Website Home   BH Vintage Detector Home    E-Mail  

Page created December, 2010

Metal Detector

(630-3005) Features Faxback Doc. # 53281

With your RadioShack Metal Detector, you can hunt for coins, relics,

jewelry, gold, and silver just about anywhere. This metal detector is

versatile and easy to use.

The detector's features include:

Earphone Jack - lets you connect earphones (not supplied) to the

detector in private.

Viewmeter and Pointer - shows the probable type of metal being detected

and lets you know when it is time to replace the

batteries.

Waterproof Search Coil - lets you use the detector's search coil even if

you must put it under water.

Note: The search coil is waterproof, but the

control housing is not waterproof.

Adjustable Stem - lets you adjust the detector's length for

comfortable use.

Note: Your metal detector requires six AA alkaline batteries (not

supplied).

Treasure Hunter's Code of Ethics

All treasure hunters might be judged by the example you set. Here are a

few basic rules you should follow while using your detector.

Always get permission before searching any site.

Respect the rights and property of others.

Observe all national, state, and local laws while treasure hunting.

Never destroy historical or archaeological treasures. If you are not

sure about an object you have found, contact a museum or historical

society in your area.

Leave the land and vegetation as it was. Fill in any holes you dig.

Use your detector only in safe areas.

Dispose of any junk you find, only in approved areas. Do not leave it

for the next treasure hunter to find.

Your RadioShack Metal Detector is an example of superior design and

craftsmanship. The following suggestions will help you care for your

metal detector so you can enjoy it for years.

Keep the metal detector dry. If it gets wet, wipe it dry immediately.

Liquids might contain minerals that can corrode the electronic circuits.

Use and store the metal detector only in normal temperature

environments. Temperature extremes can shorten the life of electronic

devices, damage batteries, and distort or melt plastic parts.

Keep the metal detector away from dust and dirt, which can cause

premature wear of parts.

Handle the metal detector gently and carefully. Dropping it can damage

circuit boards and cases and can cause the metal detector to work

improperly.

Wipe the metal detector with a damp cloth occasionally to keep it

looking new. Do not use harsh chemicals, cleaning solvents, or strong

detergents to clean the metal detector.

Modifying or tampering with the metal detector's internal parts can cause

a malfunction and might invalidate your metal detector's warranty. If

your metal detector is not operating as it should, take it to your local

RadioShack store for assistance.

The search coil supplied with the detector is waterproof and can be

submerged in either fresh or salt water. However, do not let water enter

the detector's control housing. After using the search coil in salt

water, rinse it with fresh water to prevent corrosion of the metal parts.

Your RadioShack Metal Detector distinguishes between ferrous and non

ferrous metals. Ferrous metals contain iron, while non-ferrous metals

such as gold, silver, copper, platinum, aluminum, lead, and zinc do not.

When the detector senses a metallic object, the meter reading changes and

the detector might sound a tone. The actual reaction depends on what

metal is detected.

Preparing the Detector

Turning On the Detector

Hold the detector in a comfortable position, then rotate VOLUME away from

OFF to the desired sound level. Set OPERATE/BATT TEST to OPERATE to

detect.

Tuning the Detector

TUNE fine-tunes the balance between the detector's receiver and

transmitter circuitry to provide consistent pointer and tone indications.

Follow these steps to set TUNE.

1. Rotate VOLUME to the 11 o'clock position.

2. Set DISCRIMINATION to its midpoint.

3. Hold the search coil about 1 foot away from the ground and any metal

object, hold down the red button on the handle, and slowly rotate TUNE

left and right until the pointer on the view meter rests at or near 0,

then release the red button.

As you search, you can fine-tune the detector using DISCRIMINATION (see

"Fine-Tuning the Detector" below).

Note: Press the red button on the handle at any time during operation to

automatically return the pointer to 0.

Testing and Using the Detector

To learn how the detector reacts to different metals, you should test it

before you use it the first time. You can test the detector indoors or

outdoors.

Indoor Testing

1. Remove any watches, rings, or other metal jewelry you are wearing,

then place the detector on a wooden or plastic table.

2. Adjust the search coil's angle so the flat part faces the ceiling.

Note: Never test the detector on a floor inside a building. Most

buildings have metal of some kind in the floor, which might

interfere with the objects you are testing or mask the signal

completely.

3. Rotate VOLUME to the 11 o'clock position.

4. Set DISCRIMINATION to its mid-point.

5. Move a sample of the materiel you want the detector to find (such as a

gold ring or a coin) about 2 inches above the search coil.

