Minelab Equinox Error Codes: What Cd, bF and Er Mean and How to Fix Them

A Minelab Equinox shows only three error codes: Cd means the coil is disconnected, bF means the battery is critically low, and Er followed by a number means a system error. The same three codes apply to the Equinox 600, Equinox 800, Equinox 700 and Equinox 900. Cd and bF you fix yourself in a few minutes. Er gets a restart and a factory reset, and if it comes back, the detector goes to a Minelab Authorized Service Center. Minelab does not publish what the individual Er numbers mean.

The three codes at a glance

The code shows in the Target ID number field. On an Er error the number shows on the Frequency display, and the detector shuts itself down 5 seconds after reporting it. A bF error on the Equinox 700 and 900 also shuts the detector down after 5 seconds.

Cd: coil disconnected

Cd on a Minelab Equinox 600, 700, 800 or 900 means the control pod cannot see the coil. Minelab's steps, in order:

1. Check that the coil connector is connected properly at the back of the control pod. Unscrew the retaining ring, pull the plug, push it back in squarely and tighten the ring by hand.
2. Check the coil cable for damage, especially where it enters the coil and where it meets the plug.
3. Check the coil itself for visible damage.
4. Try another coil if you have one.

If a known-good coil also gives Cd, the fault is in the pod's coil socket and it needs service. If the second coil works, the first coil or its cable is the problem. A coil cable wrapped tightly around the shaft for years can chafe at the plug; wrap with enough slack that the coil can tilt freely.

bF: critically low battery

bF on a Minelab Equinox means the internal lithium-ion battery is critically low and the detector is about to turn off. Minelab's step first, then ours:

1. Recharge the battery, or connect a USB power bank through the magnetic charging cable and keep detecting. The detector must not be used underwater while charging or on a power bank.
2. Our advice: if bF appears after only a few hours on a full charge, the battery is worn and needs replacing.

Before blaming the battery, charge it properly. A full charge from flat takes about 4 hours on the Equinox 600 and 800 with a charger that supplies more than 1.7 A at 5 V, and about 5 to 6 hours on the Equinox 700 and 900 with a charger rated at least 2 A at 5 V. A phone-charger brick or a laptop USB port may not get there. Our Equinox charging guide covers the charge LED and cable. If the battery really is worn, Minelab's manual says a Minelab Authorized Service Center replaces the Equinox 600 and 800 battery, and Minelab also publishes a do-it-yourself procedure with a control panel warranty caveat; our post on replacing the Equinox 600 and 800 battery walks through it. The Equinox 700 and 900 battery is replaced by a Minelab Authorized Service Center.

Er: system error

Er on a Minelab Equinox is a system error. A number shows on the Frequency display next to it, and the detector shuts down 5 seconds later. Minelab does not publish what each number means, so the fix is the same for every Er code:

1. Restart the detector and see if the error returns.
2. Confirm the coil is attached correctly.
3. If the error persists, perform a factory reset: with the detector off, press and hold the Power button until FP appears on the Target ID display. The Equinox 600 and 800 manual gives two figures for the hold, 8 seconds in the quick start and 5 seconds in the error code section, so expect somewhere in that range. Release the button when FP shows; a rising tone confirms the reset.
4. If the error still returns, the detector needs a Minelab Authorized Service Center.

Write down the Er number before you send it in. It does nothing for you, but it helps the technician. A factory reset clears all your saved settings and unpairs wireless headphones, so note your settings first if you have customized them.

My Equinox will not turn on, or turns off by itself. Is that an error?

Not always. A Minelab Equinox that will not power on, or that powers off with no code, is treated by Minelab's troubleshooting as a battery or charging problem first, not a fault. Minelab's troubleshooting steps for this on the Equinox 700 and 900 are: check the coil is connected, charge the detector, confirm the green charge LED is flashing while charging, confirm the charger supplies 2 A at 5 V, check the magnetic connector and the charging contacts on the back of the pod are clean, and check the cable is seated. On the Equinox 600 and 800, Minelab gives a quick test: plug in the charger and turn the detector on. If it runs on the charger but turns off the moment you unplug it, the battery needs replacing.

My Equinox is noisy or giving false signals. Is that an error?

No. A noisy Minelab Equinox is not a fault and shows no code. Minelab's order of operations: move away from power lines, phone towers, electric fences and other detectors; run an Auto Noise Cancel; run a Ground Balance; then lower the Sensitivity. Do the Noise Cancel again any time you change frequency. Expect an Equinox run indoors to be noisy because of wiring and appliances, and that is not a fault either.

Mistakes that make it worse

• Treating a Cd error as a dead coil. A connector that was not screwed down, or grit in the socket after a beach hunt, will also produce Cd. Reseat and clean before buying anything.
• Charging from a weak USB source, then assuming the battery is bad. A 1 A port can leave the detector short of a full charge. Use a 2 A wall charger and give it the full charge time: about 4 hours on a 600 or 800, 5 to 6 hours on a 700 or 900.
• Repeating a factory reset on an Er code that keeps coming back. One reset is the test. If Er returns after a reset, more resets will not fix it and the detector needs service.
• Opening the control pod. Apart from the 600/800 battery compartment, for which Minelab publishes a procedure, there is nothing inside the Equinox pod for an owner to service, and opening it risks the waterproof seal.

What to do next

Match the code to the three-code table and work through Minelab's steps in order. Cd and bF are fixed at home. An Er code that survives a restart and a factory reset means a service visit. If your detector is a current Equinox 700 or 900 and still under warranty, contact us about service before sending it anywhere.