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

6666 · « **Reply #100 on:** February 05, 2012, 23:17 »

The pcb is blank, you have to add all the bits

steadyon · « **Reply #101 on:** February 13, 2012, 23:01 »

Hi Guys I love reading this thread, just wish I had the ability to make a kit myself, keep up the good work. Just in case you did not know Jaycar now have O ring sealed water proof boxes in different sizes. Second page of catalogue.

http://www.jaycar.com.au/aus_sc.html

Regards Steadyon

sido · « **Reply #102 on:** April 01, 2012, 18:01 »

Hi all,

Steadyon.....Jaycar have had them for a while with sealed IP68.

6666, the chance has been a failure for me but dont rule it out (old Firmware).....I have had no time to repair it as of now, will keep you posted. Have the new developed handheld Surf Pi probe in my possession. will post pic soon.

Sido HH

6666 · « **Reply #103 on:** April 10, 2012, 14:37 »

What coil did you build for it ?

Ben78 · « **Reply #104 on:** April 10, 2012, 19:17 »

Quote from: 6666 on February 05, 2012, 23:17

The pcb is blank, you have to add all the bits

Ordered one of these a week ago, lookin forward to be playing lectronics in the shed again!

junker · « **Reply #105 on:** April 10, 2012, 19:59 »

You guys are to smart for me , all i understood was metaldetector, PI, circuit board, the rest was blah blah blah blah, i feel so ignorant ,good luck to you`s, something i couldnt do.

Ben78 · « **Reply #106 on:** April 10, 2012, 20:33 »

Quote from: junker on April 10, 2012, 19:59

You guys are to smart for me , all i understood was metaldetector, PI, circuit board, the rest was blah blah blah blah, i feel so ignorant ,good luck to you`s, something i couldnt do.

If you are interested in learning more about electronics and making kits, buy one of these - http://www.ebay.com.au/itm/200724147313 its a useful project, and comes with a guarantee to work. You can buy a soldering iron for a few dollars that will do a kit or two just don't leave it switched on.

I have a headphone amp and it is amazing what a bit of electronics can do inbetween a source and the phones!

Once you do a couple of kits then you are ready to start playing with a detector kit. The surf pi doesn't need a oscilloscope to set up, and there is plenty of info on how to wind coils etc on the net.

6666 · « **Reply #107 on:** April 15, 2012, 21:56 »

Here is home made Deltapulse

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=1zOiO41PeiQ&feature=related

beepn · « **Reply #108 on:** April 25, 2012, 00:08 »

Hi Guys,

Had the Whites Surfmaster pi [purple top] and the mate had the same we altered a couple of components which increased the depth by 100mm. and we both were rapped.

Regards Beepn.

scratchinaround · « **Reply #109 on:** April 25, 2012, 13:17 »

Quote from: beepn on April 25, 2012, 00:08

Hi Guys,

Had the Whites Surfmaster pi [purple top] and the mate had the same we altered a couple of components which increased the depth by 100mm. and we both were rapped.

Regards Beepn.

GOOD WORK BP. great to see that that the marketing myth of complexity of brand detectors dispelled. state of the art they are not, far from it.
it is only a matter of time before some body builds the detector that we as consumers deserve.
as long as we, as consumers accept this programmed obselecence, that's all we will get, and still pay thru the nose for it. well done, keep it guys. cheers

6666 · « **Reply #110 on:** April 26, 2012, 09:37 »

Beepn
would you mind sharing what mods you did to the surf pi ?
thanks

Ben78 · « **Reply #111 on:** April 26, 2012, 18:24 »

Quote from: 6666 on April 26, 2012, 09:37

Beepn
would you mind sharing what mods you did to the surf pi ?
thanks

+1

On a side note, it took RS Components 3 goes to deliver me a ICL7660 voltage converter, turns out the parts trays had been swapped in the warehouse for LM358's!

6666 · « **Reply #112 on:** April 27, 2012, 22:45 »

Ben I cleaned out RS online for their last three 7660's last week

Ben78 · « **Reply #113 on:** April 28, 2012, 08:11 »

Mine (Intersil 7660) was delivered on Thursday, the IRF9640 is a different story waiting on it to come from the UK still!

6666 · « **Reply #114 on:** April 28, 2012, 12:15 »

If you are looking for 640's I use these guys all the time, takes about a week to get the item with free postage, problem with rs is if they dont have the part it comes from the UK.

http://www.ebay.com.au/itm/2-x-IRF9640-Power-MOSFET-P-Channel-11A-200V-/250840420593?pt=LH_DefaultDomain_0&hash=item3a674110f1

Ben78 · « **Reply #115 on:** May 01, 2012, 20:39 »

Alright, surf pi is completely assembled. I had a piezo buzzer in the parts box I have no idea on the specs are on it but connected it anyway - heck I don't even know if I am supposed to use a piezo!

