Author Topic: X-terra 305 overload (Read 592 times)

Zongo · « **on:** January 31, 2012, 20:13 »

G'day good people.

Just received my x-terra 305 today and assembled it. Read instructions and tried to test it out. Seems that every time I turn it on it goes into overload (OL). I have taken it out in the yard and away from house but evertime I turn it on, it comes up as overload. Even metres away from any metal.

Hoping this is not a fault? Has anyone had a similiar experience? I can't adjust any controls while its in OL.

Hoping someone may advise me please?

Thanks
Dan

RelicHunter84 · « **Reply #1 on:** January 31, 2012, 20:43 »

hey, i have a 305 as well, but it hardly ever goes into overload. if there is no metal near it then i would contact the people you got it from. mine only does that on occasion, if i have it really close to a large metal object. Sorry i cant help you. maybe take out the batteries and try again. (you probably already did that, but i cant think of anything else).

Zongo · « **Reply #2 on:** January 31, 2012, 20:52 »

G'day RelicHunter. Yes i have tried taking the batteries out and starting again several times. Took it out in the yard and held it up to the sky too but still it goes into overload.

Sounds like I bought a dud. So unhappy now. But ship happens I guess. I'll send email to supplier in WA. I just hoped that it was something else?

??

Thanks for reply & cheers.

Dan

Mog · « **Reply #3 on:** January 31, 2012, 21:02 »

Mine only overloads on beer cans lol. Only problem I have ever had is the locking nut on the back of the screen vibrates loose therefore a loose connection from the coil to the control box. That caused a coil error for me CE on the screen I think. Retightned it and all good again.
Wish you luck and don't loose faith. I love my 305 altho I am saving for a more waterproof detector.

max705 · « **Reply #4 on:** January 31, 2012, 21:08 »

Maybe try pressing the pinpoint button then press it again, or i suggets you un assemble it then reassemble it
Max

Zongo · « **Reply #5 on:** January 31, 2012, 21:13 »

Thanks for the resposes and advice fellas.

Will try a few more things like disassemble/ reassemble tomorrow. I have sent an email to supplier asking for advice too. Thanks again for advice. Not a happy way to start out hunting again after 30 years............... ewwwwwwwww

Cheers

Dan

groundfisher · « **Reply #6 on:** January 31, 2012, 21:19 »

Try resetting to factory settings, it should be in the manual and is something like hold the all metal button while pressing the power button.

RelicHunter84 · « **Reply #7 on:** January 31, 2012, 21:54 »

good luck. let us know what happens.

Zongo · « **Reply #8 on:** February 01, 2012, 21:54 »

Thanks again for resposenses & help fellas.

Even a "no I haven't had that problem" is a very helpful answer. So all replies were very much appreciated even if you think you were not much help, in reality, you were!

Spoke to Minelab today, explained what it was doing. Told them the tests I had also done on it. I.E. change batteries, check batteries, disconnect coil, reboot it over & over etc. Their response was "send it back to us".

So thats where it is going now. Pretty sad having to pay to send a brand new unit back but errrrrrr ship happens. Even sadder that it was faulty and can't do some trial detecting till it comes back.

Cheers

Dan

Zongo · « **Reply #9 on:** February 11, 2012, 14:30 »

G'day
I got my X-terra 305 back from Minelab. They replaced the coil which musta been faulty. Been raing here for ages so I haven't had a chance to do any detecting, till this morning we got a brief break in the rain.
Now I have owned a radio shack detector for about 30+ years so on the occasional usage of it I have had only minor success with a few six penses, some pennies etc but most of the time just junk foil, iron etc. So that is what I am used to finding.

During the break in the rain I gave the 305 a run and got a great surprise!!! Went out into my yard and using all metal mode I got a signal, switched to both the desriminator modes and it was still there. So I got my trowel and dug about 9 inches down and it still told me something was there. Being sceptical from years of Radio Shack syndrome, I thought must be bloody foil i here. As I racked through the dirt I had dug out and the 305 still said in the hole. I was about to cover it up and fill it in but thought, "no I'll give it a chance to prove me wrong".

So I got the spade out and dug about a foot. racked out the dirt across the ground and say a dirty dirt clad disc. (I had forgotten how hard they are to see).

Bingo!!! 1939 penny. I was impressed. This was using the 6 inch coil BTW. Anyhow the rains back on and I am stuck back indoors. Trying to figure out was my first try with this machine just pure luck?

(trying to figure out how to post a photo of it in my post??)

Cheers

scratchinaround · « **Reply #10 on:** February 11, 2012, 15:37 »

hi Z. mmmm, not good out of the box eh

you would hope that the dealer would pre -check the unit when it has to be posted to a CUSTOMER. not particularly good P.R. here, a lot of potential buyers are reading these posts ! worse still if you buy from overseas [more fuel to the fire

] hope it,s all sorted for ya and the 305 makes up the initial let down. cheers .

Ecto1 · « **Reply #11 on:** February 11, 2012, 15:40 »

Is there something between coil and the coil cover??

Kind Regards

Ecto1

Sent from my iPhone.

Zongo · « **Reply #12 on:** February 11, 2012, 18:46 »

Quote from: Ecto1 on February 11, 2012, 15:40

Is there something between coil and the coil cover??

Kind Regards

Ecto1

Sent from my iPhone.

G'day Scratchin & Ecto.

Well, in regards to "Is there something between coil and the coil cover??". The unit was brand spanking new out of the box, so I wasn't going to go to any length (technically) to try to resolve a problem with a brand new unit under warranty.

