Minelab VANQUISH 440/540 Instruction Manual

Quick Start

1. Power On ⚡️

2. Wait 5 seconds ⏳

3. Search ?

Search Modes

The VANQUISH 440 and 540 models feature 4 Search Modes, each with a unique Discrimination Pattern. Selecting the appropriate mode helps you find what you're looking for.

• Coins: Find modern coins while ignoring trash on fields and beaches. This mode offers excellent target separation, ideal for trash-heavy areas, and rejects iron and small non-ferrous items like foil.
• Jewellery: Locate lost jewellery wherever you search. This mode balances range and separation, ideal for jewellery of various sizes and compositions. It primarily rejects iron items.
• Relics: Discover relics hidden for a long time in fields and forests. This mode offers the greatest range with slightly less signal separation, suitable for deep objects. It rejects iron and small non-ferrous items like foil.
• User: A mode that allows you to customize settings to your needs. You can save your preferred settings and discrimination patterns.

Control Panel

The control panel features several buttons and indicators:

1. Backlight On/Off (540 only): Toggles the display backlight.
2. Power On/Off: Turns the detector on or off. Press and hold for 7 seconds to restore factory settings.
3. Volume Control: Adjusts the audio signal intensity.
4. All-Metal: Activates/Deactivates the All-Metal discrimination pattern to detect or ignore ferrous objects. A long press accesses Iron Bias (540 only).
5. Pinpoint: Press and hold to activate the precise pinpointing mode to locate a target accurately.
6. Sensitivity: Adjusts the Sensitivity level.
7. Accept/Reject: Accept or reject targets by enabling or disabling discrimination segments.
8. Discrimination Pattern Edit: Navigate left/right to select discrimination segments while editing the pattern.
9. Search Mode: Select the next Search Mode. A long press saves the current pattern as a User Search Mode.
10. Bluetooth On/Off (540 only): Activates Bluetooth for wireless headphones. A long press initiates pairing.
11. Target ID Guide: A guide to target types assigned to specific Discrimination Segments.

Display

The display provides various information:

1. Battery/Battery Level: Shows the current battery status.
2. Backlight Indicator (540 only): Indicates if the backlight is on.
3. Bluetooth Indicator (540 only): Shows if wireless audio mode is active.
4. Volume: Displays the current volume level.
5. Sensitivity Level: Shows the current Sensitivity level.
6. Iron Bias Indicator (540 only): Indicates if Iron Bias is set to 'Low'.
7. Target ID: Displays a numerical value for the detected target, aiding in object identification. Negative values indicate ferrous items, positive values indicate non-ferrous metals.
8. Depth Indicator: Shows the approximate depth of the target.
9. Search Mode: Displays the current Search Mode.
10. Discrimination Segments: Represents grouped Target ID values. Segments can be enabled or disabled to create custom discrimination patterns.
11. Pinpoint Indicator: Informs when the pinpointing function is active.

Detector Settings

Volume

Adjusts the intensity of the audio signal. Use the '+' and '-' buttons. Low tone indicates maximum or minimum volume. The volume indicator shows the current level.

Backlight (540 only)

The VANQUISH 540 features a red display backlight for low-light conditions. It is off by default to conserve battery. Press the backlight button to toggle it.

Detector Settings (Continued)

Sensitivity

VANQUISH detectors are highly sensitive with adjustable sensitivity. Proper adjustment ensures maximum detection range. Always select the highest stable setting. The Sensitivity Level indicator shows the current level.

Automatic Noise Cancellation

The VANQUISH detectors have an automatic noise cancellation process that calibrates the detector to eliminate interference. For best results, hold the coil still just above the ground until calibration is complete.

Sensitivity Adjustment

1. Hold the coil still and use the '+' button to increase sensitivity until false signals appear.
2. Use the '-' button to decrease sensitivity until false signals disappear.
3. Sweep the coil over an area free of metal objects and decrease sensitivity if false signals persist.

Excessive Interference

Interference can come from electromagnetic sources (EMI) like power lines or mobile phone transmitters. If interference occurs:

1. Move away from the EMI source.
2. Restart the detector and wait for Automatic Noise Cancellation to complete.
3. If interference persists, decrease the Sensitivity level.

