Etrac users - I have questions!

TheCoilist · Nov 23, 2011

Okay so I am looking and doing my research. I have been reading some old posts about the Etrac and I know it's excellent for SILVER coins.

How is it on beaches?

How is it on gold jewelry? I see mixed reports on this area. I am not prospecting nuggets but may come across gold rings and such.

How well does it work on say a tot lot?

Also, how water "resistant" is the Etrac? I mean I may be in some very humid areas (sub-tropical/tropical) areas. And it does rain quite often, can it handle a splash or two? Coils I hear are not waterproof?

Are the connections for the coils and headphones proprietary like the Garrett AT Pro or are they easily adaptable?

Daved · Nov 23, 2011

Put a bunch of hours on it! It wont find tiny gold but rings and such it will find. Dont get the upper part wet and your fine. You will have no problems finding coins, silver coins and jewelery scream loud!

Throw a bunch of stuff on the ground and listen... or bury it.

TheCoilist · Nov 23, 2011

Upper part as in the control box or upper part of the coil? Do they make water proof coils for the Etrac?

Daved · Nov 23, 2011

Ive had mine in water up to about 3 feet.

Cessna Dude · Nov 23, 2011

Brand new Etrac owner here; I'm curious to learn the same.

Bonesquat · Nov 23, 2011

All metal detector coils are water proof. Most if not all are waterproof up to the control box. I've used the E-trac in a light drizzle with no ill effects. It'll pick up any gold ring or platinum - but not at the depth of other gold tuned machines. Also will NOT find odd shaped small gold - like small earrings, etc. No little necklaces or thin bracelets. MAYBE if they're silver.

If anyone wants to argue this, PROVE it. Upload a video to youtube showing the E-trac detecting tiny gold. I bet you can't do it. I've tried with a small coil - just won't get the small odd shaped stuff. You may get a tiny blip if you literally scrap the gold on the coil.

I actually found a small 10kt ring with the E-trac before I ever found silver. Just gotta dig it all. You def don't need an E-trac for gold beeping.

Daved · Nov 23, 2011

Use andys coin program...

Cessna Dude · Nov 23, 2011

"Andy" as in Sabisch?

Daved · Nov 23, 2011

There are a lot of pattern files here..http://www.findmall.com/read.php?71,1474104

As well as many others in that forum.

TheCoilist · Nov 23, 2011

Not too concerned about small gold. It would be beach used and in the event that I came across gold rings or something I'd like to be able to detect it. Watched a youtube video and this guy had found about 5 rings and 8 silvers on the beach in one video. It was crazy.

I am kind of diggin (pun intended) the Etrac just thinking about the 1500$ price tag.

stewart73 · Nov 23, 2011

The Etrac will most certainly find gold rings on the beach though with a much different 'sound' (ie. lower-pitched) than silver (assuming you are hunting in multi/conduct). I have found very, very thin gold rings but I'm not sure the Etrac is that great on small gold such as earrings or thin chains. Overall the Etrac is awesome on the beaches...just don't over-discriminate or swing too fast in trashy areas. Use noise cancel before starting. Using the 'recovery deep' option is up to you; it will make deep targets as loud as shallow targets.

The coil is waterproof but I would caution against water hunting too much with the Etrac. Get pushed off balance once by a wave and it's gone. You also have to be careful not to lift the coil any higher than the control box when in the water as the water will run down the inside of the shaft and right into the control box.

Hunting in mild rain is no problem but definitely get the optional control box cover (and keep in mind that even this isn't totally waterproof). Costs next to nothing and will keep things fairly dry.

The Etrac will of course work in a totlot but a smaller coil might be in order if you are hunting around metal playground equipment. Even with the Procoil the Etrac sounds off within about 2 feet of, say, a swing set. Even worse with a larger coil.

Big Boys Hobbies · Nov 23, 2011

I love Andy Sabisch coins program! The Minelab E-Trac is awesome on the beach as well.

TheCoilist · Nov 23, 2011

Great info! That's the kind of answers I was looking for.... I like the idea of walking the ripple lines with a coil. I wouldn't take it in the water per se. I plan on getting an xcalibur for that.

TheCoilist · Nov 23, 2011

Next question... looking at the spec sheet on minelabs website says it comes standard with the 11" DD coil...

Does it come with a NiMH battery pack or does it require you to use alkalines out of the box?

stewart73 · Nov 23, 2011

outwardjourney said:
Next question... looking at the spec sheet on minelabs website says it comes standard with the 11" DD coil...

Does it come with a NiMH battery pack or does it require you to use alkalines out of the box?

It comes with the NiMH battery and charger AND a kind of a battery 'shell' that can be filled with AA batteries if need be and serve as a backup battery. You'll be set from the start!

Before you ask how long the battery lasts, it will definitely last you all day long and then some. I've hunted 8 hours and still had 2 bars out of 4 left.

TheCoilist · Nov 23, 2011

stewart73 said:
It comes with the NiMH battery and charger AND a kind of a battery 'shell' that can be filled with AA batteries if need be and serve as a backup battery. You'll be set from the start! Before you ask how long the battery lasts, it will definitely last you all day long and then some. I've hunted 8 hours and still had 2 bars out of 4 left.

No doubt, the NiMH batteries (we call them candy bars in my business) last a good 10hr solid in our gear. I work in TV/Film and we use those batteries in our audio packages which are battery intensive. It's great that they come with both sources!! I am almost confident that will be my next machine. I looked at the explorer SE, and noticed very slight differences, but I think those differences will make themselves apparent when the machine is in my hand more than they do on paper. So I may leave the Garrett brand behind me soon and become a minelab supporter. Haven't decided if I should sell the AT Pro while it's still a 'hot' machine.

mcdoogal · Nov 23, 2011

My trac came with the rechargable battery and a pack that you can put regular batteries in. I have had no prob with jewelry. This is not everything but is a good slice of the last 2 years of etrac jewelry. I think you will be happy with an etrac and 40+ hrs with it under your belt. I really like mine. I added an aluminum Herc cuff and a sunray probe to it.

TheCoilist · Nov 23, 2011

Very Nice!!

Iron Patch · Nov 24, 2011

Bonesquat said:
All metal detector coils are water proof.

Nope. The Coiltek Joey isn't. Could be more.

Iron Patch · Nov 24, 2011

stewart73 said:
Hunting in mild rain is no problem but definitely get the optional control box cover (and keep in mind that even this isn't totally waterproof). Costs next to nothing and will keep things fairly dry.

As long as the E-trac housing is the same as an explorer and you have a Minelab or Sunray cover up on, rain is no longer a factor. I'm fairly sure I've detected at least a hundred days (maybe more) in the rain and dozens in very heavy rain, and some days it was coming down so hard even I questioned if I was nuts being out there, and to date no trouble at all. It's been many years since I've thought of rain being a factor in detecting.

Etrac users - I have questions!

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