F75 LTD Wake up? Slow Start?

[grumpy]

I have a question this fine morning that I dont recall ever seeing addressed here.
I use the F75 ltd. and it seems that when i take it out put it together and start off its like 5 min before it settles down and starts to work right.
I start out turning it on setting it up and gb grab it but it does not matter. tried leaving it assembled and when I start out it does the same thing; Slow to start out and wake up?
Also notice when I dig a target I lay it beside me and when Im done it takes a few seconds of swinging to settle it back down again?
Just seems strange to me but I have gotten used to it. All the machines before like the minelab SE and Sov ect have all been turn on and there ready?
Do find the F75 to be the best Iv had at what I use it for of any machines. Maybe its just lazy like its owner and takes a while to Wake Up?
Thanks to all
Grumpy

 

[D&P-OR]

Hey Grumpy---I'm sure glad to see SOMEONE has seen this in a detector other than me---maybe I'm not "loosing it" after all!! ----I have never experienced this with my F-75 LTD but I SWEAR a couple of past Explorers I had needed to be "warmed up" before they performed their best. (I haven't experienced this with my current Etrac).----We've opened ourselves up to someone being able to call us "kooks" and "imagination running rampant"---but---you'd have to prove it to me there isn't something to this (in these isolated cases).----Besides you, Jack Lang of OZ is the only one I can recall making a statement like this.---He's an old gold hunter that uses the "super detectors" and has said that they need to be run a few minutes to get top performance.---Maybe these cases we are talking about are the same situation?----I hope someone doesn't confuse this with a change of settings, etc. in this "warm up" time, that's not what I'm talking about at all.----Also, the situation(s) are most assuredly rare.------On the other hand Grumpy, maybe we've BOTH just went plain "nuts"!! (don't think so though) ---------Del

 

[Roland58]

From the time I first turn the machine on, until it is ready to GB, mine takes maybe 5 to 10 seconds max. Add another few seconds for a manual GB and she is flying at full speed. Is it really cold where you guys are? The coldest day I have been out was about 38

 

[osgood]

Never had the problem you noted at all; mine is on, GB and go. Once I was using it in shoreline water, on a rainy day and it went berserk doing a non stop overload. Turning it off and on didnt help till I did a reset. But that only happened once and never again. Good luck, CO

 

[jim tn]

You guys really have one of those slow start up LTD's? Wow! I hear they are almost 3" deeper then the regular LTD's. I understand not many of them were made. Wow, again. HH jim tn

 

[D&P-OR]

Aw shucks Jim---Ya need to go back & re-read my statement!----It says wha???----75???------It merely makes mention of performance (IMO) on a couple of past Explorers (EXPLORERS ONLY) that I've owned/used in the past.-----And you know what they say about opinions--they are like something else a person "owns"--everyones got one!-----These Explorers were excellent machines but that was just something that I "noted" on a couple of them. (and I have owned/used the whole Explorer line & Etrac).------In any case, detectors "DO WORK"--(get adequate depth & seperation)!------We (my wife & I) recovered 215 silvers in 2009 and haven't figured up how many for 2010 yet (won't be as many as in 2009).-----I'm starting to "ramble"---got to go get the CRV AND the 'tector WARMED UP for a 'tectin session!!! -------------C ya, Del

 

[jim tn]

Well, golly gee, I did miss your not including the LTD. But, I truly am sorry to see you don't have one of those slow start up, hotter LTD's.HH jim tn

 

[grumpy]

Ok so that means no one here takes the subject as a serious subject?
Thanks anyway
Grumpy

 

[D&P-OR]

Don't say no one grumpy.-----You might call FT (Fisher) & explain to them how it's acting--maybe it's due for a trip in to the plant for check over/repair.----Who knows, maybe they have had a similar report from someone else & have an idea on a solution.----Try to talk to a Fisher technician when you call.------I'm curious about one thing---has your batteries always been alkalines & strong/full strength when this was happening on your F-75?----Also, even if they have been full strength, try changeing out to another set (different package) of new name brand full strength batteries.----Batteries can cause wierd (effects) on a detector at times.---Check the new batteries on a tester if you have one before you put them in the detector.-----That's the "first step" I would take.--------Regards, Del

 

[jim tn]

Grumpy, I didn't mean to make light of your slow start up situation. I was just fooling around. I've never experienced that with any detector I've ever owned, including the F 75 and now my F 75 LTD. I would suggest a call to Felix at F T and see what he has to say. HH jim tn

 

[grumpy]

Only problem is the trip back to the factory is time and I got moved to year around detecting just in sept. ant gonna send her away un less necessary; the thing works great and i mean great except for growling and carring on for the first few minutes; I think its the auto gb acting up? BUt otherwise its best we have ran and we have had ; garrett 2500, 250, minelab sov. exp, se pro and others i cant remember. The thing walks over where i ran the SE pro and finds money. old money not new drops.
The batteries could be weak to fire up at the time ? never tried switching and checking it really is not a bother just ODD. Slow Start is normal for me to get going so I figure the machine is just keeping it in the family
Anyone nugget shoot with success with a 75 LTD?
Grumpy

ps do not mind humor in the least; laughter is what makes the day worth having.