Iron Bias (540 only)

Iron Bias is factory set to High to identify large or difficult ferrous targets. Setting it to Low helps in identifying coins in iron-contaminated areas. To set Iron Bias to Low: Press and hold the All-Metal button for 2 seconds. An indicator will appear to the left of the Target ID field. To restore to High, repeat the process.

Pinpointing

Pinpointing helps locate targets precisely before digging. Variable tones and audio intensity assist in identifying target depth.

Automatic Pinpointing

1. Hold the coil away from the suspected target location and press and hold the Pinpoint button. Pinpointing indicators will appear on the display.
2. Sweep the coil slowly over the target, keeping it parallel to the ground. This calibrates Pinpointing for accurate audio feedback.
3. Locate the center of the target by the loudest signal or Pinpoint indicator. The detector gradually narrows its response by reducing sensitivity as the coil passes over the target.
4. When all Discrimination Segments are filled on the scale, the target is directly under the coil's center.

Manual Pinpointing

With practice, you can pinpoint targets without the automatic feature, useful for targets near unwanted objects.

1. Sweep the coil over the target, keeping it parallel to the ground.
2. Locate the center of the target by the strongest signal.
3. Mark the target's position.
4. Sweep the coil over the target again at a 90-degree angle to the previous sweep.
5. Repeat steps 1-3 from the new position. The target's precise location is at the intersection of the strongest signals.

Depth Indicator

The Depth Indicator shows the approximate depth of a detected target. Fewer arrows indicate a shallower target. Accuracy varies with target type and ground conditions. The indicator remains visible for about 5 seconds after a target is detected or until the next target is found. No signals are displayed when no targets are detected.

• 1 arrow: ~50 mm (2 inches)
• 2 arrows: ~100 mm (4 inches)
• 3 arrows: ~150 mm (6 inches)
• 4 arrows: ~200 mm (8 inches)
• 5 arrows: >200 mm (>8 inches)

Wireless Connectivity (540 only)

The VANQUISH 540 supports all Bluetooth wireless headphones, but aptX™ Low Latency headphones (like Minelab ML 80) are recommended for optimal audio quality.

Bluetooth On/Off

Press the Bluetooth button to enable or disable wireless connectivity. Pressing and holding the button (approx. 2.5 seconds) initiates pairing. If no connection is made within 5 minutes, Bluetooth turns off automatically. The Bluetooth icon indicates its status.

• Flashing rapidly: Detector attempting to pair with a Bluetooth device.
• Solid: Detector is connected to Bluetooth headphones.
• Flashing slowly: Detector attempting to reconnect to previously paired Bluetooth headphones.

Minelab ML 80 Wireless Headphones

The VANQUISH 540 Pro-Pack includes Minelab ML 80 Bluetooth headphones with Qualcomm® aptX™ Low Latency technology. These are also available separately. Refer to the headphone manual for pairing details.

Target Identification

Digital Target ID

The Target ID range is from -9 to 40 (ferrous items are identified from -9 to 0). When a target is detected, the display shows a value indicating its magnetic properties, helping identify the material. For example, a 25-cent coin typically registers as 29. A value of 29 strongly suggests a 25-cent coin.

The last detected target's value remains on display for about 5 seconds or until a new target is detected. Two dashes appear when no target is detected or if the target is rejected.

Discrimination Segments

These segments are located along the top of the display and represent grouped target types. Each Target ID value corresponds to a segment that flashes when a target matches that value. Segments can be enabled (accepted) or disabled (rejected) to create Discrimination Patterns.

Accept/Reject

When an acceptable target is detected, an audio signal sounds, and its Target ID appears. To reject a target, press the Accept/Reject button while the ID is displayed. Targets matching that segment will no longer be signaled. Discrimination Patterns reset to factory defaults upon detector startup, except in User Mode.

Discrimination Patterns

Discrimination Patterns are created by enabling or disabling segments to detect or ignore specific target types. You can edit factory patterns or create custom ones. Changes made in Coin, Relic, or Jewellery modes will be lost upon power off unless saved in User Mode.

