Induction Balance Gold Metal Detector Circuit


Posted on May 12, 2017

This circuit really is the simplest inducer balancing metal detector (IB, Inductlon Balance) that can be built. The LB metal detection method has a satisfactory depth of penetration and good distinction between iron-based and noble metallic objects. Several metal detectors are available in the market, but their price is often prohibitive for seekers looking for buried treasures. This detector is carefully constructed and properly configured to accurately detect a 15mm diameter brass coil 70mm in air or a coin of 25mm diameter at 120mm. Even at a distance of 25% more, the detector will give unclear signs of coinage. Of course the ability to locate coins in the soil depends on the conditions of the ground between the treasure and the search head, with the ideal material being the dry sand and worse the mud and, of course, the size of the object.


Induction Balance Gold Metal Detector Circuit
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Induction Balance Gold Metal Detector Circuit - image 1
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Induction Balance Gold Metal Detector Circuit - image 2
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Induction Balance Gold Metal Detector Circuit - image 3
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The Electronics

The set of electronics required for the construction is relatively simple and is based on conventional components, most of which may already be on the warehouse. The electronic part consists of a pulse generator (transmitter) and the corresponding one-way receiver where two coils are used as a means of processing.

The transmitter develops around the IC1. The (low power) CMOS 555 generates a square wave output signal with a pulse ratio of nearly 50% and a frequency of about 700Hz. With 555 in unstable operation, the output frequency is determined by the R4, R3 and C3 components. The output pulse is applied to the L1 coil through the R8 - C4 array, in which the electrolytic capacitor prevents DC from passing through the coil and the resistor protects the output stage within the 555. The pulse fronts generated by the 555 stimulate the coil and cause intermittent oscillations at the same frequency of approximately 10kHz.

Prior to the receiver unit (IC2) there is a simple yet parallel pre-amplification step which is based on the IC3 booster amplifier and amplifies the signal received at the receiver coil (RX) via the components C11 and R9.

The gain of the output amplifier is regulated by potentiometers P1 (roughly) and P2 (accurately). The second CMOS 555 of circuit IC2 is connected so as to act as a threshold detector, the output of which (terminal 3) switches to high level input voltage (terminal 2) drops below 1/3 of the supply voltage (or about 2.9 V). Similarly, the output reaches a low logic level once the voltage at the THR input (terminal 6) exceeds 2/3 of the supply voltage (or about 7.4 V). Thus, if the carefully set threshold is overcome, a 700 Hz signal will be heard from the piezo-electric beeper. This threshold setting is particularly critical and is the key point of the circuit.


Coupling coils

The RX and TX coils are in a very sensitive coupling so that the presence of some metal disrupts their coupling and along with this carefully set the 'calm' of the threshold detector. The two coils are of the same size and have a partial overlap. This overlay gives the coil the ability to collect both a positive and a negative (inverted) percentage of the magnetic field generated by the TX coil. Due to the careful balancing of the coils, the positive and the negative signals are mutually eliminated, resulting in the coil displaying at the output (theoretical) zero signal. The situation is called 'zero'. Nevertheless, due to practical limitations, there is a small waste stream. Once the sensitive equilibrium between the fields is disturbed by the presence of a metal object (which will absorb energy from the magnetic field), the coil RX will begin to provide the output with a larger current causing the electrical threshold set in IC2 to be exceeded and the Buzzer will start sounding In practice, the best tuning of the detector is achieved at the limit where the metallic object is absent, the passive piezo-electric buzzer produces a mild whistling sound. With this setting, when a metal object enters the field the sound level will increase significantly. Setting the 'zero' point of the coils is particularly important.

Circuit power can be supplied from a 12V battery, or from an array of 8 AA batteries, or from the corresponding rechargeable cells. Whichever final form of feed is, the use of a power pack that we carry on the shoulder and is separate from the detector serves a lot because it reduces the final weight of the device while also enabling the package to be directly replaced when it is emptied. The Ic4 voltage stabilizer on the board is set via R1 and R2 to provide an output voltage of 8.6 V. The current consumption of the battery pack is of the order of 20 mA depending on the condition of the buzzer.


Construction - the board

Fixing the components on the board is not expected to pose any problems because the available space is comfortable and secondly all the components used have terminals. Beginners should pay close attention to the correspondence between the parts list and the layout outline printed on the board. The axes of the potentiometers are passed through the board. This fixation mode was chosen to facilitate the fitting of the appropriate knobs on the shafts when they are cut to the appropriate length depending on the box that will accommodate the circuit. Because we are dealing with a relatively sensitive circuit, we recommend the box to be metallic. In this way it is also easy to ground the potentiometer housing via the fixing nuts.


