car charger quit working

[tmiser54]

The car charger for my battery pack for my Explorer XS completely stopped working - i.e. the green light does not come on to indicate charging. For a while I could get it to work by heavily manipulating the connections but now, nothing. Has anyone else run into this problem? I don't want to spend the money on a new car charger or a new battery pack if I don't know which one crapped out. I don't have a wall charger as this would probably be the best way to check the battery pack. Just looking for a little advice - I really enjoy everyone's posts, and you guys (and gals) know what you are talking about.

Thanks in advance

Todd Schapira

 

[RustynailDan]

Does you cigarette lighter Work? Next I would look at the tip of the charger plug, possible tarnished or the spring in the tip is weak? I assume you don't have a VOM (volt/ohm meter) to check out the circuits. If that is ruled out do you know someone that has a minelab? Could you possibly try to have them charge your battery?
Good luck
Dan

 

[Steve(OR)]

... check to make sure that your cigarette lighter receptacle is actually functioning first by

• inserting the actual cigarette lighter into the receptacle, and see if the element works (i.e. does the lighter element get hot (glowing red)?

If it does, then your Minelab charger is likely broken/malfunctioning/dead/etc.

If it does NOT work, then check your fusebox for that (cigarette lighter) circuit - it may have blown for some reason.

Steve

 

[grumpyolman]

Go to Radio Shack or some tool distributor, Harbor Freight, and buy a cheap volt/ohm meter. You can get em for under $10. Turn the meter on a put the leads of the VOM on the innards of the car lighter socket and see if you are getting voltage. You can also check the continuity of each wire on the charger cord. If the green light isn't coming on, I would not think it is the battery pack. Check the voltage on that. It may be it won't charge because the battery pack is not getting voltage, because the connecting cord is not getting voltage, because either of the contact point between the cord and the lighter socket aren't getting voltage because their is a wire broken or a fuse blown between the fuse box and the lighter socket. Put the volt meter somewhere within that path to determine the culprit. Regards...Jim

 

[scott (wi)]

My light doesn't work either but it still charges. If I listen closely, I can hear a very faint hissing sound and that's how I know it is working. This is only if I charge in my F150 which allows charging with the truck shut off and quiet. For some reason, in some of my other vehicles, the cigarette lighter/car charger does not work when the car is off.,

 

[shadow]

i have a explorer ii, the same thing happen to me.
the charger has a fuse inside of it.
take it apart to see if fuse is still good.
replace fuse if needed.

 

[Rick(ND)]

I dont think the car charger were very good and why Minelab dont give you those anymore with the Explorers other than the XS when new. They might make better ones now as they have to be ordered special and are not cheap either, around $60 retail.
I had one customer go through 2 of them in one year and feel it was because of broken wires from using it. Now the house chargers have been no problem that I have notice and cheaper too as i believe they are around $15 new.