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7

QUICK-START DEMONSTRATION

I. Supplies Needed

• a Nail

• a Zinc Penny (dated after 1982)

• a Nickel

• a Quarter

II. Position the Detector

a. Place the detector on a table, with the

search coil hanging over the edge.
Or better, have a friend hold the
detector, with the search coil off the
ground.

b. Keep the search coil away from walls,

floors, and metal objects.

c. Remove watches, rings, and jewelry.
d. Turn off lights or appliances, whose electromagnetic emissions may

cause interference.

e. Pivot the search coil back.

III. Power Up. Press 

.

IV. Wave each object over the search coil.

a. Notice a different tone for each object:

Low Tone:

Medium Tone:

High Tone:

Nail

Zinc Penny, Nickel

Quarter

b. Motion is required.

Objects must be in motion over the search coil to be detected.

V. Then press

.

a. The word “IRON” disappears from the display

VI. Wave the nail over the search coil.

a. The nail will not be detected
b. The nail has been “discriminated out.”

VII. Press

four more times.

a. The words FOIL, 5¢, ALUM, and ZINC disappear.

VIII. Wave the nickel

a. The nickel will not be detected.

IX. Press 

to toggle down to NOTCH.

Then press 

3 times

a.  5¢ reappears on the display

X. Wave the Nickel.

a. The nickel is now again detected.
b. The nickel has been “notched in.”

14

READING THE DISPLAY

The Liquid Crystal Display (LCD) shows the
PROBABLE identification of the targeted
metal, as well as the PROBABLE depth of the
target.

The detector will register a consistent target
identification, upon each sweep of the coil,
when a buried target has been located and
identified. If, upon repeated passes over the
same spot, the target identification reads
inconsistently, the target is probably a trash
item, or oxidized metal. With practice, you will
learn to unearth only the repeatable signals.

The segment identifications are highly
accurate, when detecting the objects
described on the label. However, if an object
registers in a given category for an unknown
buried object, you could be detecting a
metallic object other than the object described
on the label, but with the same metallic
signature. Also, the greater the distance
between the target and the coil, the less
accurate the target identification.

GOLD TARGETS

Gold objects will register

on the left side of the LCD scale.

Gold flakes

will register under iron.

Small gold items

will register under foil

or 5¢.

Medium-sized gold items

will

register between 5¢ and Alum.

Large gold items

will register under

Zinc.

SILVER TARGETS:

Silver objects will

register to the right of the scale, under Dime,
Qts. or 50¢+.

IRON:

All but the very largest iron objects will

register on the far-left side of the scale. This
could indicate a worthless item such as a nail,
or a more valuable historic iron relic.

FOIL: 

Aluminum foil, such as a gum

wrapper, will register as foil. A small
broken piece of pull tab may also register
here.

NICKEL:

Most newer pull-tabs from beverage

cans, the type intended to stay attached to the

can, will register here. Many gold rings will also
register here.

PT:

Older pull tabs, which always detached

completely from the can, register here. Many
medium size gold ring also register here.

ZINC:

Newer US pennies (post-1982), and

Canadian $1 and $2 coins register here. Many
non-US coins of recent vintage will also
register here.

DIME:

Dimes and older copper pennies (pre-

1982) register here.

50¢+ Qts:

Quarters register here, Silver

Dollars, Half-Dollars and very large iron
objects, like a sewer lid, will register here.

Caution:

The target indications are visual

references. Many other types of metal can fall
under any one of these categories. While the
detector will eliminate or indicate the presence
of most common trash items, it is impossible
to accurately classify ALL buried objects.

DEPTH INDICATOR: 

The Depth Indicator is

accurate for coin-sized objects. It indicates
the depth of the target, in inches.

Large and irregularly-shaped objects will yield
less reliable depth readings

When passing over an object, the indicators
will light up and stay illuminated for three
seconds. If the depth indication varies with
each sweep, try sweeping at different angles;
there may be more than one target present.
With practice, you will learn the difference
between accurate readings, multiple targets,
and highly erratic readings which evidence
trash or irregularly shaped objects.

DEPTH AND TARGET DISPLAY

Summary of Contents for Alpha 2000

Page 1: ...doors This detector is for outdoor use only Many household appliances emit electromagnetic energy which can interfere with the detector If conducting an indoor demonstration turn the sensitivity down and keep the search coil away from appliances such as computers televisions and microwave ovens If your detector beeps erratically turn off appliances and lights Also keep the search coil away from ob...

Page 2: ... or beeps erratically indoors outdoors only Using detector near Move away power lines from power lines Using 2 detectors in Keep 2 detectors close proximity at least 20 apart Environmental Reduce sensitivity electromagnetic until erratic interference signals cease Constant low tone Discharged battery Replace battery or constant repeating tones Wrong type of Use only 9V battery alkaline battery or ...

Page 3: ... old structures and vehicles can also be composed of iron FERROUS Metals which are made of or contain iron PINPOINTING Pinpointing is the process of finding the exact location of a buried object Long buried metals can appear exactly like the surrounding soil and can therefore be very hard to isolate from the soil PULL TABS Discarded pull tabs from beverage containers are the most bothersome trash ...

Page 4: ...s force will cause damage To disconnect the cable pull on the plug Do not pull on the cable Locking Collar Locking Collar S Rod Velcro Strap Velcro Strap Knurled Knob Bolt Search Coil Hand grip Search Coil Cable Lower Stem Upper Stem Cable Plug hobby you may want to dig all targets at first With practice in the field you will learn to better discern the nature of buried objects by the nature of th...