Construction - detection coil and assembly

The two coils are identical. If it is not difficult to buy them, we can use enameled copper wire of 0.26mm. With which we will make 100 right-handed spirals in a circular form of 15cm diameter. The diameter of the wire is not critical and anything between 0.2mm and 0.3mm is OK. Then we temporarily fix the thread with pieces of insulating tape which we pass underneath and fasten from above. We also manufacture a similar coil, and once we finish, we tightly wrap the coils across the periphery with an insulating tape. Then we need to add to each coil a Faraday cage.

This is achieved by means of thin and long strips of aluminum or foil wrapping. First we remove the varnish from the cable at the edge of each coil. Next, stick 100mm of bare cable to the base, and rotate it around the coil above the insulating tape. This particular wire will provide electrical contact to the Faraday cage.

Starting from the bottom of the duct, wrap the foil around the circumference of the coil so that no part of the insulating tape is visible under the aluminum but the aluminum foil should not complete a full circle of 360 degrees. Leave a small gap before we get to the point where we started (about 10mm) so that the two ends of the aluminum foil do not come in contact, otherwise we will have a short-circuited winding around the coil which will introduce an awful amount of unwanted noise.

We do the same job on the second coil. Then connect each coil with a good quality symmetrical shielded microphone cable where the Faraday cage is connected to the cable shield. Here we need attention to the choice of cable, it does not serve to use a stereo microphone shielded cable, as it may cause interference between the coils. The cable type we need has two twisted wires internally surrounded by a common shield braid. Each coil is now wrapped tightly with an insulating tape across the periphery, and ending wrap around each coil with stripes of absorbent cloth (like the one that wipes the dishes) by fastening it with a little glue for general use. When we later pull Resin onto the coils, the cloth will help them swim in Resin

Carefully bend the two finished coils so they are relatively flat and circular, and we bring each ending wire opposite us and right of the start-up cable. Then we bend them even further until they form asymmetric deficiencies as capital D. The backs of D are placed on the search head in such a way that they are partially overlapped and here is the most critical point of construction, which we will move on after completing the assembly of the board. And here we will need to shield the coils to make sure they only respond to their own magnetic field and limit the risk of inducing other signals (even caused by a minimal capacitive link). Defective or inadequate shielding will result in sharp IC2 pulse fronts that will reach directly at the IC3 input. These parasitic pulses make it impossible to locate the 'null' point in the search coil.

 

Circuit setting

The construction of the detection head has not yet been completed, some components are already beginning to interact with the circuit settings. Before we start fixing the coils, it is necessary to have a complete and functional board. The coil support is made on a hard non-metallic base, with the help of plastic Resin. As a base we can use any surface of suitable size whose walls are made of wooden pins of 5 mm in diameter perpendicularly glued. Note that these walls should be leakproof (do not leave Resin), while we should not use any metal. A portion of the 4cm coil protects it from being covered by Resin and can bend it if necessary for a final adjustment.

Initially, we place the coils one above the other, making sure that they are properly oriented, with the end of the wire facing us and to the right of its origin. Turn the full-left gain potentiometers (minimum gain) so as to limit the amplification as much as possible. We connect a 12 V battery and feed the circuit. Then we slowly move the coils away from each other until the buzzer is calm.

At this point the voltages within the coil RX are zero and we continue to increase the gain slightly and moving the coils slightly. We repeat the process several times, increasing the gain every time. The higher the gain, always having the ability to locate the zero point, the more reliable the detector will be.

Attention always drives the coils from full contact to full separation. If we set the system upside down, once a metal object is detected, the signal level within the coils will initially fall through zero and then rise again to reach the point where the buzzer will start to sound. At the operating principle level there is no problem, only the detector will be very unconscious.

When searching for the optimal relative position between the coils we should show great patience. In case of need we can also use some wooden clamps for easier adjustment and comparison of the results. Once we have spotted the exact points where the coils should be stabilized, we mark with a marker holes around and from the two coils. These holes serve to pass small wires that will tighten the coils on the support, and we will also need plastic cable ties to fasten the microphone wires to the same base.

Before removing the Resin, carefully seal the gaps under the base, as plastic Resin may exhibit too low viscosity and collapses much faster than other adhesives. Carefully bend the coils at the center of the base until we reach the exact equilibrium point where from the buzzer (or headphones) we have neither complete peace nor noise, but a simple whistle. A slight shift at this point is not a problem.

