Upgrade Your Metal Detecting Game with Coil Swapping

Coil Swapping: A Guide to Better Metal Detecting

As a metal detectorist, you know that one of the most important parts of your equipment is the coil. It’s what detects the signals from buried metals and sends them to your detector for processing. But did you know that swapping out coils can significantly improve your metal detecting experience?

In this post, we’ll explore what coil swapping is, why it’s useful, and how to do it effectively.

What Is Coil Swapping?

Coil swapping refers to the process of changing out the search coil on your metal detector. Most detectors come with a standard coil that works well in most scenarios. However, as you become more experienced and encounter different environments or types of metal objects, you may find that switching out coils can provide better results.

There are several types of coils available on the market today, including:

– Concentric Coils: These have two circles – one inside the other – and are known for their precision in target identification.
– Double-D Coils: These feature two overlapping D-shaped loops and are effective at providing greater depth detection.
– Mono Coils: These have only one loop and excel at finding small or deep targets.

Why Swap Out Your Coil?

Changing up your search coil can benefit you in a variety of ways:

– Increased Sensitivity: A smaller coil will be more sensitive than a larger one. This means that it will detect smaller targets at shallower depths than a bigger one would.
– Improved Depth Detection: Conversely, larger coils can detect deeper targets than smaller ones would.
– Enhanced Target Identification: Different types of coils excel at identifying certain types of targets better than others. For example, concentric coils are great at identifying coins while double-D coils work well for relics.
– Versatility: Having multiple coils gives you versatility when searching different terrain or types of sites.

How To Choose The Right Coil

When considering which type of coil to buy, think about the type of detecting you do most often. Are you searching for coins in parks or relics in old homesteads? Knowing what types of targets you’re after will help you decide which coil is best suited for your needs.

Once you have a general idea of what type of coil would work best for your purposes, it’s time to consider other factors such as size and shape. As we mentioned earlier, smaller coils are more sensitive than larger ones but don’t detect at the same depth as bigger coils. Think about where you’ll be detecting and how deep the targets may be before making a decision.

Additionally, some coils are waterproof while others are not. If you plan on doing any water detecting, make sure to choose a waterproof model.

How To Swap Out Your Coil

Swapping out your search coil is a fairly straightforward process:

1. Turn off your metal detector.
2. Disconnect the existing coil by unscrewing it from the control box.
3. Screw on the new coil until it’s snugly attached to the control box.
4. Turn on your detector and ground balance it according to manufacturer instructions.
5. Start detecting!

It’s important to note that different coils may require different settings on your metal detector due to differences in their electrical properties.

Tips For Effective Coil Swapping

While switching out coils can improve your metal detecting experience, there are some things to keep in mind when doing so:

– Take note of any changes: When swapping out coils, pay attention to any changes in signals or tones that occur with each one. This will help you understand how each coil performs and adjust accordingly.
– Ground balance: Always ground balance whenever changing coils since different models may require slightly different settings.
– Experiment: Don’t be afraid to experiment with different types of coils or sizes until finding what works best for specific scenarios.

Conclusion

Coil swapping can significantly improve your metal detecting experience by allowing you to customize your equipment to better suit your needs. By understanding the different types of coils available and their benefits, you can choose the right one for the type of detecting you do most often. Remember to ground balance whenever switching out coils and experiment until finding the perfect combination for each situation.

Happy hunting!