Am I the only one who finds it disappointing that the Axiom does not come with a car charger?

[Jennifer]

Am I the only one who finds it disappointing that the Axiom does not come with a car charger?​

Problem solved.... I'm starting to wonder if Doc has spies in the manufactures facilities. I no sooner had received my Axiom when out of thin air this popped up onto his web site. A SUPER heavy duty power cord with USB adapters to plug in your USB type C cable to charge.... 14 AWG (American Wire Gauge), very skookum cable.

We've all enjoyed Minelab including a cable similar to this (smaller gauge wire on the Minelab) and where Doc saw a need, he created a solution....

I only have one gripe with it, when I saw the beefiness of the cable, I thought, that'll be GREAT for using with your 12VDC eski (cooler) etc as well.. but it appears, at least on mine that the cigarette to USB adapter is epoxied into the outlet. This is good actually, you're not going to lose it just be aware this is a dedicated 12VDC to USB adapter harness, if you want to plug in another cigarette plug you'll have to chip off the epoxy. Maybe Doc will offer it in two versions at some point, one for use with other things as well, no epoxied and one that is dedicated... either way, this is a VERY over built cable assembly and another example of Doc's Detecting Supply leading the way on goodies we never thought we needed but realized we can't live without, well done Doc.

Here's a link to the item on his site: https://docsdetecting.com/product/d...for-garrett-axiom-aftermarket-two-2-4amp-usb/

Check out the second picture... that's the cable you get with the Minelab.... look at the wire size.... I know which one I prefer... truth be told, I called Doc and said to him, "You really are over doing it on the cable, there's no need to run such thick cable for a USB-C charger, you could save some money on that"..... his response "My goal isn't to save money, my goal is to make a quality product that will last".

Touche..... Well played Doc, well played...

Note: I've also posted this in the Garrett Axiom section.

Doc's cable.....

Below is what comes with the Minelab GPZ7000

 

[Doc]

I can ship the USB adapter loose and not epoxied in place if requested. I was afraid that it would be too easy to lose. But all you have to do is let me know. It is a valid point in that this heavy duty cable could be used for other things.

Also it's not a type C USB. It's the standard TYPE A. You can use a TYPE A to a C if you want to charge your Samsung phone or something else with a C input.

Doc

 

[Jennifer]

I can ship the USB adapter loose and not epoxied in place if requested. I was afraid that it would be too easy to lose. But all you have to do is let me know. It is a valid point in that this heavy duty cable could be used for other things.

Also it's not a type C USB. It's the standard TYPE A. You can use a TYPE A to a C if you want to charge your Samsung phone or something else with a C input.

Doc

The adapter that comes with it is a USB A X 2, female which you can plug the USB A male to USB C male cord into, then into the Axiom which has a USB C female charging port.

 

[Doc]

Yep you got it. But the ZLINK headphones have a female micro B port. Garret also supplies the cable to charge it as well which is a Male A USB to a MALE Micro B that plugs into the headphones.

Doc

 

[Axtyr]

That Minelab car charger for the GPZ pictured with the alligator clips was a waste of effort. It should have included the cigarette lighter jack and not the alligator clips. I have certainly never used it. I just put it up on the shelf where it sat for many years. Who has a battery inside their car to connect the clips to? What I did with mine was cut the clips off and put a joiner between the clips and the plug. I then made up a lead with the cigarette lighter plug attached with the same joiner so if I wanted to connect to a battery I just connected the clips and if I wanted to plug it into the cigarette lighter I disconnected the clips from the lead and attached the lighter adaptor. I now do that with every lead that connects to mains, battery and cigarette lighter.

The problem we are finding is that the car manufacturers are removing the cigarette lighter socket from their vehicles in a bid to make people stop smoking. They forgot that it makes an easy 12V charging port.

What I did do with my 12V car charging setup for the GPZ was put in an inline switch like you get on a bed side table. I did this because the GPX5000 had a problem whereby the electronics in the battery could be fried if you plugged it into the cigarette lighter socket and then started the engine of the car. With my charger I plug it into the socket, turn the switch off then start the car and switch the charger on. I'm not sure if it is an issue with the GPZ but I didn't want to take any chances.

Regards Axtyr.

 

[Doc]

AXTYR:
I find your post interesting. You see over here in the U.S. You can not charge your battery and the Wireless Module through the charging base at the same using a cigarette lighter port. The amperage draw is apparently too much. Using the cigarette lighter port you can charge the battery, or you can charge the wireless module independently but not together. So I have always charged my battery and wireless module together using the alligator clip hooked up directly to my truck battery. I just gently close the hood of the truck, and let it charge over-night.
As a Minelab dealer when the GPZ7000 was first released I queried Minelab as to why I could not get both the battery and Wireless Module to charge through the charger base when plugged into the car lighter port. The told me perhaps the amp draw was too high and I should use the supplied direct connect charging cord.
Had you ever tried to use just the lighter plug to charge both at the same time? Maybe foreign vehicles are equipped with higher amps?

Doc

 

[Axtyr]

Doc, that is weird. When I leave to return home I connect the wireless module to the base and place the battery into the charging base and let them both charge on the return trip, usually about 2 hours. The only problem I get is when the vehicle turns off at traffic lights with the new stop/start mechanism. The charger then flashes indicating not enough charge, or so I've been told by Minelab. I did wonder why that type of connection was even included with the detector, so it seems that it is for the American market but included no matter which country it is purchased in.

Different automotive electrical systems require different wiring solutions.

Regards Axtyr.

 

[Doc]

AXLYR,
You may be right about what you are saying, regarding being able to charge when the vehicle is running.

In my case when I am out camping in the desert, I am charging overnight and the vehicle is not running so it has always been impossible to charge both battery and wireless module at the same time using the lighter plug port. That is why I have always relied on the battery charging cord.

So it may not be different vehicles it may be the different circumstances in which we choose to try and charge our accessories.

If I'm out for only the day I wait until I get home because I have a separate charging base at home so I just take it inside and charge things up for the next trip.

I've been camping for as many as four days and there was no significant drain on the truck battery charging the accessories every night.

Doc

 

[Axtyr]

Doc I have only ever done day trips so it has never been a problem for me. For those in remote areas I suspect they use a battery and solar setup to charge overnight. The things we need to do.

Axtyr.

 

[Jennifer]

Doc I have only ever done day trips so it has never been a problem for me. For those in remote areas I suspect they use a battery and solar setup to charge overnight. The things we need to do.

Axtyr.

Some of us who “live” on gold bearing ground just go back inside for a cold one and plug it in.. lol

 

[Axtyr]

Some of us who “live” on gold bearing ground just go back inside for a cold one and plug it in.. lol

I can understand that in your area. I've seen the temp. gauge. If you put a solar panel on your hat you could charge the battery on the go. LOL.

Regards Axtyr.