How long does a metal detector last before.......

[wheatymike]

....... the components start to degrade causing lose of sensativity and depth and overall performance. Just curious. Your thoughts. 5 years 20 years?

 

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[dieselram94]

I don't know about time before degrading, but I bet some only last until a new model comes out

 

[rwd mo]

Most of the components will last forever.however if one has a problem and senses the detector isnt up to par then he has to send it to a repair service,but MOST times a detector will last for 20 or more years without fail UNLESS you would leave it in a hot car or in the hot trunk etc as this will hurt some items on the pegboard of the detector or a phone or a computor etc.

 

[McKinney_5900]

I might worry more about the components put into detectors today compared to 20 years ago. Electronics manufacturers actually design in weak links to generate repair revenue and replacement purchaces, at least they do in entertainment components. With low-bidding by suppliers, detectors might just be as flaky as TVs these days and not last near as long. martin

 

[Keppy]

I might worry more about the components put into detectors today compared to 20 years ago. Electronics manufacturers actually design in weak links to generate repair revenue and replacement purchaces, at least they do in entertainment components. With low-bidding by suppliers, detectors might just be as flaky as TVs these days and not last near as long. martin

He is right here i had a Garrett Freedom two that i used for over 20 years ......and it still worked when i sold it..... BUT as you see the new detectors put out a lot do not work right out of the box...... or after a week or month they are sending them in for repair....

 

[GarretDiggingAz]

I just got a Garrett AT Gold and I'm thinking my speaker jack port or the Garrett headphones are bad. Either that or it spits out a lot of chatter that the speaker can't handle on the unit.
I'm thinking old electronics were built to last. That's when a name stood for something. Now everything is on the cheap. I've even read comments of telling people to get the older detectors for those that are new. Not much to invest, plus you could get a real good unit. Just my two cents. Good luck

 

[jeff of pa]

I don't know about time before degrading, but I bet some only last until a new model comes out

I know mine start looking antique when a new one is released

 

[cudamark]

My first detector (a 42+ year old cheapy POS) doesn't work any more.....don't know why and couldn't care less. The White's Eagle II SL90 I bought new in 1990 works as good now as it did when it was new. Same with my 20+ year old pinpointer and all my other machines. Sure, I've had some broken headphone and coil cords but that's to be expected.....especially with some of the areas I hunt!

 

[augoldminer]

i have a gold master V-sat that is 20+ years old and has been used and baked hot truck in the calif desert to working for 5 years in a wet underground gold mine in northern calif. still works great and is a very good detector.

 

[Keppy]

My Minelab Sovereign GT i have now was made in Ireland.... so it is a keeper..... I am leary of buying any new Minelabs i think they are made in Malaysia....... I have the Garrett AT Pro but i don't feel comfortable with it... And then there is the new Tesoro Outlaw it seems like a lot are having problems with them........So i would say if you can find a older model in any of the top brands that you like.... That would be the way to go...... All these new models have is more bells & whistles............. And the older ones go just as deep and could be deeper than the new one's they put out now..................

 

[bill from lachine]

Just a general observation but the old analog machines pretty much last forever the more modern vlf machines with a micro processer (effectively a miniature computer) the degradation tends to start much sooner.

There's a fellow on the Canadian forum who has a collection of the analog machines and he tracks down stuff from the 1970's used that still work like a charm.

Regards + HH

Bill

 

[mrwilburino]

I have a 40 year old Garrett that works just as good now as it did back then.

 

[Frankn]

Back before 1950, there were some lower quality parts like capacitors that had maybe a 10 life span. they were made of wax and they melted over time. By the late 50 parts were much better quality. Most problems were tubes which lasted about 3 years. After 57 parts were top quality and a properly designed circuit would practically last forever. The transistor reduced the heat level in equipment. Problems started croping up when imported parts came into common use. The integrated units are so compact that they present there own problems. I would say that better than one in a hundred are DOA at the manufacturer. The connectors in these are thinner than a hair so any design problem will cut down on the life span. Oh by the way, few electronic units are repaired. The new imbedded circuit boards are repair by replacement only. Frank

 

[Keppy]

Back before 1950, there were some lower quality parts like capacitors that had maybe a 10 life span. they were made of wax and they melted over time. By the late 50 parts were much better quality. Most problems were tubes which lasted about 3 years. After 57 parts were top quality and a properly designed circuit would practically last forever. The transistor reduced the heat level in equipment. Problems started croping up when imported parts came into common use. The integrated units are so compact that they present there own problems. I would say that better than one in a hundred are DOA at the manufacturer. The connectors in these are thinner than a hair so any design problem will cut down on the life span. Oh by the way, few electronic units are repaired. The new imbedded circuit boards are repair by replacement only. Frank

Your right Frankn they are such crap they have to replace instead of repair.............

 

[Carl-NC]

Electronics manufacturers actually design in weak links to generate repair revenue and replacement purchaces, at least they do in entertainment components.

Sorry, this is nonsense.

Just a general observation but the old analog machines pretty much last forever the more modern vlf machines with a micro processer (effectively a miniature computer) the degradation tends to start much sooner.

Sorry, this is nonsense.

 

[Keppy]

Sorry, this is nonsense.



Sorry, this is nonsense.

I don't think so my older detectors just keep on running ....And my newer ones always have to go back for repairs ....... If we are talking about the same thing ?

 

[reddirtwillie]

My first detector (a 42+ year old cheapy POS) doesn't work any more.....don't know why and couldn't care less. The White's Eagle II SL90 I bought new in 1990 works as good now as it did when it was new. Same with my 20+ year old pinpointer and all my other machines. Sure, I've had some broken headphone and coil cords but that's to be expected.....especially with some of the areas I hunt!

I use the same detector - works great

 

[jimb]

I bought my Compus 77B in 1977 and it still works 100%. Thats 35 years!

 

[lem49]

Ihave a fisher cz7A pro since 2000, it just started acting up, sent it to fisher, and was told that my coil was not sync to the detector, or
something along that line. A new coil, new battery contacts, and recalibration and its as good as new.

Take care of your equipment, and you will get many years out of it...parts fail over time, just like in a car.

 

[GarretDiggingAz]

Speaking of old detectors. My uncle has a minelab he bought in 90's. it's not working now and minelab won't work on it. Does anyone know of a place to find older components to fix problem.
I don't know problem yet, but hopefully will this week