Editing a Discrimination Pattern

1. In any Search Mode, press the Accept/Reject button when no target is detected (no Target ID displayed).
2. The display will show 'Ed', indicating you are editing the Discrimination Pattern.
3. Use the Edit buttons (left/right arrows) to select a segment; it will flash.
4. Press Accept/Reject to accept or reject the segment.
5. Repeat steps 3 and 4 to create your custom pattern.
6. The edit screen will time out after 3 seconds of inactivity.

Saving a User Search Mode

You can save any mode (Coins, Relics, Jewellery) as a User Mode. Your current settings and discrimination pattern will be saved for future use. The unique separation and range characteristics of the Search Modes are also saved.

1. Select and edit your desired Search Mode.
2. Press and hold the Search Mode button (for 5 seconds). The display will show 'St' with an audible confirmation.
3. The saved User Mode becomes active. It can be edited at any time.

All-Metal Mode

In All-Metal mode, all Discrimination Segments are enabled to detect all metals, including iron. This mode ensures no object is missed but may detect more unwanted items. The Accept/Reject and Edit buttons are inactive in this mode. Press the All-Metal button to activate it. Press again to exit. All-Metal can be used to verify if a target identified as non-ferrous also contains iron. If a target signals with mixed tones (ferrous and non-ferrous), it might be a large iron object or a pull-tab. If the signal is consistent and without ferrous tones, it's likely a non-ferrous item. Note that standard discrimination patterns typically reject iron items as they are usually worthless. However, some historical coins were made of iron, so testing their digital values is recommended.

Target Tones

Different Target ID ranges are assigned specific Target Tones to help users identify target types by sound alone. The VANQUISH 440 has 3 tones (Low, Medium, High). The VANQUISH 540 has 5 tones (T1 to T5). The tone change threshold on the discrimination scale indicates where the Target Tone changes. These thresholds may vary slightly between Search Modes.

• VANQUISH 440 Tone Thresholds: Low (-9 to 0), Medium (0 to 20), High (20 to 40).
• VANQUISH 540 Tone Thresholds: T1 (-9 to 0), T2 (0 to 10), T3 (10 to 20), T4 (20 to 30), T5 (30 to 40).

Creating a Custom Discrimination Pattern

Test known objects (like local coins) by sweeping the coil over them at different heights to record their Target ID values. This helps in creating effective custom discrimination patterns.

Batteries/Rechargeable Batteries and Charging

VANQUISH detectors can be powered by rechargeable batteries or standard AA alkaline batteries.

• Warning: Never mix battery types, as this can damage the detector or batteries.
• Warning: Risk of explosion if incorrect batteries/rechargeable batteries are used.

Battery/Battery Level

The battery indicator shows the current charge status. Note that rechargeable batteries may have different run times than alkaline batteries, so the indicator is approximate.

Low Battery/Rechargeable Battery Level

For alkaline batteries, the indicator flashes about 20 minutes before automatic shutdown. For rechargeable batteries, one segment remains visible for about 20 minutes before shutdown.

Automatic Shutdown

The detector will automatically shut down when batteries are nearly depleted. The display will show 'bF' and an audible alert will sound 5 seconds before shutdown. Some battery manufacturers may not trigger the 'bF' message.

Battery/Rechargeable Battery Run Time/Charging

Minelab AA NiMH rechargeable batteries offer approximately 8 hours of charging time and 11 hours of operation. AA alkaline batteries provide about 10 hours of operation.

Rechargeable Batteries

The VANQUISH 540 and 540 Pro-Pack come with 4 AA NiMH rechargeable batteries and a charger. These accessories are also available separately. The Minelab NiMH charger is for NiMH batteries only.

Care and Safety

• Wash hands after using sunscreen or insect repellent before handling the detector.
• Do not use chemical cleaners. Use a damp cloth with mild soap.
• Avoid contact with fuels or petroleum-based substances.
• Protect shaft collars and locking nuts from dirt. Clean with a damp cloth if dirty.
• Keep the detector away from sharp objects to prevent scratches.
• Wipe scratches on the shaft with a damp cloth.
• Avoid extreme temperatures. Cover the detector when not in use and do not leave it in a hot car.
• Care for the coil cable; avoid kinking or straining it.
• Store and transport the detector carefully. While robust, the display screen is susceptible to scratches and thermal damage.
• Avoid extreme temperatures during storage; recommended range is -20°C to +70°C.
• Protect accessories that are not waterproof from water and moisture.
• Keep small parts away from children to prevent choking hazards.
• Charge batteries and accessories according to instructions.
• Avoid charging batteries and accessories in extreme temperatures.
• Remove batteries/rechargeable batteries before air transport.

