Etrac in the Rain

[dr_maddog]

Does anyone use their Etrac in the rain? If so what do you do to protect it from water? Just the dust/rain jacket?

Obviosuly, I try to avoid hunting in the rain but sometimes that cannot be avoided. Currently I have a screen protector on the face of the Etrac and tape over the speaker hole. I also modifed a waterbottle to cover the headphone jack. Seems like there should be something for added protection. I was thinking about making something out of rubber or perhaps neoprene but wanted to see if anyone else had any ideas.

 

[gregliss]

Dust cover is not great in as bought condition, you will see fogging on the inside of the cover in wet weather. I treated the dust cover in waterproofing spray from the camping shop, now water just beads and rolls off. I usually bag up the X-1 probe switch box if I think the rain is going to be heavy.

Cheers,
Greg

 

[Digger]

It is lightweight and easy to carry in your pouch. Being clear, it allows you to see the display and buttons. And it is flexible enough to press the pads. HH Randy

 

[Jesse W. McComas]

I used my E-Trac last March over in Virginia at the First Blue & Gray Hunt. It rained all three days and I never put a cover on the machine. This machines was dripping water the whole time and never stopped working. That is one well built tough machine. HH...Jesse.

 

[The Beep Goes On]

I used my E-Trac last March over in Virginia at the First Blue & Gray Hunt. It rained all three days and I never put a cover on the machine. This machines was dripping water the whole time and never stopped working. That is one well built tough machine. HH...Jesse.

That is impressive indeed. Not something I would do, lol, but good to know!

 

[EddieB]

I use the clear plastic wrap to cover the x1probe switch box and use the plastic shopping bag over the headphone jack. HH EddieB

 

[E-Trac-Ohio]

I just took the factory rain & dust cover off for the first time to give it a good cleaning inside and out. While the cover was off I decided to put it in a bowl of water - top facing down to see exactly how water proof it really is. After holding it under water for about 30 secs. I noticed that it leaked a little around the seam where the nylon meets the clear plastic screen cover.
Not much water - about the diameter of a nickel. So ... bottom line - looks like the factory rain & dust cover would do a good job of protecting the ET under normal light rain conditions.

Also, just to be safe - I always keep some Dollar Store sized plastic bags and a bunch of rubber bands with me in my back pack.
This way if I get caught in some heavy rain during a hunt - I can double or triple bag the control panel and battery compartment.

HH - Mark

 

[John - Maryland]

n/t

 

[E-Trac-Ohio]

Didn't put the ET underwater - I just put the Rain & Dust Cover underwater !

 

[mike - in]

n/t

 

[John - Maryland]

Just Kidding you. Haven't been caught in the rain with my E-Trac. After spending $1500.00, I don't trust the dust cover.

 

[Mike Gresham]

Like Jesse, I used my E-Trac last March over in Virginia at the First Blue & Gray Hunt, And yes, it rained steadily the entire hunt. But I was prepared. I brought with me a simple roll of Saran Wrap, and stretch-wrapped the control housing tightly. I didn't run the Saran Wrap over the contol face, but just around the edges, thereby leaving the face clear and easy to see. After the first day my boots were full of water and I was freezing, but the Etrac performed flawlessly. And yes, Jesse did dig a nice gold coin up towards the road with his Etrac, while I recovered several nice dropped bullets, including two perfect Gardners.

Take the Saran Wrap out of the box, hold the tube with one hand while sticking the loose end to the housing with the other hand, and stretch the film around the control housing several times, overlapping and covering the odd angles. It seals itself for a water-tight seal. I keep Saran Wrap in my supply bag at all times for just such situations.

This is hard-core metal-detecting at its best.

 

[Jesse W. McComas]

Thanks Mike for backing me up on this. The reason I did not put the cover on was to see how well built this machine was. I am and still is impressed by this great machine. This is one of the toughest machines I have owned in 41 years of detecting. They do not build them any better than this. I have never had a days problem with my E-Trac. I have not done any digging lately. I have had the H1N1 Virus. The V.A. gave me a flue shot two weeks before I got the virus and that regular flu shat fought of the H1N1 great. I will be up and around in a few days and back at my digging. So Everybody. That is the reason I did not put my cover on the E-trac. I wanted to know if I spent $1,500.00 wisely....and I DID!!. HH...Jesse.

 

[moseng]

The V.A. gave me a flue shot two weeks before I got the virus and that regular flu shat fought of the H1N1 great. I will be up and around in a few days and back at my digging.

Good to hear you and your E-Trac will be hunting soon!