Minelab Explorer SE Quick Start Manual
Quick Start
Turn on the detector
Press NOISE CANCEL
After 30 seconds electrical interference will be reduced
Go Detecting!
1
Metal detecting is a fascinating and
rewarding activity enjoyed by people all
over the world. By getting to know your
Explorer SE you can become one of the
many who find valuable coins, relics,
gold and jewelry on a regular basis.
The Explorer SE is Minelab’s most
technologically advanced detector,
incorporating the unique Full Band
Spectrum (FBS) Technology.
Its sleek, sturdy design, innovative
control panel, lightweight coil and
comprehensive targeting options set it
apart from any other detector available
today.
Congratulations on
Purchasing Your
The Explorer SE will locate valuable
metal objects in a variety of ground
conditions, including extreme salt
conditions and sea water, wet beach
sand and highly mineralized ground
conditions.
This manual is designed to help both
the beginner and expert treasure hunter
get the best performance out of the
Explorer SE.
Minelab wishes you every success in
your treasure hunting !
2 3
Contents
Quick Start Back Page
How Metal Detectors Work 4
The Unique Technology of the Explorer SE 5
Assembly 6
Battery Packs 10
Adjusting the Detector for
Comfortable Detecting 12
Introducing the Control Panel 14
Introducing the Smartfind Detect Screen 16
Help Function 17
Turning the Detector On 18
Detecting Basics 19
A Simple Detecting Exercise 20
Detector Sounds 20
Sensitivity 22
Depth 23
Threshold 24
Full Screen Display 26
Smartfind Display 28
Digital Display 30
Discrimination Pattern 32
Changing Discrimination Patterns 33
IRON MASK - Setting the Level of Ferrous Rejection 34
All Metal - Accepting All Targets 36
Menu Structure 38
SELECT - Preset Discrimination Patterns 40
SELECT - Selecting Preset Discrimination Patterns 42
SELECT - Saving Discrimination Patterns 43
LEARN - Creating a Discrimination Pattern
with a Specific Target 44
LEARN - Accepting a Target 46
LEARN - Rejecting a Target 47
LEARN - Saving Discrimination Patterns 48
EDIT - Editing Discrimination Patterns 50
EDIT - Editing Discrimination Patterns 52
EDIT - Saving Discrimination Patterns 53
RECOVERY - Enhancing Explorer SE Performance 54
CONT RAST - Adjusting LCD Brightness 55
NOISE CANCEL - Reducing Electrical Interference 56
VOLUME 58
TONE - Adjusting Audio Pitch 60
RESPONSE - Selecting the Way Targets Sound 62
SOUNDS - Tone Identification 64
Pinpointing - Locating the Target 66
Recovering the Target 68
Where Will I Find Treasure? 69
USER SET TINGS - Saving Your Preferred Settings 70
User Preferences - Range, Factory Presets Table 71
Battery Performance 72
Accessories 74
Tec hnic al Spe cif ic atio ns 75
Detector Care and Safety 76
Tro ub le sh oo ti ng 77
Glossary of Terms 78
Warranty 82
Service Repair Form 83
4 5
How Metal
Detectors Work
Metal detectors create an elec tromagnetic (EM) field, which penetrates
the ground. Because metal is conductive
it causes a change in this field. The
detector senses this change and sends a
signal back to the control box, alerting
the operator.
Metal detectors can determine the
size, shape and composition of metallic
objects beneath the coil. Typically,
the larger the object, the easier it is to
detect.
A metal detector’s EM operating
frequencies are measured in kilohertz
(kHz).
Low frequency EM fields (e.g. 1.5 kHz)
deeply penetrate the ground, but
sensitivity to smaller targets is low.
High frequency EM fields have a more
shallow depth of penetration but
sensitivity to small targets is high.
The Explorer SE’s multiple frequency
operation provides the advantage of
both.
Full Band Spectrum (FBS)
Most detectors on the market operate
on a single or dual frequency, ranging
from 1 to 70 kilohertz (kHz)
Although this technology has served the
industry well for years, Minelab found
that a frequency that worked well in one
area would often offer only marginal
performance when used in another
location. Ground mineralisation, trash
content, and target size all had an effect
on how effective a detector transmitting
a single frequency would operate.
