I Have A Question...

[DixieKudzu]

I recently registered to join another metal detecting group. The past few days there have been some messages posted there about the correct way to deal with the wire set up on detectors. One guy says that he attended a class that was done by Minelab, and was told that the correct way to run the wire was to do it straight down the pole instead of wrapping it around the pole. I have always used mine with the wire wrapped around. What do you guys think? Wrap it? Or run it straight down? In a later post he says that he gets about 3 inches deeper with it straight. I have a Troy Shadow Detector and my owners manual says to wrap the wire. I will copy and paste his original post -


"Running the wire straight along the shaft of the detector is the correct
way to run the wires on any detector.
Wrapping the wires arounf the metal tube just makes an inductive
transformer out of the wire and tube causing interference in the signal
level of the detector.
I attended a class done by Minelab and they told us that most people
wrap their wiring around the detector shaft to use up the extra wire,
but that this is causing much more problems having the wire strung that way."

I'd appreciate any input.

Thanks,
Lisa

 

[steve in so la]

anyone would think they could get 3 inches deeper with a straight wire, maybe he was putting people on. I have wrapped mine around the pole for 26 years now . I think the people who wrote the owner's manual know a little more about things than some guy on the street. steve in so az

 

[DixieKudzu]

My thoughts, EXACTLY! But since I was out of the metal detecting and treasure hunting business for 3 years, I thought I should put the question out there in case people had found this worked better while I was out of the loop. I seriously doubted this information but I'm always willing to learn new tricks. I am a high school teacher and I'm always encouraging my students to ASK QUESTIONS! I figure it's one of the best ways to find out what you need/want to know. Thanks for the input. I'm sure I will leave mine wrapped. It worked very well for me for a lot of years that way. You know the old saying... "If it ain't broken.... "

Lisa

 

[Mike from MI "Iron Brigade"]

The first Explorers had a slot in the back of the lower shaft and that is where the cord ran. Then when they updates the last Two Explorers, they now wrap them around the shaft like everyone else. I think the only thing you don't want when wrapping it around the shaft is to have a loose cord where it is moving each time you swing the coil. That may give you false signals. I also don't believe in extra depth for a straight cord!

 

[Gunswinger]

I am an electrical design tech. I have over 40 years training and experience. I will give you a simple explanation on what they are talking about. First, when electricity goes thru a wire it produces a magnet field. That field when wrapped around a metal object increases that field. When you wrap several turns you increase the field each turn. This is what they were talking about. When you go straight beside the metal not as much is induced. That field will place a voltage back into the wire, which could reduce or effect the signal carried by the wire. This signal is what is processed by the control box to tell you what is in the ground. How much this effects the proformance of the detector is anyone's guess. In a nut shell a large number of people have been wrapping the detector shaft for years and are happy with the results they get. To leave the wire loose to flop around will cause a lot of problems. Is there a fix? And is it a problem worth worrying about? I think the answer is no, however, if you are worried about it the only answer would be to cut an shorten the wire or lace it up and down the pole and not around. Or use a fiberglass pole. That is what minelab is doing with the new models. Also I think some may have a shielded wire that would also prevent this. So I say Not To Worry. Happy Hunting

 

[Pete in MI]

has been the Minelab Explorers. I've owned and used Garretts, Whites, Tesoros, Fisher and found only Minelabs using the cable running through the lower (and upper shaft). The other brands made no provision to do anything more than coil the cable around the shaft. A loose cable around the shaft is probably more a problem than whether the cable runs straight or is coiled.

I think even the Minelabl Explorers that have the X-1 probe coil the cord around the lower shaft and plug into the switchbox of the probe.

Get some velcro strips and hold down the loose cable.

Just my opinion - been detecting on and off since the 70s and was a detector distributor back in the 70s.

 

[Mike Chgo area]

n/t

 

[Paul(NWO)]

my Garrett and Bounty Hunter both have a 5 pin connectors. Which would give 2 wires for send, 2 wires for a receive coil and then the last 1 for shielding. With the shielding it really wouldn't have an effect.

 

[MI$$OURI BETTY]

use velcro to hold the wire and I use black tape to tape the joining areas so no water will enter and interfere or damage the works! It is terrible to have a detector falsing terribly because it gets wet!

Hope this helps....I haven't detected a lot in the past few years because of my health but I started detecting in 1981 and throughly enjoy it when I am able to get out and find some goodies! Hope you find lots of coins and other nice things!

God Bless & Happy Hunting!
Betty

 

[DixieKudzu]

Yeah, I plan to keep it wrapped. I'm not new to detecting - just getting re-acquainted. I had to drop out for about 3 years after detecting for about 10 years. I'm glad to be getting back into it now.

Thanks!
Lisa