Whites Eagle Spectrums VID Meter Going Blank

[piggman1]

Whites Eagle Spectrum's VID Meter Going Blank

Lately my VID meter on my Eagle Spectrum will go blank after using it for awhile. You can't read anything. It doesn't seem to effect the machine, you just don't get any reading. You can turn it off and then back on, and it works again for awhile. It only effects the meter.

 

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[Brush Creek]

Re: Whites Eagle Spectrum's VID Meter Going Blank

My XLT used to do the same thing when i was in the hot sun.
my eagle 2 did it the other day for the first time. it always did it when i would get it out of the car or truck and go detecting when the sun was really beating down.

 

[piggman1]

Re: Whites Eagle Spectrum's VID Meter Going Blank

That's when mine does it, in the bright sun when it is the hottest. My cover I made seems to have cured the problem, and made it easier to read in the sun.

 

[Brush Creek]

Re: Whites Eagle Spectrum's VID Meter Going Blank

Love the cover.

 

[piggman1]

Re: Whites Eagle Spectrum's VID Meter Going Blank

Thanks, it may look funny, but it hasn't blanked out once since I started useing it. I only use it when the sun starts to heat things up. I can see the display better and can still use all the controls.

 

[djabend]

Re: Whites Eagle Spectrum's VID Meter Going Blank

If my XLT ever did that I would call it a loss and buy a DFX.
HH,
Donny

 

[Brush Creek]

Re: Whites Eagle Spectrum's VID Meter Going Blank

next time your in 90 + sun set your dfx down with the sun shining on the screen and see if after a few minutes the screen don't go blank also.

 

[Tin Nugget]

Re: Whites Eagle Spectrum's VID Meter Going Blank

You know what I think. I think it is a result of those alien sports logo'd hex nut looking things you found that nobody can identify. They where left here by aliens and have an adverse effect on our electronics! LOL

I see no one has come up with an answer on those things yet.

 

[yoyo]

Re: Whites Eagle Spectrum's VID Meter Going Blank

my xlt does it too. I got it back out the other day after it has been sitting for a year or two and I thought it would never come on. After cutting it on and off for quite a while, it seemed to get better,but will go back out after some time.

 

[clockdryve]

Old post but I'm sure people will be back with questions. Most of the time the fading and or horizontal lines are caused by an oxidized ribbon wire connection inside the meter case. To open (eagle and xlt spectrum) push up on bottom of meter case opposite and as close to the handle grip as possible... One side at a time - when you can see a little gap - put the aluminum tab that's broken off a soda or beer can into this gap and rock it back and forth and up as high as can go (might leave that pull tab in there and grab another to pry with). Just don't break anything (1/2 - 3/4) up the side is fine. Do the same to the other side..... Work each side continuously until case pops open (YOUR WELCOME) *I had a hell of a time trying to figure out how to open that case too - LOL. Inside you want to take off the wide ribbon wire....remove the wire connector with forceps or needle nose pliers - do not pull on wires or try to open the clips on the splice bar. Now either take a pencil eraser to those pins on the board or use some electronic contact cleaner (be sure cleaner is plastic friendly) I myself just lightly scaped the pins with my pocket knife. Cleaner would probably be best. Be sure to put the ribbon back on in SAME direction as taken off - "one wire will have a red stripe" (did on my Eagle Spectrum). Be SURE you get it set on the pins correctly too. I thought I had it placed correctly but I had no screen output. Took it off and aligned correctly.... No problems now and works fine. Might separate the 2 boards while in there and clean those long pins that connect the seperate boards together too. *This will do NOTHING to help the backlight symptom.... That's actually built into the LCD display itself. Send your detector back to Whites to repair that if you need it. They used a FAULTY part for our displays - and never recalled, so we pay here. If you break it....don't come looking for me Good Luck - wouldn't hurt to take battery out while working on this meter- GENTLY SLIDE BATTERY PACK BACK INTO AN EAGLE (all C cell pack detectors) TO AVOID CONNECTOR ISSUES.

 

[clockdryve]

PS......If you need a couple of the newer broken off "pull tabs" to use as pry tools for the meter case and neither drink soda or beer....

Borrow someone's Fisher or Garret next time your out near the city park

 

[Anduril]

Following-up to ClockDryve's comments:

On most modern electronics, everything is keyed to avoid improper assembly.
In this instance, I would expect the wire harness to have the first wire colored (either left or right), as ClockDryve mentions.
But in addition, if you look closely at the connector shell, it too will be marked somehow to indicate pin-1. (Usually a small dot or triangle, but sometimes a "1'.)
Furthermore, the underside of the circuit board will typically have a SQUARE solder pad to indicate pin-1, and the rest of them will be the normal round pads.

Then again, some things are made in China by the lowest bidder - in which case, all bets are off!
Good luck with your repairs. Sounds like the hardest part is getting the case off!

 

[ks coyote]

Found out whites doesn't carry LCD screens for the Eagle Spectrum anymore and are using modified DFX screens on the XLT's now. Luckily my Spectrum's screen is still working.

 

[wvmountaindigger]

I have experienced the screen issue with my XLT on one occasion and it occurred when I left my XLT in the back of my pick-up in the direct sun. Took it home all worried and the next morning it was back to normal. I have never left it the hot sun in my pick-up bed after that and have never experienced the screen issue again.