Full Band Spectrum technology
combines Minelab’s existing multiple
frequency BBS technology with a
powerful new microprocessor to give:
> greater detecting depth
> high sensitivity over a wide range of
targets
> less interference from electromagnetic
sources
> more accurate identification of target
characteristics.
The Full Band Spectrum (FBS) circuit
automatically transmits multiple
frequencies simultaneously. This
increased frequency range means that
the signal received from the detector
coil is analyzed from a wide range of
responses. This allows the Explorer SE
to analyse more target information so
that the target identification (ID) is more
accurate.
Minelab’s unique FBS technology means
deep, sensitive, accurate detecting.
Discrimination
Discrimination is the ability of a metal
detector to identify the user’s desired
target (e.g. jewelry) and eliminate
signals from undesirable material (e.g.
nails).
The Explorer SE can be programmed
in a number of ways to discriminate
against unwanted targets in different
types of ground.
(Discrimination Pattern, pg. 32)
Ground
Compensation
The Explorer SE uses a sophisticated
approach to the elimination of ground
mineralisation. It uses advanced digital
filtering to eliminate the influence of
ground signals.
The Unique Technology
of the Explorer SE
6 7
Assembly
Attaching the Coil to the Lower Shaft :
1 Plug the two rubber washers into the
holes on either side of the lower shaft.
2 Feed the coil cable up through the
inside of the lower shaft.
3 Place the coil on a flat surface.
4 Slide the lower shaft into the bracket on
top of the coil. Ensure that the open side
of the lower shaft faces the ground.
Attaching the Lower Shaft to the
Upper Shaft:
1 Fully unlock the upper shaft camlock by
releasing the lever from the shaft.
2 Feed the coil cable up through the
inside of the upper shaft.
3 Ensuring that the camlock side of the
shaft is facing the ground, slide the
upper shaft over the lower shaft, so that
the coil cable appears out the top.
5 Insert the bolt through the lower shaft
and the bracket on top of the coil.
6 Fasten with the nut provided, being
careful not to damage the thread of the
nut by over-tightening. This will need to
be loosened later to adjust the coil to a
comfortable detecting angle.
7 Ensure that the coil cable appears out
the top of the lower shaft.
The coil cabl e is directly wired into the
coil and is not removable. Any attempt to
remove this cable wil l void your warranty.
8 9
Attaching the Armrest St rap:
Clip both buckles onto the outer sides
of the armrest.
Attaching the Headphones:
Plug the headphone jack into the
headphone socket, located in the
rubber seal at the top of the handle
assembly.
The headphones may be plugged or
unplugged at any stage during detecting.
Removing the Coil:
1 Follow the steps of Attaching the lower
shaft ... and Attachi ng the coil ... ( pg. 6) in
reverse order to disconnect the coil from
the detector.
2 Pull the coil cable out from inside the
lower shaft.
Do not attempt to remove the shaft
assembly without first disconnecting the
coil cable from the control box.
A range of accessory coils are available,
(Accessories, pg. 74)
Connecting t he Shaft Assembly to the
Handle Assembly:
1 Fully unlock the control box camlock.
2 Align and push the coil cable connector
into the socket underneath the control
box, firmly tightening the retaining ring
to secure.
3 Push the handle assembly onto the
upper shaft, as far as it will go.
4 Fully lock the control box camlock by
pushing the lever flat onto the control
box.
(Adjusting the Detector for Comfortable
Detecting, pg. 12)
Assembly
10 11
Removing the Battery Pack from the
Battery Compartment:
1 Ensure that the detec tor is turned off
before removing the batter y pack.
2 Rest the detector on a flat surface.
3 Lift the rubber seal of the batter y
compartment located at the end
of the handle assembly.
4 Raise the yellow tab to release the
spring loaded battery pack.
5 Remove the battery pack entirely from
the battery compartment.
Do not attempt to disassemble the NiMH
battery pack.
If disposing of pack, do not incinerate.
