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Offline Lord DraconTopic starter
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Dario MD-3006SS VLF / SURF 1.2 PI (WIP) / Garrett Ace 300i
« on: April 27, 2011, 06:38:32 am »
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I'm fairly new to metal detecting and only have a basic VLF detector which i use every now and then, but since finding this site it has renewed my interest in metal detecting. What i have noticed is that PI metal detectors (didn't even know there were two types!) penetrate much deeper and have less problems with highly mineralized soils.

The question is, i'm looking at building my own PI metal detector from scratch as i cannot yet afford to buy a new/second hand one. Are there any plans for a simple PI detector out there that does not require an oscilloscope to tune or software and associated hardware to program chips, just a put it together and go sort of thing? (i have made my own PCB's in the past but i no longer have the acid baths and UV kits required, so the first one i build will be on a breadboard etc.)

I was looking at the plans for the Whites Surfmaster PI or the Whites PI3000 (as i was also thinking of using the detector under water). Which do you think is the most simple plan to follow or would you suggest a different one??  
(I was also worried about the CMOS chips - Voltage regulator and timer (Surfmaster)... i cannot remember whether they need programming... i don't think they do, but it has also been a long time since i last built my own circuits? Wise)


Thanks in Advance for any advice given  Detecting



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Offline Homefire
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« Reply #1 on: April 27, 2011, 08:05:24 am »
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Silverdog in the UK sells Fine kits cheap!

Take a look at his shop.

Use the search bar upper right of this page to look it up.

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http://www.silverdog.co.uk/shop/


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Offline Lord DraconTopic starter
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« Reply #2 on: April 27, 2011, 10:14:55 am »
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ooh... had a look at these ... not bad ...

The Surf Pi is not dissimilar to the plans i was looking at earlier (whites Surfmaster)... but looking at them all ... which is best as they are all reasonable value...

Surf Pi, Hamerhead or TGSL kits? Undecided

Thanks again Smiley

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« Reply #3 on: April 27, 2011, 10:33:58 am »
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The Surf is pretty much a basic PI but has room for Mods!  A O-scope would be handy but you can make them work quite well with out one.

The Hammer head offers control of almost all functions of a PI a bit more complicated to build but you can do more with it.  O-scope required on this one.

TSGL is a rendition of the Tesoro Golden Sabre VLF and the coil is a bit complicated on the build.

O-scope required to align the Discrimination Phase.



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Offline Lord DraconTopic starter
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« Reply #4 on: April 27, 2011, 02:48:07 pm »
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Thanks for the info Great... looking at all the info you have given and looking at the circuit diagrams I believe that the surf kit (or the Whites Surfmaster plans), although basic, would suffice for now as a beginners build.  Also because you state that an O-scope is not really required for this particular project.

I think I will look at building this one to start. When I have found some reasonable treasures, using a combination of my VLF and the kit build detector project Detecting. I think I will cash in the treasures and invest in a more complicated kit with more parameters to which I can play, and an O-scope to help tune them in. Smiley Smiley (as i'm only allowed to spend what I find on this hobby - as I believe many others will also have the luxury of.)

Thanks again your input is much appreciated. Pray

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Offline xavier
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« Reply #5 on: April 27, 2011, 03:05:29 pm »
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Good luck on your build Lord Dracon I think that you will like the surf PI and with one more resistor and one push-button you even have a pin pointer on it.

Regards Xavier

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« Reply #6 on: April 27, 2011, 03:08:30 pm »
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Quote:Posted by Lord Dracon
Thanks for the info Great... looking at all the info you have given and looking at the circuit diagrams I believe that the surf kit (or the Whites Surfmaster plans), although basic, would suffice for now as a beginners build.  Also because you state that an O-scope is not really required for this particular project.

I think I will look at building this one to start. When I have found some reasonable treasures, using a combination of my VLF and the kit build detector project Detecting. I think I will cash in the treasures and invest in a more complicated kit with more parameters to which I can play, and an O-scope to help tune them in. Smiley Smiley (as i'm only allowed to spend what I find on this hobby - as I believe many others will also have the luxury of.)

Thanks again your input is much appreciated. Pray



LOL! Yes one would make life better but it can be done without one.

You start with all pots in the center position .

Starting with the Receive amp, you start tweaking until you get things aligned the best you can.

It will work quite fine.

It's a rather simple detector.



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Offline Lord DraconTopic starter
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« Reply #7 on: April 28, 2011, 01:48:02 am »
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Quote:Posted by xavier
Good luck on your build Lord Dracon I think that you will like the surf PI and with one more resistor and one push-button you even have a pin pointer on it.


This sounds a useful addition to the plans. Please can you give details of where the switch and the resistor have to be added on the circuit diagram to enable the pin pointer function? I might as well build it in from the start so i don't have to drill any extra holes in the waterproof casing. (I like to keep things neat and tidy. Cool )

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« Reply #8 on: April 28, 2011, 01:07:23 pm »
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I will have a look to see where I have put the diagram but as for the push button just place it in a position that you can have an easy accesses to it while you are detecting. I will post the schematic as soon as I find it.

Regards Xavier 

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Offline Lord DraconTopic starter
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« Reply #9 on: April 28, 2011, 01:48:30 pm »
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Thanks, I look forward to seeing where the additional push button and resistor apprear on the plans.  Smiley Smiley

Yes, i was thinking of putting the push button at the top of the handle grip so i can access it with my thumb Wink  Grin (as you don't always have two hands free when 40m under water Smiley )

Also thinking of using 2 cheap underwater torches to house the electronics and batteries (might even keep one of the bulbs intact to use as a search light Smiley )

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