The Sovereign XS is up and running again...

[jughed440]

I bought this XS new back in '97 (jeez, time flies), and it has been used on many 1800s home sites. Without a doubt, it has found more silver than any other detector I have owned... be it the E-Trac, Equinox 800, or Garret AT.
I haven't used the XS since the E-trac was purchased, and I want to give it a try on some sites that I have searched with the other machines.
One of the removable 9V battery connectors on the AA battery holders had broken...new connectors have been soldered on. Gotta have those backup batteries.
The original rechargeable battery was long dead. I replaced it with one ordered off of Amazon that was advertised to fit the XS...it did not. The wires and terminal off of the original battery were spliced to the new battery.
Gave it a test on several coins and silvers...It still works perfect. Same with the DTIII. Spring can't get here soon enough.

The connector on the left is for the Amazon battery ...it DOES NOT fit the XS

New 9V terminals, and spliced connector on the new rechargeable...

The small coil on the 800 is brand new, and I'll be giving it a try. I'll be checking/comparing signals with both machines.

 

[Rick(ND)]

You got a real nice set up, the XS with the SunRay DTI3 meter which was their last one made and preferred by many, The coil too is that 8 inch Coinsearch which is my favorite coil, but not waterproof. This Coinsearch coil I feel was easier the learn the Sovereign with as the tone were easier to hear.
I too got a battery pack from Amazon and think it was too thick to fit in the battery compartment so the cover wouldn't fit. The XS I bought off this forum come with a new battery pack, but when it come i notice the pack not as big and seen it had 3 of the 3.7 battery in the pack, so the battery voltage is around 11 volts and not the 12 needed, so I got a alkiline battery pack like you have and going to use this until I can make a 12 volt pack. It was not as stable with the pack it came with, but with the alkaline pack it has the correct voltage and runs smooth. I need to find a coil for this one yet as the one that come with this one is a 8 inch Tornado coil, but the cable is all cracked up as they had a problem with that, but I had a new one I never used and when I got it out to use it I found out this one is all cracked up too and never used it at all.
I have tried all the different model of the Sovereign and the XS and the GT are the 2 were the best one. for me and my coin hunting, it did take a little while to get to know it and some gave up, but once you learn it you wont be without one.

 

[Ted S]

I want to see a comparison between the Equinox and the Sovereign.

 

[JimmyCT]

I want to see a comparison between the Equinox and the Sovereign.

Me too

 

[jughed440]

You got a real nice set up, the XS with the SunRay DTI3 meter which was their last one made and preferred by many, The coil too is that 8 inch Coinsearch which is my favorite coil, but not waterproof. This Coinsearch coil I feel was easier the learn the Sovereign with as the tone were easier to hear.
I too got a battery pack from Amazon and think it was too thick to fit in the battery compartment so the cover wouldn't fit. The XS I bought off this forum come with a new battery pack, but when it come i notice the pack not as big and seen it had 3 of the 3.7 battery in the pack, so the battery voltage is around 11 volts and not the 12 needed, so I got a alkiline battery pack like you have and going to use this until I can make a 12 volt pack. It was not as stable with the pack it came with, but with the alkaline pack it has the correct voltage and runs smooth. I need to find a coil for this one yet as the one that come with this one is a 8 inch Tornado coil, but the cable is all cracked up as they had a problem with that, but I had a new one I never used and when I got it out to use it I found out this one is all cracked up too and never used it at all.
I have tried all the different model of the Sovereign and the XS and the GT are the 2 were the best one. for me and my coin hunting, it did take a little while to get to know it and some gave up, but once you learn it you wont be without one.

Thanks!!
I had the Minelab meter for a short while, but was convinced by DTIII users to get one of those instead. They were right on all accounts. The Sun Ray is a much better meter. I've tried several coils for the Sovereign, and the Coinsearch was always my 'go-to' coil for the trashy farm sites. The rest are in a box somewhere. The unique tones of the XS are easy to learn (with the help of the meter, of course), and the tones it made for silvers were unmistakable.
I've dug up a number of silver coins with this combo. Some of my favorite finds are the three seated dimes...all were found on the same site that i had hunted many times over (one of them is the avatar pic).

This Amazon battery is thick, so it and the cover have to be held together and put on the machine at the same time.... can't install the battery, and then the cover.

I want to see a comparison between the Equinox and the Sovereign.

I'll make a test garden for comparison, and will add the Etrac to the mix. Weather permitting, of course. Just got about 8" of snow...winter sucks!!!!

 

[jughed440]

Just want to add that i screwed up in the original post. I'm unable to correct my mistake.
Above the first pic, the connector on the right is for the new battery, NOT the connector on the left. Hopefully mods will edit it for me.