Vallon VMH3CS Mine Detector

[6666]

The primary purpose of this thread was to investigate the possibility that the Vallon pulse induction mine detector could, in its retirement from military service, be an effective hobby detector for land and beach use.

Hi Eric, I sent the photos that you posted of your Vallon's to our son in the aussie army, I also told him about the results you got on the beach, but unfortunately he has not used this particular brand of metal detector so he cannot give a field report on its intended use of finding mines, that's a pity as I was interested in what small metal parts it can find under what types of ground conditions.

[Ferric Toes]

Hi Eric, I sent the photos that you posted of your Vallon's to our son in the aussie army, I also told him about the results you got on the beach, but unfortunately he has not used this particular brand of metal detector so he cannot give a field report on its intended use of finding mines, that's a pity as I was interested in what small metal parts it can find under what types of ground conditions.

Hi 6666, As your son is in the Aussie army, I expect he used a Minelab detector such as the F1A4. Thanks for trying anyway, and hope he gets through his period of service in hostile territory OK.

[Ferric Toes]

I am starting a new thread on 'Object Decay Waveforms and Time Constants', as it is a big subject in it's own right and applies to all P.I. metal detectors.

Eric.

[mschmahl]

Today the "ebay-vallon" without the pin-point button arrived me. It came with the transport-box and the backpack but without an instruction manual. So I have to find out how to use it.

[Ferric Toes]

Today the "ebay-vallon" without the pin-point button arrived me. It came with the transport-box and the backpack but without an instruction manual. So I have to find out how to use it.

Assuming yours is a dirty used one, first thing to to is give it a good clean with a damp cloth and water with a bit of washing up liquid. Brush out threads on shaft collars with an old toothbrush.
Check that plugs have straight pins and that the coil shaft mates properly in the top shaft. There is a thin O ring in the lower collar which could benefit from a smear of silicone grease. I also lightly smeared the collar threads to stop them jamming.
Check the headphone connector and that the phone works properly. WD40 freed up the phone connector's bayonet arrangement if it is stiff.
Silicone grease on the battery cover O ring and the thread (after cleaning) helps a lot. Note that the cover has to be screwed up until solid resistance is felt, otherwise there is no connection to the aluminium tube.

What is the year of manufacture? This will be the bottom half of the circular label on the control box. A hole is punched on the year. Top of the label is the month.

I am planning on doing an operating manual myself for treasure hunting use but that is a couple of weeks away before I start. Vallon do not allow any copying of their manual. In the meantime, ask any questions on this thread.

Eric.

[Ferric Toes]

Metamorphosis

I repackaged the Vallon to make a belt mounted beach and shallow water detector. The electronics just fits the Hammond heavy duty case, together with 3 C size rechargeable cells that will give about 10 hours per charge. The coil is wired in through a strain relief gland at present but I hope some IP69 plugs and sockets will arrive tomorrow for phones and coil.
I'm looking forward to going to the local beach in the next couple of days to see what was left behind from the holiday period last weekend.


Eric.

[mschmahl]

Hi Eric,
thanks a lot for your hints. I have found a manual of the VMC1 what is a similar to the VMH3CS So I found settings for manual and auto GB and Channel adjustment. Can you write me what LED´s indicate the inland-search-modus? I have to find out how to switch between inland and beach modus but without the pin-point-button. My Vallon doesn´t have one. It is made 7/06 (July 2006). Written on the data plate is year 2006.

Nice metamorphosis.

[Ferric Toes]

Hi Eric,
thanks a lot for your hints. I have found a manual of the VMC1 what is a similar to the VMH3CS So I found settings for manual and auto GB and Channel adjustment. Can you write me what LED´s indicate the inland-search-modus? I have to find out how to switch between inland and beach modus but without the pin-point-button. My Vallon doesn´t have one. It is made 7/06 (July 2006). Written on the data plate is year 2006.

Is your's the one that was on US ebay recently? That one had no pinpoint mode and was virtually unused.
So far, I have found that I can use the default mode right down to the water's edge with little effect from the saturated sand, but on that particular day the sea was too rough to try the coil in the water. For the VMH3CS the surf mode is activated by pressing the pinpoint button and either the - or + buttons when turning on the detector. - for surf, + for standard. LED no.2 flashes every 2 seconds when surf mode is active. The mode is stored when detector is switched off, so you have to reset on next start up to return to land mode.
If you don't have the pinpoint button, I don't know if it is possible. If you need compensation on a wet beach, try pressing C.

