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battery packs/types question

M

moonshine

New member
wierd, i put the etrac sealed battery pack in, it measures 10.8 volts, the etrac says full charge...4 bars

i put the 8 cell battery pack in (with eight rechargeable NiMH batteries at about 75% charge) , 10.2 volts, it says flat battery and shuts itself off. i checked and switched a few times to make sure it wasnt a quirk.

i dont get it. Eight 1.2 volt NiMH batteries = 9.6 volts. How can 10.2 volts be flat???

Does the etrac measure something besides voltage? Does it measure them "under load"?

Another strange thing is that the sealed pack says 9.6 volts but the "empty" pack (the one you can put batteries in) says 12 volt.

Any insights?
 
I have the same rechargeable set up as you and no issues at all at any time. Each time I go out I alternate the battery packs and recharge when I'm finished.
 
I will be testing a new Ion- Lithium for my etrac next week, should last about 30 hrs or more and recharge in a hour or so.
 
Couple questions, brocifus:

1) where are you getting lithium-Ion batts for the etrac?

2) Are they AA sized or a complete pack?

Moonshine, what is the rating on the NiMH as far as mAh, maybe the Etrac is looking for some amperage? I use the Sanyo Eneloop exclusively and never have an issue they are a NiMH hybrid and last a very long time with a mAh rating of 2000... could it be your amps are too low???


 
Sounds as though the batteries are not charged properly or you have a bad battery in the bunch. Measuring the battery voltage without being under any load definitely could be the issue.
 
brocifus said:
I will be testing a new Ion- Lithium for my etrac next week, should last about 30 hrs or more and recharge in a hour or so.
Click to expand...

From Page 15 of the E-Trac Manual

WARNING!
 
The key is the voltage mine is not 13 v. I have tested in the whites already and have worked great for almost a year.
 
brocifus,

are they lithium ion batteries or NiMH? I don't recall ever seeing lithium ion batteries in AA format, of so i would be all over them for my camera flashes as well as the metal detectors....do you have a link???
 
i am thinking it only can measure the batteries under load, since the detector is running when it displays battery power remaining. it makes sense (i guess), these rechargeable batteries I have are pretty old. thanks for the responses.
 
kewl thanks brocifus!!
 
If memory serves me correct those rechargeable Minelab packs say 9.6v but when fully charged are more like high 11.9 volts to low 12.2 volts.
I think when you get down to low 10v then they need charging.
I think your rechargeable batts at 10.2 are probably on the low voltage side then or marginal at best. Charge it up and see what the detector does.

I too bought 8 Energizer 2300 ma rechargeable batteries 1.2v and 2 chargers that hold 4 each for 15 min. quick charging last year at Cabella's in Maine while on vacation and used them in my Etrac and they lasted time wise total detecting hours about as long as my 2 factory Minelab rechargeable packs combined do. Thought they would never run down it seemed. As for leaving the Minelab rechargeable packs on longer than 18 hours I did by mistake once for I think 2-3 days and it hurt that pack as it discharges quicker even just sitting around not being used than the other Minelab pack does so I did do some damage to it.
 
Also regular AA batteries are 1.5v not 1.2v like the rechargeables.

1.5v x 8 = 12v

1.2v charged are 1.5v hence 12v total in the pack after charging.

So 10.2v is about flat as 1.2v x 8 = 9.6v Don't want to over discharge rechargeables or you will hurt them.

Alkalines you drain them flat then throw them out so it don't matter.
 
n/t
 
Moonshine- just your some battery bad. 1,2 Vpack or separate rechargeble batteries when charged can be 11,6V, in the minelab sealed pack they use the same rechargeble batteries like you use. some use 1,5V Charging batteries and charged they are 14V or 14V+, Lithium is the best, they are small, light and powerful. if you know how to use it use, but dont mix + with - you can kill etrac, I think etrac like explorer dont have protection for connecting - with +. good luck
 
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