Contact your local a uthorities to enquire
about disposal or recycling facilities.
The headphone jack must be unplugged
before lifting the rubber seal.
Battery Packs
Replacing ‘AA’ Batteries.
1 Slide the lid of the battery pack in the
direction of the arrow to open.
2 Place 8 x ‘AA’ cell alkaline batteries into
the battery pack ensuring that the + and
– are aligned as indicated on the label.
3 Slide the lid onto the battery pack until
it ‘clicks’ into place.
Recharging NiMH Battery Pack with
the Mains Charger:
1 Remove battery pack.
2 Insert the mains charger cable into the
socket at the tapered end of the batter y
pack.
3 Plug the mains charger into the wall
socket and turn on the switch. Leave for
18 hours to fully recharge. New batteries
will reach their full capacity after several
charge/ discharge cycles.
4 Remove the battery charger plug from
the battery pack. Slide the pack back
into the battery compartment until it
clicks into place.
The Explorer SE has two types of battery
packs:
> One is a sealed rechargeable Nickel
Metal Hydride (NiMH) battery pack.
It comes with a charger which plugs
into a conventional wall socket. The
NiMH battery pack is supplied in the
discharged condition and needs to be
charged before operating the detector.
> The other battery pack is a housing
for 8 ‘AA’ batteries.
It is normal for the tip of the rechargeable
battery to get warm while charging
because the current regulator is mounted
inside the battery pack.
The battery pack will not be damaged if
left on the charger for more than 18 hours.
The battery chargers will not recharge
rechargeable alkaline or NiCad batteries.
Using a non-Minelab charger with the
battery pack may damage it and will void
the product warranty.
Unlike Nickel Cadmium batteries, the
NiMH battery pack DOES NOT have to be
flattened to be recharged.
Whenever the detector has been unused
for a lengthy period, recharge the battery
pack to ensure full p erformance.
High quality alkaline batteries are
recommended to optimise detector usage
time. Rechargeable alkaline, NiMH or
NiCad batteries may be used but must be
removed and recharged separately. Check
fitment of rechargea ble batteries prior to
purchase, as some makes do not comply
with standard size requirements.
Rechargeable Lithium Ion batteries
will give a combined voltage above 13 V
and therefore cannot be used with the
Explorer SE.
Do not leave drained AA batteries in the
detector as they can leak.
Placing the Battery Pack into the
Battery Compartment:
1 Lift the rubber seal of the handle
assembly.
2 Place the battery pack entirely into
the handle assembly, until it clicks into
place.
3 Close the rubber seal, to close the
battery compartment.
12 13
For comfortable, long term detecting,
it is important that you take the time to
adjust the detector correctly.
Holding the Detector:
Thread your arm through the armrest
and strap. Grasp the handle of the
detector and rest your forearm in the
armrest.
Adjusting the Position of the Armrest :
The correct position of the armrest
should allow you to comfortably grip the
handle. Your elbow should sit just above
the back of the armrest and the detector
should feel like an extension of your
forearm.
1 Use a screwdriver or the edge of a coin
to loosen the screw in the centre of the
armrest (turn counter-clockwise).
2 While holding the detector, slide the
armrest to sit just below your elbow.
3 Remove your arm. Tighten screw
(clockwise) to lock the armrest into
position.
Adjusting the Armrest Strap:
1 Loosen strap by tilting the edge of the
buckle out to release it from the armrest.
2 Undo the Velcro and pull the buckle
outwards (towards yourself). Clip the
buckle back into place and tighten the
strap to secure.
Adjusting the Detector for
Comfortable Detecting
Adjusting the Length of the Shafts:
The correct length of shaft should allow
you to swing the coil across the ground
without any uncomfortable stretching
or stooping.
If the coil is too far from your body it
will be more difficult to balance and
manoeuvre while detecting.
If the coil is too close to your body it
may detect your digging tools or any
other metal which you are carrying,
causing confusing sounds.
Adjust the lower shaft to the correct
length, securing the camlock to hold it
in place.
