Explorer AA Battery Pack Issue.

[Goldhunter]

I charged the power pack for my Explorer SE a couple of days ago, (full 17 hour charge); put the pack in the SE and turned on...no problems, all fired up correctly.
Then I put the dry cell AA pack in, turned the SE on and it was dead. Put fresh AA's in the dry cell pack and tried again...nothing.
The dry cell pack reads 12.9 volts with the new batteries in, (measured across the terminals on the outside of the pack). The only thing I can think is wrong is an invisible corrosion layer on top of the terminal of the battery pack. Any other thoughts folks?

[Dave8472]

I can only really suggest some of the things you have tried.

Try cleaning all the contacts with alcohol and a cotton bud stick, even give them a scratch up. I would test the voltage on each battery as one dead one in the pack may cause this, although the overall voltage is there it may be dead under load. Also they need to be good batteries, not the very cheap Chinese ones. I used to use rechargeable ones in my dry cell adaptor.

Is there plenty of resistance when you push the pack in ? I wonder if the springs have gone weak and not making proper contact ?

Dave

[fred]

Maintaining the power was always a source of fun and games with Explorers. It usually came down to cleaning the contacts as described or the flat plate on the battery pack being pushed down by the springs until they no longer made good contact. The springs can be stretched a bit with a hook but this isn't realy a good idea because if you move them off centre they can be bent over and squashed when you insert the battery pack. 81/]

The sealed battery packs also suffered from power drop off so after a few years they would no longer last more than a few hours even with a full charge. It was only at the very end of my time with Explorers (and a lot of expense) that I discovered how easy it was to replace the batteries in the sealed units.

[Goldhunter]

Thanks Dave and Fred, all appears ok with the AA holder, springs etc. I will try cleaning the external contacts with a glass fibre pen cleaner to see if that is all it is. I've owned the detector from new and it's the first time I've had any trouble with the battery holder. I'm at a rally this weekend so will possibly buy a second rechargeable pack and just use those in future. Still a great machine for depth with my 10x12" SEF.