Explorer II Mod. A little lighter...

[Big Fang Coin Biter]

I finished off my Explorer Mod. project. I was hoping for a little more weight savings. I still need to weigh this version, but I think it is about a quarter pound lighter than the original. I put it on an X-Terra shaft with X-Terra arm cup, stand and lower rod. I have the Sun Ray probe box guts inside the control box mounting bracket. You can see the probe switch on one side and the probe strain relief on the other. I made the control box mounting bracket out of piece of extruded aluminum channel. It still needs to be sealed up with a tiny bit of silicone. I fashioned the battery mounts out of thin sheet aluminum. I will most likely add a rain jacket over the battery area.

This was a fun and sometimes tedious project. Best of all is it still works! The balance and ergonomics seem much better. I will post a final weight when I get it. Come On Spring!

HH - BF

 

[david.di]

I like what you've done.

Looks balanced.

Having done mods to 2 Explorer XS's(and "killed" both) and an Explorer 2(chest mounted, it still works) over the years which involved removing the control box and remounting them in one way or another, I really know what you mean when you say that it's relief when it all still works.

Thanks for showing


David Di

 

[Big Fang Coin Biter]

The head phone jack hole that I put into the control housing went a little wrong. I had the ground wire connecting the front and back half of the control panel. The drill bit grabbed the plastic and flung the whole deal around about six times. The first circuit board flew off! A few words flew out of my mouth. I just had to straighten some of the pins on the circuit board and push it back together.
Take care and thanks.
HH - BF

 

[Rob (IL)]

I really liked the X1 mod, that was a great idea.

 

[Big Fang Coin Biter]

n/t

 

[MikeO]

I have replaced about three of the internal 1/8 headphone jacks in the older XS (including the one still in my friends XS) but, never have opened a XSII with the 1/4 jack.
I suppose my question is there is 3 wires but, is the 1/4 hot glued in like the old XS and what kind of quality is it?
I am getting ready to replace my friends 1/8 jack over to 1/4 (which has lasted a few years since I replaced it).
I picked up a Y style 2 ended gold plated double female from the shack. I was planning on creating a cable that extends out the hole as to alleviate the problems associated with the pressure on the jack.
Figured if I was doing his conversion I would mod my 1/4 over to a more flexible and possibly higher quality jack.
I know the 1/8 jacks where very susceptible to wearing out due to the weak metal tang contacts so what about the 1/4?
Got any pictures of the old 1/4 or once the XS-II was opened?
Appreciate it in advance and might add, I love the creativity you came up with on your XS-II mod.

 

[Big Fang Coin Biter]

I took a pic but am running out of time this AM. What I did with my xs was to wire a 1/8" jack to a radio shack external 1/4" jack. Then I made a wire clip that hooked the external 1/4" jack to the arm cup. That took care of any wear and tear on the std 1/8" jack. I will get back to you on the pic.
HH - BF

 

[Big Fang Coin Biter]

Hi Mike,
The first pic is of the 1/4" Explorer II jack. It is mono with a switch. It was not hot glued, but it fit very snugly into a rectangular recess in the housing. Heck, the two halfs were not even glued together. The wires were hot glued in spots. It looks to me to be very heavy duty. I have never had a problem with the EII phone jack.

The second pic is my solution to the SX 1/8" headphone jack. I just used black tape to secure the exterior 1/4" jack to the brass attachment. The brass attachment then hooked on the arm cup. This worked super and I never had a problem with the SX jack.

Hope this helps and HH - BF

 

[Big Fang Coin Biter]

n/t

 

[MikeO]

Thanks BFCB, that awnsers all the questions with that picture.
I might just be able to rebend the two tangs for better contact rather then replacing the unit itself.
Your the man!!!!!!

 

[Lineweed]

have you weighed it yet? how much lighter is it exactly?