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5.3 coil question

S

srf2112

Active member
I bought a used 5.3 coil a while back but I'm wondering if it is working properly or if it's defective. It seems to have trouble locking on to coin targets unless they are pretty shallow. When I re-swipe a signal, the VDI keeps going up and up the more I swipe over the target. Even when the target turns out to be a coin. It also seems to jump around on a lot of targets. Also I sometimes hit a target, say $.25 at 3 inches and after I dig down 3" the signal fades and sometimes temporarily dissappears only to come back as a faint signal at say 6 or 7 inches which turns out to be correct. I run my sensitivity at max or just below most of the time with this coil and also keep the discrimination at 2-1/2 or lower always. Is it just being more discriminating than my 6x10 which seems to be more stable and solid on good targets ? Am I making it run a little unstable with my settings ? Is this just normal and does anyone else have similar experiences with their MXT's and the 5.3 ? I'm pretty new and my technical knowledge of metal detectors is very limited so any info or advice would be greatly appreciated. I want to avoid having to send it in to be checked as that is not an option right now but I want to be confident my equipment is working properly. As you know, confidence is everything in this craft. Thanks.
HH
Scott
 
Scott, Have you done an air test with the coil with different coins, tabs, etc.? Try that and see what happens and let us know. Thanks, Nancy
 
My 5.3 acts normally (compared to other coils) on my MXT. If your other coils are fine, I'd suspect the 5.3.
BB
 
I would suspect to much gain for the conditions try backing off.
Test by hunting at presets gradually increasing gain.
also go from primary to alternate in the relic mode. Once you hear all the trash in the area your hunting you'll be amazed at how well the mxt is doing it's job.
Then again maybe it is the coil!I had an experience with a bad 12''
I also went thru an experience similar in circumstance to what your going thru,I found I was running to hot for the lot(trash)THAT WAS WITH THE 5.3
At times I set my gain at mid point and listen for the faint signals,then will go into the crosshatched range once I've got a target that way I'm not falsing on trash.
But I like to analyze!
 
If the soil is too hot back off on the sensitivity. I've been using my
5.3 alot lately and sometimes have to run it at 7 or 8.

Katz
 
Thanks for the input everyone. I did an air test or on-ground test and the 2 coils ( 5.3 & 6x10 ) seemed to perform pretty similar as far as giving a solid reading. I have not compared them to an in-ground target before digging it up yet to see if there's a significant difference in being able to solidly lock on. The 5.3, interestingly enough, did give a consistent VDI 2 below the 6x10 on quarters only, but that is not my concern here. I am of the opinion that jwilkes and katz are on the right track and that I probably just have to take time to make sure my machine is running stable for the coil and ground conditions. ( The soil here varies from the mid 50's to around 80 in some areas ) I think I was getting spoiled with the 6x10's abilities in my soil here. I'll follow the advice in regards to my sensitivity settings and see what I can find out. Thanks again all. I gotta go now, salmon season opened and I'm going fishing ! ( In the water )
HH
Scott
 
Scott also remember that the 2 coils have different shaped and sized search fields. The 6x10 has a narrow elongated field that if you looked at it from the side would look like a large deep salad serving bowl. the 5.3 on the other hand is shaped like a funnel so at depth it' field will be very small. So unless you are very very close to being exactly over the target your vdi will not be real accurate. Something I have noticed is that if you spend some time pin pointing after your initial hit and then carefully go back in primary search the target will be better defined.. All of this is pretty basic and sometimes we have to go back to the basics when we have a problem.
Good luck , happy hunting and find a big old $20.00 au piece!
Ace
 
> the 5.3 on the other hand is shaped like a funnel so at depth it' field will be very small
So unless you are very very close to being exactly over the target your vdi will not be real accurate.<

Yea, I noticed that with my 5.3 but since I dig just about everything now it's not
an issue. :)-) Can't wait to order another 6x10DD It's a great coil!

Katz
 
I'll do that Monte. Thanks again everyone.
HH
Scott
 
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