For tall people, a longer lower shaft is
available, (Accessories , pg. 74)
4IBGUJTUIF
DPSSFDUMFOHUI
4IBGUJTUPPTIPSU
14 15
POWER
Turns the Explorer SE on/off and when
held for 2 seconds, restores factory
presets (pg. 18).
Introducing the Control Panel
BACKLIGHT
The backlight provides greater screen
clarity in dim conditions. Even if it is
switched off, the backlight illuminates
for 1 second as the detector is
switched on. Turning this light off will
extend battery life. Contrast of the
LCD can be adjusted (pg. 55).
To turn the backlight on/off:
Press the
BACKLIGHT button.
LCD (Liquid Crystal Display)
NOISE CANCEL
Automatically selects the quietest,
most stable channel for detecting
(pg. 56).
DETECT
Returns to the detect display
(Smartfind / Digital) at any stage of
operation, allowing you to continue
detecting. When in the detect display,
pressing
DETECT will switch between
Smartfind and Digital (pg. 31).
SHIFT BUTTONS
Pressing and releasing a shift button
next to an icon on the display will
select this option.
BATTERY LIFE
Indicates the battery charge available
(pg. 72).
BACK
‘Retraces’ your steps back through the
displays. This is useful to alter the last
adjusted setting. The
BACK button
will retrace the last 3 steps (pg. 38).
PINPOINT
Turns Pinpoint on / off (pg. 66).
A black and flashing bar on the LCD
above ‘ON’ indicates Pinpoint is on.
A black bar on the LCD above ‘OFF’
indicates Pinpoint is off.
Pinpoint assists in locating the exact
position of a target prior to recovery.
IRON MASK
Turns Iron Mask on/off, switching
between Iron Mask and using
Discrimination Patterns (pg. 34).
A black bar on the display above ‘ON’
indicates Iron Mask is on. A black bar on
the display above ‘OFF’ indicates Iron
Mask is off.
Iron Mask is a basic Ferrous
Discrimination.
MENU
Brings up the MAIN MENU at any
stage of detector operation. This
allows access to the various settings of
the detector (pg. 38).
SHIFT
BUTTONS
Pressing and releasing a shift button
next to an icon on the display will
select this option.
16 17
Pressing and holding down the shift
buttons next to a menu item or pressing
and holding any other button for
approximately one second will display
a Help screen describing this particular
function and various other menu
options available.
Help Function
Sensitivity Bar
(pg. 22)
Introducing the Smartfind™
Detect Screen
Decrease
Sensitivity
Arrow
Depth Indicator
(pg. 23)
Smartfind Discrimination
Patte rn (pg. 28)
Battery Life
(pg. 72)
Threshold Bar
(pg. 24)
Increase
Threshold
Arrow
Iron Mask On/Off
Indicator (pg. 35)
Pinpoint On/Off
Indicator (pg. 66)
Sensitivity
Valu e
Semi-Automatic
Sensitivity
Mode Indicator
Decrease
Threshold Arrow
When you first turn on the Explorer SE,
the Smartfind display will appear and
you are able to begin detecting.
Increase
Sensitivity
Arrow
Full Screen Icon
(pg. 26)
18 19
To turn the detector on with Factory
Preset settings:
Press and hold
POWER for 2 seconds.
‘FACTORY PRESETS’ will appear briefly on
the start-up display.
Turning the detector on with factory
presets will restore all settings and the
Discrimination Pattern.
To turn the detector on with the
previous settings:
Press and release
POWER. This will start
the detector with the previous display
and settings from when the detector was
last used (eg. Sensitivity, Volume, etc.)
During the start up display, a four-note
tune will sound.
Turning the
Detector On
The POWER button turns the detector
on and off.
The Explorer SE has factory preset
settings that have been chosen to suit
first-time detectorists. The detector will
respond to some targets (low-ferrous
metal objects such as silver coins and
jewelry) and ignore others (high-ferrous
objects such as nails).
It is best to only turn the detector on
when outdoors, away from sources of
electromagnetic disturbance such as
power lines and phone towers. These
sources may cause the detector to
perform erratically, giving numerous
false signals.
