Metal Detector

[BoyceNoun]

Thanks for the links Locko. Some of these I have seen before.
I too was thinking about the BFO detector as well. However
you are first person I have had any conversation with who has some real
feedback on the subject. Seems intersting that your's is only able
to read into the ground just a few inches.

The circuit with PIC is very cool. This looks like a good place to start.
I'd like to write my own code. Maybe it would be possible to block
certain metals like aluminum and iron from being detected.
This way somebody doesn't keep digging up trash.

Any idea why yours only has a few inches of depth detection?

Wonder if the pick-up coil senstivity can be increased/decreased.

Thanks again Locko, this has been a huge step in the right direction.

Gordon

I know nothing about the BFO detector. I just heard about metal detector and gold detector.

[kellyseye]

The single most important part of any metal detector is the coil assembly. A PIC is usally only used to make 'fancy' displays of the resultant signal but you can't make a silk purse from a sows ear - in other words, without a decent coil/detection system using a PIC won't add any additional advantages.

Elektor magazine, November 1981, has a good (very, very good) metal detector circuit (with pcb layout etc) if you can get a back issue - my pdf of the article runs to around 8.5Mb in size.

[bethr]

Another good source is the BS2 Parallax forum, where is a small design called Sensitive Metal Detectors, wiring and source code are available from there, i think is easy to experiment with, porting the code as well !

http://forums.parallax.com/showthrea...144#post467144

not tried yet but soon.

[andywpg]

Elektor magazine, November 1981, has a good (very, very good) metal detector circuit (with pcb layout etc) if you can get a back issue - my pdf of the article runs to around 8.5Mb in size.

Went hunting for this when I saw your post and found THIS. I ordered one immediately, what a great resource.