MINELAB F1A4 ex military metal detectors - tips, settings, questions

[Marauder]

Hi Guys,

Apparently the F1A4 unit has an odd coil connector plug be default. Does anyone know of a good instructable on how to change the coil plug over, or make an adaptor lead for the standard minelab coils?

Same with the headphone jack.

Thanks

James

 

[user 4485]

Might be something here:
https://www.prospectingaustralia.com/forum/viewtopic.php?id=7098

 

[Marauder]

Thanks Mbasko, exactly what i need!

 

[Marauder]

Using the above resources, i have completed the coil plug mod!

Picking up my coil today, so we'll see if it can find anything!

Not bad for $3.95 and a distraction while watch tv!

 

[Marauder]

With only the coil plug changed to the standard plug can you run a 18 x 4 nuggeteer coil?

I know it uses an 8inch mono default, but I haven't got that one.

Should a standard mono coil work off the bat?

 

[vstrom]

Any mono coil your 18x4 will work .

 

[Marauder]

The coil doesn't seem to work at all, but it has been reterminated on the plug. I'm grabbing another one from a mate today which hasnt been molested, so hopefully that will work.

either that or I've wired the plug wrong.

 

[Nuggetbuster]

Those PM coils: I've tried about a dozen of them (on SD, GP, GPX machines) and I reckon only half if them actually worked at all.
I've been meaning to cut one open... I wouldn't at all be surprised if it's empty inside

 

[Marauder]

Pulled the whole thing apart. And yeah had wired both wrong. The first picture down halo posted of the coil plug is reversed, so that was wrong, and i had wired the Nuggeteer coil backwards(maybe)

Long story short, its working now. Not as sensitive as i had expected, but there is so much emi at my house that its lucky to work at all. I the quick test i did before work t was picking up a gold ring at about 8 inches in the air, but it wasn't rigorous test.

 

[PhaseTech]

The F1A4s were based on SD2100 circuitry, so based on my experience with the 2100s, the mono coils that should work great on an F1A4 would be:

- 11" Mono Minelab
- 12" Nugget Finder Advantage
- 14x9" Nugget Finder Advantage
- Original Coiltek 11" Mono
- Detech 12.5" round Mono

 

[Marauder]

Cool thanks Phase!

 

[Jaros]

Try the Detech 15" x 12" DD Butterfly coil.
Jaros

 

[PhaseTech]

Try the Detech 15" x 12" DD Butterfly coil.
Jaros

For hot ground yes yes.

 

[Marauder]

http://www.ebay.com/itm/Detech-15-x...-Minelab-E-Trac-Explorer-Safari-/171280963052

Looks cool but i'll give the coils i've got a go first(plus the 11" thats coming)

 

[noncents]

Hi Marauder the ebay link you have is showing the wrong coil for the F1A4 this is the one for sd gp and gpx and F1A4
http://phasetechnical.com.au/product/15-x-12-sef-double-d-coil/

 

[Jaros]

Thatsa' the babi i'va gotta!!

 

[Marauder]

I`ve got an 11inch mono coming from, nuggeteer. Gonna give that a crack when it gets here. Have you used a similar one on yours jaros?

 

[Jaros]

No, i haven't.-don't even get out to use this much at all.

 

[Jaros]

No, i haven't.-don't even get out to use this much at all.

 

[Philthy]

Hi all,

For all of you Minelab F1A4 owners out there, I have electronic copies of the original ADF owners manuals and servicing manuals.

If you would like them, send me a pm and I will email them out to you.

Cheers
Philthy