Battery Strength (Part 2)....Eric if possible.

[Anonymous]

Eric,
Do you know if there is much depth loss with the Goldquest SS as the battery level reduces towards the low battery alarm, which I think is at 8.3V?
I haven't done any tests in this area.
I find the Goldquest unbelievably economical on batteries. My current set of alkalines (good quality, admittedly) are reading about 10.5v after at least 25 hours of use.
I think your promotional information suggests that 25 hours of use on one set of batteries is about average, but I always get at least 50% more than that <img src="/metal/html/smile.gif" border=0 width=15 height=15 alt=""> .
I was curious to know if particular settings (SAT or Threshold maybe) have any effect on battery consumption, although I can't see how.
Lastly, I check battery readings with the detector switched OFF. How are readings taken "Under Load"...is this with the detector ON. The manual for the multimeter says any testing of batteries should be with the appliance turned OFF.
Appreciate any feedback.
Tony. <IMG SRC="/metal/html/ausflag.jpg" BORDER=0 width=32 height=17 ALT="au~">

 

[Anonymous]

Hi Tony,
The transmitter in the Goldquest SS runs direct from the battery, so as the battery voltage falls, the TX current will reduce in proportion. Thus with a starting voltage of 12V, a voltage of 10V will give 83% of the original current., and 8V will give 66%. The return signal from the target will also reduce in the same proportion. However, the laws governing metal detection show that even for a 50% reduction in TX current, the detection range will only fall by 10%. In other words, a coin or ring that is just detected at 15in with a 12V battery will be just detected at 13.5in with a 6V battery. The Goldquest will not operate as low as 6V for other reasons, but within the design range of battery voltage (13V - 8.5V) there will be less than 1in difference in detection performance.
Battery life is always difficult to determine as batteries vary greatly in quality and capacity. I tend to err on the conservative side when giving battery life figures, and several Goldquest users have reported that good quality alkalines run for more than 25 hours.
I'm enjoying a break in Galway, on the West Coast of Ireland at the moment. Hope to get down to the beach myself with a Goldquest in the next day or two.
Eric.

 

[Anonymous]

Eric,
Thanks a heap for that information. <img src="/metal/html/smile.gif" border=0 width=15 height=15 alt="">
I keep on learning more and more each day about the Goldquest, and whenever I come back from a detecting trip, I always manage to come home having learnt something from the machine.
I know a lot of people consider PI's as having no discrimination, but the audio from the Goldquest is telling the operator a great deal.....I guess some people "hear", whilst others "listen" to the audio, and that's the secret I believe...listening.
Be sure to post some nice Irish gold finds, and maybe a shot or two of you in the thick of it <img src="/metal/html/grin.gif" border=0 width=15 height=15 alt=":grin">
Thanks again,
Tony.