Discovery 3000 Metal Detector
(630-3012) Operation Faxback Doc. # 51689
Turning ON the Detector
1. Hold the detector in a comfortable position.
2. Turn on the detector by turning POWER/VOLUME clockwise until it
clicks.
The detector beeps 3 times, arrows point to all options on both
displays, and the LOW BAT indicator lights for a few seconds. Then an
arrow points to ALL METAL on the bottom display.
Note: Many detector problems are caused by weak, dead, or improperly
connected batteries. If the detector does not turn on, has
weak volume, will not tune properly, operates erratically, or
drifts, check both batteries.
3. Turn POWER/VOLUME to adjust the sound to a comfortable listening
level.
Setting a Target mode
Your detector has four built-in target modes which determine what types of
metal your detector will search for and reject.
ALL METAL
DISC (discrimination)
NOTCH
AUTO (automatic) NOTCH
When the detector is set to a target mode, the top display is blank until
the detector detects a specific type of metal. Then the arrow points to
that metal size and type.
All Metal
When the detector is set to ALL METAL, it sounds a tone and displays an
indicator when it detects any type of metal as long as the metal is under
the searchcoil.
The detector automatically sets itself to this target mode when you first
turn it on.
The detector is set to maximum sensitivity in the ALL METAL target mode
when you press ALL METAL. Adjusting DISC/NOTCH (see "Adjusting
DISC/NOTCH", below) has no effect in this mode.
To set the detector to the ALL METAL target mode from another mode, press
ALL METAL on the front panel. An arrow on the bottom display points to
ALL METAL.
Disc
When the detector is set to DISC, it sounds a tone an displays an
indicator when it detects many types of metal, and ignores the general
metal type that you specify by adjusting DISC/NOTCH (see "Adjusting
DISC/NOTCH", below).
Notes: This target mode lets you set the detector to ignore a wide
category of metal types. If you want to set the detector so it
ignores only a specific type of metal, see "Notch" or "Auto Notch"
below.
The detector does not detect iron in this target mode.
To set the detector to the DISC target mode, press DISC. An arrow on the
bottom display points to DISC.
Then adjust DISC/NOTCH to select the type of metal you want to detector ot
ignore (see "Adjusting DISC/NOTCH" below.)
As you turn DISC/NOTCH from left to right, the detector will ignore the
metals and/or items shown on the dial. In addition to the metals listed
on the dial, the following will be ignored at the points indicated:
DIAL AREA WHERE
IGNORE WILL OCCUR
IGNORED ITEM STARTING AT LOW (approx.)
Small Gold Items IRON/FOIL/NICKELS First 1/3 of dial
Medium Gold Items PULL TABS From 75 to 105 degrees of dial
Larger Gold Items SCREW CAPS/ZINC 1 CENT From 105 to 135 degrees of dial
NOTCH
Use this target mode to notch (set a narrow range for) the detector's
search range so it does not detect specific kinds of items such as
aluminum and pull tabs, while still detecting items such as gold or
silver.
When the detector is set to NOTCH, it sounds a tone and displays an
indicator only when it detects the type of metal you specify and it
ignores the types of metal you specify by adjusting DISC/NOTCH (See
"Adjusting DISC/NOTCH", below.)
Notes: This target mode lets you manually set the detector to ignore only
a specific type of metal. If you want to set the detector so it
automatically ignores specific types of metal, see "Auto Notch".
The detector does not detect iron and most small foil pieces in
this target mode.
follow these steps to set the detector to the NOTCH target mode.
1. Press NOTCH on the front panel of the detector. An arrow on the
bottom display points to NOTCH.
2. Find a sample of the material you want the detector to ignore (such as
a pull tab), place the item under the searchcoil, then adjust DISC/
NOTCH until it does not detect the material.
3. Find a sample of the material you want the detector to find (such as a
nickel or gold ring), place the item under the searchcoil, then make
sure the detector detects the material. If the detector does not
detect the material, repeat Step 2, as necessary, to adjust the notch.
Note: Some junk metal, such as pull tabs and pieces of pull tabs,
have nearly the same characteristics as nickels and some gold
rings. If this happens, you might not be able to narrow the
detector's notch closely enough to prevent the detector from
detecting the pull tabs.
Auto Notch
When the detector is set to AUTO NOTCH, it sounds a low tone and displays
an indicator when it detects nickels and small gold objects, and
automatically ignores most junk metal items. It sounds a high tone when
it detects metals such as cooper, silver, and brass.
You can widen or narrow the range of metal types that the detector will
detect by adjusting DISC/NOTCH on the front of the detector (see
"Adjusting DISC/NOTCH", below).
Follow these steps to set the detector to the AUTO NOTCH target mode.
1. Press AUTO NOTCH. An arrow on the bottom display points to AUTO
NOTCH.
2. Adjust DISC/NOTCH on the front of the detector to widen or narrow the
range of metal types that the detector will detect.
Testing and Using the Detector
To learn how the detector reacts to different metals, you should test it
before you use it the first time. You can test the detector indoors and
outdoors.
Indoor Testing
1. Turn on the detector.
2. Set the target mode.
3. Place the detector on a wooden or plastic table, then remove any
watches, rings, or metal jewelry you are wearing.
4. Adjust the searchcoil so the flat part points toward the ceiling.
Note: Never test the detector on a floor inside a building. Most
buildings have metal of some kind in the floor, which might
interfere with the objects you are testing or mask the signal
completely.
