Newbie Question: Ace 250 and Detection Depth

[MikeinWA]

Hello All. I am brand new to the hobby, with an Ace 250, and I have a question that I hope someone can answer. I have been testing the distance at which my detector will detect coins by simply running various coins under the coil by hand. I really cannot get the detector to respond to a quarter by further out than about 5 or 6 inches, at best. I have measured the distance, so I am not estimating this. I use the sensitivity setting two clicks above the default. Does this seem a bit short? I thought that it would detect coins out well beyond that distance. I'm wondering if the detector is bad, or if my expectations are out of line. I keep reading how these detectors can detect down to depths of over 8 inches. Thanks for any helpful comments on this.

 

[hsjrev]

With the sesitivity turned all the way up outside away from any electrical stuff, mine will pick up a mercury dime at 8" in air. If you're inside near appliances, cordless phones, etc, that could effect the distance.

 

[Terry in PA]

You also must remember a coin that has been in the ground for a few years has a (Halo) around it ! Which could make the coin be seen at a greater distance from the coil. Air test are ok but they aren't the best information you can get.Digging targets is the best way to find out how deep you can go.
I have no dought that the 250 can find a quarter at the 8 inch mark !!!! Happy Hunting

 

[tab-nabit]

Try out on a clean ground area. Hit the pinpoint button and find a area that free of metal. Put the machine at a moderate sensitivity, maybe 3 bars, and start in all metal mode. Lay that quarter on the ground then sweep the coil over the target a few times. Then work the coil up in height while sweeping back and forth till you find the drop off point (height). Then work at different sensitivity settings. Then try other mode settings and re-working sensitivity settings and at different heights. Another test area on the ground can have an effect also.
Just saying I prefer to go out and throw a target on the ground is just me.
Always check that you have good battery power - watch the steel toe shoes/boots - interference - coil wire not loosely flopping around - and if your using a coil cover, sometimes junk gets in there causing strange things, so good to check/clean that out also - most of all, have fun - HH

 

[khouse]

The Ace's will pick up quarters at 8 inches easy in the air. Tell me in which direction are you passing the coin over the coil? The coil is not round and is designed to sweep left and right as you hold the detector. This is the way you need yo pass the coin over the coil. Get away from fluorescent lights, computer etc. It's better outside. Then with sensitivity all the way up try again. I have seen some people throw a coin on their floor for testing. This is not the way to do it. Try to stand the detector on end with the coil up.

 

[MikeinWA]

Thanks, everyone, for the input. I will take the detector outside and try some of these suggestions, and post the results. On previous tests, I had been sweeping the quarter past the coil (underside, as normal), in the pattern that would be used during typical operation.

 

[khouse]

Sweep the coin medium to fast past the coil. You will see the faster you sweep the deeper it detects the coin as you get to the outer limits.

 

[dan b]

For what it's worth, I could never pick up any coins deeper than 5" with my Ace. I sold it and bought a Tesoro with manual ground balancing, and found coins deeper. I was skeptical of the claims people were making about their Ace's with regards to depth, because of my own experience. Then it occurred to me one day, that the ground around here is extremely salty, as this area was once under water. In fact, there are huge salt mines underneath the entire area. I think that may be why my Ace was limited, as the pre-set ground balance was not appropriate for this soil.

I too had air test results that were in the 8" area, so I would expect that that is average for the Ace model. I have a GTI2500 on the way, and I am looking forward to see how the automatic ground balance works out in this soil.

Dan

 

[rmptr]

Hey Mike,

Congratulations on a fine little entry level MD!

I'm sure you will do well with it, especially if you are coming here for advice.

The old airtest is no more than a benchmark that folks really enjoy playing with when they really should be out an about flattening the grass. Nothing will get you more than passing your coil over Au in the ground and recovering it quickly, and efficiently.

C'mon guys! Who wants to dig to halfway to china, from the courthouse lawn, just to find a quarter?

The Ace is a fine machine for $'s spent. Take it out in the real world and it will pay for itself as you gain experience.

A significant piece of the pie when MD can be attributed to lady luck, but you shall find the odds increase in your favor depending on a number of factors. One is the machine, another is the skill of the operator, yet another is where the operator chooses to use his machine.

There is SO much excellent information and helpful folks here on this BB, you shall be amazed!

Get out there and dig 'em all...!!
Post all your success stories here first before the local newspaper hears about your good fortune!

 

[Uncle Willy]

If you're air testing for absolute depth run the sensitivity all the way up and put the detecvtor in all metal mode.

Bill

 

[Uncle Willy]

The 2500 should work well as it has the new mineral chip in it requested by the boys in Australia. If you have bad ground you ought to pick up a DD coil. You're right, the Ace isn't set up for that kind of ground.

Bill

 

[Uncle Willy]

Yeah since it's a motion detector the faster the sweep the deeper it goes and the better it discriminates.

Bill

 

[Uncle Willy]

I hunt a lot of bark chip playgrounds and have dug quarters at ten inches with the 250. It will detect deeper than it can pinpoint.

Bill

 

[Uncle Willy]

Yeah in an air test with sensitivity all the way up it should pick up a quarter at around ten inches.

Bill

 

[MikeinWA]

Just a quick follow-up: running the quarter by the coil at a faster speed made all the difference. So, I've satisfied myself that all is working well with the detector. And when the rain stops here in the Seattle area, I have gotten out there and found a few coins. Nothing interesting, but fun to see it work!

Thanks again for jumping in with comments. This is clearly an active and interesting forum, and I'll be following it regularly.

Mike

 

[topknocker]

iv'e tried everything that i possibly can, took the detector way out in an open field, had brand new batteries, no electric interf. anywhere around. can only get about 6 inches with a quarter. sen. all the way up.

 

[rmptr]

[quote MikeinWA] And when the rain stops here in the Seattle area, ... [/quote]

Wow! The rain is gonna stop in Seattle?????

 

[r.r.warren]

air tested the ace 250 using a dime, nickel. and quarter. detector stationary foam marked off in 1" increments detector all-metal sen turned up full. dime7",nickel 9",quarter 91/2"