Notes: The search coil will not detect without motion. You must move the

object since you are not sweeping with the detector at this time.

If you are using a coin, the detector detects it more easily if

you hold it so a flat side is parallel with the flat side of the

search coil (not the edge).

If the detector detects the material, it sounds a tone and the pointer

moves to the left (ferrous) or to the right (non-ferrous) while the

detector determines the type of metal it is detecting.

If the detector does not detect the material, check the battery power and

verify that the search coil is properly connected. Also, you might need

to fine-tune the detector (see "Fine Tuning the Detector" below).

Outdoor Testing and Use

1. Find an area on the ground outside where there is no metal.

2. Place a sample of the material you want the detector to find (such as

a gold ring or a coin) on the ground. (If you are using valuable

metal such as gold to test the detector, mark the area where you

placed the item, to help you find it later. Do not place it in tall

grass or weeds.)

3. Rotate VOLUME about two-thirds clockwise.

4. Press and release the red button on the handle. Slowly rotate TUNE

until the pointer is at or near 0. You should barely hear a tone.

5. While holding the search coil level and about 1-2 inches above the

ground, slowly move the search coil over the area where you placed the

sample, sweeping the search coil in a side-to-side motion.

Search Coil Sweeping Hints:

Never sweep the search coil as if it were a pendulum. Raising the

search coil while sweeping or at the end of a sweep causes false

readings.

Sweep slowly - hurrying makes you miss targets.

If the detector detects the material, it sounds a tone and the pointer

moves to the type of metal it found.

If the detector does not detect the material, make sure you are moving the

search coil correctly.

Notes: The detector responds with a strong signal when it detects most

valuable metal objects. If a signal does not repeat after you

sweep the search coil over the target a few times, the target is

probably junk metal.

False signals can be caused by trashy ground, electrical

interference, or large irregular pieces of junk metal. False

signals are usually broken or non-repeatable.

6. Try finding other metal in the area. When you find a metal item, wait

a few seconds after the tone stops before continuing, to allow the

detector time to reset (or press the red button on the handle to

return the pointer to the center of the view meter).

Fine Tuning the Detector

After you become familiar with how your detector works, you can fine-tune

it to make it more selective in what it finds.

Discrimination is the detector's ability to differentiate between types of

metal. The detector's DISCRIMINATION setting determines whether the

detector will distinguish between different types of ferrous and non

ferrous metals.

You can set DISCRIMINATION to minimum (fully counterclockwise), to maximum

(fully clockwise), or anywhere in between. As you set DISCRIMINATION to

higher levels, the detector first does not detect small pieces of silver

paper, then thick foil, and finally metal objects like pull tabs from

aluminum cans.

Note: Each time you use the detector in a different area, you must adjust

DISCRIMINATION. Each search location presents new challenges.

False Signals

Because your detector is extremely sensitive, trash-induced signals and

other sources of interference, might cause signals that seem confusing.

The key to handling these types of signals is to dig for only those

targets that generate a strong, repeatable signal. As you sweep the

search coil back and forth over the ground, learn to recognize the

difference between signals that occur at random and signals that are

stable and repeatable.

To reduce false signals when searching very trashy ground, scan only a

small area at a time using slow, short overlapping sweeps.

Detection Hints

No detector is 100 percent accurate. Various conditions influence metal

detection. The detector's reaction depends on a number of things:

The angle at which the object rests in the ground.

The depth of the object.

The amount of iron in the object.

The size of the object.

Pinpointing a Target

Accurately pinpointing a target makes digging it up easier.

Accurate pinpointing takes practice, and we suggest you practice finding

and digging up small metal objects on your own property before you search

other locations.

Sometimes, targets are difficult to accurately locate due to the sweep

direction. Try changing your sweep direction to pinpoint a target.

Follow these steps to pinpoint a target.

1. When the detector detects a buried target, continue sweeping the

search coil over the target in a narrowing side-to-side motion.

Make a visual note of the exact spot on the ground where the detector

beeps.

2. Stop the search coil directly over this spot on the ground. Then move

the search coil straight forward away from you and straight back

toward you a couple of times.

Make a visual note of the exact spot on the ground where the detector

beeps.

3. Repeat Steps 1 - 2 at a right angle to the original search line,

making an "X" pattern. The target should be directly below the "X" at

the point of the loudest response.

Notes: If trash in an area is so heavy that you get false signals, slow

your sweep speed and use shorter sweeps.