 

[Big Boys Hobbies]

Did you get a chance to change the batteries yet? Are you using rechargeable or alkaline? I know a few detectors Ive had seem to "ME" they ran better and went deeper with alkaline. Probably just in my head. If it still does it I would send it in to get looked at. Electrical problem never go away. They just get worse. If you need a help with a contact I can help you.

 

[jbow]

Turn it on and lean it on the car (or lay it in the car/truck wit the volume turned down) while you are getting the rest of your gear ready.

I was reading the manual for the old Tesoro INCA detector. It has a battery check feature on the meter. The manual says to run it for 10 minutes, then switch it off and back on to check the batteries... there could be something in common, I don't know. I have not noticed this on mine but you bet I will be checking it out. It could make a big difference. I've been to one park with it where I could not hunt... perhaps if I let it "warm up" it will handle the site, i'll be finding out.

J

 

[Roland58]

Grump, If you think it may be the auto GB, have to tried to manually set the GB and see if it makes any difference?

 

[Willee - Texas]

Grumpy ... I always thought it was my brain settling down.

Yes ... I have noticed that some detectors I have used seem to be hyper active at first but after a short time settled down and ran smoother.

I wonder if ... as another poster said ... it has something to do with the battery voltage leveling off.
Shouldn't be that ... isn't there a voltage regulator chip in there somewhere?

Willee

 

[D&P-OR]

Hey Willee------Yeah, there's a voltage regulator in the 75---at least there BETTER be. -----Well, if nothing else, this thread has been good "mental therapy" for a few of us! -----I'm sure that there are (at least) 3 or 4 of us that no longer feel like we are ENTIRELY "loosing it".------Of the 109 (yeah 109) detectors (some of them duplicates) the wife & I have owned/used (over the years), we have seen the (thankfully rare & not serious) odd thing occur.-----Ty Brooks once said that detectors can (once in a great while) do something that even the engineer can't understand/explain.-------Anyway, I'll say it again Grumpy---I'd send that 75 in to FT and let them (try) to "sort it out"! ---------Del

 

[Dave J.]

A metal detector should run normally within several seconds of turn-on. On rare occasions you can get the flaky slow turn on phenomenon due either to a floating gate either within an IC or due to a bad connection on the PC board leading to the IC; or a microscopic amount of moisture trapped within a sealed component allowing ions to migrate upon application of voltage. In both cases, the stabilization process will tend to be slower in cold weather.

What you see happen may depend on what operating mode you're in, and also may manifest differently depending on how long the machine has been turned off. If due to a bad connection either on the PC board or within an I.C., it may also be intermittent.

* * * * * *

Repair technicians usually have difficulty with such problems because:

1. The problem may not manifest on the repair bench.

2. If it does manifest, tracking the problem down may be a real challenge.

3. Many repair techs are not aware of the floating gate phenomenon. Not understanding causes impairs troubleshooting.

4. The repair tech may not understand the customer's description of the problem, and suppose that what's being described is due to marginal batteries or to operation in high humidity conditions.

5. If the problem cannot be replicated, the only fix is to replace the PC board, but the repair tech may be inclined to think that the customer was confused about something or that "the problem went away, so no more problem".

6. If the problem can be replicated, if the tech doesn't understand the nature of the problem it can wind up being a time-consuming wild goose chase trying to repair it, when it may have been more economical to simply replace the PC board.


* * * * *

If you send such a unit in for repair, I recommend the following:

1. First, rule out batteries by installing new name-brand alkaline batteries and seeing if the problem still occurs.

2. Determine if the problem only happens upon going outdoors into the cold, or upon coming indoors from the cold. This can be a problem with condensation on the innards, which is not something that can be repaired. If after being in the house for a few hours you turn it on and you still observe the problem, it's not condensation on the innards.

3. Determine if, after the machine has drifted itself into proper operation (I hesitate to use the phrase "warmed up" because it isn't usually a temperature thing), if you turn it off for several seconds and then back on again, does the thing operate immediately or does it have to drift itself into proper operation again? If it turns on again just fine, that's inconclusive, but if it has to drift itself into proper operation again, you've nailed it.

4. If you send the machine in for repair, provide a complete description of what you've observed so the tech doesn't go down the wrong road of thinking "marginal batteries" or "condensation due to temperature changes".

5. And finally, print out a copy of this post and include it with your written explanation of the problem, so the tech stands a real good chance of understanding the problem and fixing it.

--Dave Johnson
Chief Designer, FTP-Fisher

 

[Roland58]

Wow, Dave. I don't think I have ever seen an explanation as concise as what you posted. I have to admit my brain was bleeding after the first paragraph, but, you should be commended for your time, effort and knowledge.....you are a great asset to this forum. I thank you, as I am sure everyone else does.

 

[jim tn]

I agree, it is great to see explanations from those that are truly in the know on detector matters such as this. Dave and F T,HH jim tn

 

[jbow]

I'll never understand the explicit (i'm not an engineer) but from reading your posts and reading some things John Gardiner has written.. I do begin to understand the implicit, and it really does help.

Dave, you are a real assett to this hobby of ours.

Julien