Electronics for Metal Detectors Theory and Troubleshooting

[maria8forever]

It seems there is a need for such a book.Do you like the title?Who wants to right it?I am to busy hunting and going to be without a computer soon.The book should start with the very first metal detector,explain the electronic make up,circuit diagrams and go all the to right now,explain in detail BFO,TR,VLF,PI,BBS,FBS,possibly security detectors,metal detectors in industry such as food processing.Troubleshooting tips etc.......Who wants to make a million $ ?.Chuck.

 

[Shambler]

Who wants to make a million

OOOH OOOH pick me!!

I'm afraid this one would be a loss though unless you could weasel your way into some text books.

possibly security detectors,metal detectors in industry

Rapiscan has several - but you have to pay for the OEM service class to get them.

I think the one you're most interested in would only be about 20 pages long, and the troubleshooting section would be a one page block diagram

If you could include an engineer's notes during R&D and testing... that would be cool (but that's like giving away the cookie recipe)!

 

[Elton]

LOL..All that knowledge would just throw me way off.

 

[slingshot]

The new miniature components would make repairing them very hard-I know because I have a GTA 300 in the shed that I dropped while trying to repair-the wiring I caught and it ripped a component or two off the board and there she sits.

 

[silversmith]

I hate to break your bubble, but.....There's absolutely NO electronics in a metal detector. You open one up and there's just magic stuff in there!

 

[Shambler]

You open one up and there's just magic stuff in there!

I KNEW IT!

 

[Uncle Willy]

I thought there were Gremlins in there.

Bill

 

[UK Brian]

Roy Lagal and Charles Garrett went a long way towards what you suggest with " The Complete VLF-TR Metal Detector Handbook "

The problem with modern machines is as they moved more towards "a detector on a chip designs" it takes home upgrading and troubleshooting out of the hands of the owners, even if they are electronically savvy, for all but basic tasks.

 

[grumpyolman]

Actually, the inside of the detectors have small dowsing rods that manually move the digital display. Sort of like the old fashioned baseball scoreboard where there's a guy that opens a window and puts the correct number in there. These are not your average dowsing rods. They are mounted in a gyro and that is what you hear whining inside and why the detectors are so expensive. Makes it a little hard to turn the machine too fast if the gyros have spun up full speed. Jim

 

[loki]

"Who wants to right it?I am to busy ......"

Well Chuck I don't think it should be you

Shouldn't you have said "Who wants to write it? I am too busy....."

lol

 

[silversmith]

Hey, now wait a minute, have you looked into your metal detector? They are no longer filled with transistors and wires. They are wall to wall integrated circuits using the latest "surface technology" techniques. It would cost you thousands of dollars for just a solder/de-solder system, let alone the test equipment, to troubleshoot your detector. I very seriously doubt that Tesoro, Whites, Mine Lab, or any of the metal detector companies repair their own detectors when they come in for repair. I'd bet they have stacks of spare circuit boards on hand and just replace them when they fail. A "tech?" turns on your detector, checks it functions, if anything fails, he grabs a solder iron, un-solders the wires going to the printed circuit board, tosses it in the dumpster and solders a new card in. I've been a professional electronic tech for many years, you just don't go grab an "Idiots guide to fixing metal detectors" manual off the wall and start fixing metal detectors. No way baby!

 

[Furious T]

Who wants to be inside fixin'one when you can be outside swingin' one?

 

[silversmith]

Now there it is! I totally agree with furious t