Looking for your BEST detector mods!

[mydejavooo]

Ok, being new to this forum, perhaps this question has been asked before....but here goes! I'm wanting to know what your best detector mod is? This could be a custom carry case, cover, add-on lights (both shaft and display lights), or anything else that you can think of that would make swinging the coil more user-friendly, fun, etc. Owning a White's Prizm 5G that does NOT have backlighting, I'm trying to come up with a way to add a little illumination for the dusk hours or even night time digging. I know there is even a light that plugs into the headphone jack and lights up in lieu of a "tone". I just want to hear and see pics of what you guys are doing out there, since I am just now rejoining the digging crowd after a 10 year break! Thanks!!

DeJa

 

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[ALDORADO]

Here's my old machine with a night set up.
Vu meter / backlit. Also has a red LED down by the coil.
Even has "headlights" when needed. It was a fun project.

 

[mydejavooo]

Here's my old machine with a night set up.
Vu meter / backlit. Also has a red LED down by the coil.
Even has "headlights" when needed. It was a fun project.

Nice! So I presume the VU meter simply took the place of headphones then? Did you make the meter yourself, or buy it that way? And do you have any pics of the "headlights"? LOL! That was sort of the idea I have for my Prizm, only with a set of LED's that will plug into the headphone jack. I was even thinking of using a headphone splitter jack, and that way I could hear the signal AND see the light come on with the sound...or just unplug the headphones and run with just the light for "stealth" mode. And a bicycle handlebar clamp will be used to mount a small LED flashlight, and that will be my headlight!

Thanks for the cool share!!

DeJa

 

[ALDORADO]

Yes the VU meter took the place of the "audio". I played around with some different resistors until the loudest noise my detector makes would "max-out" the VU meter.

The VU meter was hacked out of an old Sony cassette player, installed into a Radio Shack project box.

The switch on the side is for the headlights. I gave them their own power supply. (batteries) I think it was a pair of AA's with the LED's in parallel, or maybe series LED's with a 9V, I just don't recall at the moment.

I put 2 white LEDs in the VU meter as a backlight. The backlight turns off with the headlights to go into "stealth mode", you just watch the little red LED on the coil.

Nothing is permanent, held on by velcro, plug it in and tape the little red LED down by the coil.

Here's a few more pics, glad you enjoyed my hackery. AL

 

[ALDORADO]

Ya go nuts.

Here's A modified camping backpack to haul some gear off-road.

Hold's the detector, a modified fiberglass shovel and a water bladder. That's the blue bag in the middle. I got it from Wallmart, has a tube that comes out, you drink from it. Pretty nice to have ice water on tap. It also has pockets etc. on it.

As far as the shovel, I shortened the shaft to about waist height. I took about an 1" or so off the side of the blade, maybe 2" or so off the length. Notice it is a "D" handle shovel. You can work it one handed, standing up pretty easily.

The channels that hold the shovel and detector were cut from plastic electrical conduit.

The shovel has a couple nuts and bolts on it. They poke out the back of the blade and rest in 2 holes drilled into the frame of the backpack.

Same idea with the detector, the bolts that hold the detector to the shaft, poke through into 2 holes in the conduit that it rests in.

Everything sits high enough on the pack that you can ride a 4 wheeler or bicycle with it on.

Have fun, post some picks when you make some progress! AL

2 straps hold the shovel and detector on. Quick removal and pack up.

You can actually wonder around and MD with the pack on. It's light enough and can feel pretty good on the back at times.

Plus you can put your keys and other crap in the bag.