Vallon VMH3CS Mine Detector

[kingswood]

The 2300 may be finding the tiny bits, but with only an 8in coil, how does it perform on larger nuggets more deeply buried? Eric.

In doing my research (and lots of it!!) I saw a bloke who found a 114g nugget with the 23 at 18 inches.....Some others have reported 5g at 12 inches....The Vallon would scream on those too
We have the small 1.8g test nugget....next time out we will try burying it and see when the 23 stops detecting it and if the Vallon still can.
I think the 23 really fits the market on tiny bits...The Vallon likely would miss stuff under 0.3g....But, if we are talking bigger, I suspect the Vallon would keep up with the 23 and probably beat it for depth...We shall see

[roadhog]

Hi All
Just got a vallon VMH3CS for £180 here in the uk. was wondering if anyone had manage to flash the unit, or has a good step by step guide on building small/large coils for this unit?

allso has anyone manage to locate a place to get the connectors used.

cheers jj

[Ferric Toes]

vallon VMH3CS manual,
a friend of mine has the manual on Ebay....
& would send an electronic link if asked.....

You can now download the full operations manual for the Vallon VMH3CS in English from their website. It is the 2007 version which seems the same as the 2009 - 2010 detectors that are on the surplus market.

Eric.

http://www.vallon.de/pdf/download/Vertrieb/GB_VMH3cs_oper_manual_soft_1_14.pdf

[kingswood]

You can now download the full operations manual for the Vallon VMH3CS in English from their website. It is the 2007 version which seems the same as the 2009 - 2010 detectors that are on the surplus market.

Eric.

http://www.vallon.de/pdf/download/Vertrieb/GB_VMH3cs_oper_manual_soft_1_14.pdf

Thats quite nice of Vallon I guess they thought that was the easier way rather than having new users constantly emailing them

[greylourie]

That download location was "last modified" on the 11th of April. And the Veva2000 software is still available to download. Wonder what use could be found for that in the civilian aftermarket ? Archaeological mapping ?

[Ferric Toes]

Hi All
Just got a vallon VMH3CS for £180 here in the uk. was wondering if anyone had manage to flash the unit, or has a good step by step guide on building small/large coils for this unit?

allso has anyone manage to locate a place to get the connectors used.

cheers jj

Hi jj,
Hope you enjoy the Vallon. It is a good detector and is well suited to detect coins, rings and gold nuggets.

If you go back a couple of pages, there is info on the coils I have recently built and work successfully. You need to get the inductance close to 1.5mH; resistance to approx 4 ohms including cable; and resonant frequency 140 - 170 kHz. All these whatever size coil you make, then it stands a good chance of working. The coil must be shielded otherwise you will be sounding off on wet grass, sea weed, and of course wet ground and wet sand on the beach.

You asked about connectors. Presumably the one you are interested in, is the 7pin one in the shaft coupling for the coil. I have not found anything suitable as yet and think that one was a special, designed by Vallon, also there would be a problem finding the mechanical coupling that it would fit into. All my, coils bar one, have been made for electronic units that I have rehoused.

Eric.

[tifred]

hello everyone ,

Eric , For shielding, I use scotch 24 but Do you think if the roll tape electrically conductive ,w12 mm;l33;d:0.078mm;60%
Will be effective
i see on ebay
http://www.ebay.fr/itm/1-roll-Tape-electrically-conductive-W-12mm-L-33m-D-0-078mm-6-/172490284953?hash=item282938df99:g:BccAAOSwjDZYfju A


Thank you for all your advice

Regards
Fred

[roadhog]

Thanks For the info Eric thats grate. As for the connector it looks like i may have to try and 3d print them .

Ill let you all Know how i get on.

[Ferric Toes]

hello everyone ,

Eric , For shielding, I use scotch 24 but Do you think if the roll tape electrically conductive ,w12 mm;l33;d:0.078mm;60%
Will be effective
i see on ebay
http://www.ebay.fr/itm/1-roll-Tape-electrically-conductive-W-12mm-L-33m-D-0-078mm-6-/172490284953?hash=item282938df99:g:BccAAOSwjDZYfju A


Thank you for all your advice

Regards
Fred

I can't actually see what the tape is made of. Is it copper, nickel, aluminium or some other? woven or solid?

Eric.

[roadhog]

Hi Eric
Is there a formula for calculating the number of turns to the size off coil cheers.

jim

[Ferric Toes]

Hi Eric
Is there a formula for calculating the number of turns to the size off coil cheers.

jim

Hi Jim,
If you go to the 'Coils' thread, at the top you will find a 'Coils Calculator' which is a sticky post i.e. it stays there at the top. Try that.

Eric.

[Mdtoday]

Hi jj,
Hope you enjoy the Vallon. It is a good detector and is well suited to detect coins, rings and gold nuggets.

If you go back a couple of pages, there is info on the coils I have recently built and work successfully. You need to get the inductance close to 1.5mH; resistance to approx 4 ohms including cable; and resonant frequency 140 - 170 kHz. All these whatever size coil you make, then it stands a good chance of working. The coil must be shielded otherwise you will be sounding off on wet grass, sea weed, and of course wet ground and wet sand on the beach.

You asked about connectors. Presumably the one you are interested in, is the 7pin one in the shaft coupling for the coil. I have not found anything suitable as yet and think that one was a special, designed by Vallon, also there would be a problem finding the mechanical coupling that it would fit into. All my, coils bar one, have been made for electronic units that I have rehoused.

Eric.

Hi Eric,

I'm about to purchase one of the VMH3CS units from UK EBAY but did have a question for you.
Does it look possible to replace the 7 pin connectors in the housing?
Is it soldered onto PCB or wire tailed?
I am interested in making some different coils and swapping out the the connectors to more available types.

Brian

[TH'r]

Eric; Thanks for the Vallon manual link. Here I show an adapter for a White’s lower rod to the Vallon VMH3CS. It is made from two common home improvement store plumbing items, and requires some lathe work. There may be a 7 pin connector that could be potted in, but one could probably just use pins and wires, sealed out to a small external connector. Not ordinarily opening that joint again (by changing coils at the coil end). I used a threading die to cut a 1.5-8tpi thread on the adapter’s existing OD, though threading in a lathe would make maintaining axial alignment easier. Also, the ID on that end has to be opened up to 1.215”. The other part is a sawed off and faced pipe nipple with the existing hole drilled out to .75”. There is plenty of opportunity for further refinement.

[Ferric Toes]

Hi to Brian and Th'r,
You don't actually need 7 pins; 2 will do . Vallon use 7 pins to make a psuedo coax connection, i.e. the middle pin is live and all the outer ones are connected together to coax ground. I suspect that this is an emi precaution, but not relevant in civilian use. I have a 'rejected' coil and shaft where one outer pin has broken off. It works perfectly.

Eric.

[Mdtoday]

Hi Eric,

Thanks for the info, I have access to a large range of different multi-pin circular connectors here in Oz at reasonable prices too so should be able to find a fit for purpose one.
You have done excellent work on the Vallon, so I thank you for that. It certainly got my attention when I started seeing them appear on the surplus market.
I'm looking forward to constructing a few different coils and mounting methods and taking the unit out to the goldfields to see how it performs.
I do own a couple of CNC mills and flatbed routers that have been pressed into service to make coil housing molds, brackets and other electronic housings etc.
Now seeing your work it has inspired me to be a bit creative and see what I can do with one of these beasts too.
I don't think my package will arrive for 2-3 weeks but I'm a patient man
In the meantime might see If there is any technical/ dimensional drawings around.