Ace 250 simple DIY audio jack LED indicator

[fraxinus]

I just purchased my first metal detector, a Garrett Ace 250. I took it out once this weekend and found one quarter and two pennies- along with a bunch of iron. I used earbuds with volume control because the speaker volume was very loud. I didn't like the earbuds because they would fall out when I set the detector down and they limited my ability to hear ambient sounds.

I saw something online called the "Firefly" and thought I'd make something similar. It's just a 1/4" to 1/8" audio adaptor with a 90 degree bend, a 1/8" audio plug, LED and a resistor. I used a 150 ohm resistor, but didn't do the math. All can be found at Radio Shack or online easily.

It's visible night or day, whether swinging or with the detector on the ground as you wave dirt over the coil. Obviously you don't hear the tones, but I'm new and will learn the detector with the display and the light and not the audio.

 

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[christo000]

Very cool bro nice idea I like when people take it upon them selves to create new ways to improve there detectors to there likings good job

 

[LifeNRA]

Made a pair of these tonight. They work great! Just curious as to what the black thing under the LED is? Black electrical tape? Since the pack of LED's and the 1/8" jacks came in pairs I made a back up. I am also thinking of another way of mounting the LED's to the housing using a 1/4" male to a dual 1/8" jack.

 

[fraxinus]

I wrapped electrical tape around one lead because they were so close together. I didn't want them to short.

 

[Minrelica]

I hunt a couple of areas with my 250 and dig absolutely everything so this will work awesome for that. Thanks!

 

[LifeNRA]

They really work good! I like the idea that it shuts down the external speaker.