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Phil Wait
Murray/Modern Magazines, reproduce for personal use only
Roger Harrison
The induction balance technique is employed in metal detectors in many
different forms. The principle of operation is at least 50 years old. Those
early machines were unwieldy, employed valves and heavy batteries
(which didn’t last long), but paved the way for the booming field we have
today. Solid state electronics has revolutionised metal detectors, but the
principles have altered little.
This instrument can be used to locate as there is minimum magnetic coupling quency. The transmitter antenna loop is
metal objects buried at considerable between the two. To permit accurate oriented vertically to give maximum
depths. The construction can be varied alignment, the receiver antenna loop ground penetration of the transmitted
to suit the application and there is con- can be varied over a small angle. signal and maximum induction into bur-
siderable scope for experiment. Using The transmitter puts out a pulsed sig- ied metal objects.
the dimensions and electronics nal at 20 kHz. The pulsing is principally With the instrument near the ground,
described, the unit will detect objects to provide a modulated signal for the the effect of the ground on the field pat-
the size of a one-litre paint can at depths receiver that may be demodulated and terns of the two antennas will result in
up to several metres below the surface put through a speaker or headphones for some distortion of their fields but this
of the ground — depending on how the convenience of the operator. The can be compensated for by realigning
long it has been buried and the type of pulse repetition frequency may be set to the receiver antenna for a null (mini-
soil, etc. Somewhat smaller objects can some convenient pitch in the audio mum signal).
ETI: How To Build Gold & Treasure Detectors, 1981 — Copyright
be discerned at shallower depths. It will range between about 200 Hz and 1.5 When a buried metal object is
not detect individual coins, rings, etc., kHz. encountered, eddy currents induced in
unless modified. Suggestions are given The alignment of the antennas is the object will cause a distortion in the
at the end of the article for those wish- adjusted such that, with no metal object field pattern of the transmitter antenna.
ing to experiment. within the field of the instrument, there As the antenna is tightly coupled to the
oscillator, this will also bring about a
distortion in the field pattern of the
antenna at the harmonic frequencies.
This will increase the coupling between
the transmitter and receiver antenna
loops and a signal will be heard in the
receiver.
Metal objects buried close to the sur-
face will affect the field pattern of both
antennas, but deeply buried objects will
primarily influence the transmitter
antenna field.
The ‘depth sensitivity’ of the instru-
Notes on the principle is minimum (or no) received signal. ment is dependent on a number of
of operation The receiver is tuned to the third har- factors — primarily the ‘loop separa-
First of all, to be able to experiment monic of the transmitter, i.e: 60 kHz. tion distance’ (see Figure 1), the size of
with the construction of the instrument, This provides better sensitivity than if it the antenna loops, the power of the
it is useful to know something of the were tuned to the transmitter at 20 kHz. transmitter and the sensitivity of the
principle of operation. It seems to work like this: the transmit- receiver. Ground mineralisation also
The unit employs an induction bal- ter is deliberately designed to have a affects sensitivity and penetration.
ance technique. As illustrated in Figure considerable harmonic content in its The ability of the instrument to detect
1, the transmitter antenna loop and the output. The inductive coupling between small objects depends largely on the
receiver antenna loop are located with the antenna loops is greater at the third loop separation distance and the size of
their planes at right angles and a small harmonic than it is at the fundamental the loops. Smaller loops and closer
distance apart. This provides the mini- frequency, but ground penetration is spacing improve the units sensitivity to
mum induction of the signal from the better at 20 kHz than 60 kHz as the small objects, but at the expense of
transmitter loop into the receiver loop ground resistivity increases with fre- penetration.
