Is there a need to send your tector in for a check up?

[The Rebel]

I've had my V3i for 4 years now (bought new). It's working with no apparent issues but was wondering due to all of the advanced electronics...etc...if I should back to Sweet Home for a check up.

Anyone else do this?

Thanks in advance,
Roger

[Full Metal Digger]

I've wondered the same thing. My e-trac is 5 years old and I wonder if it's abilities (i.e. depth and signal strength) have degraded with time.

[Tony Two-Cent]

I guess it couldn't hurt.

Unless you're superstitious like me and are afraid that they will remove the good luck mojo.

[Digger_O'Dell]

That's a good question. Typically all electronic devices degrade to some extent over time and go out of calibration compared to new. With MD equipment, I couldn't say how tight the specs are or if the minute changes in the electronics make that much difference under normal circumstances. We aren't talking about certified calibration of equipment such as in a lab or quality control environment. But I'm sure also that if things seem to be operating nicely there should not be a need unless you just want it checked out to be certain as most machines are a pretty big investment. I know I would not want it to blank out on me mid hunt somewhere!

You also may want to look into self diagnostics on your particular machine as well. I found on my X-Terra there is a "hidden" power up sequence that does a fairly long self check and calibration routine. The odd thing on mine is that after I tried it I have sometimes been getting some odd VDI readings from zinc pennies far outside the usual range and often into the clad dime range-but that may just be the particular coins as most others come up just fine. On the other hand, I have noticed better depth, better seperation, and fewer "iffy" signals-so something changed internally. So my suggestion would be to research your machine and do self tests if you are comfortable doing so, and maybe send it in for a check during the off season if that's your desire.

I guess it couldn't hurt.

Unless you're superstitious like me and are afraid that they will remove the good luck mojo.

Tony-with your luck, I wouldn't touch a thing!

[OxShoeDrew]

I wondered this myself and asked the guy who designed my machine. This was his answer-
"With most electronic stuff, the rule is "if it works, don't fix it". In the case of the T2 (and nearly everything else we make), there's nothing to "tune up" unless ground balance has drifted out of range. Which rarely happens. In the case of the T2, with the ground phase readout you'd know if it drifted out of whack."

[MangoAve]

Are you blaming no coppers this year due to the machine being out of whack?

"With most electronic stuff, the rule is "if it works, don't fix it".

I would agree with this. I don't think people here are using machines here that are 30+ years old with the electrolytic capacitors rated for something like 5000 hours. Today they use tantalum. The only time I would think it is necessary is when the machine does something totally crazy. Reading a different VDI than normal for 1 out of 20 times doesn't really qualify. I have seen many different issues working with electronics, generally they tend to be the same issue within the same product line. A lot of the times the issue I see is nothing that would have been seen in the field; it just gets noticed because testing specs are tighter tolerance.

I wasn't aware machines have a self diagnostic program, but I bet it is limited to certain machines. Most of the manuals only have an explanation on how to reset back to default factory presets. Just keep a few coins on you every time you go out to hunt. If you think there is an issue, check to make sure the readings are correct from what they should be or what you are used to seeing with the machine. You don't quite lose depth over time. Based upon the posts from others' experience with sending units in, it appears that they do not do component level work. If you complain there is an issue they will replace a panel or display or something. They definitely wont spend the time or effort checking solder joints for an issue they may not be even able to replicate. Besides we don't quite subject machines to extreme temperature changes and/or a lot of vibrational force for it to become an issue with solder.
If you want to spend the money for shipping and time without the machine, go for it. Just if it isn't being erratic I don't see a need.

[The Rebel]

Thanks for all of your input guys, very helpful. I was wondering what ya'll had done.

Having a self diagnosis screen appear with a simple "No Errors Detected" or "Errors Encountered" would be a nice feature to have.

[Digger_O'Dell]

Thanks for all of your input guys, very helpful. I was wondering what ya'll had done.

Having a self diagnosis screen appear with a simple "No Errors Detected" or "Errors Encountered" would be a nice feature to have.

On my machine it goes through tons of checks and lights up each icon on the screen as each test is done. Funny thing is that there are icons I had never seen before and don't have any use on my machine that I know of unless internal or factory use. One such being a USB icon, which there is no plug for that on my box. Guessing if there is one it must be inside the box on the board itself?

[del]

Roger , for the dfx ... if you press a few of the buttons in a type of order , the machine will go through a set of tunes and it is suppose to be a type of self diagnosis mod. it sounds one way if it is supposedly running correctly and sounds another if there are any issues. I wouldn't be at all surprised if the v3i didn't also have a similar "check funtion" mode. My machine is at least 10 years old now and other then a couple of quirks that all dfx share , it runs pretty well especially through all the abuse it has seen in that time .

I also say if it ain't broke ......