I managed to connect the power backwards - spotted the smoking protection diode so fixed that
I also managed to connect the main pulse cap backwards - didn't spot that until bang, like a little cracker going off

once all that was fixed though, fired it up, waved a chunk of steel over my rough as guts she'll be right coil and the tone coming out of the buzzer varied, sweet it 'detects' metal.

Off to get the oscilloscope, thats when I realised I actually need two channels to set the delay.

I also read about dumping resistors. Don't even know what that is!

Anyone know of a 'surf pi assembly for noobs' type guide anywhere?

6666 · « **Reply #116 on:** May 01, 2012, 21:33 »

Ben there are a few places on the net I can direct you to for some reading
your project sure had a rough start, but sounds like its working
to look at the TX pulse and other snync pulses throughout the board you do need a 2 ch cro
but you can check your DAMPING resistor, by looking at pin 6 of the 5534, on 1 ch cro
there should be no ringing.

Ben78 · « **Reply #117 on:** May 01, 2012, 21:52 »

Thanks for that, I have a tendency to put electrolytics in backwards for some reason???

I just roughly (rough is a very rough desciption too...) put together a coil tonight to check that the circuit worked. I am heading to QLD for a week on Sat so once I return I'll put some effort into making a decent coil and shielding it etc then concentrate on the circuit tuning.

Will put a message on the local freecycle board and see if anyone knows of an old CRO laying around somewhere!

scratchinaround · « **Reply #118 on:** May 02, 2012, 16:47 »

Quote from: detectorgeek on May 02, 2012, 15:34

Okay since i finished the Delta Pulse kit... worked great until i connected it to the wrong battery pack...

I'm going to order a Surf PI and start over with something new.. and FAR FAR less expensive lol..
Anyone got any plans for a coil?

-dg

hi DG. a guy on gold prospecting, 4umer forum posted step by step of his build, surf P.I too from memory, about 2-3 months ago. you will need to search on the forum for the post. obviously the guys posting here may help you too. will be an interesting project. also, on finders forum, the queensland guys/builders have their PI on ebay for about $350.not sure if it's based on the surf. check the thread there. cheers.

scratchinaround · « **Reply #119 on:** May 02, 2012, 17:03 »

HI DG. gold detecting and prospecting forum. poster is GCAUSE. under the- other detectors- heading. good read and info. cheers.

scratchinaround · « **Reply #120 on:** May 02, 2012, 22:32 »

Quote from: detectorgeek on May 02, 2012, 17:33

awesome, will check it out..

Update, Couldn't find it.. but its okay!..

http://golddetecting.4umer.net/t6394-grant-s-diy-pi-detector dunno, try this.

scratchinaround · « **Reply #121 on:** May 02, 2012, 23:28 »

Quote from: detectorgeek on May 02, 2012, 22:57

Thanks! appreciated!

Now i just have to come up with an idea for something to put the PCB in.. something that doesn't look crap tastic lol

ALL GOOD DG. INNOVATION, NOT STAGERNATION.

err lunch box, jaycar, ?

6666 · « **Reply #122 on:** May 03, 2012, 10:17 »

DG what did you do with the blown DP ?

Coil for Surf pi
21 t .4mm 9.75 inches

Ben search around in this forum there is a lot on the surf pi there

http://www.geotech1.com/forums/index.php

6666 · « **Reply #123 on:** May 05, 2012, 09:03 »

Ben
I extracted this off a post for you
saved me typing it

with the coil connected

"You have 2 probe's,

probe 1: connect to the IRF9640 body (the hole in the metal plate) and the ground connector to...ground (the shield from the coil cable ) this cannel 1 needs to be the 'trigger channel'. What you see now on channel 1 is the transmit puls.

Now with probe 2 you can follow the other signals, look at Ne5534 pin 6 for the amplifierd output from the receive signal. Set probe 2 to dc to adjust the offset zero ( scope 100mV div),

Look at 4093 pin3 for first delay 'window' (scope 5V div) and 4093 pin 4 for second delay 'window' . At 4066 pin 12 you see the switching that make's the audio signal ( 4066 pin11 to gnd pin10) "

scratchinaround · « **Reply #124 on:** May 05, 2012, 18:55 »

:

Quote from: detectorgeek on May 05, 2012, 16:49

Question about DIY coils.. do i need to use Insulated wire? I'm assuming bare copper wire coil would just freak the machine out... though i'm more than likely wrong.. Since i've only ever used pre-built coils..

any help would be good..

thanks
-dg

HI DG. as in GCAUSES post on 4umer, he used bare copper wire, then insulated with alfoil - yep -and then wrapped them in blue kitchen towel wipes, chux ? or what-ever. very hi -tech. cheers.