Now this is a new 250 problem /// FIXED

[gordygroover]

I posted earlier of a glitch that developed with my beloved Ace in which the pinpointing just stopped working on bare dirt and was a cranky brat on grass.
Before I boxed the unit up and shipped it back to Garret ts I decided to dig into the unit a bit just to see what I could do to either fix it or really screw things up. I am pretty good at the screwing things up part..
Took the whole power head apart and got down to the mother board...Bit of dust but no real sign of any obvious gremlins. On a whim I grabbed the spray can of electrical wash I have had laying around and gave the circuits a spray, let the board air-dry for a few minutes and put it all back together..
SCORE!!!!!!!!!!!!
The washing of the board made all the difference in the world. Pinpointing is back to par and everything is once again right with the world.
Just thought I would let you know that a six dollar can of circuit spray may get your tired units back on its' feet again.
This stuff is great if you dunk a device like a cell phone and want to try bringing it back to life.

 

[tab-nabit]

Makes me wonder then what it was. So don't know if the spray has something to do with it, or just the taking it apart and putting it all back together would have something to do with it without the spray bath would have done the trick.

 

[Joel-Winnipeg]

Maybe what you did restored a falty connection.
Anyways what you did works, thats the main thing.!

 

[Alan Applegate]

You have to be a little careful what you use to wash PC boards, even though the label might say it's good for all circuits. Some of these sprays contain lubricants like those used for old-style pots, and you don't want to use them.

The plastic membrane, rubber-like buttons, on the Ace (and a lot of other Garretts, competitors, TV remotes, et.al.) have conducting spots on their undersides, which mate with a circuit board pattern etches into the copper. Over time, dust, and even body oils which eventually work the way into the works, and cause intermittent operation. There are specific cleaners for these switches, but Ever Clear (190 proof alcohol) works pretty well, and doesn't contain any denaturing oil, or chemicals to be left behind.

Cleaning them works a few times perhaps, but sooner or later the membrane will need to be replaced. Although I have never ask, I'd bet Garrett just replaces the membranes, and cleans the circuit board.

Alan Applegate

 

[Uncle Willy]

Yeah that stuff can get corroded, dusty, and dirty. The spray is a great idea and an easy fix. Congrats.

Bill

 

[Uncle Willy]

Maybe opening it up allowed the Gremlin to escape. HA.

Bill

 

[rglyons]

I used to be a part time computer repair tech. The FIRST thing I would do for a completely dead puter is take the top off and seat every component in it. (Just push down with your thumb.) You would be surprised the percentage that came back to life. I think I would do the same with a detector that was acting screwy or just not right - or dead. (Maybe only on ones out of warranty?)

Corrosion can kill a circuit board - or a component that just wasn't seated well.

Just be careful and not too gung-ho and you may very well fix the problem. Also It's interesting just to see what's "under the hood".