Depth reading with the 5.3 Eclipse coil way off...

[Rob (IL)]

I followed your instructions regarding ground balancing and found little or no difference ground balancing with each filter. I do have a +1 offset so I don't expect perfect balance as my ground should read very slightly positive in the All Metal pinpoint mode. You should expect perfect balance. The offset will not be heard during the balancing process.

The Signal% was the same for both the 5.3 and 950 coil at 14.5%. The test indicates you have a good coil.

The D2 was considerably lower at 6.9%. All are good coils, the D2 will just hit a larger target before overloading.

In testing the 5.3 over a 7" clad dime I increased Rx Gain to 12 with Discriminate sensitivity at 80. Any higher and it'd introduce instability from electrical or other interfering sources. Still, with the Rx Gain at 12 the hit with the 5.3 was mostly one way and iffy at best. Reduce the RX and increase the Disc.

With the 950 and D2 I have no problem hitting the same dime with much lower sensitivities. Normal, they are bigger coils.

However, I've dug solid sounding 6" (actual depth) square tabs with the 5.3 in the field and have confidence it'd hit somewhat deeper. You are telling me it acts normal ????

In using White's top of the line detectors for quite a few years I've always experienced the depth reading to be fairly accurate until using the 5.3 on the V3i. It's no big deal, I just wondered if I had a defective coil or not. I'll report back after receiving the new 5.3 and comparing them.

 

[Calnevaroy]

I followed your instructions regarding ground balancing and found little or no difference ground balancing with each filter. I do have a +1 offset so I don't expect perfect balance as my ground should read very slightly positive in the All Metal pinpoint mode. You should expect perfect balance. The offset will not be heard during the balancing process.

The Signal% was the same for both the 5.3 and 950 coil at 14.5%. The test indicates you have a good coil.

The D2 was considerably lower at 6.9%. All are good coils, the D2 will just hit a larger target before overloading.

In testing the 5.3 over a 7" clad dime I increased Rx Gain to 12 with Discriminate sensitivity at 80. Any higher and it'd introduce instability from electrical or other interfering sources. Still, with the Rx Gain at 12 the hit with the 5.3 was mostly one way and iffy at best. Reduce the RX and increase the Disc.

With the 950 and D2 I have no problem hitting the same dime with much lower sensitivities. Normal, they are bigger coils.

However, I've dug solid sounding 6" (actual depth) square tabs with the 5.3 in the field and have confidence it'd hit somewhat deeper. You are telling me it acts normal ????

Thank you Rob for your suggestions and feedback, it's appreciated! I reviewed my ground balance procedure with your instructions and achieve near perfect ground balance. I don't expect to hear the offset during the balancing process but perhaps in the All Metal pinpoint mode when lowering the coil to the ground. I've tried running Discriminate Sensitivity higher and Rx Gain lower as you suggested with little difference in performance. I'm not sure what you meant by "You are telling me it acts normal ???" My question was whether my 5.3 should read an inch or so shy of actual depth and should it overload with only a clad quarter and penny lying side by side at or near the surface of the ground with the bottom of the coil an inch or two away Otherwise, yes, I feel the coil in question performs as it should. I just received the new 5.3 coil and will conduct comparisons as soon as possible.

 

[Calnevaroy]

In trying the new 5.3 coil I first ground balanced and then tested for overload with the Rx Gain at 15. So far, so good. In the backyard test area the Ground Probe indicated -60.0 and the Sensitivity Probe 8.5% and Noise fluctuated between 1.2% and 2.8%. The 7" buried dime read about an inch shy at 5 3/4", almost identical to the old 5.3 coil. Going back to the old coil I repeated the tests and found that the Ground Probe VDI hung at -95.0. I tried lifting the coil and moving to another area but the Ground Probe VDI was stuck at -95.0. (The new coil would change reading if I lifted the coil or tried a different area of the backyard.) I tried re-ground balancing but nothing seemed to change. I called White's and ended up talking to Steve as Mary wasn't available and he told me to send the old coil in. He didn't seem concerned about the depth reading being off nor the overload with the near surface coins but seemed concerned about the stuck Ground Probe VDI reading. Also, the new 5.3 coil would overload with the same quarter/penny as with the old coil.

 

[Rob (IL)]

The new coil acts like the old coil so the coils are are not a problem.

"He didn't seem concerned about the depth reading being off nor the overload with the near surface coins but seemed concerned about the stuck Ground Probe VDI reading." I guess he agrees with me.

When troubleshooting you have to use logic. If your -95 reading is really stuck, it is the coil or the machine. Just put another coil on, if it is still stuck its the machine, if it changes it is the coil. I have never seen this problem before and don't see what could cause this problem.

This would have nothing to do with your original question which as stated doesn't seem to be a problem.

 

[Calnevaroy]

The new coil acts like the old coil so the coils are are not a problem.

"He didn't seem concerned about the depth reading being off nor the overload with the near surface coins but seemed concerned about the stuck Ground Probe VDI reading." I guess he agrees with me.

When troubleshooting you have to use logic. If your -95 reading is really stuck, it is the coil or the machine. Just put another coil on, if it is still stuck its the machine, if it changes it is the coil. I have never seen this problem before and don't see what could cause this problem.

This would have nothing to do with your original question which as stated doesn't seem to be a problem.

Rob, you are absolutely correct. My fault again. I discovered my error after feeling something just wasn't quite right with the Ground Probe reading--I didn't perform the correct procedure for the Ground Probe . I'll re-do the Ground Probe for both coils and get the correct results. I apologize for my ineptitude.

 

[Calnevaroy]

I did it right this time (I forgot to press ENTER) and the Ground Probe for both coils had identical readings of -93 over my ground. I checked depth reading again and both coils were virtually identical but still indicating about an inch or so short. I assume both coils are performing properly and sent the new one back to Sweet Home. Thanks to White's who swiftly provided me with a new coil and thanks to all who gave suggestions and to Rob who helped the most.

 

[Rob (IL)]

You are welcome.