Question about coils

[tmanly]

The Minelab Coils for the E-trac state that they are FBS coils ( full band spectrum) I think. The SEF coils do not state they are FBS coils. Does it make a difference? Are they fully compatiable or are you loosing something using these coils? I am interested in the SEF 8X6 coil but have been holding off because of this issue.

Thanks
Tom in SC

 

[bcoop]

The SEF coils are not going to state FBS that is a Minelab patent. The SEF coils are compatable with the specific machine they are designed for. The benefits by using a smaller coil is to squeeze between trashy targets to find the good ones. The Pro Coil will do the same thing but you must work at a snails pace, it is just a little easier with a smaller coil.


Bryce-IL has a thread on various test results on coils on the Explorer Forum, maybe this will help you with your decision.

BCOOP

 

[tmanly]

OK, was just wondering because I know the Etrac uses several frequencies. I was wondering if the FBS was for use with more that one frequency and the others would only use one.

 

[Jason in Enid]

The frequencies are generator by the detector, not the coil. My Sunray probe doesn't say its FBS, but it works darn good with my E-Trac!

 

[tmanly]

I agree with your statement Jason, but does the probe use all frequencies or just one. The impedance of a coil is usually designed for a set frequency. Or a range of frequencies. So it is possible for a coil to work perfect at one range, but not all, and give favorable results. I have limited knowledge of coil design for a detector but I do know that there are coils that are MONO
and they will work on a multi-frequency machine. I just want to make sure that if I replace my Minelab coil with an off brand name that I am not loosing some of the detectors capability.

Tom in Sc

 

[bcoop]

http://www.goldminingcentre.com.au/Technical%20Data/techsheet-coils.pdf

 

[DukeOBass]

I'm using all of the smaller SEF coils (8x6, 12x10 and 15x12) with my E-trac. They are very stable and pin-point extremely well. I am able to run at higher sensitivity than with the stock coil.

 

[tmanly]

DukeOBass, can you give me some idea of the depth of the different coild you have in relation to the stock coil for the Etrac?

Thanks
Tom in SC

 

[DukeOBass]

I received the 12x10 a week or so before winter ended detecting around here and the 8x6 (It took months to get to me after ordering it back in August) I took out just long enough to make sure it was going to work. I found a penny with it near a tree trunk. I had missed that with my stock coil. I did notice that they allowed me run at a higher sensitivity before falsing. I found some coins I had missed with the stock E-trac coil while using the 12x10 in an area I had hunted very closely. I have a few years experience with my 15x12. I got that when I was using an SE.

Here is a review I wrote on the 15x12. This thing goes deep and locks on to targets in highly trashy areas!

Despite the SEFs size, it balanced well and compared with the the stock SlimLine coil the difference in weight is not that great. 1 lb 14 oz for the SEF and 1 lb. 5 oz for the SlimLine. One of the next things I noticed is that I am now able to run at a higher sensitivity setting than I could using the stock coil.

[attachment 186752 SlimLineSEFSize.jpg]

I received the coil one evening after work and only had a short time to hunt so I hit a part of my lawn that I know I've pounded with the SlimLine. The SEF did not disappoint as I pulled my first silver from the lawn since April the 12th. That's 14 lawn hunts later!

[attachment 186747 SilverDime082008.jpg]

You have to understand that my house was built in the mid 1800s and so the lawn contains a ton of metal trash making it very difficult to pull out "Good" signals.

Very shortly after digging the dime we left for a trip to Alabama to visit my son and daughter in-law. This was a great time to test the SEF coil in beach environments. My first hunt was on a Gulf (saltwater) beach. I noticed that I could not raise my Sensitivity above 14 in the water and 20 on wet sand. This, however, did not hinder the recovery of many coins. Be prepared to dig, this thing goes deep! I was digging one target that I never could recover because of the size of my scoop and the water that started the sand caving into my pit.

The second test was on a brackish water beach of Mobile Bay. This time the SE allowed me to add 5 notches to the sensitivity over what I could near the Gulf

 

[sugar]

very interested in your above comments i am working on pasture land that has been hunted for years and with the sef coil 12 x 15 i am bringing finds back everyday and i am thrilled in its ability to pick out good targets in the middke of iron my question is i never really thought of increasing my sensitivity so do you run on manual and at what level please i know it depends on soil types i am in the uk but i think it is something i can try which as you know is just a seconds job to switch on manual so if you are on manual do you change levels for your ground conditions sorry for these stupid questions but i am trying to get into the technical side of the etrac and get my best performance hope to hear from you thankyou

 

[DukeOBass]

On my SE, I would bump up the Sensivity until the machine started to become unstable and then I would back off a couple of steps. On my E-trac, I have only run in Auto and let the machine pick the Sensitivity. If you look at the Sensivity scale on left side of the screen, you will notice that the SEF coils allow the machine to run at a higher level. THis allows the machine to "see" targets at more depth and also to "catch" targets that may be further away from the receiving portion of the coil and be picked up where they may have been missed by the stock coil.

 

[sugar]

On my SE, I would bump up the Sensivity until the machine started to become unstable and then I would back off a couple of steps. On my E-trac, I have only run in Auto and let the machine pick the Sensitivity. If you look at the Sensivity scale on left side of the screen, you will notice that the SEF coils allow the machine to run at a higher level. THis allows the machine to "see" targets at more depth and also to "catch" targets that may be further away from the receiving portion of the coil and be picked up where they may have been missed by the stock coil.

thanks for the info on sensitivity i have noticed it might just catch something outside the swing area in fact centre of find could be six inches away but it has detected it and i know stock coil wouldnt have done this so very pleased i am learning all the time with the etrac had two detectors before but always got bored now i cant get out there enough it is fantastic havent checked sensitivity when running big coil but will start taking note thanks again happy hunting

 

[utahshovelhead]

I might throw a curve ball out there. I mainly run The SEF 10x12 on my E trac but I also USE the Excellorator 14 in coil in a few spots. In one of the spots I am dealing with HIgh mineral ,High trash content, tons of iron In this location the suggested sensitivity is sometimes at 2. But the targets I am looking for are at 8 or better in most cases. Useing the 14 inch coil I have learned that I can use a much higher sensitivity (at this location) then suggested and get down even deeper than 12 inches on many occasions. I
My point being is that the SEF is working great and able to still give great results with the bigger coil where others would use a smaller coil. I have just learned this by trying and testing...at times I will have the sens at 21. It does require me to concentrate very hard and when I cant take it I will back it down to lower numbers but I then am digging less, shallow or not at all.
This does not work the same at the parks or homes I hunt and digging at this certian location is Easy so that helps in the testing as I would not try it like that in a nice lawn.

Mabey this paticular site is just an odd one out but if you are hunting a really great spot do not be afraid to try out the different coils you have or that you are thinking about. Some of the guys are getting smaller coils just cause they here they are good in trashy sites but fact is they are easyer in trashy sites buy thats NOT always better.

good luck
utah shovelhead

 

[sugar]

taking it all in guys thanks that is the great thing about the etrac when i come back with my gooooood pouch stuffed and lots of research to do then i know i am heading in the right direction i do not think my large coil would make that much difference it has doubled and on some days tripled my finds i always hunt for the same time so it is easy to estimate and i am very surprised will strat looking at the sensitivity and see if i can whack it any higher only down to medieval at the moment but on the next field there was a roman villa and to the north five bronze age burials so need to get down a bit further to get some goodies,