Flickering screen and weird audio....

[jbow]

I think I am going to try a masrer reset on my V3. I have not used it for a while because it was so cold. Yesterday I got a chance to use it an it was all weirded out. The display was flickering, the WHP worked but when I tried to check the voltage of the batteries it said they were not responding, I changed batteries and it still said they were not responding, but they were working. The audio kept getting a little fuzzy and weak though. I was running the level for the WHP on both 4 and 6 but they were both the same. I had to turn the monitoring off because if I didn't it would sound off through both the WHP and the internal speaker.
Then my pinpoint audio went crazy and started giving me a whole bunch of tones when I tried to pinpoint, like an Explorer on a shallow target. IT has never done this before.

I'm going to get the manual out and see if I can figure out what is different... maybe it had something to do with the site. I hope so.

I have my patterns saved on my ... no I don't.. I had a HD crash, I will save my patterns!! I'm glad I wrote this because I would have forgotten that I lost all that..

I'll update if I figure it out.

Julien

 

[Larry (IL)]

I had similar symptoms once when the main battery voltage was really low. Possible both packs were low?

 

[jbow]

I changed the AAs in the phones and the voltage on the detector battery pak was reading 9.8v but I came home and gave it a full charge.

I bought some 2800MAH batteries to build a longer lasting pack, I just need to get the thermistor and foil tape. I am ordering some caps etc for a guitar amo I am restoring so i'll get that stuff too and maybe that will be better, but i've never had this problem before. I didn't think to chang to the alkaline pack because I figured 9.8v was plenty.

Thanks!

Julien

 

[Aurium]

You might want to check the manual as I vaguely remember it specifying the minimum operating voltage for a battery pack. I would expect erratic behavior on any bit of electronics with marginal power. Especially those that have a little microprocessor in them, those microprocessors can be poorly behaved when not supplied power at the correct specifications.

 

[Aurium]

From the V3 field guide:

Battery - Check battery voltage. Charge or replace soon at 8V or less. (so I guess if you had 9.8V it should have been ok)

Also if the machine were particularly cold that could have an affect, I'd try it at room temperature, and see if you still get the same problems.
(sometimes electronics don't like that cold weather) I had mine out in 20 deg F weather and the on/off button wouldn't turn it off. Had to press it a few
times to get it to turn off.

 

[jbow]

Thanks... i'll let you know how it goes. It was 60+ degrees yesterday.

J

 

[jbow]

it was a light rain and it seemed to be fine with a fresh charge. I realized later that I didn't use the WHP but the flicker was gone and the pinpoint was back to one tone instead of 25 tones...

Maybe it was just a fluke. I am going to reset the WHP to channel 4. I had it on 10 because of hunting with a friend. I also may have had the WHP power too low, I had it on 4.

I also got out my manual and am going to re-read it.

J

 

[tab-nabit]

I have used the power level at 4 and below, and used another channel because my buddy hunting with me was also using a V3 and wireless headphones - didn't have any problems.
When I first got the detector, I recall reconnecting the wireless headphones but don't fully recall all the reasons. Something with getting a tone stuck on for a few seconds after lifting the coil up from the ground, and there were times that I got that stereo-mono thing going on with the headphones. I do remember changing the batteries that first afternoon. After the first week, I ended up getting new headphones. Also, one place we hunted, I remember changing channels and frequency offset and probably a few other tweaks like running Rx down etc. I think it was interference when we were on one side of the field we were hunting.
Like I say - don't recall all details, but remember some weird quirky things happening back then

 

[slumpshooter]

Hi Julien,
It sounds like you know the thermistor value for creating a third contact on the White V3 AA battery pack? I presently have that pack filled with NimH rechargeable batteries and want to use the White Charger stand that came with the V3. Is your mod to do the same thing? if so I would love to know the value and connections that mimic the White chargeable Pack...
Many thanks,

 

[Rob (IL)]

JBow, what probably happened was the cold temperature caused the battery voltage to drop. By the time you measured them at home they had warmed up and the voltage was higher. If you build the pack, I did, make sure to check the voltage on the pack after it charges. I had to adjust the thermistor position, it charges to 11.43v. Rob

 

[Rob (IL)]

Stumpshooter, it always pays to use the search feature of the forum.[attachment 153986 hot3.gif]
http://www.findmall.com/read.php?66,995136,1038996#msg-1038996

 

[slumpshooter]

Thanks Rob, your right, I should have searched for it, not sure why I didn't. I guess a reply seemed logical, cause I still needed a thermistor. The post is very informative, I appreciate your forwarding it... I'll learn!
SS

 

[jbow]

Digi-Key Part Number 615-1016-ND Price Break Unit Price Extended Price
1 0.80000 0.80
10 0.73000 7.30
25 0.68000 17.00
100 0.62000 62.00

Quantity Available 2,218
Manufacturer US Sensor
Manufacturer Part Number 103JG1J
Description THERMISTOR NTC 10K OHM 5% DO-35
Lead Free Status / RoHS Status Lead free / RoHS Compliant
All prices are in US dollars.

Item Number 615-1016-ND

http://search.digikey.com/scripts/DkSearch/dksus.dll?vendor=0&keywords=615-1016-ND

Julien