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Murray/Modern Magazines, reproduce for personal use only
trated,
Constructed to the dimensions illus-
a football-sized object can be
of convenient sizes — the receiver
board is amply accommodated in one
The nut is forced into this hole. A corre-
sponding hole is drilled in the bar. A 1/
ETI: How To Build Gold & Treasure Detectors, 1981 — Copyright
detected at depths as great as two to five measuring 196 x 113 x 60 mm or there- 4” Whitworth bolt, 6” (150 mm) long,
metres, depending on ground minerali- abouts, the transmitter board in a box with a wing nut screwed up to the head,
sation and how long it has been buried. measuring 130 x 68 x 41 mm, or simi- is passed through the bar and into the
Small diameter pipes can be readily lar. They should be mounted near the nut in the receiver baseboard. A block
detected at depths of one metre below breaks in the antenna loops to keep lead of sponge rubber serves as a ‘spring’.
ground level. length to the loops as short as possible. The diagram in Figure 2 makes it all
Twist the leads. clear.
Mechanical construction details The wooden bar which holds the two A brass hinge is fixed to the cham-
Mechanical construction is shown in chipboard antenna bases could be a fered block and the underside of the bar,
Figure 2. It ain’t pretty — but its length of 50 x 50 mm dressed western as illustrated in Figure 3.
practical! There are plenty of red cedar (to minimise warping). Alter- The transmitter baseboard is mounted
possibilities — which well leave to your natively, you could use a length of flush on the end of the bar. Note that
ingenuity — but keep the basic square-section aluminium tubing. Over- this end must be cut as square as possi-
principles in mind. all length of the bar should be about one ble. The underside of the bar is 60 mm
Two pieces of chipboard, 15-19 mm metre for best depth penetration with above the horizontal centre line of the
thick, serve as bases to mount the this arrangement. However, there is baseboard. Fix the baseboard to the bar
antenna loops. The latter are made from plenty of room to experiment. All with a single long wood screw. This
aluminium (or copper — if you can wooden parts should be sealed and allows you to rotate the transmitter
afford it!), as shown in Figure 3, and painted or given several coats of antenna to achieve correct alignment.
tacked around the edge of each board. ‘Estapol’ or similar clear lacquer finish The small block shown under the bar,
The connections to the loops should be to preserve them from the effects of the against the transmitter baseboard, is
as good as you can make them to ensure weather. Do this prior to final assembly. glued in place after the antenna is
low resistance contact. Solder lugs pop- The hinging arrangements for the aligned.
riveted to the edge of the loops at the receiver antenna baseboard are shown
break make good connection, or you in Figures 2 and 3. An 80 mm length of The electronics
could use pk screws and solder lugs — 50 x 50 mm dressed timber is cham- The transmitter is quite simple, using
with shakeproof washers on both sides fered as indicated and fixed to an edge only one active component. The pc
of the solder lugs to ensure a good bite of the receiver baseboard, in the centre. board may be mounted on the back of
into the metal and a secure connection. A hole is drilled in the middle of the the meter to simplify the mechanical
The transmitter and receiver pc opposite side, just smaller than the out- construction. Start by assembling the pc
boards can be mounted in ‘zippy’ boxes side diameter of a 1/4” Whitworth nut. board as shown, taking care with the
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electrolytic capacitors and transistor. The receiver is quite a bit more com-
This unit has been specially designed plex than the transmitter but as all the
around a germanium transistor and a sil- components are mounted on the pc
icon type cannot be substituted. board it shouldn’t prove too difficult.
The pc board has been designed to Watch out for the orientation of the
accept a variety of trimmer capacitors. electrolytic and tantalum capacitors.
You will see two different circles of Again, the pc board has been designed
holes in the board. The innermost circle to accept a variety of trimmer
accepts the Philips potcore pins, the out- capacitors.
Murray/Modern Magazines, reproduce for personal use only
ermost are not used here. The meter shown is a 200µA type.
