Just received your Garrett Ace Apex Metal Detector and have some questions? Check out the Faq below and if you have any others please free to contact us! 

I JUST RECEIVED MY APEX AND IT WILL NOT TURN ON. WHAT SHOULD I DO?

The Apex uses a lithium rechargeable battery. These batteries are shipped from the factory with a minimal amount of charge. Sometimes this charge is used up during production testing. We recommend charging the Apex for 4 to 5 hours prior to use to ensure a full charge. The battery icon on the LCD will blink to indicate that charging is in progress.

APEX IS SAID TO FULLY CHARGE IN 4 TO 5 HOURS. MINE HAS BEEN PLUGGED IN FOR 6 HOURS AND IT DOES NOT SEEM TO BE CHARGING VERY FAST. WHAT SHOULD I DO?

The rapid charging system in Apex requires 500 ma. (1/2 ampere) to achieve the fastest charge. Most wall chargers can supply this amount of current. Older USB chargers may only be able to charge 100 ma. If you find the charging slower than expected, try another voltage converter. It is also best to avoid devices such as a computer terminal or hub that allow more than one USB cord to be connected. These devices often limit the amount of power available. Your Apex should be switched off during charging to speed the charging process.

HOW LONG WILL A CHARGE LAST ON MY APEX?

The Apex battery is designed to provide approximately 15 hours of operation from a full charge. This time will vary since different operating frequencies and backlight settings will change the amount of power required.

WHAT KIND OF LIFE CAN I EXPECT FROM MY APEX BATTERY? I HAVE HAD OTHER RECHARGEABLE DEVICES THAT RUN DOWN AFTER ONLY A YEAR OR SO.

The Apex battery is the same battery type used in most cell phones. These batteries hold their charge well when stored and provide many charge/discharge cycles and therefore a long life. Based on the information received from the battery manufacturer, one could expect that after operating the Apex for 8 hours per day 5 days per week, the batteries would still have 80% of their capacity after 4 years. This is no guarantee but is a good indicator that the batteries will last a long time.

CAN I CHANGE THE APEX BATTERY?

Changing the battery is not too difficult but if ever needed, this is best done by the Garrett factory or a certified Garrett service center that has the proper tools and knowledge.

CAN MY APEX SOFTWARE BE UPGRADED?

Yes, the Apex is designed to be upgraded using the micro-USB connection. When a software update becomes available, Garrett will advise customers via its website and social media.

CAN I USE ANY OF THE GARRETT Z-LYNK WIRELESS PRODUCTS, SUCH AS THE MS-3 HEADPHONES AND THE PRO-POINTER AT WITH Z-LYNK, WITH MY APEX?

Yes. Any Garrett Z-Lynk wireless product is compatible with Apex. If you have another preferred brand of headphones or earbuds, you can still use them with the optional Garrett WR-1 Z-Lynk receiver module.

CAN I USE WIRELESS HEADPHONES FROM OTHER METAL DETECTOR MANUFACTURERS WITH APEX?

No. The Z-Lynk wireless technology is proprietary to Garrett and is not compatible with competitive wireless headphone brands.

CAN I USE BLUETOOTH® HEADPHONES OR EARBUDS WITH APEX?

No. Other wireless technologies are not compatible with Z-Lynk.

WHY DID GARRETT CHOOSE A WIRELESS SYSTEM THAT DOES NOT WORK WITH OTHER SYSTEMS?

The Z-Lynk system was developed because it has the lowest “latency” of any current or evolving technology. For instance, with traditional Bluetooth the delay in the transmission of sound allows you to swing several inches past a target before you hear a beep. The Z-Lynk system is up to six times faster, so you hear the target sound while the search coil is still over the object.

I WANT TO USE MY REGULAR WIRED HEADPHONES WITH A ¼” DIAMETER PLUG, BUT APEX HAS AN 1/8” CONNECTOR. WHAT DO I DO?

Garrett has an accessory just for this. It is a 1/8 inch to ¼ inch adaptor. The cord is long enough to allow you to mount the ¼ inch jack under the
armrest to keep stress off of the wires and keep them out of the way.

THE APEX IS DESCRIBED AS “WEATHERPROOF.” WHAT DOES THAT MEAN?

Garrett’s Apex is constructed to prevent rain and blowing rain from entering the detector housing. Care must be taken to be sure the rubber covers are inserted into the USB and headphone openings to achieve this protection. Apex’s search coil and lower stem are fully submersible, but the control box should never be submerged. Any small amount of water entering the housing can cause the detector to quit working.

THE APEX CURRENTLY HAS ONLY ONE SEARCHCOIL, THE STANDARD 6” X 11” DD VIPER™ COIL. WILL THERE BE OTHER COILS OFFERED FOR THE APEX?

Yes. Garrett is currently adapting it's popular 5”x 8” and 8.5” x 11” DD coils for use on Apex and has other coil options in the works.

CAN I USE MY EXISTING ACE SERIES SEARCH COILS ON MY APEX?

No. The new Viper coil and any future Apex search coils are low-impedance, broad-bandwidth coils that support the new Apex Multi-Flex™ multi-frequency technology. Prior ACE coils are therefore not compatible with an Apex detector.