Thanks. If the metal detector I found today was another one I would really be shocked! But then I would need to continue searching for mine. And that water was cold! Sure glad that the one I found was my Equinox 800 and I won't have to go looking for it in that cold water again.
... I have been searching all over the internet and cannot find out how to take apart the head unit of an Equinox 800. Does anyone here know how to disassemble one? Or where I can find information about it? It looks like the only way is to somehow snap apart the case.
Here is an interesting find from today, a See's Candies Gift Card (its also shown in post #19, but very small). Unfortunately I when I checked the gift card balance it was $0.
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I am now wondering if my Equinox 800 was on or off when it fell into the river? If it was on then the circuit board might not be repairable. But I will try no matter what because I can and have repaired many circuit boards with surface mount components. I have a digital microscope, a heat gun for removing/replacing multi-legged chips, a fine tipped soldering iron, and a multimeter. I am able to replace and resolder components the size of a small ant with the aid of my digital microscope (shown below). So even if the head unit is damaged there is a > 75% chance that I can diagnose the problem and repair it.
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... I am going back out to the stream tomorrow to pick up those two propane cylinders and haul out as much trash as I can carry in my backpack and duffel bag. When I was in the water searching I placed the trash on the shore so I could easily retrieve it later. There were a few hundred pounds of trash! It will take numerous trips back and forth to my truck and may take me more than a day.