Here we might be able to attach a rotating hinge to which the metal detector shaft will later be attached. For a shaft we can use a 40mm or 50mm diameter PVC pipe like the one we use in the kitchen drain.

Now we are ready to mix and roll Resin It is good to use the right amount of catalyst so we do not have much heat or too much shrinkage of Resin. Pour the Resin onto the cloth surrounding the coils so that it soaks and we continue to pour Resin at least until the entire base is covered. At this point and until the Resin hardens, the circuit may not work properly, so for now we do not make any further adjustments, but just switch off the circuit.

As soon as Resin hardens, we bring the search head away from any metal, as well as any device that can cause interference and supply the circuit. Turn the P2 potentiometer (precision setting) halfway through it. And then we turn the P1 (resonance) until the detector produces a slight whistle, something limiting between calm and noise. For any further adjustment, we play with P1 and P2. Then we move a coin in front of the search head, so the piezo buzzer should start to sound.


Alternative construction method

The images illustrate an alternative method for implementing the search head, based on the use of plexiglas. The coils TX and RX are embedded in grooves drawn at the ends of separate plexiglass semicircles.

A third piece of plexiglass (this time square) serves to support the semicircle on it, connects to the PVC tube and still allows adjustment of the coils. The last action is achieved with the help of plastic screws, since this construction is completed and mechanically adjusted, and it must swim in Resin so as to ensure the necessary durability and durability.


Use in practice

It is soon perceived to the user that the regulation of the metal detector is affected by the metallic elements of the soil it is investigating, as well as by the temperature and voltages, so the continuous adjustments of P1 and P2 are inevitable. A part of the extraordinary simplicity of the circuit is the partial slip that it presents, which although not excessive, necessitates a relatively regular adjustment of the detector.

At the center of the search head, the rejection of the circuit in the iron is too high, so when one acquires the necessary familiarity with the detector, practically he is able to exclude the iron. This is an awesome advantage for those who use the detector to find gold coins or noble metals.

 

Components list

Resistances:

R1 = 2k7
R2 = 470O
R3, RS, R6 = 100 kO
R4 = 4k7
R7 = 1 kO
R8, R9 = 100O
P1 = 50KO potentiometer
P2 = 2K5 potentiometer

Capacitors:

C1 = 100µF / 25V electrolytic
C2 = 47µF / 10V electrolytic
C3 = 10nF
C4, C6 = 10µF / 10V electrolytic
C7-C11 = 100nF

Semiconductors:

D1 1N4001
IC1, IC2 = 555C, TLC555, 7555 (CMOS)
IC3 = TL071CP, TL081CP
IC4 = LM317 (CT220)

Other:

K1, K2 = terminal 3-pin terminal block, 5mm terminal block
BZ1 = passive (ac) piezoelectric buzzer
PC1, PC2 = board studs
12V battery or 8-cell AA battery pack
Reinforced copper wire diameter 0.2-0.3mm 2x50 meters
Box: (109 x 58 x 25 mm) 5m symmetrical
Shielded microphone cable (two lines with common shielding)





Leave Comment

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Martini   Dec 14, 2021

Hello. Would anybody be able to help me figuring out how to connect the coils to the terminal blocks? Author mentions 2 pieces of 3-pin terminal blocks, 2 lines mic. cable (1 cable for each coil?), TX start, TX end, RX start, RX end. Would you be able to point out which end goes where?

Shayan   May 22, 2021

Induction Balance Gold Metal Detector Circuit is very good

Ahmet T.   Apr 15, 2020

Congratulations, nice work, but there are some mistakes and things I don't understand: - No C5 capacitor. - C1 capacitor has 2 in the scheme. (There will be C2 at the bottom in the diagram.) - IC1 and IC2 text are confused. - C11 scheme is also shown incorrectly. Ceramic or electrolytic? - Is the end where the aluminum foil is attached to the coils is correct? Will the aluminum foil be attached to the "start" end or will it be attached to different ends? Which ends will be connected to the negative end?

magnim padaboh   Jan 29, 2018

Please I need help. I tried this circuit several times but not getting correct output. The buzzer sounds continuously What mistake have I done.

diakoooo   Oct 23, 2017

Has anyone built this circuit? Does it work?

Duplam   Sep 5, 2017

You can use the same circuit.. just change R3 and C3 to match the wanted frequency. Keep in mind that the higher the frequency the lesser detection range.

Kerry   Sep 5, 2017

Can you make some plans for a detector that operates at 71 kHz with discrimination? Thank you

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