Question about the battery pack on the GTI.

[Mick in Dubbo]

I was wondering how folk get on with their Garrett machines when the battery pack is hip mounted. I operated my GTI with the battery pack mounted in a camera bag (over my shoulder) for most of the hunts that I did while in Sydney over the Christmas period. Having it in the camera bag allowed me to swap hands at regular intervals which reduced fatigue to the point that I hunted for 11 hours non-stop on one hunt without ill effect (from swinging the detector at least). If I hunted with the battery pack on the detector, then 2 hours is my comfortable limit, even with a lot of hand swapping.
The question that I have, is how does your detector fare when dismounting the battery pack? Mine suffered significant wear. I damaged the cable at the join to the battery pack. this happened when the detector slipped off my lap on a few occasions as I was trying to recover some targets. The coiled battery cable became stretched to the point that I had no chance of reconnecting the battery pack back to it's normal position. I ordered a couple of replacement cables from the local dealer and was advised that if I found something of similar circumference, then I may be able to re tighten the coiling of the cable. It now has retracted as it should. He gave me some instructions on replacing the cable. While the battery end is easy to deal with, the detector end will be a right royal pain. The other issue that has occurred, is the area where the battery pack slides onto is now too loose fitting. I now have to be very careful to put the detector down coil first. If I put it down handle first, the battery pack falls straight off.
has anybody got a workable solution to this situation? I prefer to hunt with the battery pack off as it is far more pleasant.
Thanks.
Mick Evans.

 

[ivanll]

The coiled battery cable can be replaced by a short coiled telephone cable. See electronic shops.

A light smear of "Loctite 406" on the top edges of the battery housing running track will take care of the looseness.

!!! Do NOT slide the battery pack back on the detector while the Loctite 406 is still wet !!!

Attach a teeter string to the detector arm rest connect it to a belt clip and it will not fall; when you kneel the detector is lowered to the same level and it rises when you stand up again.
If you need both hands free for a moment, let the detector go it's there within reach for when you need it again

 

[John-Edmonton]

I rarely remove the battery pack, even on the GTI 2500. I guess that I have just built up a lot of tolerance and strength from using it so much. My legs tire out before my arms usually do....

 

[Uncle Willy]

Have you complained to Garrett? I would. Perhaps they have a workable solution. Try sticking a toothpick in the crack between the pack and the cuff to keep it tight.

Bill

 

[Mick in Dubbo]

Thanks Ivan.
I'd heard something about using telephone cabling before, but talked the the local dealer who had previously looked into such a solution, but it didn't work out. Thanks for the tip on the loctite. sounds like a good idea. I've tried using a harness/tether just recently but found it to be quite irritating, hence trying to offload the battery pack.
Bill,
I suppose that it's possible to contact Garrett, but given that it's a well entrench set up, I doubt that they would react to a single enquiry. I might be wrong on that, but wouldn't expect much in that regard. I'm hoping that other users have found alternative solutions.
John,
it would be great to be strong enough to be able to swing all day. Perhaps I'll be able to rebuild my neck and shoulders back up to a point where I can do that. I've just started doing some push ups eta so that I can, but due to doing a few discs in my neck a while back, it's a matter of steady as she goes. I've pushed it a bit in the past and paid the price.
Perhaps some time in the near future, Garrett's will be able to put the GTI package, into a lighter set up which would make many a hunter very happy.
Mick Evans.

 

[Uncle Willy]

Yeah I very rarely belt mount the battery pack. Can't remember the last time I did.

Bill

 

[cwilk]

I had the same issue with my battery pack falling off. I was using a rubber band to keep it secure and when I wrote to Garrett they replaced it and the bracket free of charge. Turns out it was the battery pack that had worn and not the bracket.

I can't seem to get the knack of hunting with the battery pack hip mounted. The cord is too short for the way I hunt and set the detector down. It became stretched out as you mentioned which made it a pain to put it back together. I can go 3-4 hours per hunt at best with my 2500 in standard configuration.

I just take a lot of breaks. It was better when I was smoking because then I had something to do on break rather than just count my finds. 500 days plus or minus a few tobacco free. Really glad I quit.

I can't wait until it's Winter down there and you guys are suffering with the cold and the snow.................................. I just want to go out for an hour or 20 minutes.

Chris

 

[ivanll]

The telephone cable do work.
I'm using one on my GTA 1000 and have done so for the last 15 years.

 

[Mick in Dubbo]

That's handy to know.
What is the specific cable that you need to do it?
Thanks.
Mick Evans.

 

[Mick in Dubbo]

Garrett's have a good reputation for looking after their customers.
I found that putting the battery pack in the camera bag, reduced the stress that's placed on the cable. It is too short though to be practical. Part of the reason that I'll be getting the X-Terra 70 is because of the weight issue. It'll be good to have a light weight up-market machine.
Glad to hear that you kicked the smoking habit. Not an easy one to overcome. Congrats.
I hate to break it to you, but it doesn't snow here. It does about a 100 miles away, but not here. the coldest it's been here since I moved here was minus 6. I had to ride my push bike 8kms (5 miles) at that temp, to work. Not the most comfortable ride. So I guess that we can hunt all year round.
Mick Evans.