Temperature for detecting

[lamairepr]

Being new to this hobby, just got my new Ace 250, and wanted to give it try in the back yard.....:grin:can't wait until spring to try it. I live in MI and it's now starting to get cold but no snow or rain so have a small window before it starts. Just wondering if there is a temperature working environment besides the obvious, I should not operate in?
Thanks for any advice.

Phil

[OxShoeDrew]

Phil, I'm not certain how low temps affect digital electronics, hopefully someone will chime in. The only thing I've noticed is when I leave my detector out in the low teens it starts to chirp weirdly when the temps rise again. It goes back to normal in a few days. Condensation maybe? I no longer leave my detector out over night and won't detect below 25 (because I start chirping weirdly:lol:) so I don't have any problems.

[del]

Phil , each model can be a bit different as to how it handles the cold but lcd screens can and do get sluggish and slow in temps around 20 degrees and lower . some machines will also start acting a bit erratic as Drew mentioned .

[MangoAve]

Drew/Phil,

You can leave your detector in the cold no problem. They can be stored down to -65 BUT I believe all these detectors use commercial grade, not military grade electronics. If it was military grade you can use it down to -55 C. Commercial grade is 0C (just around your 25F drew). Most failures with electronics happen when they are cold but just warming up, but that means there has to be a faulty component to fail within it's specified operating temp.

[nuttinbutjunk]

Another newb here, also from Michigan.

Phil, I've detected in my backyard every day since Christmas. No ill effects so far.

[BTV Digger]

I've really seen no terrible performance problem when it gets on the chilly side, but I admit I don't really enjoy getting out in temperatures much below freezing. Plus typically you start running into frozen ground issues by that point.

Jon

[giant056]

I detect all winter if it's freezing or above in the woods but ya can't dig anywhere else, a woods with a good canopy and thick layer of leaves keeps the dirt from freezing. Some woods ya can't hunt though, especially the pine parts of a woods, they freeze rock solid.

[nuttinbutjunk]

Yeah, we haven't had enough cold weather to even begin seeing frost.

One note though, everything is damp. Some of those strap-on gardener's knee pads will help keep your knees dry.

[lamairepr]

thanks everyone for your responses, very much appreciated...now on to the backyard :)