Eric.

[mschmahl]

Yes it is the one from ebay US. It is in good conditions, only a few scratches.
If I hold C and push - LED 6-9 light up briefly, then I release all an LED 13 remains bright and the Vallon is in non-motion modus or Pinpoint. With pushing C again and again I can reduce the sensitivity more and more to pinpoint the object. Switching off is the same, hold C and push -.
But how to activate the beach mode I don´t know. But it is no problem. For me the inland mode is important. I´m only on the beach 1 week a year. I just wanted to make sure that I don´t have activated the beach mode and lost some sensitivity.

Thanks Michael

[mschmahl]

Auto channel adjustment doesn´t work. I can not enter this mode. It should be switch to alert-mode and press and hold + and - .

[Ferric Toes]

Auto channel adjustment doesn´t work. I can not enter this mode. It should be switch to alert-mode and press and hold + and - .

1) Set the mode selector to the speaker symbol.
2) Press buttons - and + at the same time until a low chopped audio signal of about 500Hz is heard, then release keys. The automatic channel adjustment is now activated.

When the channel adjustment is taking place, the low chopped audio of 500Hz is still audible and the even and odd LEDs of the display flash alternately. This can continue for up to 2 minutes.
When finished, the detector switches automatically to audio volume adjustment with a high continous tone. You can then alter the audio volume by pressing - or + buttons. LEDs reduce in number for lower volume, or increase in number for higher volume.
When done, switch the mode selector to normal or mineralised to start searching.

The channel adjustment is stored at switch off but the volume adjustment isn't.

For those that are unfamiliar with the term 'channel adjustment', it's purpose is to shift the pulse frequency to get rid of, or minimise, interfering signals from low frequency r.f. transmitters, power lines, or other detectors close by.

Eric.

[KingJL]

Eric,
Is there an operators manual (or field manual) available that explains the modes and mode settings for the VMH3CS?

[Ferric Toes]

Eric,
Is there an operators manual (or field manual) available that explains the modes and mode settings for the VMH3CS?

One did appear on ebay US recently, but it seems generally that units that are de-commissioned from the military, or registered humanitarian demining organisations, have the full operators manual removed. Vallon's policy is to distance themselves from such detectors that are sold into the public domain and will not get involved in other uses to which the mine detectors may be put. This is quite reasonable as such detectors may have mechanical or electronic faults and if re-sold as a mine detector, used for that purpose and fails for one reason or another, there could be huge legal and commercial implications.

The full manual is purely mine detection related and I obtained one on the basis that it was 'commercial in confidence' and none of its contents would be reproduced. I can however answer questions in my own words as I have with mschmahl. I may put together a manual for 'other applications' in due course.

Eric.

[KingJL]

I may put yogether a manual for 'other applications' in due course.

I can understand Vallon's caution. I look forward to anything that you may put together. It would be nice to know the modes of the UI and how to get to those modes.

[mschmahl]

1) Set the mode selector to the speaker symbol.
2) Press buttons - and + at the same time until a low chopped audio signal of about 500Hz is heard, then release keys. The automatic channel adjustment is now activated.

When the channel adjustment is taking place, the low chopped audio of 500Hz is still audible and the even and odd LEDs of the display flash alternately. This can continue for up to 2 minutes.
When finished, the detector switches automatically to audio volume adjustment with a high continous tone. You can then alter the audio volume by pressing - or + buttons. LEDs reduce in number for lower volume, or increase in number for higher volume.
When done, switch the mode selector to normal or mineralised to start searching.

The channel adjustment is stored at switch off but the volume adjustment isn't.

For those that are unfamiliar with the term 'channel adjustment', it's purpose is to shift the pulse frequency to get rid of, or minimise, interfering signals from low frequency r.f. transmitters, power lines, or other detectors close by.

Eric.

Thank´s for your help, but it is not possible for me to activate the automatic channel adjustment. Maybe it is an other limitation of tis older model. I can switch to manual mode (hold c and then adjust with + or -). If I press + and - the same time I adjust only the volumen to more louder.
Is there a way to adjust delay or the filters that you mentioned?