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Treasure Hunting & Metal Detecting Forum Message Boards - Detector Hunter Whites Minelab Tesoro XP > Tech Talk > Metal Detectors > PI Designs & Deepseekers (Moderators: Eugene52, Cornelius) >

Microcontroller PI Treasure Hunter

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Paul A Topic starter

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	Microcontroller PI Treasure Hunter « on: May 19, 2010, 09:24:38 am »

Hi,
A little help needed.......
I built this P.I.

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It works but it's a little bit unstable when adjusted for max sensitivity (1 click per second or so)
Doesn't seem to be all that deep either (about 8 inches for a 1 inch diam coin).
Maybe it's the coil that I wound for it?
Any other suggestions?

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	Re: Microcontroller PI Treasure Hunter « Reply #1 on: May 19, 2010, 04:26:32 pm »

Paul,

Let's start with the basics. Did you build this from a kit? Gathered everything (all the parts) yourself? Did you make any substitutions of parts? Did you use a PC board or point-to-point wiring? Did you program the PIC yourself? Did it ever work properly?

Next. What kind of test equipment do you have at hand to troubleshoot the issues you describe?

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	Re: Microcontroller PI Treasure Hunter « Reply #2 on: May 20, 2010, 01:33:19 am »

Hi,
Yes built from a kit, (Magenta, actually worked out cheaper than gathering the parts) checked all the components with MMeter.
Didn't sub any parts.
Microcontroller came pre programmed with the kit.
I have the usual test gear, Small scope,Mmeter, capacitance meter etc.
The only variance I made was to connect the coil with a length of twin core cable rather than
the suggestion in the kit of "Leave a metre of Enamelled copper wire from the start end end of the coil winding and end and cover with insulated sleeving.
It does work fine, its just at max sensitivity it drifts.......... No no!

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	Re: Microcontroller PI Treasure Hunter « Reply #3 on: May 20, 2010, 10:59:01 pm »

If it was built from a kit and has a drift problem it may be that there's a faulty component.

One last question. Are you simply not satisfied with performance and want to improve it or is it malfunctioning?

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	Re: Microcontroller PI Treasure Hunter « Reply #4 on: May 21, 2010, 02:23:18 am »

Hi,
No the performance is very good (when you can stop it drifting), it'll find a three quarter inch coin at around 11 - 12".
I had a good look at it last night and I think I might know what the prob is.
The coil cap. is supposed to be 1000uf, it only reads 720 on my meter.

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	Re: Microcontroller PI Treasure Hunter « Reply #5 on: May 21, 2010, 03:03:49 am »

Hi Paul

If I may ask you a question did you use the correct wire gage for the coil and did you respect the dimensions? (could be that cap)

Regards Xavier

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	Re: Microcontroller PI Treasure Hunter « Reply #6 on: May 21, 2010, 03:18:01 am »

Hi X,
Yes, the wire came with the kit.
Wound it as specified.
I'm wondering (if it's not the cap) if it's picking up interference?
There is virtually no adjustment on the pot, (the difference between max sensitivity when it gets unstable and a somewhat lower sensitivity is only about 1mm!)
I cant seem to get that magic "one click per second"!
I'm wondering if you can fit a "Faraday Shield" to the coil?

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	Re: Microcontroller PI Treasure Hunter « Reply #7 on: May 21, 2010, 08:59:01 am »

You know Paul it sounds to me like your pot could even be faulty you could just replace it. Also re-check all components it has happened to me to take resistor and read it the wrong way round for example a 100k will read 400R stupid I know and you probably already checked everything. The it could be is endless so lets just hope that one of us will find the right it could be

Hope you solve it soon PS did you send the supplier an E-Mail?

Regards Xavier

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	Re: Microcontroller PI Treasure Hunter « Reply #8 on: May 21, 2010, 09:02:53 am »

O.K......

Got to the bottom of the problem now.........
It's Definately "Interference".
Tried it out with no coil plugged in and still the same...
Switched on a 2 way radio just across the room pressed xmit .... and it went nuts!
Switched off the mains electricity at the primary switch for the house...... and it settled right down!
It seems to be picking up interference on the board rather than the coil.
What's the best way to deal with this?
I'm thinking Screened Metal case rather than the cheapo plastic one that came with the kit?

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	Re: Microcontroller PI Treasure Hunter « Reply #9 on: May 21, 2010, 09:37:54 am »

Paul I see that they say not to use screened wire but from what I see you used ordinary wire so that should be ok you could try it outside and see if you still have the interference and you could use a metallic box to shield it why don't you send them an E-Mail and see what they come up with? it could be so many things possibly a faulty cap

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