Garrett Pro Pointer Falsing

[Elad]

I am not sure why, but sometimes my propointer falses consistently. As soon as it touches soil, it beeps like crazy. Then, when I take it out of the hole, it still beeps in the air! The only way to make it stop is to turn it off then back on again.

Other times, it seems perfectly fine.

Not sure if this works but, I turn my pinpointer on while I noise cancel my machine.

Could it be the soil conditions?

Anyone elses propointer doing this?

[stewart73]

I would first try a fresh battery and if it keeps acting up I would send it back for a replacement. Garrett are normally pretty good about stuff like that.

[Jim Leonard]

Try cleaning it and replacing the battery

[Elad]

I keep it clean always. Unless of course it's being used in mud or something.

I will replace the battery and see if it helps. Did you go through the same thing?

[Tombs]

my mates dose that all the time, and mine started to before i took it apart and killed it dont take the board out!

[Jim Leonard]

The only time I'd any problem with my Garrett Probe, it needed a battery.

[moparado]

My Garrett does the same thing. I noticed the falsing gets worse in hot weather especially when the probe is directly exposed to the sun, when its left on for long periods and i think a dirty tip also doesn't help.
Basically i think the crammed in electronics in an air/water tight case with no ventilation overheats is my best geuss.
For me its a tolerable nuisance and not a show stopper in light of its great performance otherwise.

My wishlist for a Garrett II probe would be:
-MIL spec electronic components which tolerate higher temps

-Momentary push button instant on/off option. Sometimes that thing is a PITA when i forget to turn it off. Being constantly on while digging can also tend to overheat it.

-A real time sensitivity control instead of the automatic self sensitivity period during power on which typically takes a second or two. Also a PITA.

-Volume control. Could be inside the case near the battery compartment maybe.

They can keep that IMO useless battery draining LED light.

[Markch]

Mine false s if i press too hard on any surface other wise its the battery , best £60 i spent

Mark

[nellie1973]

I get falsing, in hot weather as well. Works ok most of the time but seems to be getting worse with age (like most things!!)

[jcmaloney]

Hot weather? Sun? What is this stuff you talk of? I`m just glad its waterproof!

[mal]

Mine sounds off when too near the detector coil. Remember the detector also gives out a electric field which effects the pinpointer and vice-vesa.
Normally have to put detector coil three feet away so doesn't effect pinpointer.

[Iron Mask]

my mates dose that all the time, and mine started to before i took it apart and killed it dont take the board out!

Do you still have the killed Garrett. I am looking for a dud to do expiermenting on.
PM me if your interested to sell it.

[Elad]

So very strange... yesterday it was acting crazy. Today it was perfectly fine. 2 different locations each day. I am thinking it must be the soil.... or something else, maybe EMI from something.

[paul-digsit]

mine plays up as well,
I found that IF the battery lid is screwed on too tight I get falses, this is probably down to the battery pushing down on the electronics

I'm going to try what Mal says and keep it as far away from the coil as possible or maybe even switch off the detector (xterra 705) next time it falses.

[jerrykerry]

If there iron in the ground it will go off - I went on a roman site and thats minerilised and sets off the probe.
As Tombs said - the board is a bitch to replace - it normally ends in the button snapping off !

[jeb]

Mine started doing this and I fitted a New Duracell battery. That sorted it .

[Nuke em]

I have the problem when using it on the shingle as i move it in the shingle it sounds off at times but i know when its a coin or other target.

I have also stripped the entire inards out because it died on me a while back , i checked it over put it back together and it works again , still falses though. If it dies i have another.

[chriscolle]

Direct sunlight does the trick, garett goes crazy.

Sometimes it just throws a tantrum for reasons not known to average man.
Button and gummed up speaker holes shut it up, ......

Great piece of kit though!

[paul-digsit]

I now have a cure for falsing on the garrett propointer and have made a video about it.
Loads of people have tried it and it seems to be curing the problem
http://youtu.be/usAZiODfaTQ

[Tony Hunt]

Mine started doing this and I fitted a New Duracell battery. That sorted it .

Like it Jeb. Never had a problem with mine either till the battery ran out.

[Exilpatriot]

Mine played up big time. It started with going off without any metal near, then intermittent stopping when next to metal, then nothing, then strongly decreased distance...it was driving me mad. I found out it belongs to the most annoying things finding yourself on that field with all your gear,looking forward to digging out the greatest treasures when you suddenly realise your pointer is virtually dead! No, worse it's working intermittently and gives you false readings! Back home I checked the battery and to my surprise it was full. Tried another one, the same. Then I had a closer look into the device and could see corroded battery contacts and screw head. There were also tiny droplets along the battery compartment walls. Even the label with the number on was loose. In other words, my pointer was completely soaked inside and that must have been for many days since I hadn't touched it for almost a week. Waterproof right? I remembered with horror when I was looking for little pieces of metal in holes that had immediately filled with water due to the wet field - with the pointer fully submerged. Or my ritual of cleaning my pointer under the running tab using a brush to heartily clean the speaker, switch and LED in particular.
I wasn't (and still am) not impressed. I know they don't say it is waterproof but they give you the impression it is, especially when saying clean it under the running tab. And why on earth shouldn't such tool be waterproof?? I mean, I'm in the UK here and not Texas - do they actually know that our seasons are basically rain all year?
Anyway, I initiated emergency measures. First, several our upside down on top of our dehumidifier, with open battery compartment. I saved various drowned electronics this way. It seems that time is key and it's the only way to reach the far corners in a device without speeding up the corrosion process by giving it fresh (and humid) air. After that I gave it a good spray of WD40 on the contacts and a little behind through the two holes. Back on the dehumidifier for 2 hours. The last step was to apply more WD40, this time a more through the holes, oh yes baby directly on the board. Then I held the compartment close and gave it a good shake. I could hear the (small) amount of liquid WD40 until I was sure it must have covered pretty much everything inside. Then, the big moment. Battery in, screw cap back on and....switch. Wow, what a clean and LOUD sound! The working distance was back to normal with about 4-5". On off, on off...still working! Left it for a few hours to see if it was only a dream but...still working. I got my pointer back! On top of that it now has a thin water replacing layer on it's fragile internals so if there is some water getting in it will most likely not cause any harm. Also I will adopt the routine of opening the battery compartment after use so that any water can escape. I will also get some tape and stick it on the speaker or perhaps a little silicon, also around the switch. Or I just leave as it is and just place it in a freezing bag when it's muddy...which means most of the time...