Learning to build detectors.

[Darin]

I am new to metal detecting and electronics but have always like to build things or take them apart to see what makes them work. I was thinking about building the surf pi pro so before i jumped in to something i know little about i purchased a assembled board to have something to compare to and learn with. I have been reading here on how to build a fast coil , looking at schmatics, etc. I am keeping the board i have as is and will use it as is, My first build will probably be a kit just like it to help learn on. But what i wont to learn is how to build my own from the schematic, to pcb, to completed board. What or where is the best place to start as far as learning how to read schematics what each part is and what it does as far as in the detector circut, and how to assemble a circut board. I know this is no overknight thing and will take a lot of time.
Thanks for any help you can offer.

[CAS]

Look at doing some basic electronics courses and tutorials online - there are plenty of free ones if you do a Google search. You can also get basic electronics kits off Ebay that will help you understand how electronics works.

I would also get a copy of 'Inside the Metal Detector' http://www.geotech1.com/forums/conte...metal-detector . Its a great book and extremely helpful if you want to learn about metal detectors.

[Carl-NC]

Darin, if you are fairly new to electronics there are some good electronics forums out there that do better at fundamentals than Geotech. Also, browse the bookstore for a basic electronics book. Finally, if you want to get there faster, look at your local tech/community college for a course in introductory electronics.

[Finderskeepers]

Don't fret Darin, with no knowledge of electronics built my first detector 3 years which was a BFO circuit. The most difficult project to date was cloning a minelab sd2000. Lots of info on the web and forum members to help you out and .

[Darin]

Thanks guys, I'll keep looking online and the bookstore to see what I can learn. Already thinking about getting a copy of 'Inside the Metal Detector' when I can. It's just not in the cards for me to be able to take a class but that sure would help straighten the learning curve.

[Darin]

How would this be for a beginner build, and could be useful building coils.
http://www.amazon.com/Jyetech-Capaci...DGZ4FE5JVNWD90

Found this also, not a kit to build but is it better for coil and detector building ?

http://www.amazon.com/Capacitance-Ca...S0E5Y30EHPE72X

[sinclairuser]

either one will help, testing components or building coils, if want to build yourself buy the kit, or get the pre built one and build some coils.
get yourself a good multimeter too, dont buy really cheap or mega expensive, just get one that does dc and ac volts down to millivolts, milliamps, diode test, ohms and continuity, together with basic electrical toolkit and an inductace meter, this will get you started.

oh if you buy a soldering iron only get a 12 watts at a push 25, i have seen loads of cheap 40watt irons around lately, and they are rubbish the burn out in a matter of days, but 40w is too much power for kit assembly anyway it will lift pads and burn the board.

[Darin]

Thanks so much for you help