Tesoro Compadre - User Manual

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COMPADRE OPERATOR INSTRUCTION MANUAL

Thank you for purchasing a Compadre metal detector. Your Compadre detector is a single knob

VLF Discriminator. It is simple enough for the beginner, yet powerful enough for the

experienced detectorist. With proper care and use, your detector should give you years of

enjoyment.

Please check in the box and make sure that you have the following items:

1. Upper Pole Assembly with Control Housing, pole lock and attached Coil.

2. Metal Middle Pole with Pole Lock.

3. ABS Lower Pole with Metal hardware and rubber washers.

4. Literature: this manual, a detector protection checklist and a warranty card.

If any of these items are missing, contact the dealer where you purchased your detector from

immediately.

First, we will assemble your detector. Start by sliding the metal middle pole into the upper pole

and allowing the spring clips to seat. Turn the pole lock on the upper pole assembly in the

direction of the arrow to remove any excess play between the two poles. Next, remove the

hardware from the ABS lower pole and place pole tip with rubber friction washers between the

coil ears. The fit should be snug due to the washers. Reinsert the hardware so that it passes

through the coil ears, rubber washers and pole tip and tighten the hardware finger tight. Insert the

ABS lower pole into the middle and upper pole assembly, sliding the pole in but not seating the

spring clips. Twist the lower pole and coil assembly together to wind the coil cable around the

pole. The cable should be loosely wrapped around the pole to keep it from flopping over the coil.

Once you have wrapped the coil cable, slide the lower pole spring clips into the set of holes on

the middle pole that is best suited to your height and turn the pole lock in the direction of the

arrow. Slide the battery door off and drop in a 9volt battery as shown on the diagram inside the

battery box. Replace the battery door and your unit is now ready to use.

Take your detector and a few targets (a screw or small nail, a nickel and a quarter will do nicely)

outside to a spot that is clear of other metal items and set your targets on the ground at least 12

inches away from each other. Then adjust the coil so that it is about one inch above the ground

and even with it. When you swing your detector while searching, keep your arm relaxed and

swing mainly from the shoulder. As you swing the detector, you should be making an arc of

about 3 to 5 feet in front of yourself. Try not to raise or snap your coil at the ends of the sweep or

you may cause false signals from your detector. The Compadre is a motion-based machine so

you will need to keep the coil moving as you search.

Turn the control knob clockwise just far enough to turn on your detector. When you turn your

detector on, you will hear a beep that lasts for a couple seconds. That is the battery test—a 5 to 7

second loud beep lets you know that your batteries are good. A weak and very short beep lets

Need help?

Do you have a question about the Tesoro Compadre and is the answer not in the manual?

Summary

Detector Assembly

Assembly Steps

Step-by-step guide for assembling the metal detector poles, coil, and hardware, including battery installation.

Operating Your Detector

Initial Setup and Searching

Instructions for powering on, battery testing, and basic searching techniques, including coil swing.

Discrimination and Pinpointing

Guidance on using discrimination settings and pinpointing targets for efficient detection.

Warranty Information

Warranty Service and Terms

Details on the limited lifetime warranty, service procedures, and exclusions for the metal detector.

The Compadre metal detector is a single-knob VLF Discriminator designed for both beginners and experienced detectorists, offering years of enjoyment with proper care and use.

Function Description:

The Compadre is a motion-based metal detector, meaning the search coil needs to be in motion to detect targets. It operates on a VLF (Very Low Frequency) discrimination principle, allowing users to differentiate between various types of metal. The device includes an All-Metal mode for detecting all types of metal and a discrimination mode to filter out unwanted items. The discrimination knob is clearly marked to indicate what will be tuned out at various settings. When a target is found, the detector provides a positive target response, typically an audible beep. The device also features a battery test function that provides an audible indication of battery strength upon startup.

Assembly:

Assembly of the Compadre metal detector involves several steps:

Connecting the Poles: Slide the metal middle pole into the upper pole assembly until the spring clips seat. Turn the pole lock on the upper pole assembly in the direction of the arrow to remove any excess play.
Attaching the Coil: Remove the hardware from the ABS lower pole. Place the pole tip with rubber friction washers between the coil ears, ensuring a snug fit. Reinsert the hardware through the coil ears, rubber washers, and pole tip, then tighten finger-tight.
Winding the Coil Cable: Insert the ABS lower pole into the middle and upper pole assembly, sliding it in but not seating the spring clips. Twist the lower pole and coil assembly together to loosely wrap the coil cable around the pole, preventing it from flopping over the coil.
Adjusting Pole Length: Once the coil cable is wrapped, slide the lower pole spring clips into the set of holes on the middle pole that is best suited for your height. Turn the pole lock in the direction of the arrow to secure the pole length.
Installing the Battery: Slide off the battery door and insert a 9-volt battery as shown in the diagram inside the battery box. Replace the battery door.

Usage Features:

Power On and Battery Test: Turn the control knob clockwise just enough to power on the detector. A beep lasting a couple of seconds indicates the battery test. A loud beep lasting 5 to 7 seconds signifies good batteries, while a weak and very short beep indicates that batteries need to be changed.
All-Metal Mode: After the battery test, leave the knob in the lowest position for the All-Metal setting. In this mode, the detector will respond positively to all metal targets. Users should practice sweeping the coil about 3 inches above targets and at different heights to observe varying responses. Experimenting with targets placed on edge can also provide different responses.
Discrimination Mode: Turn the knob to various discrimination levels to filter out unwanted metals. It's important to remember that everything below the chosen discrimination setting will also be tuned out (e.g., tuning out pull-tabs will also eliminate nickels, foil, and iron). Practice with different discrimination settings to understand their effects.
False Signals: Targets less than one inch from the coil may sometimes sound off even if they are tuned out. To stop this, lift the coil an inch or two.
Sweeping Technique: When searching, keep your arm relaxed and swing mainly from the shoulder, creating an arc of about 3 to 5 feet in front of you. Avoid raising or snapping the coil at the ends of the sweep, as this can cause false signals. The coil must remain in motion for detection.
Pinpointing: To pinpoint a target and minimize digging, narrow your search pattern.
1. Shorten and Slow Swing: Swing the coil over the target, noting where the beeps occur. Gradually shorten and slow your swing until the coil is moving only a few inches.
2. 90° Reading: Obtain a 90-degree reading by either turning your body and swinging the coil over the target or by pushing the coil forwards and backward over the target. Bring the swings down to only a couple of inches, noting where the beeps overlap the previous ones to identify the best spot to dig.
Practice: Bury various targets to create a test patch and practice detecting skills to gain experience.

Maintenance Features:

Battery Replacement: Change the 9-volt battery when the battery test yields a weak and very short beep.
Care and Use: Proper care and use are essential for the detector's longevity.
Warranty Service: The Tesoro metal detector is covered by a Limited Lifetime Warranty. If service is required, the unit can be returned to the Tesoro factory in Prescott, Arizona.

Warranty Information:

Limited Lifetime Warranty: The instrument is warranted to be free of defects in material and workmanship as long as it is owned by the original consumer purchaser. This warranty is not transferable and is valid only if the warranty registration card has been completed and mailed within 10 days of purchase.
Repair/Replacement: TESORO will, at its option, repair or replace any instrument covered by this warranty without charge, except for transportation charges, at its factory.
Exclusions: This warranty excludes:
- Batteries.
- Damage caused by leaky batteries.
- Cable breakage due to flexing on body mount units.
- Wear of the search coil housing.
- Instruments that have been abused, altered, or repaired by an unauthorized party.