Page 5: ...p the coil at a consistent speed over the ground as you search After identifying a target your sweep technique can help in identifying both the location and the nature of the target If you encounter a weak signal try moving the coil in short rapid sweeps over the target zone such a short rapid sweep may provide a more consistent target identification Most worthwhile objects will respond with a rep...

Page 6: ...g less than 6 2 volts After the battery indicator begins flashing expect the detector to shut off within 10 minutes A rechargeable battery will usually illuminate all segments throughout most of its useful charge But as soon as it drains to the 2 segment level it will then discharge very rapidly BATTERIES IN THE FIELD TECHNIQUES 15 When pinpointing a target try drawing an X as illustrated over whe...

Page 7: ...o the greater the distance between the target and the coil the less accurate the target identification GOLD TARGETS Gold objects will register on the left side of the LCD scale Gold flakes will register under iron Small gold items will register under foil or 5 Medium sized gold items will register between 5 and Alum Large gold items will register under Zinc SILVER TARGETS Silver objects will regis...

Page 8: ...l nails and pull tabs These undesirable items induce lower tones You can listen to the sounds of all objects detected and decide on what you want to dig up Or you can eliminate unwanted metals from detection by using the DISCRIMINATION feature 3 Identifying Buried Objects Different objects induce different tones high medium low and are classified on the display screen in different categories from ...

Page 9: ...e SENS line is highlighted Maximum sensitivity is indicated by 5 bars Minimum sensitivity is indicated by 1 bar If the detector beeps erratically or beeps when there are no metal objects being detected reduce the sensitivity The search coil produces a magnetic field and then detects changes in that magnetic field caused by the presence of metal objects This magnetic field that the detector creates...

Page 10: ...ve elimination system Targets can be eliminated from left to right on the scale with each additional press of resulting in more objects being eliminated from detection 2 NOTCH Press until NOTCH is illuminated on the display Use and to notch target categories IN or OUT while the NOTCH line is highlighted Whereas the discrimination feature eliminates all categories sequentially from detection the NO...

Page 11: ...ve elimination system Targets can be eliminated from left to right on the scale with each additional press of resulting in more objects being eliminated from detection 2 NOTCH Press until NOTCH is illuminated on the display Use and to notch target categories IN or OUT while the NOTCH line is highlighted Whereas the discrimination feature eliminates all categories sequentially from detection the NO...

Page 12: ...e SENS line is highlighted Maximum sensitivity is indicated by 5 bars Minimum sensitivity is indicated by 1 bar If the detector beeps erratically or beeps when there are no metal objects being detected reduce the sensitivity The search coil produces a magnetic field and then detects changes in that magnetic field caused by the presence of metal objects This magnetic field that the detector creates...

Page 13: ...l nails and pull tabs These undesirable items induce lower tones You can listen to the sounds of all objects detected and decide on what you want to dig up Or you can eliminate unwanted metals from detection by using the DISCRIMINATION feature 3 Identifying Buried Objects Different objects induce different tones high medium low and are classified on the display screen in different categories from ...

Page 14: ...o the greater the distance between the target and the coil the less accurate the target identification GOLD TARGETS Gold objects will register on the left side of the LCD scale Gold flakes will register under iron Small gold items will register under foil or 5 Medium sized gold items will register between 5 and Alum Large gold items will register under Zinc SILVER TARGETS Silver objects will regis...

Page 15: ...g less than 6 2 volts After the battery indicator begins flashing expect the detector to shut off within 10 minutes A rechargeable battery will usually illuminate all segments throughout most of its useful charge But as soon as it drains to the 2 segment level it will then discharge very rapidly BATTERIES IN THE FIELD TECHNIQUES 15 When pinpointing a target try drawing an X as illustrated over whe...

Page 16: ...stent speed over the ground as you search After identifying a target your sweep technique can help in identifying both the location and the nature of the target If you encounter a weak signal try moving the coil in short rapid sweeps over the target zone such a short rapid sweep may provide a more consistent target identification Most worthwhile objects will respond with a repeatable tone If the s...

Page 17: ...s force will cause damage To disconnect the cable pull on the plug Do not pull on the cable Locking Collar S Rod Velcro Strap Velcro Strap Knurled Knob Bolt Search Coil Hand grip Search Coil Cable Lower Stem Cable Plug hobby you may want to dig all targets at first With practice in the field you will learn to better discern the nature of buried objects by the nature of the detector s response You ...

Page 18: ... old structures and vehicles can also be composed of iron FERROUS Metals which are made of or contain iron PINPOINTING Pinpointing is the process of finding the exact location of a buried object Long buried metals can appear exactly like the surrounding soil and can therefore be very hard to isolate from the soil PULL TABS Discarded pull tabs from beverage containers are the most bothersome trash ...

Page 19: ... or beeps erratically indoors outdoors only Using detector near Move away power lines from power lines Using 2 detectors in Keep 2 detectors close proximity at least 20 apart Environmental Reduce sensitivity electromagnetic until erratic interference signals cease Constant low tone Discharged battery Replace battery or constant repeating tones Wrong type of Use only 9V battery alkaline battery or ...

Page 20: ...nsumer To return your detector for service please first contact First Texas for a Return Authorization RA Number Reference the RA number on your package and return the detector within 15 days of calling to First Texas Products L L C 1465 H Henry Brennan Dr El Paso TX 79936 Phone 915 225 0333 NOTE TO FOREIGN COUNTRY CUSTOMERS This warranty may vary in other countries check with your distributor for...

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