5. Move a sample of the material you want the detector to find (such as a
gold ring or a coin) near the searchcoil.
If the detector detects the material, it sounds a tone and an arrow
appears on the top display next to the type of metal it found.
If the detector does not detect the material, make sure the target
mode is set correctly for the type of metal you are searching for (see
"Setting a Target Mode", above), then repeat Step 5.
Notes: If you are using a coin, the detector will detect it more
easily if you hold it so a flat side is parallel with the flat
side of the searchcoil (not the edge).
If the detector is currently set to the ALL METAL target mode,
you do not need to move the item. Simply hold it close to the
searchcoil.
Outdoor Testing and Use
1. Turn on the detector.
2. Set the target mode.
3. Find an area on the ground outside where there is no metal.
4. Find a sample of the material you want the detector to find (such as a
gold ring or a coin) and place it on the ground. (If you are using
valuable metal such as gold to test the detector. Mark the area where
you placed the item, to help you fine it later. Do not place it in
tall grass or weeds).
5. While holding the searchcoil level to the ground about 1-2 inches
above the surface, slowly move the searchcoil over the area where you
placed the sample, sweeping the searchcoil in a side-to-side motion.
Searchcoil Sweeping Hints:
Never sweep the searchcoil as if it were a pendulum. Raising the
searchcoil while sweeping or at the end of a sweep will cause false
readings.
If the detector is currently set to the ALL METAL target mode, you
do not need to sweep the searchcoil to detect the material.
Sweep slowly - hurrying will cause you to miss targets.
If the detector detects the item, it sounds a tone and an arrow
appears on the top display next to the type of metal it found.
If the detector does not detect the material, make sure the target
mode is set correctly for the type of metal you are searching for (see
"Setting a Target Mode", above), then repeat Step 5. Also, make sure
you are moving the searchcoil correctly.
Notes: The detector responds with a strong signal when it detects
most valuable metal objects. If a signal does not repeat
after you sweep the searchcoil over the target a few times,
the target is probably junk metal.
False signals can be caused by trashy ground, electrical
interference, or large irregular pieces of junk metal. False
signals are usually broken or non-repeatable.
6. If the detector is set to the ALL METAL target mode, press GROUND TRAC
on the front of the detector as you search, to adjust the detector to
the mineral content of the ground you are searching (see "Using GROUND
TRAC", below).
7. Try finding other metal in the area. When you find a metal item, wait
a few seconds after the tone stops before continuing, to allow the
detector time to reset.
False Signals
Your detector is extremely sensitive, and will find even deeply-buried
metal. Because of this, trash-induced signals and other sources of
interference might cause signals that seem confusing. The key to handling
these types of signals is to dig for only those targets that emit a
strong, repeatable signal. As you sweep the searchcoil back and forth
over the ground, learn to recognize the difference between signals that
occur at random and signals that are stable and repeatable.
To reduce false signals when searching very trashy ground, scan only a
small area at a time using slow, short overlapping sweeps. To help
prevent erratic signals and pinpoint targets in trashy areas, try a
smaller searchcoil (see "Optional Accessory" in Faxback Doc. # 51686).
Fine-Tuning the Detector
After you become familiar with how your detector works, you can fine tune
it to make it less sensitive to interference and more selective in what it
finds. For example, you can set it so it ignores junk metal such as pull
tabs but still registers silver and cooper coins.
Adjusting Sensitivity
Broadcast antennas and power lines can cause the detector to indicate
false signals and operate erratically. Adjust SENSITIVITY on the front of
the detector to help reduce or eliminate these false signals.
To adjust the sensitivity, turn SENSITIVITY clockwise to increase it, or
counterclockwise to reduce it.
Notes: For maximum detection depth, always leave SENSITIVITY set as high
as possible while using the detector.
If you set the detector's sensitivity too high, the top display
might randomly display arrows and the detector might sound false
tones.
Using GROUND TRAC
The detector has a GROUND TRAC circuit that adjusts to the mineral content
of the ground you are searching. Since the mineral content of ground
changes from place to place, frequently press GROUND TRAC on the front of
the detector as you search.
Adjusting DISC/NOTCH
Discrimination is the detector's ability to differentiate between types of
metal and either find or ignore them. DISC/NOTCH adjusts the detector's
discrimination.
If the detector is set to the DISC, NOTCH, or AUTO NOTCH target mode,
adjust DISC/NOTCH clockwise toward HIGH to set the detector to ignore
items such as bottle caps, zinc pennies, and pull tabs, while still
detecting items such as nickels and small gold items.
Notes: The detector automatically sets itself to maximum sensitivity in
the ALL METAL target mode. Adjusting DISC/NOTCH has no effect in
this mode.
If you set the detector's discrimination too high, the detector
will not detect some gold items.
Pinpointing a Target
Accurately pinpointing a target while detecting makes digging it up
easier.
Accurately pinpointing small metal objects takes practice. We suggest
that you practice finding and digging up small metal objects on your own
property before you search other locations.
Follow these steps to pinpoint a target.
1. When the detector detects a buried target, continue sweeping the
searchcoil over the target in a narrowing side-to-side motion.
2. Make a visual note of the exact spot on the ground where the detector
beeps.
3. Stop the searchcoil directly over this spot on the ground. Then move
the searchcoil straight forward away from you and straight back toward
you couple of times.
4. Make a visual note of the exact spot on the ground where the detector
beeps.
5. If necessary, repeat Steps 1-4 to zero in on the exact spot on the
ground where the detector beeps.
(EB 3/5/99)
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