Minelab Li-ion Rechargeable Battery Pack for Equinox 700 / 900

This is the official Minelab replacement battery for the Equinox 700 and Equinox 900, part number 3011-0456: a 3.7 V, 5100 mAh lithium-ion pack that sits inside the handle of the control pod. Minelab's battery replacement guides give the same part for the X-Terra Pro and X-Terra Elite. It is for an owner of one of those four whose full charge no longer lasts a session, or who wants a spare on the shelf; Minelab's manual rates a healthy battery at approximately 12 hours of runtime and says the pack may need replacing after a few years of normal use.

Which detectors it fits

The 3011-0456 battery fits the Minelab Equinox 700, Equinox 900, X-Terra Pro and X-Terra Elite. Minelab's retail listing names the two Equinox models; its replacement guides for the two X-Terra models call for the same part number, and all four detectors carry the same 3.7 V, 5100 mAh battery specification. It does not fit the Equinox 600 or 800, which use part 3011-0405, a 5000 mAh pack with a screw-secured bung. If you are not sure which model you have, the name is on the control pod.

Installing it

Minelab publishes the replacement procedure, rates it Easy, and estimates about 10 minutes. You need a 3 mm hex driver for the four control pod screws and needle nose pliers to draw the battery bung out of the handle; there is no bung screw on these models. Minelab's two warnings are not to pull the wiring connector out past the mouth of the battery compartment, which can damage the pod beyond repair, and not to touch the Gore vent on the bung assembly. Water ingress is the hazard Minelab lists for the job, so work on a clean, dry bench, check the O-ring before the bung goes back in, and make sure it is seated fully.

The warranty angle: Minelab's wording is that an Authorized Service Center can do the job if you prefer to have it done without the possibility of voiding your control panel warranty. The Equinox 700 and 900 carry Minelab's 3 year detector warranty; if your detector is still inside its warranty, have a service center do the swap or ask us about service.

What to check before you buy

A short runtime is sometimes the charger, not the battery. For the Equinox 700 and 900, Minelab specifies a full charge in 5 to 6 hours from a charger supplying more than 2 A at 5 V; a weak USB port charges much more slowly and can leave you thinking the battery is worn when it was never full. Charge it on a proper charger first, and if a full charge still falls well short of 12 hours, or the bF low battery code shows up much sooner than it used to, the battery is the problem. Our Equinox charging guide covers the charger requirements and the charge LED.

Specifications and warranty

3.7 V, 5100 mAh lithium-ion, Minelab part 3011-0456. Minelab's warranty page gives batteries 6 months from the date of purchase. We stock it as an authorized Minelab dealer. Charge the new pack fully before the first use.