sd2100 noise

hi all i am trying to get used to my sd2100 it is the green model.

any way even when the coil is diconnected and i put the head phones on the tone is not constant it seems to pulse in a wave pattern , is this normal or should it be just consant?

i also tried turning the tune but to no avail .

i have the detector turned off when i disconect the coil then turn it back on .

Hi Zacc
I for one would not be turning the machine on without the coil attached.To check your machine out firstly get away from any electrical interference.Go bush.Make sure batttery is fully charged.Learn ground balance procedure from manual,internet or person you brought machine from.
Cheers Dig

Morning Zacc,
Your problem is without doubt a "Tune" problem.
As Dig mentioned get out of suburbia and spend some time tuning then balance the machine. Unless your 2100 has been modified you will need a small flat blade screwdriver to achieve this.
I posted "Tuning your SD2100" somewhere on this site, it is a tried and proven method used to get the machine purring.
If you don't have any success contact me and I'll explain the method.

Cheers
Peter

Zacc,
Here we go;

Tuning your Minelab SD 2100:

Firstly you probably HAVE missed many nuggets with your SD "warbling" in your earphones. When I now get the slightest variation in the "hum" I scrape off the top layer of rocks, grass etc and if the signal has improved it is usually a small target, hopefully a nugget.

Getting back to tuning:

With the machine turned on and holding it at waist height with base of coil vertical, rotate 360deg, noting which direction the warbling is greatest.

Lay the detector and coil on the ground with the coil tilted up at about 45/60 deg and facing direction of strongest interference.

Place one hand on the box to keep it steady so there are not any false signals (as you can well imagine the 1 & 2 balance positions are not ultimately tuned at this stage) with your other hand using the small screwdriver, rotate the tuning screw clockwise. (At this point it may be easier to remove your back pack and lay it next to the detector) If you haven't achieved any improvement after say 20 rotations clockwise, rotate anticlockwise for 20 rotations (back to starting point) then keep rotating anticlockwise for another 20 rotations. (This pot does not have a "stop" so it may take time.)You may feel like a bit of a dork out in the middle of nowhere down on all fours with your butt in the air but believe me it is worth the effort.

If you persevere eventually the threshold will become a steady Hummmm! You will only need to readjust if you move to complete new mineralised ground or your machine again becomes unsteady. After you have your machine humming steadily stand up and go through the 1-2 positions of balancing your machine.

At this point it is advisable to select the “Tone” that most suits your hearing.

Using a small target (shotgun pellet is ideal) scrape a small hole and place target in the hole. Now swing your coil across the target, vary the tone until you get the clearest/ sharpest signal that suits your hearing.

LOW and SLOW and ALWAYS investigate any change in tone no matter how slight, those little grammers soon add up.
Pinpointing your signal:



When a signal is targeted, draw a line through where you think the target is, now step around 90deg and again swing and again draw a line through where you think the target is. Where the two lines cross will be approximately where your target is laying. (After you become confident you will find only imaginary lines are required.)

Coils:

Mono coils have a different target centre to your DD coils, practice with both using previous pinpointing method until you are confident. If the ground is highly mineralised and your machine continually chatters you may need to use your DD coil only.

Tip:

If your signal varies considerably while using the pinpointing method it is quite possible your target is ground noise. (Scrape of the top layer of dirt, the signal should increase if it is a target.)

Good luck on your next visit to the goldfields, and yes, I would be interested in hearing from you whether this advice helped in any way.

Nightjar

thanks guys but i am not trying to tune the detector as yet , i just want to know if it is working ok and is the variation in the noise is normal or should it be constant with out the coil attatched?

Hi Zacc
For many years it was considered dangerous to turn your machine on with out a coil attached as it could blow up the box.So you wont get many who can tell you what a machine sounds like with no coil attached.Whether this is a reality or myth I dont know,so I still wont try it.I would think that without the coil attached the circut in not complete.The only true test of your machine is with the coil attached.The sd2100s are very study units and have a great history as nugget finders.Happy hunting
Cheers Dig

thanks for that .

even with the coil on in an area with no power to interfere i still can not get a constent steady hum . it seems to go hi and low .

are they surpose to have a steady constant hum or can it very ? this is when the unit is not moved at all.
thanks

Zacc Helloooooooooooooooooo,
Your 2100 should be running smooth when stationary, scroll up 3 posts it is all there.

thank you very muchchchchchchchc thats all i needed to know, much appreciated.