Problems with your Harbor Freight Cen-tech pinpointer? How to fix em.

[greydigger]

Re: Problems with your Harbor Freight Cen-tech pinpointer? How to fix 'em.

Hey Dogpound - do you have a link to the vibrating motor mod?
I remember the post but cannot find it.
Thanks
Grey

 

[dogpound]

Re: Problems with your Harbor Freight Cen-tech pinpointer? How to fix 'em.

Hey Dogpound - do you have a link to the vibrating motor mod?
I remember the post but cannot find it.
Thanks
Grey

http://forum.treasurenet.com/index.php/topic,178515.0.html

 

[greydigger]

Re: Problems with your Harbor Freight Cen-tech pinpointer? How to fix 'em.

Got it my friend, Thank you.
Grey

 

[Hardscrabble]

Re: Problems with your Harbor Freight Cen-tech pinpointer? How to fix 'em.

Awesome jeep!

 

[Targetseeker]

Toggle switch or momentary - which is better for the modification. Does anyone have the part # for the switch they used? Was checking out the vibrator motor post - is the resister necessary? First post I saw that mentioned using one. Thanks - Targetseeker

 

[scoremaster]

i picked up two of the centecs from hf and so far the one i am using is doing a great job .
and i'm trying to figure out what is going on with all the dirt and such mine came with a nylon pouch that the tip sticks through and covers all but the back corners since the weather has been wet here in western maryland with snow melt and rain i have had to wash the case off each time i've been out but the pointer looks as good as new other than the back corners . but i am still thinking of doing the vib mod to min . and only other thing i have noticed if you try to dig a little with it and get to much pressure on the wand it will set the buzzer off but i haven't had the back off of it yet keeping fingers crossed lol.

thanks and hh,
Scott

 

[circuit323]

I just tapped into the noisemaker wire with the motor wire and it works fine. No resistor

 

[ctrelicman]

boy,i had a brown one.gas guzzler.but loved it.

 

[MT_Joe]

I just modded my centech. I used a tiny vibrator motor from and old cheap cell phone I had laying around. Connected it to the speaker wires. Works great! I also adjusted the pot screw while I was in there, backing it out with the sensitivity switch at about 3/4, until it stopped vibrating. Thanks for the info here!

 

[JCPLTAB]

I had one of these and I found I could fix it pretty good.... BUY A GARRETT PRO POINTER ! You spend a ton of money on a detector then you nickel and dime your pinpointer ! The best investment I have ever made in detecting is my garrett pro , from sand to loam to clay to swamp and salt water this thing works and doesn't complain or die on me ! I don't have to lift my phones to hear it ... it vibrates , I scrape out dirt with it . Just get one it will make you HAPPY... HAPPY.. HAPPY !

 

[issombeituni]

I set up mine with a toggle and took off the led light. Then wrapped that baby up and works perfect

 

[Back-of-the-boat]

I saw one a guy had the other day and he had removed the probe from the unit added about three feet of wire (cable) between the box and the probe so the box stayed on his hip and the probe was all that was in the hole.Do not know all he did to it but thought that was a decent idea he had.

 

[dirtfisher]

I just keep mine in the case that comes with it when I hunt with it. Seems to keep dirt from getting in the switch. Has been working fine for me so far. 👍

 

[RotZorn]

I had one of these and I found I could fix it pretty good.... BUY A GARRETT PRO POINTER ! You spend a ton of money on a detector then you nickel and dime your pinpointer ! The best investment I have ever made in detecting is my garrett pro , from sand to loam to clay to swamp and salt water this thing works and doesn't complain or die on me ! I don't have to lift my phones to hear it ... it vibrates , I scrape out dirt with it . Just get one it will make you HAPPY... HAPPY.. HAPPY !

When you are brand new to the world of MDing this is the problem- you don't know anything and you start doing research on what equipment to buy- this "looks" like a raw deal.

You can buy this just to get started-




Then everyone already in the hobby says you need a pinpointer, and you see this-




Then you wow! Really?!?! This thing almost cost as much as a full size detector? WTF They could come down on this a little, maybe $99.99?!?

It's really a lot to someone brand new to the hobby. I mean it's just a tool to compliment your main piece of equipment and its almost the same price?!?!

Imagine for a moment you've never owned a stereo, you buy one for $200 then are told you "need CD's" but they cost $150 each. Same thing- it just don't seem right.

 

[Sandscoopdan]

Yea, i know what you mean. this hobby is an investment. I bought guitar hangers so I can hang my metal detectors on the wall. Just practice getting good at pinpointing with ur detector and u wont need a pinpointer. The way I see it is that it's kinda like a pizza. You can have it plain with cheese or u can add some toppings. I like a couple of toppings. But not too much, and then just eat it. U know, when I first started into the hobby, I would spend more time thinking about it rather that getting out there and actually using my detector. Sometimes I read something and then I start thinking again. I don't need to think too much. I just need to get outside and have a good time

 

[Golem]

I just bought a Cen-Tech. The problem im finding is that it seems too sensitive. It tells me when metal is present however the range is soo great that I have no idea where exactly - just that its in the vicinity of the hole. If I turn the external pot down it doesn't seem to register anything. Turn it up and it starts sounding as soon I approach the hole. Any thoughts?

 

[justdon]

The problem i have with my cen-tech is if iam out hunting and and it seems the heat and humidity will cause it to beep contiuosly when i press the button.When its cooler it works fine.But since i live in florida.I never got to use it that much.

 

[Hookedondetecting]

The problem i have with my cen-tech is if iam out hunting and and it seems the heat and humidity will cause it to beep contiuosly when i press the button.When its cooler it works fine.But since i live in florida.I never got to use it that much.

The internal potentiometer screw can adjust this somewhat by backing off the sensitivity- I have a the same thing if it gets too hot it buzzes whenever you press the button so it is not useful. Good in the morning but too hot at mid day.

 

[Leopard11]

I drilled a hole in the case, attached a knob to the pot screw so now no matter what I can adjust as needed in the wild.

 

[Golem]

Ah thats a pretty cool idea. I've tried fiddling with the pot. However I've now noticed that if I hold it vertically (point up or point down) it sounds off sustained. Put it horizontal and it stops. It's so consistent that I sometimes think I've bought a spirit level! Anyone experienced this?