There are also many metallic objects
inside a house such as nails in the floor,
reinforcing in the walls, televisions and
other household appliances that might
overload the electronics of the detector.
Press and hold
Sweeping t he Coil
The Explorer SE will perform at its best
when the coil is kept close and parallel
to the ground at all times. This will
increase detection depth and response
to small objects. Avoid excessive
brushing of the coil on the ground,
as this may result in false signals and
inaccurate Target ID’s.
Practise sweeping the coil over the
ground in a side-to-side motion, while
walking forward slowly at the end
of each sweep. Slightly overlap the
previous sweep to ensure full ground
coverage. An average sweep speed is
four seconds from left to right to left.
A variation in coil height at the end of
each swing may also cause confusing
sounds and reduce detection depth.
Tar ge ts
Buried metal objects are referred to as
targets. Targets are comprised of ferrous
and non-ferrous metals. High-ferrous
metals are those that contain iron such
as steel, nails and some types of coins.
Low-ferrous metals are those that have
no iron content, such as gold, silver,
copper, bronze and aluminium.
You may wish to find a range of both
low and high ferrous targets.
Examples of common targets:
Desired high-ferrous target - Canadian coin
Undesired high- ferrous target - iron nail
Desired low-ferrous target - gold coin
Undesired low-ferrous target - pull-tab
Detecting Basics
Sometimes it is possible that a large object close
to the coil will overload the detector’s electronics.
When this happens, the Explorer SE emits a low
‘warble’ which will repeat until the coil is moved
away from the source of the overload.
Overloading is not harmful to
the electronics of the detector.
Press and Release
20 21
Before attempting to recover real
targets, it is important to understand
how to interpret the audio and visual
signals of the detector.
Gather a collection of different metal
objects, e.g. various coins, gold and
silver jewelry, a nail, pull-tab, brass
button and aluminium foil.
Take the detector outdoors, away from
known electro-magnetic fields or metal
objects.
If you are getting signals from a clear
patch of ground, there could be buried
metal objects. Try finding another area.
Lay objects in a line, suff iciently spaced
apart to allow the coil to pass between
them, as shown.
Turn the detector on.
The Threshold is the background ‘hum’
produced by the detector. It assists in
hearing very small and deep targets. It
is also used to help distinguish between
desired and undesired targets (blanking).
The detector may also produce False
Signals (Noise) when not over the ground
(i.e. with the coil motionless). These may
not be target signals, but signals caused
from the surrounding environment.
You can overcome these false signals by
performing a Noise Cancel, or by reducing
the Sensitivity of the detector (Noise
Cancel, pg. 56, Sensitivity, pg. 22).
Sweep the coil across the objects, one at a
time, and observe the LCD and the sounds
of the detector as it detects each object.
A Simple Detecting
Exercise
The Targ et R esp ons e is the sound
given by the detector when a target
is located and not discriminated
(rejected). A target that is highly
conductive (e.g. a large silver coin)
will generally produce a high-pitched
tone and a low conductive target
(e.g. foil) generally produces a lower
pitched tone. Large targets or targets
close to the ground surface emit a
louder signal (Sounds, pg. 64).
‘Blanking’ (No Sound)
Threshold
Threshold
Tar get Resp ons e
When a rejected target is detected,
the Threshold ‘blanks’ (becomes
silent) indicating that a target is
located underneath the coil, but has
been rejected by you. Blanking is a
useful way of distinguishing between
desired and undesired targets.
Take note that as the coil is passed
over the nail, the Threshold ‘hum’
momentarily disappears, indicating
that the object ignored was ferrous.
Detector Sounds
22 23
Sensitivity is the detector’s level of
response to its environment and to
targets. Sensitivity can be only be
adjusted in Smartfind and Digital Display.
The Sensitivity bar is a visual indication of
the Sensitivity setting.
Sensitivity can be adjusted in both the
Semi-automatic mode or Manual mode.
In Semi-Automatic Sensitivity mode,
the detector continuously monitors the
environmental conditions and will adjust
the Sensitivity as close as possible to your
specified level of Sensitivity.
