AirmetTango
Forum Supporter
It looks like the Equinox doesn't like wearing a dust cover in direct sunlight on summer days. I was out hunting today with my Equinox 800 and needed to cut the hunt short after only 45 minutes because the screen gradually became unreadable as the hunt progressed. At first I thought it was just glare from the sun causing problems reading the display, but after shading the screen with my hand and even using my body as a shield, I realized the display was just plain wonky. It sort of looked like all of the LCD elements were illuminated, like this Minelab graphic:
In addition, the entire display appeared like I was looking at it through polarized sunglasses, giving it a darkened, muddled look.
It really wasn't a very hot day - temps were in the lower 80s, low humidity (about 50%), with a nice breeze blowing. I was very comfortable in shorts and a t-shirt - I wasn't even close to breaking a sweat. I've always used a dust cover on the Equinox, and I'm pretty sure I've detected on hotter days. The only difference this time may be the direct sun at a high, summer angle - there wasn't a cloud in the sky and it was noon. I cycled the machine off and back on again, with no change. The control head didn't feel particularly hot.
Anyway, I packed up and went home. Shortly after getting home, I turned on the detector in the house and all behaved normally again. I went out in the backyard in full sun, and the display was easily readable like usual, but I shut back down almost right away, not wanting to repeat any overheat symptoms and running the risk of permanent damage.
I know I've seen this issue mentioned in a few other threads a while back, but this is first time I've had the problem come up on my machine. I'm pretty disappointed and concerned - again, it just wasn't that hot out. I don't like the idea of using the machine without a dust cover - I always wear gloves, and the grit/sand/dirt from the gloves act like sandpaper and would ultimate cause unnecessary scratches and damage to the keypad over time. Plus it keeps the exposed charging port covered and protected from dirt and grime. I've always used dust covers on all of my previous machines (Garretts), and never had an issue even in the most grueling hot conditions.
As the summer gets hotter, I guess I'm going to have to make a choice between going without the cover, or just staying home and waiting for cooler temps...the Equinox appears to be a snowflake from that standpoint.
In addition, the entire display appeared like I was looking at it through polarized sunglasses, giving it a darkened, muddled look.
It really wasn't a very hot day - temps were in the lower 80s, low humidity (about 50%), with a nice breeze blowing. I was very comfortable in shorts and a t-shirt - I wasn't even close to breaking a sweat. I've always used a dust cover on the Equinox, and I'm pretty sure I've detected on hotter days. The only difference this time may be the direct sun at a high, summer angle - there wasn't a cloud in the sky and it was noon. I cycled the machine off and back on again, with no change. The control head didn't feel particularly hot.
Anyway, I packed up and went home. Shortly after getting home, I turned on the detector in the house and all behaved normally again. I went out in the backyard in full sun, and the display was easily readable like usual, but I shut back down almost right away, not wanting to repeat any overheat symptoms and running the risk of permanent damage.
I know I've seen this issue mentioned in a few other threads a while back, but this is first time I've had the problem come up on my machine. I'm pretty disappointed and concerned - again, it just wasn't that hot out. I don't like the idea of using the machine without a dust cover - I always wear gloves, and the grit/sand/dirt from the gloves act like sandpaper and would ultimate cause unnecessary scratches and damage to the keypad over time. Plus it keeps the exposed charging port covered and protected from dirt and grime. I've always used dust covers on all of my previous machines (Garretts), and never had an issue even in the most grueling hot conditions.
As the summer gets hotter, I guess I'm going to have to make a choice between going without the cover, or just staying home and waiting for cooler temps...the Equinox appears to be a snowflake from that standpoint.