2 Heading Heading Heading Quick Start Discriminate Mode: (For detecting non-ferrous metals) Ensure that the battery pack is fully charged. (pg. 14) Set the mode switch to Disc (Discriminate). (pg. 27) Turn the detector 'On' by turning the Threshold control clockwise until it 'clicks'. Continue turning until the audio tone becomes 'just' audible. (pg. 22) Set the desired position of the Discriminate control. (pg.
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Congratulations on purchasing the Minelab Excalibur II Metal detecting is a fascinating and rewarding activity enjoyed by people all over the world. By getting to know your Excalibur II, you may become one of the many who find gold and valuable treasure! The Excalibur II is an amphibious machine performing as well on land and the beach as it does underwater. You can be confident in its ability to penetrate deeply and discriminate accurately underwater, at depths of up to 66 m (200ft).
2 Contents Quick Start How Metal Detectors Work BBS Technology List of Parts Assembly Adjusting the Detector for Comfortable Use Charging the Battery Pack Detecting Basics Common Terms Control Panel Turning the Detector On A Detecting Exercise Item Number: 4901 - 0064 Revision: 3 3 Back Cover 4 5 6 7 12 14 16 17 18 19 20 Threshold / Adjusting the Background Audio Level Volume / Setting the Volume of Target Signals Sensitivity Identifying Targets Disc or Pinpoint/All Metals / Selecting a Mode Discrimi
4 How Metal Detectors Work Metal detectors create an electro-magnetic (em) field, which penetrates the ground. Because metal is conductive it causes a change in this field. The detector senses this change and sends a signal back to the control box, alerting the operator. 5 BBS TECHNOLOGY Broad Band Spectrum (BBS) Most detectors on the market operate on a single or dual frequency, ranging from 1 to 70 (kHz). A metal detector’s em operating frequencies are measured in kilohertz (kHz).
List of Parts Assembly 7 Armrest Headphones Upper Shaft Attaching the Armrest to the Upper Shaft: If not already bolted to the upper shaft: 1 Ensure that the cup of the armrest is pointing in the same direction as the handle. Slide the armrest onto the end of the upper shaft aligning the shaft and armrest holes. Control Cylinder Battery Pod (includes NiMH cells) 2 Insert the short bolt through the armrest and upper shaft holes. 3 Fasten the wing-nut onto the bolt.
8 Assembly 9 Connecting the Battery Pack to the Upper Shaft: Side-Mount Upper Shaft (Available as an accessory) 1 Connect the cable from the control cylinder to the battery pack, using the guide screw to align the battery contacts correctly. The alternate position of the pins allows the control cylinder and battery to be attached on the side of the shaft. The side-mount position allows you to detect close to the ground and reduces the resistance when wading or detecting underwater.
10 Assembly 11 Attaching the Lower Shaft to the Coil: Winding the Coil Cable: The short lower shaft is most commonly used for underwater detecting, while the long lower shaft is mostly used for land detecting. Both the long and short lower shafts are attached in the same way. Wind the coil cable around the lower shaft enough times to take up the slack (try sitting down and rotating the shaft on your knee).
12 Adjusting the Detector for Comfortable Use For comfortable, long term detecting, it is important that you take the time to adjust the detector correctly. Holding the Detector: Grasp the handle of the detector and rest your forearm in the armrest. Adjusting the Length of the Lower Shaft: The correct length of the lower shaft should allow you to swing the coil in front of your body without any uncomfortable stretching or stooping.
14 Charging the Battery Pack The Excalibur II is supplied with a sealed battery pack which contains 10 NiMH rechargeable cells. This pack has been pressure tested to a depth of 66 m (200ft) which makes it suitable for both land and underwater detecting. The batteries can be recharged without having to remove them from the pack . 15 Alkaline Battery Pack (Available as an accessory) The alkaline pack is water resistant but not waterproof so is suitable for land and beach shallow-wading only.
16 Detecting Basics The Excalibur II is a ‘motion’ detector. This means that the coil must be 'moving' over a target to detect it. If the coil is held stationary over a target the detector will not give a response. The Excalibur II will perform at its best when the coil is kept close and parallel to the ground, beach, river/ sea bed at all times. This will increase detection depth, response to small objects and help prevent false signals.