In Manual Sensitivity mode the
adjustment allows you to control the
Sensitivity directly. This is recommended
for high trash areas when best results
are obtained by sweeping the coil very
slowly. Manual Sensitivity is suitable
for the beach and very quiet/stable
(unmineralised) ground, where the
ground conditions do not change as
often.
Sensitivity
Modes: Semi-Automatic, Manual
Range: 1 to 32
Factory Preset: Semi-Automatic, 22
The clear portion of the depth indicator
represents the approximate distance of
a target below the coil.
The top of the indicator represents the
position of the coil and the bottom
represents 300mm (12 inches) from the
coil. The bar will be clear if the target
is deeper than 12 inches or its depth
cannot be accurately gauged.
Try to think of the clear area of the depth
indicator as the amount of soil yo u will
you have to dig to recover the target.
The depth indicator is also
updated for rejected targets.
Depth
To adjust Sensitivity:
Press the top-left shift button to increase
Sensitivity.
Press the bottom-left shift button to
decrease Sensitivity.
To switch from Semi-Automatic to
Manual Sensitivity:
Press the center-left shift button. A line will
cycle around the number to indicate that
Semi-Automatic Sensitivity is activated.
The detector with a high Sensitivity setting
will detect deep targets but may respond
to unwanted noise and ground signals. A
high Sensitivity setting is recommended
for stable conditions with low interference.
The detector with a low Sensitivity setting
will ignore unwanted noise and ground
signals, but may miss deep targets. A lower
Sensitivity setting is preferable for very
variable, ‘noisy’ conditions or high trash
areas.
Try reducing interference before
reducing Sensitivity. Press the
NOISE
CANCEL shortcut button, or manually
select the least noisy channel (pg. 56).
Maximum setting (32)
Current Sensitivity level (e.g. 22)
Minimum setting (1).
300mm
eg. 120mm
24 25
Threshold is the constant background
‘hum’ produced by the detector.
This control sets the Threshold Volume.
By setting the Threshold Volume to the
correct level for your hearing, Threshold
can highlight the variations in signal
response which often indicate detection
of a target.
The volume of the Threshold is a
personal preference. The correct level
will depend on your hearing and
associated noise such as wind and
machinery.
If the Threshold Volume is high,
accepted targets will be harder to
distinguish above the Threshold ‘hum’.
Small target responses will become
difficult to discern as Threshold nears a
maximum setting of 40 when there will
be a persistently loud Threshold ‘hum’.
Threshold
Range: 0 to 40
Factory Preset: 16
If the Threshold Volume is too low, the
slight variation caused by a small or
deep target may not be sufficient to
hear. Adjusting the level to below an
audible level will ensure silent operation
but could mask the audio response to
small targets.
The factory preset Threshold of 16
will usually emit a constant Threshold
hum and is programmed to enable an
audible response to most target signals.
Since everyone’s hearing is different, so
Minelab suggests that you set a level
of Threshold that is a very low, but still
audible level for hearing.
Threshold also helps you distinguish
the difference between accepted and
rejected targets. When a rejected
target is detected, the Threshold sound
‘blanks’ (becomes silent) to indicate that
a rejected target is underneath the coil.
If the Threshold is se t to 0, small target
signals will not produce a signal big enough
to go above the Audible Level.
If the Threshold is se t to a positive value,
the detector will produce target signals
and a Threshold sound.
Inaudible
Tar get #1
Tar get #2
Audible Target Response
Threshold
= 0
Tar ge t
Volu me
Tar get #1
Tar get #2
Audible Target Response
Threshold
= 1 4
Tar ge t
Volu me
Audible Level
Audible Level
Maximum setting (40)
Current setting (e.g. 13)
Minimum setting (0)
Adjusting Threshold:
Threshold is increased by pressing
the top shift button and decreased by
pressing the bottom shift button on the
right side of the control panel.
A number corresponding to the
Threshold level will appear temporarily
between the two adjustment arrows.
Try experimenting with known targets to
assist in setting Threshold.
The Threshold may need to be adjusted
when connecting and disconnecting the
headphones.
Loading...