I must admit I was very surprised that it was faulty since Minelab seem to have such a good reputation. As said before, I was very dissappointed having to pay (purchased in Australia from an Aussie company) to send a brand new unit back for repairs. But I guess it would be the same with any electronic appliance. I'm not into bagging a company without good reason so in all fairness, it could happen to anyone, just my bad luck of the draw.

Anyhow, I am pretty impressed with its operation at the first try. I hope to get out and give it a good run if the weather clears up.

Thanks for the replies.

Cheers

scratchinaround · « **Reply #13 on:** February 11, 2012, 19:08 »

hey Z. i like to hear your opinion of the 305 in comparision the ace 350, would be interesting. cheers .

groundfisher · « **Reply #14 on:** February 11, 2012, 21:21 »

What Ecto1 means is the skid plate which clips on and is easily removed to clean dirt out of it, you will need to clean it each use or it will fill up with dirt and get heavy, it could even cause ground balance problems and falsing if you get some highly mineralised dirt, rust or metal pieces in there.

Going to the beach means you may at times have to stop detecting, take it off and shake the sand out which only takes a few seconds to do, it all depends on how often it bumps into sand piles or how loose the sand is where you put it down to dig.

Don't take it off and leave it off for convenience as it is there to sacrifice itself to protect the coil from wearing out due to abrasion, the skid plate is cheap to replace, the coil is not.
Some people remove the skid plate and use spray on or brush on rubber coating for tools or ute bed liner paint which can be peeled off and reapplied as it wears out.

Make use of the foot washing tap that is usually located near paths or jetty's after each beach hunt.

Zongo · « **Reply #15 on:** February 12, 2012, 08:28 »

Quote from: scratchinaround on February 11, 2012, 19:08

hey Z. i like to hear your opinion of the 305 in comparision the ace 350, would be interesting. cheers .

G'day Scratchinaround & Groundfisher.

Thanks for the information about the coil cover Groundfisher. I don't recal reading about that in the book so its VERY helpful to know.

Regarding the Ace 350 V's the 305. I don't believe that I am experienced enough with either as yet to give a quailified or valid over all opinion. From the basic tests I have done between the two I can say this; I believe the ACE 350 is more sensitive and seems to have a greater target distance sensitivity. This is based on air tests. However, the ACE "chatters" and gives readings even when its sitting still doing nothing.
An air test with both devices on max sensitivity in all metal mode; The ACE 350 could detect a 5c piece on its edge at about 23 cm away. Same test with the 305 and it detected the target at about 19-20 cm away.

Summary is, I can run the 305 on max sensitivity no problem but with the 350 I have to run it at 6-7 out of a ten scale other wise it chatters. If the weather clears up, I might get a chance to actually do some proper tests in the field. Its fine this morning but they are forcasting rain again. I better see if I can get out there while its fine.

Cheers

Mick in Dubbo · « **Reply #16 on:** February 12, 2012, 21:53 »

It's most likely that you have a loose conection internally on the control box plug. it has 6 wires. Do not attempt to open it as it can void your warranty. Ring up Minelab and get them to check it. I've had it happen to me. It's tricky to solder yourself, so let them do it. If they keep stuffing up, then ask for a replacement unit.
Mick Evans.

Pete · « **Reply #17 on:** February 13, 2012, 08:01 »

2 Years ago when I bought my Safari it did the same, Overload straight out of the box. It went back to Minelab and they said they could not fault it. When it came back it did it again when first switched on. Then when I switched it on again it was OK and has been ever since. I get butterflies in the gut every time I switch on. Works well but I wonder if Minelab would come to my assistance now the warranty is out, should it fail again.

Living in hope and fear

Pete in Tassie

Rwork · « **Reply #18 on:** February 14, 2012, 16:31 »

Zongo, Re pictures.

How to post photo's is in general chatter in the coin section,locked up the top.
Type your post
Under the post Box find " attatchments and other options"
Click on browse
Change setting to the part of your computer you have the coin in,could be my pictures or my Documents.
Find the picture and click on it.
The file name should come up in the box.
Click on save and thats it.
if you have two pictures you have to click Under the first file box to where it says "More attatchments" and do all again. Keep going till you have linked all your pictures.
Make sure before you start that each picture is under 200kb or you will get a message that says "File size to Large"
To check size just hold the mouse indicator over the picture and the info should come up or Right click on it and search properties for size.
1 meg is around 1000 Kb

You may know most of this but it may help someone else.

Zongo · « **Reply #19 on:** February 15, 2012, 18:19 »

Thanks Rwork.

Much appreciated. I did see that instruction but due to a sudden attack of stupidness on my behalf, I didn't look carefully enough at the "attachments and other options" to see it.
"folks are dum where I come from".

Thanks again people for all the responses and advice. Very much appreciated.

Zongo · « **Reply #20 on:** February 15, 2012, 18:22 »

BTW. here is the penny I found after giving it a clean up.
Very pleased with the 305. unfortunatley, I also seem to have alot of JUNK in my yard as well.

Rwork · « **Reply #21 on:** February 15, 2012, 21:21 »

Good to see the picture appeared, Penny award posted.

Zongo · « **Reply #22 on:** February 16, 2012, 18:11 »

Haaaa! very cool!

Thanks Rwork. Hope I can find something else of interest or value. Fingers X.

Cheers

Dan

Btracer · « **Reply #23 on:** February 16, 2012, 18:47 »

well done songo on the penny

the 305 is a great detector.
ive seen people with them
out detect me

Zongo · « **Reply #24 on:** February 16, 2012, 20:12 »

Thanks Btracer.

I have tested it with its standard coil and the 6". Much better with the smaller coil.