For the attention of Eric Foster

[Swansea jack]

Hi Eric
I have had problems with my Gold Quest the last twice I have been on the beach. The first time it cut out several times and the second time I lost power all together. I opened up the case to check if I had a bad connection and I was dumfounded when I saw several of the battery springs sticking outside of the battery pack I have included a few photo's so you can see what I mean.

 

[Reg]

Hi Jack,

For what it is worth, I have had a few battery holders fail much like yours did. Some have been as bad as yours and others not quite as bad. I am not sure why it happens. It could be just a bad batch of plastic for all I know. What makes it worse, is I have purchased several holders at a time and only had one fail in the batch. Fortunately, they are cheap and easy to replace. Radio Shack sells them for about $2. I always keep a few on hand for this reason. Since am ordering small parts on a regular basis from places such as Mouser, I will generally buy my holders from them. They do seem to be a little better quality, but I have had them fail also.

Usually, what I have seen happen is that over time, the holders will fatigue enough that one or more of the batteries will pop out at one end. So, to minimize this problem when using rechargeables, I simply tape or wrap double sided velcro around them. This keeps the batteries from popping out.

Once I see this type of problem beginning to exist, I simply replace the holder since they are cheaper than the the batteries.

Reg

 

[Wirechief]

Hi Jack, I have used procells before but in a scanner. I don't know if you have ever connected any kind of charger to the unit but when I used my walwart to run my scanner the batteries would expand and even burst. When I turned the scanner off I always unplugged the walwart since the batteries are not rechargeable type. I never had a problem with any other brands. Of course it ruined the battery holder in the scanner. It does'nt look like by your pictures the batteries have expanded. Are they leaking? Of course I don't use Procells anymore. Just wanted to share my experience with this brand of battery. Good luck Jack. John-Wirechief.

 

[Wirechief]

Reg has a good point too and it just happens sometimes so like Reg said they should have them at Rat Shack. Also I noticed at least in my scanner that the Procell batteries did seem to put stress on the holder as if they might actually be just a hair larger than other brands. CU later Jack. Wirechief.

 

[Swansea jack]

No they have not leaked or expanded. The springs have been melted into the side of the holder to hold them in place, it looks as if they were set to deep during there initial production.

 

[Swansea jack]

n/t

 

[Eric Foster]

Hi Swansea Jack,

I have never seen a battery holder is such a sorry state. The ones I supply with the Goldquest are from a reputable source and rarely give problems. However, a battery holder is a collection of springs and contacts which are moved each time batteries are installed and taken out, consequently there is always the likelyhood of problems arising eventually. I would guess that a spring may have moved out of position,and shorted to the metal battery holder plate. This is grounded so that it also acts as a shield for the circuit board. A spring touching this could cause a short on the battery pack with the resultant heating causing the springs to move further out of line and worsening the situation.

The contact springs are normally at least 2mm inside the plastic holder and are further prevented from touching the plate by adhesive foam strips on the plate. Care has to be taken when inserting batteries, and particularly when pulling them out, as this could displace the springs so that they project beyond the holder.

I will post a new holder to you this week and you will see how the springs should lay. Check each time the batteries are changed, that the springs have not moved out of position. This advice should be noted by all users of Goldquests and Aquasearches.

Although this is a rare event, it is worth my adding a paragraph to the operating instruction for both machines.

Eric.

 

[bing! (L.A.)]

wont happen agin. the battery springs can short on the alu shield as the foam on the shield compresses.

bing

 

[Swansea jack]

n/t