Used it for more than 20 hours last Summer, and hit the water a couple weeks ago with that battery still on it. Works fine! Still has a very good charge on it! Maybe one of the best purchases I made last year. I go chin deep in the water with it, don't dive with it, but zero problems on this end. Love it!!!

Great to hear. THANKS!!

DeepseekerADS · May 22, 2017

SweetCorn said:
Great to hear. THANKS!!

I bought the battery and pod after I hit the water with my stock battery and it lasted about 2 minutes. There's a thread from more than a year ago as I recall where Treasure_Hunter talked about testing the battery voltage with a meter. I should have tested the battery prior to that hunt, but thought I had enough - think it was something like 12 hours of on time duration prior to recharging? Now I have a backup to avoid instances like that. I'll keep the stock one fully charged and on hand if that ever happens again.