Omega 4000 at the store-defective from the box

[Darkflight]

I went to a local retailer & they had this unit. I asked to do a test on it & he said fine but he had no 9V batteris.Of course I have some spares in the car so I grabbed them from my car & carefully opened the box.

The unit looked new & the packaging did not appear to be opened before me. But after I put the battery in & hit the power button it would turn on-then poof off again. It stayed running almost long enough for an air test but not more than 30 seconds.

I know it would have been a warranty fix. But am I wrong in being warry of this model after such an introduction?.

 

[Ken in NC]

Did the machine do that with each battery that you tried?

 

[Darkflight]

I had a pack of 2 so yep...I also did a quick tongue test(!). Hot batteries for sure .

I have them next to me & a digital multi meter. They test @ 9.98 volts each. They are Ray-o-Vack heavy duty, wally world 2 fer a buck & my silver loves 'em.

It just flashed on quick then off. Seemed to be related to the touchpad but I'm not certain.

Reason I ask is there is another store with another unit & the price is good.


Thanks.

 

[bumshot]

For the Omega, it says to use alkaline battery. It says do not use ordinary carbon or Heavy duty battery. Your cheap battery might be the problem.

 

[Darkflight]

And I was about to say the "Omega 2000 " also in the box worked fine. But I now remember it already had a energizer battery in it.

But seriously. 9/10 of a volt will overload the unit?. I'd bet on a piece of conductive debris under the keypad.

Hopefully they are not that sensetive. I mean the unit turns off-not mis-performs wich is what I'm assuming they were refering to for battery recomendations.

Cheers.

 

[SkiWhiz]

Batteries could of been the problem, I remember way back when I had a Garrett Freedom Ace Plus (it took 3 nine volt batteries) I put in regular non alkaline and it wouldn't power on. I went and got some alkaline batteries and it worked great. I never used anything but alkaline since then. Steve.

 

[Monte]

I'll first say I don't recognize your "Author" name and am not familiar with you or your familiarity with Teknetics models.

Second, let me state that there is no "Omega 4000" as you stated. There is an Omega 8000, but that's quite different from the Delta 4000.

Third, I visited a store yesterday to speak with a sales gal and to check out their two Teknetics on display, an Alpha 2000 and Delta 4000. I, too, took in my battery and didn't have a problem with either unit. They used to be on display but had been repackaged due to some store changes.

Fourth, I own and use an Omega 8000, a LOT, and a T2. I also make use of three other Tek models and I haven't had a problem, nor have the folks who use their Omega 8000's around here.

Now, does that mean that any make or model can't have a problem? Of course not, but your post struck me quickly since it didn't properly describe the model name, and the fact that Jim has recently announced a glitch with his Pinpoint touch-pad. There were one or two others who have had a similar problem so, yes, things can happen. One other thing that often happens is someone, often an 'outsider" wants to join the conversation by announcing another 'defective' unit. Certainly you're not one of those so ....

... Fifth, what is the name and location of the "local retailer" who has an "Omega 4000" that is acting up? I'll be glad to check into what the cause might be.

Thanks,

Monte

 

[Furious T]

I dont know of any Oemga 4000, or an Omega 2000, which you say was also in the box. I do know that more than one manufacturer tells detector owners not to use ordinary batteries, but either only or Alkaline or some of the re-chargeables. I did my own test once of a detector and put in a heavy duty battery and it last about 6 seconds.

 

[Ed in SoDak]

"Heavy Duty" denotes a carbon-zinc type. These are too high of a voltage to work. My 1999 Time Ranger is the same. It will not run on carbon-zincs.
Your dealer not having batteries on hand to test something seems odd also, but your test results are due to using the wrong type of batteries.

-Ed

 

[Darkflight]

I was heading home from a good day with money in my pocket. I was browsing at the detectors & likely would have made an impule buy had the unit tested well.

I use Tesoro's after getting sold a Bounty Hunter by Kellyco.The BH was pushed by the salesman & I fell for it.Not buying there again.

I like the Tesoro brand but was looking for a TID machine & possibly better depth. So I go in & try my normal batteries & this is what I should expect?.
Frankly having such a issue as the wrong type of battery kill the unit is kinda-well I can't think of a better word than stupid.

