Author Topic: DIY or make your own Metal Detector kits (Read 7124 times)

6666 · « **on:** June 09, 2011, 09:52 »

For those who may want to make their MD, here is a great website that has PCB.s
kits and parts to make your own, IE Whites surf PI.

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

Smurf · « **Reply #1 on:** June 09, 2011, 09:54 »

I have enough trouble with RTA Funiture

willy46 · « **Reply #2 on:** June 09, 2011, 12:41 »

Another way to expand the swear jar!!!

Snoopy36 · « **Reply #3 on:** June 09, 2011, 14:02 »

I feel so un-intelligent looking at that website

They might as well be water crackers or peanut brittle..... I'm sure it was all in English but I could not understand what those products are supposed to be!

I think I'll stick to pre-fabricated ones

Count Pierre · « **Reply #4 on:** June 09, 2011, 14:20 »

I'm with you, Snoop.

Took one look at it & got out of there quick. I have enough trouble with the ready made ones.

6666 · « **Reply #5 on:** June 11, 2011, 00:11 »

Technology is not that bad

I have just ordered some kits
all PI's, be interesting to see the results

sido · « **Reply #6 on:** June 12, 2011, 21:25 »

6666, bought the surf pi and chance pi off Andy, They are half built at the moment. The surf pi i am working on will be for a 1.5 foot long waterproof hand held device (similar appearance to those cheap metal detector wands with round coil) except it being a genuine Whites Pi copy. Will be used for snorkling in 1 to 2 meters of water. Will be interesting to try out this summer in Melbourne beaches....by the way, they work good from what i read, if not better than the original if built correctly off course.

Sido

6666 · « **Reply #7 on:** June 13, 2011, 21:31 »

Hi sido
that's great news I have also bought several kits, I was hanging out for the baracuda
Andy seems to think it may have a slight edge over the surf
but we will see, are you using any water proof pots on your surf ?
be interesting to compare notes and results
cheers
6666

Mog · « **Reply #8 on:** June 13, 2011, 22:55 »

Great stuff guys, I have put a few Dick Smith kits together and got them to work, so I would be interested if you could maybe post a few pics of knocking up these MD's. And some test results maybe? Difficulty rating? Keep posting I am keen to see results and I am sure others are only they don't admit it

6666 · « **Reply #9 on:** June 13, 2011, 23:29 »

Here is the older surf pi board, its an easy project
the new boards are a bit better laid out
you have to add the battery and coil of course.

Hear are a few ccts to look over just for fun

http://phazitron.narod.ru/archiv/schmd.htm

6666 · « **Reply #10 on:** June 13, 2011, 23:42 »

And the surf pi cct, its one of the more easy projects
and it works
TAKE NOTE there is a cap from pin 5 on the 555 to ground

6666 · « **Reply #11 on:** June 13, 2011, 23:55 »

This is a simplified version of surf pi

6666 · « **Reply #12 on:** June 24, 2011, 10:37 »

All you need is a few components and a coil and you have a MD

Faze · « **Reply #13 on:** June 24, 2011, 17:35 »

I have been looking at doing a DIY MD myself , but I suffer from lack of skill ,
would be good if you guys could let us know how thing go with your units

Faze

sido · « **Reply #14 on:** June 25, 2011, 14:07 »

Hi 6666, have not decided if i would use a waterproof pot, unless i can find one, maybe. My plan is to have unit fully sealed and pre-set if possible for most condition's in salt water. Will only remove sealed end cap to re-charge battery's.

The idea is to have 6 or 8 led's light up with corresponding detected signal strength, similar to a led VU meter for audio application's. The external led's would have to be water tight mounted on the tube housing. This mod is possible due to a VCO designed output amp.

The Barracuda i think has auto balance from memory, report's on performance do seam to be good. Do not have the circuit board at this stage.

The newer version Surf pi v1.2 black boards are much better quality, there the ones i have and working on.

What idea do you have as final build for your unit? Do you have waterproof pots? A supplier here in Melbourne would be great. I would use such a pot if i can find one.

Half the parts are populated at the moment.

Regard's Sido

6666 · « **Reply #15 on:** June 25, 2011, 14:47 »

Hi sido
ok on your project, how are you going to switch the unit on ?
if water proof, reed relay and magnet ?

I dont have any water proof pots but they are on the net
you can supposedly make them
by greasing the shaft then make a silicon sheath
from silicon, just slap it on,
good idea on the leds, should work ok
one fellow on geotech just uses one
I still have to complete the Barra kit
just need a bit of spare time
the guys seem to be happy with the beach performance

Hi Faze
for a beginner I would build the surf PI
but it does still require some skills

sido · « **Reply #16 on:** June 25, 2011, 15:03 »

Will just use a internal switch just inside the housing, unscrew cap, switch on or off.

Let us know how you go with the Barra.

Cheer's

6666 · « **Reply #17 on:** June 25, 2011, 16:04 »

ok that switch will work to
have a look at this pot idea at bottom of page
washers and o rings by the look of it

http://www.geotech1.com/forums/showthread.php?t=16576&page=2

actually the more I think about it, it may be fairly easy to make it water proof
for snorkelling
with a plastic cap of marine grease
once you have set the delay, all you need is the threshold pot
might try some ideas
have you bought any plastic fittings yet ?

6666 · « **Reply #18 on:** July 02, 2011, 23:31 »

Just started loading some parts
the +&- 5 volt regulator supply
and pulse generator and delay ccts
for Baracuda PI , getting drive pulses to switching fet
one of the guys who has made this project is claiming
30 cm for free air test on gold ring

http://youtu.be/EoWrGNiQfaM

This is another test

http://youtu.be/tgrjvk1fqfE

Beach test of homemade surf PI

http://youtu.be/hnKdAHYSSbs

Gecko · « **Reply #19 on:** July 15, 2011, 15:58 »

I dont see colour too well so this is definately out for me...

Snoopy36 · « **Reply #20 on:** July 15, 2011, 17:09 »

Quote from: 6666 on June 13, 2011, 23:55

This is a simplified version of surf pi

Oh.... the simplified version was much easier to understand - not

You guys are so smart.....

Smurf · « **Reply #21 on:** July 15, 2011, 21:49 »

They lost me as soon as they said DIY

6666 · « **Reply #22 on:** July 19, 2011, 00:47 »

Almost finished my surf PI 1.2

sido · « **Reply #23 on:** July 21, 2011, 02:25 »

6666, almost finished the Chance Pi with lcd, will post pictures soon and give a report on performance. I will buy the remaining parts for the Surf pi and hopefully finish and test before weekend's out. I have to build the coils also.

Sido

6666 · « **Reply #24 on:** July 22, 2011, 12:09 »

Thats great sido
I have finished putting the components on the BARACUDA-Legend-1
and surf pi , now just got to get them working and tuned up.