It was tough, I mean really tough.....:confused:

[silversmith]

To decide between a Silver Umax, and a Compadre. I just now got on E-bay and ordered the Compadre, here's why............ One; I wanted the 5.75" coil, Silver comes with an 8" coil. Two; 90 bucks cheaper plus I would have had to layout another 50+ for a 5.75" coil. Three; I want a super light, super small detector that will take up as small as space when broken down as possible. Four; it has to be as cheap as possible, and still be a Tosoro (I just plain like 'em!), 'cause the first that'll happen is I'll void the warranty. Five; ordering 2 "mid-poles" from Tesoro will bring the price up two about $200.00 out the door, on the detector, that's hoping I'll have most of the electronics stuff in my junk box to do the mods, to update it to a Silver (of course). I'll cut the mid-poles half in to to make the broken down detector as small as possible. My profession takes me all over middle California. I drive a Scion XB with the rear seat removed, a platform installed, loaded down with "mobile radio communications test gear and repair parts" leaves virtually no room for toys, but still gets 35mpg. Yet, I'm constantly going by Tot-lots, parks, and other places, I wish I had a detector along, to explore, hence, this project. Understanding, this will not compare with my Big Bug Pro 220-D or Lobo ST, which I don't have room for, at least, detecting will be possible. I'll be leaning on YOU guys for information for mods as this project continues, so thanks in advance for your future help. Merry Christmas, Ron.

 

[LINDABONITA]

Once you tried breaking the compadre rod, will you please advise me me how you did it? I want to do that also to my compadre so that it can be put in to my jeans easily. I am detecting an area that is full of border patrol agents and I will be disguised with no detector in my hand.

 

[slingshot]

Yeah-that's what I'm fighting now. I HAVE the Silver umax and wondering whether to get the 5.75" coil for Christmas or the Compadre because of the ED 180. Hey, Monte! How about some help here! It's almost Christmas! By the way guys, I have added a tabcheck to my Silver umax and like lindabonita I would void my warranty and add one and thus have a Compadrejon-a miniature Tejon and plan to post-with pics- on adding one to the Tesoros for you guys. It's easy. Merry Christmas.

 

[bountyhunter1972]

How did you add the Tab check to your silver Umax, I would be interested in hearing about that, Thanks.

 

[slingshot]

How did you add the Tab check to your silver Umax, I would be interested in hearing about that, Thanks.

Until I get pics together, etc. I will try to "SAY" it in word pictures. We all know that the disc. control is a variable resistor. The key is that the pot will NOT work unless the center leg is also in the circuit-in other words-WITHOUT the white wire on the pot connected-the detector is dead. So now we take a TUBULAR variable resistor and solder the ends ACROSS this same pot-where the red and black(I believe that's the colors) are connected-it only takes a "TACK" weld with the soldering iron. This leaves the center leg of the tubular variable resistor sticking out-unconnected. Whichever resistor- the tubular or the pot on the detector (disc control) has the white wire activated on the center leg will be the resistor that will be activated. So all we have to do is get a dpst switch (miniature) and connect the WHITE wire to the CENTER leg (on the face plate) and install two homemade white wires to the other two legs with one leg going to the center of the detector's disc pot and the other going to the center leg of the newly installed tubular resistor. Now, when we flip the switch ONE or the OTHER pot will be activated and you can predetermine this by using a continuity meter to set which one you want to come on-otherwise just take notice of which one is activated by left or right throw of the switch. ALL you've really done is electronically made TWO white wires and reinstalled one of them the way it originally was, but with the flip of a switch activated the other resistor. Now, with the tubular resistor activated, you just manually adjust the resistor set screw until tabs break up. Then, once the target is located in standard disc, flip the switch and: (1 if the target goes silent, it's in the nickel range; (2 if the target breaks up,it's in the tab range; and (3 if it stays, it's in the coin range. The tubular resistor's resistance should always be the same as the detector's pot-in the case of the Silver-200 k.I could NOT find one, so I soldered a 100k fixed and 50k variable miniature pot together in series and it worked. I'm still trying to locate one of these resistors and maybe calling them the wrong name. Sorry for the long post and hope it's decipherable.

 

[slingshot]

I just want to post one more time and put all this in it's simplest form. All you have done is tack welded a variable resistor on the discrimination pot of the detector on the two outer legs. You have taken the white wire off and connected it to a dpst miniature switch and electronically divided the white wire into two-with one flip of the switch activating the center leg of your detector's pot-and the other flip of the switch activating the center leg of the installed variable resistor. ONLY the resistor with it's center leg activated will work. Simple!