 

[dirtmaster]

Its a fact that heavy duty batteries will not work well in the modern units. The Teknetics line is some of the most stable units on the market. Read the reviews. You just had a bad salesman that didnt know what he was doing. Fisher is one of the most respected name in the industry and Teknetics is basically a Fisher. Fisher invented the technology of our great hobby. The others just followed suit.

 

[Elton]

n/t

 

[Elton]

n/t

 

[Darkflight]

They used to be sportsmens wharehouse?. On 82nd?...

I have to admit my ignorance on modern technology & why a .9 volt overload will do this. But if its just one of those things I can accept that. But like I said I was happy to get cheap food for my Silver & it performs well with those batteries. Never thought it would be an issue.

And yes I just remembered the 2000 & 4000 numbers. So I called them all Omega since why would they change the names around. Shows what I know about marketing also.

Since I'm asking & you know the territory-would you reccomend this machine for this area or should I save for a GB adjustable unit. I doubt I'd want to take a solder iron to add an external pot to it like I did my silver.

So-just told the tale as I knew it & like I said-I was a little mystified that a cheap battery would cause it.

But the store sounds like the same one-I remember them having some detectors on display when I was buying a BSA Lightning XL from them. They were cheap & you could resale them for more than you paid. I guess they did a decent job of re-boxing them.

But the bottom line is they should have had some batteries on hand if it is mandatory-or at least deliver the unit with a blisterpack 9V that meets thier specs.

I don't blame the salesperso-that job is hard enough without becoming an expert in every item you sell-at minimum wage of course.

Have fun Monty-I hope your feeling better.
Carl "The pellet gun guy"

 

[Monte]

Now, here is what is going to be interesting:

They used to be sportsmens wharehouse?. On 82nd?...

I mentioned that I was interested in the particular store somewhere in this country, and it happens to be the same store that I said I stopped at to compare. They used to have those two models, the Alpha and Delta, on display on the back wall of that center section and the two were boxed and placed ion that isle display. I only wanted to check one thing on the Alpha 2000 very quickly as it was mainly the Deltaa 4000 I wanted to check for a fellow who was interested in getting that model rather than a Gamma 6000 or Omega 8000. Prior to checking it out I told him I preferred the two more expensive models for several reasons, and I continue to do so.

There was a gal in that section who couldn't really help me at all except to let me know the name of the fellow in charge of that department, and we shared some discussion about metal detector knowledge and training. The fellow in charge of ordering was out of town until this coming week as I asked why they were shelved and why no others in stock. I was curious and even though they are a factory-direct 'dealer' I am curious why no new models and thought the fellow might want to chat with the Teknetics Factory Rep or something.

One issue with the Delta 4000, or at least an 'issue for me', was that it lacks the adjustment range of the top models like my Omega 8000. The batteries I had with me are a short package of old spare Ray-O-Vacs (and I am not a Ray-O-Vac fan by any means. Not even sure until I check out in the van again, but I think they are heavy Duty and I know the expiration date on them is 2008. So, I was sort of surprised that they worked, but I put them in the van a couple of weeks ago but only made it there the other day.

I didn't check the Notch circuitry because I am not a fan of Notch Discrimination. The guy was interested in some things about the Discrimination and the PinPoint capability, which the Alpha 2000 lacks. On Page 1 of the Delta 4000's Owner's Manual, it suggests "Do not use indoors" due top the challenges of EMI, and it also says, in #3. "Use a 9-volt battery only. Do not use heavy Duty batteries." So, I knew I could have a problem.

Also, it was easily noisy in operation, for only a couple of minutes (2, maybe 3 at the most) because I'd try to bump up the Sensitivity. In is rather limited on this model because it turns-on at a setting of '10', I believe, and only adjusts up to '12' or as low as '4'. The Omega has a vastly more functional adjustment range and the Delta 4000 was somewhat noisy at the '10' indoors, and unstable to use at a setting of '11' or '12.'

Also, I had told him the Discrimination adjustment range is also quite limited to my Omega and I just wanted to confirm that. With the Delta 4000 each press of a + or - button to Increase or Decrease will accept or reject a complete segment of the Discriminate range. For example, if all are accepted, the 1 press eliminates all Iron. If you press it 2 times you also eliminate the Foil range and the 3rd press will zap the 5