Minelab EQUINOX Series Quick Start Guide
Your guide to assembling, setting up, and starting your Minelab EQUINOX Series metal detector.
Contact Information
- Australia & Asia-Pacific: +61 8 8238 0888, minelab@minelab.com.au
- Europe & Russia: +353 21 423 2352, minelab@minelab.ie
- North, Central & South America: +1 630 401 8150, minelab@minelab.com
- Middle East & Africa: +971 4 254 9995, minelab@minelab.ae
Minelab Electronics, PO Box 35, Salisbury South, South Australia 5106.
For full manual and more information, download from www.minelab.com.
Specifications
| Feature | EQUINOX 600 | EQUINOX 800 |
|---|---|---|
| Detection Modes | Park, Field, Strand | Park, Field, Strand, Gold* |
| Search Profiles | 6 custom | 8 custom |
| Operating Frequencies (kHz) | Multi, 5, 10, 15 | Multi, 5, 10, 15, 20, 40 |
| Standard Headphones | 3.5 mm (1/8") (32 ohm) | 3.5 mm (1/8") / Bluetooth® / aptX™ Low Latency |
| WM 08 Compatible | Yes, WM 08 not included | Yes, WM 08 included |
| Waterproof | Waterproof to 3 m (10 feet) ? | |
| Battery Life (approx.) | 12 hours, full charge time ≈ 4 hours | |
| Standard Search Coil | EQX 11 Double-D smart search coil | |
* The asterisk indicates features available only on the EQUINOX 800 model.
For complete specifications and operating instructions, read the full user manual at www.minelab.com.
Warranty Conditions: For full warranty terms, visit www.minelab.com/warranty-conditions. Register your product warranty online at register.minelab.com.
Compliance Information (FCC Part 15.105): This device complies with Part 15 of the FCC Rules. Operation is subject to two conditions: (1) this device may not cause harmful interference, and (2) this device must accept any interference received, including interference that may cause undesired operation. Note: Class B devices. This equipment has been tested and found to comply with the limits for a Class B digital device, pursuant to Part 15 of the FCC Rules. These limits are designed to provide reasonable protection against harmful interference in a residential installation. This equipment generates, uses, and can radiate radio frequency energy and, if not installed and used in accordance with instructions, may cause harmful interference to radio communications. However, there is no guarantee that interference will not occur in a particular installation. If this equipment does cause harmful interference to radio or television reception, which can be determined by turning the equipment off and on, the user is encouraged to try to correct the interference by one or more of the following measures: Reorient or relocate the receiving antenna. Increase the separation between the equipment and receiver. Connect the equipment into an outlet on a circuit different from that to which the receiver is connected. Consult the dealer or an experienced radio/TV technician for help. Warning: Changes or modifications not expressly approved by Minelab Electronics could void the user's authority to operate this equipment.
Assembly
Follow these steps to assemble your EQUINOX Series detector:
- Attach the Search Coil to the Lower Shaft: Place the two rubber rings into the holes on both sides of the coupling. Slide the lower shaft between the mounting tabs of the search coil, ensuring the spring-loaded pin aligns with the underside. Insert the plastic bolt through the tabs and the lower shaft opening. Tighten the plastic bolt, but do not overtighten.
- Assemble Shaft: Loosen the twistlocks by turning them counter-clockwise. Push the spring-loaded pin in and insert the lower shaft section into the middle shaft section until the pin clicks into place. Similarly, attach the middle section to the upper shaft section. Lock the shaft sections by turning the twistlocks clockwise.
- Attach Armrest/Bracket: Place the armrest onto the upper shaft section, just below your elbow. Align the armrest hole with the nearest hole in the shaft. Insert the screw through the bracket, upper shaft section, and armrest. Tighten the screw carefully. Thread the strap through both armrest holes with the adhesive side facing up. Ensure the strap end is attached to the outside of the arm.
- Attach the Search Coil Cable: Wrap the coil cable around the lower and middle shaft sections to manage excess length. Be careful not to wrap the cable too tightly to prevent breakage. Use the included cable clips to secure the cable to the shaft. Align the search coil connector and plug it into the rear socket of the control box. Tighten the locking ring slightly.
