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THE BASICS OF METAL DETECTING

A hobby metal detector is intended for locating buried metal objects.  When
searching for metals, underground or on the surface, you have the following
challenges and objectives:

1. Ignoring signals caused by ground minerals.
2. Ignoring signals caused by metal objects that you do not want to find,

like pull-tabs.

3. Identifying a buried metal object before you dig it up.
4. Estimating the size and depth of objects, to facilitate digging them up.
5. Eliminating the effects of electromagnetic interference from other

electronic devices.

Your ALPHA metal detector is designed with these things in mind.

1. Ground Minerals

All soils contain minerals. Signals from ground minerals can interfere with the
signals from metal objects you want to find.  All soils differ, and can differ
greatly, in the type and amount of ground minerals present. The detector
incorporates an automated ground-balancing feature which will eliminate
false signals from most types of soils.
There is no user adjustment. If you experience false signals from severe
ground conditions, such as highly mineralized soil found in many gold
prospecting locations, or red-clay soils, reduce sensitivity.

2. Trash

If searching for coins, which will induce higher tone sounds, you want to
ignore items like aluminum foil, 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 left to right.  

TARGET IDENTIFICATION

Targets are identified both audibly and visually as follows:

1. Different pitch tones for different types of metals
2. An illuminated icon within the target category best describing it.

AUDIO TARGET IDENTIFICATION:

Tones identify targets as follows:

LOW TONE
Ferrous objects, such as iron and steel, like nails and tin cans.
Smallest-sized gold objects and steel bottle caps

MEDIUM TONE
Newer pennies (post-1982 are minted from zinc)
Larger gold pieces, small brass objects, and most bottle screw caps.
Foil, pull-tabs, nickels and most recent-vintage non-US coins.

HIGH TONE
Silver and copper coins, large brass objects
Older pennies (pre-1982 were minted from copper)
Dimes, quarters, half-dollars, silver dollars
Susan B. Anthony and Sacajawea dollar coins
Flattened aluminum cans (with a stronger signal than a coin)

Audio Target Identification (ATI) classifies metals into three categories.

LOW TONE

Nails & Steel Bottle Caps,

& Small Gold

MEDIUM TONE

Pull Tabs, Nickels, Smaller &

Larger Gold, Zinc Pennies

(Post 1982), Many screw caps

HIGH TONE

Copper, Silver & Brass

Copper Pennies (Pre 1982)

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

       

 

    

 

 

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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