I have a metal detector that i want to test the output to the coil.
There is a circular 5 pin plug that the search coil plugs into, the pins are numbered 1 through 5 in an anticlockwise direction.
I would like to determine which pins are the output voltage pins to the search coil etc, the detector is a Minelab GP3500.
Is this as straight forward as just making contact with the pins with a multimeter, can any damage occur by doing this??
You should be able to measure it with a DMM, but keep in mind the coil uses higher frequency signals than alot of AC circuits. I think some detectors use frequencies upwards of 25-100 KHz or so. If you have access to one, an O-scope would probably be a better choice than a multimeter.
Relax, You won't do any damage by trying to measure the signal.
I have a PC based O-scope that i can use to test it out.
I am guessing that with the 5 pin connector that 2 pins would be for the transmit voltage to the search coil, 2 pins would be for the reciever signal pins & the other one an earth-ground pin.
Does this make sense?