Charging the Battery
EQUINOX Series detectors have an internal rechargeable lithium-ion battery. It is recommended to fully charge the battery before first use. Turn the detector off for the fastest charging time.
- Connect the magnetic USB charging cable to a USB port.
- Connect the magnetic charger to the charging port on the rear of the control unit. The charging status LED (top left of the user interface) will flash steadily.
- When charging is complete, the charging status LED will remain lit.
Audio Options
EQUINOX Series detectors feature an external speaker for detection without headphones. A range of other audio options are available, including wireless capabilities. Refer to the full product manual for more details.
Quick Start: 4 Simple Steps
It is recommended to fully charge the battery for 4 hours before first use.
- Power On: Press the [power button] on the side of the control unit briefly to turn the detector on or off.
- Select a Program: Choose the optimal program for your location (EQUINOX 800 shown).
- Noise Cancel: Select Noise Cancel in the settings menu and press ✔️ to enable automatic noise cancellation. This process takes approximately 8 seconds to complete.
- Start Detecting: Press the [detect button] to return to the detection screen and begin detecting!
Detection Programs
Each detection program offers two adjustable search profiles with unique default settings.
Park
Great for areas with lots of trash, including most common detection targets.
- General / Coins
- Small Jewelry
Field
Ideal for historical fields, offering a wide range of target sizes.
- Coins / Small Items
- Small Coins / Items
Strand
Optimized for all salt water conditions – dry sand, wet sand, surf, underwater.
- Wet / Dry Sand
- Underwater / Surf
Gold*
Best suited for searching for gold nuggets in mineralized goldfield locations.
- Normal Ground
- Difficult Ground
Control Unit Overview
Familiarize yourself with the control unit and its settings.
- Power Button [power button]: Short press to turn on/off. Long press (5 seconds) for factory reset.
- Backlight: Adjust brightness or turn on/off. Icon appears when active.
- Sensitivity Indicator: Shows current sensitivity level (25 levels). Adjust with '+' and '-' buttons on the detect screen.
- Program Button: Short press to cycle through detection programs. Long press (5 seconds) to reset active search profiles.
- Settings Button ⚙️: Short press for settings menu. Long press for advanced settings menu.
- Wireless Button ?: Short press to toggle wireless audio. Long press to pair devices.
- Accept/Reject Button ✔️/❌: Used in settings to accept/reject target segments. Also toggles All Metal mode.
- Pinpoint/Detect Button: Activate Pinpoint mode for precise target location. Press again to return to detect screen.
- Frequency Button ?️: Press to cycle through available operating frequencies.
Detector Settings
Access and adjust various settings via the settings menu.
General Settings
- Noise Cancel: Automatic / Manual adjustment for interference reduction.
- Ground Balance: Automatic / Manual compensation for ground mineralization.
- Volume: Adjusts overall audio output (0-25).
- Tone Volume: Adjusts volume for specific tones (0-25).
- Tones: Sets the number of audio tones (1, 2, 5, or 50).
- Accept/Reject: Select target segments on the 50-segment discrimination scale.
- Recovery Speed: Detector response speed to targets (1-3 or 1-8).
Advanced Settings*
- Tone Type: Sets tones for ferrous or non-ferrous targets.
- Tone Break: Adjusts threshold for ferrous tones.
- Tone Pitch: Sets pitch for ferrous or non-ferrous target tones.
- Iron Bias: Adjusts bias towards identifying iron targets.
Key Features
- All Metal Mode: Press the All Metal button to detect all metal types.
- Pinpoint: Assists in precise target location before digging.
- Wireless Audio: Supports Bluetooth, aptX™ Low Latency headphones, and WM 08 module. Up to 4 devices can be paired.
- Depth Indicator: Provides estimated target depth (5 levels).
- Tracking Ground Balance: Indicates when this feature is active.
- User Profile*: Long press to save current settings. Short press to toggle saved profiles.
- Target ID: 50-segment discrimination scale (-9 to +40). Negative IDs (-9 to 0) typically indicate ferrous objects (e.g., iron). Positive IDs (1 to 40) typically indicate non-ferrous objects (e.g., coins, jewelry).
- Frequency: Displays current operating frequency. Can be single (5, 10, 15, 20*, 40*) or multi-frequency.