Recently buried coins might not respond the same as coins buried

for a long period of time because of oxidation.

Some nails, nuts, bolts, and other iron objects (such as old

bottle caps) oxidize and create a "halo" effect. A "halo" effect

is caused by a mixture of natural elements in the ground and the

oxidation created by different metals. Because of the metal

mixtures, target signals might not be in a "fixed" position. This

effect makes these objects very hard to detect accurately. (See

"Fine-Tuning the Detector" above.)

Adjusting the Stem

Follow these steps to adjust the metal detector's stem.

1. Turn the stem's lock nut clockwise until it loosens.

2. Lengthen or shorten the stem so when you stand upright with the

detector in your hand, the search coil is level with and about 1/2 to

2 inches above the ground with your arm relaxed at your side.

3. Turn the stem's lock nut counterclockwise to lock it in place.

Adjusting the Search Coil

Loosen the knobs at the search coil's end, then adjust the search coil to

the desired angle. (The search coil should be parallel with the ground.)

Tighten the knobs just enough to keep the search coil from rotating or

wobbling.

Installing Batteries

You need six AA batteries (such as RadioShack Cat. No. 23-552) to power

your detector.

CAUTIONS: Use only fresh batteries of the required size and recommended

type.

Do not mix old and new batteries, different types of batteries

(standard, alkaline, or rechargeable) or rechargeable batteries

of different capacities.

1. If the detector is on, turn VOLUME (on the control housing) to OFF.

(The control clicks.)

2. Press on the battery compartment cover and slide the cover off in the

direction of the arrow.

3. Insert the batteries into the compartment as indicated by the polarity

symbols (+ and -) marked inside the compartment.

4. Replace the cover.

CAUTIONS: Always remove old or weak batteries; batteries can leak

chemicals that can destroy electronic parts.

If you do not plan to use the detector for a week or more,

remove the batteries.

Dispose of old batteries promptly and properly.

You can extend battery life by using earphones, which require less power

than the built-in speakers. See "Using Earphones" below.

Testing the Batteries

If the detector does not turn on, has weak volume, will not tune properly,

or has erratic operation, or drifts, test the battery power.

Rotate VOLUME away from OFF and set OPERATE/BATT TEST to BATT TEST.

If the pointer on the view meter is between 3 and 6 (green area), the

batteries have enough power to operate the detector. If the pointer is

not in the green area, replace the batteries.

Using Earphones

You can connect a pair of stereo earphones (not supplied) to the detector

so you can listen to it privately. Using earphones also saves battery

power and makes it easier to identify subtle changes in the sounds you

her, for better detection results. Your local RadioShack store has a wide

selection of earphones.

To connect earphones to the detector, insert the earphones' 1/8-inch plug

into the EAR jack on the side of the control housing.

Note: The detector's internal speaker disconnects when you connect

earphones.

Listening Safely

To protect your hearing, follow these guidelines when you use earphones.

Set the volume to the lowest setting before you begin listening. After

you begin listening, adjust the volume to a comfortable level.

Do not listen at extremely high volume levels. Extended high volume

listening can lead to permanent hearing loss.

Once you set the volume, do not increase it. Over time, your ears adapt

to the volume level, so a volume level that does not cause discomfort

might still damage your hearing.

Traffic Safety

Do not wear earphones while operating your detector near high-traffic

areas.

Even though some earphones are designed to let you hear some outside

sounds when listening at normal volume levels, they still can present a

traffic hazard.

If your detector is not working as it should, follow the suggestions below

to see if you can eliminate the problem. If you cannot, take the detector

to your local RadioShack store for assistance.

Problem Suggestions

The detector displays or You might be sweeping the detector's search

sounds false signals. coil too fast or at the wrong angle. Sweep

the search coil more slowly and hold the

detector correctly. See "Testing and Using

the Detector" and "Pinpointing a Target" in

Faxback Doc. # 53283.

The detector might sound a false signal if it

detects heavily oxidized metals. Try

pinpointing the target from several different

angles (see "Pinpointing a Target" in Faxback

Doc. # 53283). If the detector does not

display and sound the same signal each time,

the target is probably heavily oxidized metal.

The display does not show There might be more than one target in the

the correct metal type area you are searching.

when the detector finds a

target. The target might be a type of metal that the

detector does not recognize.

If the target is heavily oxidized, the

detector might not display the correct metal

type. This is not a malfunction.

This webpage brought to you by White River Preparium

~and~

Website Home    BH Vintage Detector Home    E-Mail