Minelab SDC 2300 Quick Start Guide

Getting Started: Unpack and Assemble

Follow these steps to unpack and assemble your Minelab SDC 2300 metal detector.

1. Unpack: Carefully remove all components from the packaging.
2. Assemble Shaft: Connect the shaft sections together.
3. Attach Coil: Secure the search coil to the lower shaft.
4. Attach Control Box: Mount the control box onto the assembled shaft.
5. Attach Armrest: Fix the armrest to the upper shaft.
6. Final Assembly: Ensure all parts are securely connected, forming the complete detector.

Power and Connections

Prepare the detector for operation.

1. Insert Batteries: Open the battery compartment and insert two AA batteries. Ensure correct polarity. ?
2. Connect Headphones: Plug your headphones into the headphone jack. ?

Detector Setup

Configure the detector settings for optimal performance.

1. Set Sensitivity: Select the desired sensitivity level. A mid-range setting is often a good starting point.
2. Turn On: Press the power button to switch the detector on.
3. Noise Cancel: Activate the noise cancellation feature to eliminate unwanted interference. This helps achieve a stable threshold. ♫
4. Set Threshold: Adjust the threshold control to a faint, barely audible hum. This is the baseline sound of the detector.
5. Ground Balance: Compensate for ground mineralization effects. Sweep the coil slowly over the ground (approx. 100 mm / 4" above) for about 10 seconds until the threshold sound stabilizes. This process helps the detector ignore ground signals and focus on targets. ⏱️
6. Start Detecting: Once setup is complete, you are ready to begin searching. ▶️

Detecting Basics

Learn fundamental techniques for effective metal detecting.

• Sweep Level: Sweep the coil parallel to the ground. Avoid sweeping with the coil tilted. ✔️ (flat sweep) ❌ (tilted sweep)
• Metal Proximity: Keep metal objects away from the search coil when not actively detecting. ❌ (metal near coil) ✔️ (metal away from coil)
• Sweep Speed: Sweep the coil slowly and steadily. Fast sweeps can cause targets to be missed. ✔️ (slow sweep) ❌ (fast sweep)
• Spacing: Maintain adequate spacing between users. Recommended separation is 15 meters (45 feet). ✔️ (15 m / 45' separation) ❌ (too close)
• Overlap Sweeps: Overlap your coil sweeps to ensure thorough coverage of the search area. ✔️ (overlapping sweeps) ❌ (non-overlapping sweeps)
• Refill Holes: Always refill any holes you dig to restore the search area. ✔️ (refill hole)

Technical Information

Operating Frequency: The detector is configured to operate at a fundamental operating frequency of 9.3 kHz.

For more detailed information, please refer to the full instruction manual available on the Minelab website.