(Fake) Pro-pointer eats batteries (sold by Wish.com)

[Andysmee]

My Garrett Pro-pointer which went ga-ga after I washed it, seems to eat batteries now it's working again. I mean it will use up a pp3 9v battery in only about 3 hours of metal detecting...so only on for about an hour total, I should think.

Sounds wrong, right?

EDIT: it's a fake. Search Google to help learn how to spot fakes: https://www.google.com/search?q=how+to+ ... e&ie=UTF-8

[Richardjj]

My Garrett Pro-pointer which went ga-ga after I washed it, seems to eat batteries now it's working again. I mean it will use up a pp3 9v battery in only about 3 hours of metal detecting...so only on for about an hour total, I should think.

Sounds wrong, right?

Yes, it does, mine lasts weeks of use on a single battery, infact I think I get through more than I should cause I just think, it must be getting low by now and change it out for a new one.

I have wondered what difference the combination of level 3 sensitivity and vibration vs. sound makes as far as extending life of the battery. I just use mine on level two sound and vibration.

[bodvoc]

Something definitely wrong with it. Sounds to me like it is draining the battery even when it’s turned off.
I would try to dry it out with a long blow from a hairdryer. Perhaps that water ingress has shorted out something inside somewhere?
Failing that, you may either opt to get it fixed or just buy another.

[Koala]

All my pin pointers Garrett or GP have lasted several hundreds of hours detecting over a years use


Although they are only on for a few seconds at a time

[BucksSearcher]

I agree mine has never had a battery change over many, many digs in the last year

[Andysmee]

Thanks all, I'll check it out

[Andysmee]

I won't be sending it back for warranty repair, it's a fake :-(

It seems to work but goes ga-ga once the battery drops only a little. The clues that give it away: it came with the coil lanyard thing and the serial number on the cap rubs off as it's not laminated... oh, and the price was too good to be true, so mea culpa.

[Batman]

All my pin pointers Garrett or GP have lasted several hundreds of hours detecting over a years use


Although they are only on for a few seconds at a time

Exactly this

[IJammer]

Take the innerds out through the battery access (press the on/off button down to clear the button push hole), dry out. reconnect battery with an ammeter in series with one of the battery leads and check for any current flow when switched off (there should be none!). Then check the battery current when switched on... I would think it would be under 150 mili-amp but check with Garrett for the actual normal running current draw. Use the ohmeter to test the on/off switch to make sure it is switching (off) and working correctly!

My garrett PP3 battery lasts for well over a year with normal usage. Useful to use a plastic waterproof sheath when its all working correctly... they don't like getting wet/damp! They will also give you eronious readings if wet near the end of the probe (the RF from the pointer tracks!)

The older Garrett pointers would also act up if a new battery was over voltage (+9v DC). They were very voltage sensitive!

Dave

[Andysmee]

Take the innerds out through the battery access (press the on/off button down to clear the button push hole), dry out. reconnect battery with an ammeter in series with one of the battery leads and check for any current flow when switched off (there should be none!). Then check the battery current when switched on... I would think it would be under 150 mili-amp but check with Garrett for the actual normal running current draw. Use the ohmeter to test the on/off switch to make sure it is switching (off) and working correctly!

My garrett PP3 battery lasts for well over a year with normal usage. Useful to use a plastic waterproof sheath when its all working correctly... they don't like getting wet/damp! They will also give you eronious readings if wet near the end of the probe (the RF from the pointer tracks!)

The older Garrett pointers would also act up if a new battery was over voltage (+9v DC). They were very voltage sensitive!

Dave

As I mentioned, mine's a fake, and I suspect a lot of issues with pinpointers on this forum are likely to be fake devices.

[Batman]

I've had my original black Garrett propointer now for about 12 years and it's never missed a beat, so I suppose the old adage remains true.....buy cheap, buy twice.

[IJammer]

As I mentioned, mine's a fake, and I suspect a lot of issues with pinpointers on this forum are likely to be fake devices.

Still the same priciples apply, fake or not! Either bin it and get a real one... or have a go at getting it working; you got nothing to lose by have a crack at it and you may learn something to boot! Make double sure that the on/off switch is not 'leaking' allowing it to drain the battery when you think it is off! Prolly uses a cheap and nasty switch!

[Batman]

Still the same priciples apply, fake or not! Either bin it and get a real one... or have a go at getting it working; you got nothing to lose by have a crack at it and you may learn something to boot! Make double sure that the on/off switch is not 'leaking' allowing it to drain the battery when you think it is off! Prolly uses a cheap and nasty switch!

But I suppose if you get it working "right" it is still going to be useless and not work the same as a genuine one, so for me I wouldn't waste my time I'd bin it and buy the real thing!..... Lesson learned.

[Andysmee]

Still the same priciples apply, fake or not! Either bin it and get a real one... or have a go at getting it working; you got nothing to lose by have a crack at it and you may learn something to boot! Make double sure that the on/off switch is not 'leaking' allowing it to drain the battery when you think it is off! Prolly uses a cheap and nasty switch!

I've got my money back on it, so bought a better one now

[Alan Black]

On my genuine Garrett carrot the serial number has completely worn off, but I think that they also have a sticker with it inside. I only use it on vibrate and get about 3 months use per battery when out at least once per week.