Screaming Infinium LS, in the surf, part 2

G.I.B. · Jun 27, 2012

Woo-hoo, TS Debbie is outta here so I head to the beach with my new coil. A previous discussion suggested that perhaps my DD coil had some salt intrusion, or a bad connector, so I ordered a spanky brand new Mono Coil.

I get into the surf and what do I hear?

BEEEEEEE-WAAAAAAAAAA

It about rips my ears off when the wave breaks over the top of the control box.

So, it's not the coil.It's not the coil connection, that's underwater and no screaming.

It's the top of the box. I've included a little video here, watch towards the end. I know, it's painful to watch, not academy awards, but it shows you what my Infinium LS (oops, scratch the S part) my Infinium L is doing.

I was holding my little underwater camera next to the headphones for audio and showing you when the waves break over. The coil was stationary against the sand.

She's worthless in the surf- again UGH!!!!!!

On my way to the beach- I was so sure this new coil would fix it I sent my Sand Shark to Tesoro to have the head phones repaired. The left side quit working.

OMG... the only water machine I have left working is a ---- dare I say it out loud? Dare I type it's name? ohhhh the inhumanity of it all, if I actually have to dig into the bowls of the closet, and dust off the----- ohhhh this is gonna hurt---- the the Cobra Viper

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Sandman · Jun 27, 2012

I feel for you not having a good water detector in your hands. I have bought my last Garrett with the latest being the ATP. But it might be too hot for my area, but the numbers should lock on. Duct tape covering the meter fixes this. :laughing7:

Ron Lord should be able to help you if you put his name in the subject line.

norbyx · Jun 27, 2012

I have no idea on what it's happening but from what i saw in the video I have an idea. It looks that every time the salt water touches the coil connector. You could try placing the control box in a plastic sealed bag and see if it does the same problem.

G.I.B. · Jun 28, 2012

norbyx said:
I have no idea on what it's happening but from what i saw in the video I have an idea. It looks that every time the salt water touches the coil connector. You could try placing the control box in a plastic sealed bag and see if it does the same problem.

The coil connector is on the bottom of the box, it's submerged, so that rules out the connector. The top connector is for the headphones. I don't see where that could cause a problem.

Putting the control box in a plastic bag is the same as not putting it in the surf, keeping it dry. It has no problems dry, but thanks for the thoughts.

G.I.B. · Jun 28, 2012

Ron Lord

Sandman said:
I feel for you not having a good water detector in your hands. I have bought my last Garrett with the latest being the ATP. But it might be too hot for my area, but the numbers should lock on. Duct tape covering the meter fixes this.
Ron Lord should be able to help you if you put his name in the subject line.

Sandman,

Who is this Ron Lord of which you speak?

Sandman · Jun 28, 2012

Ron Lord is a master of the Infinium LS and posts here often. He has a few videos on Youtube.

Ken~Digs · Jul 2, 2012

G I B ~ I think it's more possible to be the HP connector faulting the circuit than than knob seepage. Maybe Ghost Master or ivanll will show up to help. Ken

ivanll · Jul 4, 2012

I've seen it happen with a loose connection in the coil cable be it above or below water.
Wriggling the coil cable slightly will set it off and wriggling the cable will occur when moving the coil with the control box hip mounted.

ivanll

G.I.B. · Jul 10, 2012

I sent the video to Garrett and so far, they are not talking to me. I was hoping a tech-rep would take a look at it and maybe have a suggestion. Not to be-

So, I took off the knobs and applied dielectric silicone around the knob posts, and then used a waterproofing sealing tape around both the connectors, top and bottom. I'm not sure which it was, but something worked. I went into the surf an it's acting like it's supposed to. My machine is not yelling at me now and is behaving nicely with the wave breaks.

I'm not sure exactly what I did that fixed it, but I'm not complaining right now. I can get back into the surf. I don't think I would attempt diving with it, but for the surf, I can use it again.

Thanks for the help so far with this.

G.I.B. · Jul 18, 2012

Just an update...

Here it is, July 18th and still nothing from Garrett. They did not answer my email whatsoever, don't have any advise for me, they haven't even asked me to send the machine in.

I'm nobody I suppose.

*sigh*

norbyx · Jul 18, 2012

Have you called them on the phone? They seemed pretty responsive when I called them on my pro pointer not working.

Sent from my iPhone using TreasureNet

WaterWalker · Jul 19, 2012

I have been using the Infinium for seven+ years and it also would give a false signal each time the box went under water - both fresh and salt.
Mine was "fixed" by wrapping the coil connector with waterproofing tape. Both the box connector stub and coil wire screw nut had to be covered completely.
I also spoke with a Garrett tech and he had no words of wisdom on the falsing. The connector was water-tight, new o-ring, and not leaking; everyting else worked fine. I put up with the falsing for a couple of years before getting the tape on correctly to cover all the chrome plated areas.
I had the same falsing with each of the coils I have used - 8", 14", eliptical, mono and DD. Strange, but true. I would try the Liquid Tape, but I am not sure about the ease of its removal when I wish to change coils or the interaction with the control box's plastic.

WaterWalker

Sandscoopdan · Jul 25, 2012

I went to the beach this last wkend. I have a garrett sea hunter mark 11 and i bought a brand new 10x14" coil. Every time a wave came by a loud hum sound increased. Do u know how to get rid of that? i tried standard trash elimination and discrete. I set elimination to 1, threshold between 2-3. It is driving me crazy so i just stayed out of the water. This was my first time out since bought this machine. It is a used unit so it's not under warranty. Do i need to adjust different when in water?

Keppy · Jul 25, 2012

G.I.B. said:
Just an update...

Here it is, July 18th and still nothing from Garrett. They did not answer my email whatsoever, don't have any advise for me, they haven't even asked me to send the machine in.

I'm nobody I suppose.

*sigh*

There are times that Garrett will not answer Emails....A lot of times "WHY" i don't know That is not good for us Garrett users............ And does not look good for them..........

Hosensack · Jul 26, 2012

I would call them instead, I can recall maybe two times I have called and not been immediately helped.

Sandscoopdan · Jul 27, 2012

What kind of tape is waterproofing tape?

Adrian SS · Jul 27, 2012

The coil plug/socket and the headphone socket /plug are at different potentials in relation to each other and are electricaly isolated.
The hp plug lock ring does not become connected to the body of the plug until the lock ring is tightened and the plug is all the way into the socket.

if there is any grease or sealing compound on the threads of the plugs then the earth and shield connections are compromised and even though the socket is at the HP end of the ccts random tone changes can be produced when water hits the plug and socket.

Your problem is in the HP connector so make certain that the threads are totally clean from grease or any contamination of any sort.

The fact that covering the plug with sealing tape solved the problem points straight to a bad connection between the HP plug and socket shell or possibly a fault in the HP side of the control box.