Error Codes

Error codes may appear in the Target ID field. Follow these steps before contacting a dealer.

Coil Disconnected (Cd)

If 'Cd' appears, the coil is disconnected. Check coil connection, cable integrity, plug cleanliness, and coil condition. Try another coil if possible. Restore factory settings (power off, then press and hold Power for 7 seconds during restart). If the error persists, contact a dealer.

System Error (E2)

A 'System Error' (e.g., 'E2') will cause the detector to shut down 5 seconds after display. Restart the detector. Check coil connection. Restore factory settings. If the error persists, contact a dealer.

Troubleshooting

• Detector does not turn on or shuts down (with or without 'bF' message): Replace batteries.
• False Signals: Move away from EMI sources. Restart the detector and wait for auto-calibration. Lower Sensitivity.
• No Audio - Wired Headphones: Ensure detector is on and booted. Check headphone connection and volume. Disconnect headphones to test built-in speaker. Try other headphones if available.
• No Audio - ML 80 Headphones: Ensure headphones are on, Bluetooth is active and paired (Bluetooth icon solid). Check headphone charge and volume. Try other wireless headphones or wired headphones.
• ML 80 Pairing Issues: Turn off ML 80 headphones and restart pairing. Ensure headphones are within 1m of the detector, with no obstructions. Move away from potential interference sources (e.g., mobile phones). If other Bluetooth devices are nearby, pairing may take longer. Try resetting headphones and re-pairing. Try pairing with other Bluetooth headphones first.
• Audio Distortion/Crackle with ML 80 Headphones: Lower headphone volume to eliminate distortion. Increase detector volume if needed.

Technical Specifications

The VANQUISH 540 Pro-Pack is based on the standard VANQUISH 540 model with the following differences: Includes Bluetooth wireless headphones and a V8 8"x5" DD coil with cover. Does not include wired headphones. The package may vary based on order or accessories. Minelab reserves the right to make changes to detectors at any time due to technological advancements. Latest VANQUISH detector specifications are available at: www.minelab.com

Restoring Factory Settings

Restoring factory settings returns all detector settings to their original state.

1. Ensure the detector is switched off.
2. Press and hold the Power button for approximately 7 seconds.
3. The display will show 'FP' in the Target ID field, indicating factory settings are being restored.
4. Release the Power button. Auto-calibration will begin after restoring factory settings.

Legal Notice

This manual describes a metal detector designed and manufactured by Minelab for high-quality metal detection in safe conditions. It is not designed for use in mines or for detecting unexploded ordnance or explosives. Bluetooth® word mark and logos are registered trademarks of Bluetooth SIG, Inc. Qualcomm aptX is a product of Qualcomm Technologies, Inc. or its subsidiaries. Qualcomm is a trademark of Qualcomm Incorporated, registered in the US and other countries. aptX is a trademark of Qualcomm Technologies International, Ltd., registered in the US and other countries.

Compliance Statements: EAC, FCC, CE, Bluetooth™ X Qualcomm aptX™ Low Latency

Canadian Compliance Statement: This product meets the technical specifications of Innovation, Science and Economic Development Canada.

Contact Information

• Minelab Electronics Pty. Ltd. Australia & Asia Pacific: +61 8 8238 0888, minelab@minelab.com.au
• Minelab Americas Inc. North, South & Central America: +1 877 767 6522, info@minelabamericas.com
• Minelab International Ltd. Europe & Russia: +353 21 423 2352, minelab@minelab.ie
• Minelab MEA General Trading LLC Middle East & Africa: +971 4 254 9995, minelab@minelab.ae
• Minelab do Brasil Brazil: +55 47 3406 3898, minelabdobrasil@minelab.com

Visit: www.minelab.com/VANQUISH