18 Control Panel Turning the Detector On Discriminate Controls which type of targets (metal objects) the detector will reject. (pg. 28) Sensitivity Increases/decreases the detectors response to its environment and to targets. (pg. 25) Volume Controls the maximum level of sound emitted by the detector when a target is detected. (pg. 24) Threshold Increases/decreases the constant background audio produced by the detector. (pg. 22) This control is also used to turn the detector on/off.
20 A Detecting Exercise Before attempting to recover targets, it is important to understand how to interpret the audio signals of the detector. 1 Gather a collection of different metal objects, e.g. a nail, pull-tab, aluminium foil, various coins, gold and silver jewellery. 2 Remove all jewellery from your hands and wrists. 3 Take the detector outdoors, away from known electrical interference or metal objects. If you are getting signals from a clear patch of ground, there could be buried metal objects.
22 Threshold Adjusting the Background Audio Level Threshold is the constant audible background audio tone or 'hum' produced by the detector. The level of the Threshold should be set low/to a minimum, but still audible and stable. Ideally it should be a smooth, gentle hum. 23 When the threshold is too high, a faint signal is masked, and only the peak of the loud signal is audible above the Threshold.
24 Volume Setting the Volume of Target Signals The Volume control is used to adjust target signal volume. As you turn this control clockwise, the volume of target signals will increase. At the most clockwise position, the volume is set at the maximum/loudest, position. If the Volume control is set to maximum, all target signals will be heard and will sound proportional to the target size and depth.
26 Identifying Targets Disc or Pinpoint/All Metals Selecting a Mode 27 In order to identify different targets, the Excalibur II rates them along a scale. The conductivity and size of a target determines where it will appear on the scale. The Excalibur II can operate in two different modes. This control selects either Disc (Discriminate) or Pinpoint/All Metals mode. High-conductivity targets, for example, a US quarter, Australian $1 coin, 1£ coin or €.50 cent will produce a high pitch signal.
28 Discriminate Rejecting Unwanted Targets 29 In Disc mode, the Discriminate control becomes active. Discriminate allows you to reject or 'ignore' certain target signals while detecting. You are also able to determine whether a rejected target was ferrous or non-ferrous by the pitch of the returning threshold after blanking. A rejected ferrous object will cause the returning threshold pitch to be a low tone, while a rejected non-ferrous object will cause the returning threshold pitch to be higher.
30 Pinpointing Locating the Target The exact location of a target can be determined by Pinpointing. Once the approximate target location is known: 1 Switch the detector to Pinpoint/All Metals mode. 2 Move the coil slowly over the target. The audio tone will increase in volume while moving towards the target and decrease in volume as you pass it. The tone will be loudest when the coil is directly over the target. Quite often the detector will be producing its maximum volume for a broad area over the target.
32 Recovering the Target It is essential to carry at least a small, strong digging spade, shovel or sand scoop with you when searching. 1 2 Clear the area of loose surface material and check that the target signal is still there. If it is not, the target should be amongst the moved surface material. Take note if there are other signals close to your target. This is important so that when you come to dig your hole, you do not heap the loose sand/soil on top of another target already in the ground.
34 Taking Care of Your Detector Taking Care of Your Battery The Excalibur II is a high quality electronic instrument. Take care of your detector in the following way: • The NiMH battery pack has been sealed and pressure tested and should not be disassembled. • Visually check the lower end of both cylinders after entering the water. If any water droplets or condensation are visible inside your Excalibur II, turn it off and remove it from the water immediately.
36 Troubleshooting No sound • Check that the detector is on. Try turning both the Threshold and Volume controls to maximum. • Check that the battery pack and power cable Technical Specifications Detector Transmission 1.5, 3, 4.5, 6, 7.5, 9 ... 25.
38 Accessories The following items are also available for purchase. • Alkaline Battery Pack Housing (batteries not included) • Hipmount Kit • Side-Mount Shaft Kit • 12V Vehicle Charger • Wingnut and Bolt Packs • Teardrop Washers • Black Skid Plate • Yellow Skid Plate • Blue Minelab Cap • Blue Minelab Polo Shirt For more information on these and other Minelab products call your Minelab dealer. Warranty There is a one-year parts and labour warranty for the control box of the Excalibur II.
40 Service Repair Form Today’s Date Detector / Model Serial Number Purchased From Purchase Date Faulty Part(s) Owner’s Name Address Telephone ( Fax ( ) Day Home ) Email Description of Fault cut out or photocopy Please explain how we can replicate the problem in order to fix your detector.