Run the wires to the switch, battery However, if it is unavailable a 100µA
and the loop antenna, keeping the wires movement can be used. If you do this,
to the loop as short as possible to avoid increase the value of R17 to 10k and
any stray radiation upsetting the field R18 to 100k. Note that R18 is mounted
pattern. Twist them lightly. off the pc board between the meter test
The meter on the transmitter is only button (PB1) and the power switch
used as a battery indicator and may be (SW1). Keep the leads to the loop as
more expensive than you wish. It can short as possible and well away from
however be replaced by a LED if the the speaker leads.
value of R3 is reduced to about 270 or As for batteries, a No. 2362 or 2364
330 ohms. This will increase the cur- 9V battery may be used in the receiver
rent drain from the battery but should with the size box suggested, while a No.
not be a problem. If you stick with the 2362 battery will fit in the box sug-
meter, either a 100µA, 200µA or 1mA gested for the transmitter. Alternatively,
movement can be used by choosing the No. 216 size 9V batteries maybe used,
value of R3 to be 100k, 47k, or 10k, but they wont last too long with pro-
respectively. longed use. (Alkaline types in this size
might be OK, though).
ETI: How To Build Gold & Treasure Detectors, 1981 — Copyright
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ETI: How To Build Gold & Treasure Detectors, 1981 — Copyright Murray/Modern Magazines, reproduce for personal use only
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Tuning up baseboard. symmetrical.
After the two units are assembled the That’s it. Happy hunting! Careful operation of the sensitivity
oscillator must be adjusted for correct control can help accurately locate an
operation and the transmitter and How to use it object. Having located something with
receiver set to the same frequency. The Condensed instructions are included the instrument set at the normal settings
trimpot (RV1) in the transmitter should here and we suggest you cut them out (as described above) reduce the sensi-
be set at mid-point resistance prior to and stick them to the receiver front tivity a small amount and repeat your
alignment and adjusted to produce a panel as a handy reference. Protect it crossing of the location. The signal will
be heard over a much smaller distance.
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suitable pitch in the receiver after the with perspex or clear Contac.
initial alignment. Hold the instrument by the centre of This method is useful for separately
Lay the two units on a table about a the bar with the receiver in front of you. locating closely adjacent objects.
metre apart and turn them on, By The instrument should be held at arms Greater depth penetration can be
advancing the sensitivity control a tone length, parallel to the ground. Your obtained by lowering the instrument to
may come from the speaker. If not, body should be midway between the the ground by means of a strap attached
adjust the trimpot in the transmitter and two units. Wind the adjusting screw to the handle. The instrument is first
the tone should appear. Set the trimpot fully in (clockwise), and turn the two adjusted as per normal, then lowered to
for a maximum reading on the receiver units on. Advance the sensitivity con- the ground as close as you can go with-
meter. The oscillator is now working trol to about 3/4 range and a tone should out upsetting the receiver indication.
correctly. appear. Wind the adjusting screw out The instrument should be held so that
The two units now have to be set to (anti-clockwise) until the tone disap- the receiver is angled a little down-
the same frequency. The exact fre- pears and continue turning the adjuster ward. It may be necessary to reduce the
quency is unimportant so long as in the same direction until a slight indi- sensitivity slightly.
they’re the same. Lay the two units cation is shown on the meter. The The best way to get used to the instru-
about two metres apart and set the trim- instrument is now ready to operate. ment is to experiment with known
mer capacitor and potcore adjustor on Walking over a buried object will buried objects. You will note that
L2 in the receiver to half adjustment. cause a meter deflection and a sound objects which are only at a shallow
Adjust the trimmer in the transmitter from the speaker. Make sure when you depth give a maximum indication when
for a peak in the receiver meter, and are adjusting the instrument that there they are directly beneath the receiver.
then go back to the receiver and adjust are no buried objects, cars, fences or Objects buried more deeply give a max-
the trimmer and potcore for a peak in pipes nearby to upset the balance. imum indication when they are about
the reading. Be careful when adjusting To accurately pin-point the location midway beneath the transmitter and
receiver.
of an object, cross it from each side and
ETI: How To Build Gold & Treasure Detectors, 1981 — Copyright
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by RV1. Greatest gain is provided when
C3 is connected across the whole of
RV1.
A simple half-wave voltage doubler
diode detector is coupled from the col-
lector of Q2. A 330k bias resistor is
connected between base and collector in
this circuit as Q2 in the original circuit
had the base bootstrapped to the emitter
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