PICKINI V4 - an easy to build, self adjusting PI detector

[F117]

i buy the pickit 2 programmer.but the software did not support pic16f1824.when i check i found there is no puc16f2824 in the micro list.how i can update the micro list?

Have a look at the excellent post #128 in this thread by Eclipse.
He added the PIC16F1824 to the list of controllers supported by PicKit2.

[F117]

my pickini in DIP version don t work very good suddenly !!!!! once on tree it gives me false sound for coil and not very good deph(air test)!!!!!

Did you follow the proper procedure during the calibration phase after switch on: keep the coil away from metal / indoors EMI ?

Or: there might still be a problem with your new layout. Unfortunately I can't open your layout files under linux...

[bernte_one]

hello nick,

what did you mean when you write "once on tree" i´m not sure what you want to say

[nick holas]

hi all
hi bernard
thank for you reply i do the right things during calibration phase.i don t understand because 2 weeks ago it works very well and suddenly this problem appear!!!
i will make some test ( i m very bussy in this moment at works grrrrrrrrr).it don t comes from my pcb because it works some weeks ago.

hi bernte i would say (yes it s not very clear in my frenchglish lol):when i switch on it detect the coil as good,and maybe 5 mn after when i switch it on again ,it don t recognize it as good coil at the same place!!!!
i don t know why perhaps a component is not enough strong or a component have warmed and i haven t see it ????
i ll try to change all transistor first then after i will see the other components (maybe lm31.
thank you twice

[F117]

.i don t understand because 2 weeks ago it works very well and suddenly this problem appear!

Battery voltage ?

[mohammadreza1100]

Thanks all
Thanks bernard
Thanks nick
my v4 finally works very good.only one question?what the push botton exactly do?for example when i detect the target if i push the botton what principle executed?if i use on/off switch instead push botton what will happen?
Thanks again.

[F117]

what the push botton exactly do

The push-button is used for pinpointing.
When you press this button, the detector switches from motion mode, where it continuously keeps track of the average value of incoming samples, to non-motion where it keeps the last moving average value as reference. When you hear a beep while swinging, keep the coil away from this target, keep the button pushed en move it back over the target. You will hear a beep as long as it is hovering over the target, even when you keep the coil still. When you have accurately located the target by hovering over it, release the button again to switch to normal mode.
The pinpoint accuracy is the diameter of your coil. Unless it is really big, where you get a signal on one side and another on the other side.

If you replace the pushbutton by a switch, you will always work in non-motion mode. This does not take into account slow changes in the ground,eg, so you will have to switch back to motion mode now and again to take a new reference.

The normal mode is: if you use the pinpoint option, stuff the pushbutton. If you don't need it, don't connect the pushbutton. The default mode is motion. Only when you short the pushbutton connector to ground ( by pushing the normal open button) you will switch to non-motion mode.

[bernte_one]

hello nick,
i have to solder some wire to the external components, so i do some test and will see if the Problems appear too
as power source i use regulary 3 cells 18650,
for 100nf caps i dont use These 63v mks better choice are these film caps 100v
i will Show you some Pictures as soon as i finish
i hope we can solve it

[mohammadreza1100]

Hi andThank u bernard.please help me how to calibrate the v4?
Thank u.

[F117]

Just switch it on with the coil kept away from metal
. It will calibrate itself.

[mohammadreza1100]

Thanks.so what the 10 k potentiometer do?

[biciuliux]

What can I change the transistor BC549B and PIC16F1824 microcontroller, because in Lithuania I can't find it?

biciuliux

[F117]

so what the 10 k potentiometer do?

The sensitivity adjustment: min value = min sensitivity. Max value = max sensitivity.

[F117]

What can I change the transistor BC549B and PIC16F1824 microcontroller, because in Lithuania I can't find it?

BC549B: another NPN transistor?
PIC16F1824: no replacement.

[bernte_one]

hello, my V4 is working
tested with different coil shapes, unshielded
i tested indoor not far away from concrete floor, over 50% of sens pot it tends to get a bit nervous
and after detecting something it ends continous beeping, it also detects my Hand

so i will go outside and test there with unshielded coil, if the detector still detecs my Hand or mybe the ground i have to shield the coil

detection distance is very good for such a simple desing
for 2€ coin i get light over 30cm in air test with 35cm monoloop coil
with small 12cm coil i can detect a 0,4gr. Gold nuget in some cm distance in air
i also plan to use a pinpoint probe for testing