Off brand coils

[dvanommen]

I'm fairly new to the hobby and own a Minelab Sovereign XS2A Pro detector I purchased on ebay a few years ago. The coil that came with the detector looks like a coiltek coil (mold patterns, case color) but has no identifying marks such as labels or serial number that I can use to verify its bona fides. It works, though, so I'm using it and finding coins!

My question: is there a performance difference that can be quantified between a legit coil (either from the detector's manufacturer or from a third party such as coiltek, detech, cors, etc) and a knockoff coil? Supposing the illegitimate coil works, does it work as well?

I don't have an issue with the performance of my machine, but I would like to increase my confidence in it. There's seemingly little information online I can find on this topic. Tons of resources on coil size, style, etc, but not much of anything on the way the coil is built and how that impacts performance. What are your thoughts on this?

 

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[SD51]

One way to confirm the capability of your coil would be to test it against another manufacturer's coil on a test plot of buried targets. Contact your local Metal Detector store (hopefully one of TNets vendors) and see if they have a test plot and if they have others coils for your machine to try out.

 

[dvanommen]

One way to confirm the capability of your coil would be to test it against another manufacturer's coil on a test plot of buried targets. Contact your local Metal Detector store (hopefully one of TNets vendors) and see if they have a test plot and if they have others coils for your machine to try out.

Good idea! I live in East Central Florida, where beach detecting is pretty big, so I'm sure I'll be able to find some local stores.

 

[cudamark]

Other coils can have advantages depending on their size, shape, and what you're trying to find. What type of detecting do you do?

 

[dvanommen]

Other coils can have advantages depending on their size, shape, and what you're trying to find. What type of detecting do you do?

I detect mostly on the beach for coins and jewelry. I'd love to detect inland by old houses and such, but haven't yet gained the courage to go ask!

 

[cudamark]

For the beach, I'd get the biggest coil you can find for your Sov. The extra coverage will increase your finds. I like the 15" NEL Attack coil if you can still find one for the Sov. It's the same coil as the one for the Excalibur, but, the Excal is hard wired, so, you'd have to get the correct connector installed on it if a Sov version isn't available.

 

[dvanommen]

For the beach, I'd get the biggest coil you can find for your Sov. The extra coverage will increase your finds. I like the 15" NEL Attack coil if you can still find one for the Sov. It's the same coil as the one for the Excalibur, but, the Excal is hard wired, so, you'd have to get the correct connector installed on it if a Sov version isn't available.

Thanks for the recommendation! I'll keep an eye out for one of those that will fit the sovereign! And check to see if my local shop has one. There's a Kellyco showroom only an hour away!

But what I'm really wondering is if I compare a 15" NEL Attack and some other 15" DD coil made by a less than reputable manufacturer (unknown, counterfeiter, anyone who would have poor quality control practices), how differently would they perform?

 

[cudamark]

There's one to find out! You can be the guinea pig, not me.