Tesoro Stingray II - User Manual

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StingrayIIOPERATORINSTRUCTIONMANUAL
CONGRATULATIONS!
YournewTESOROMetalDetectorwasdesignedtoprovideyouwithmanyhappyhoursofenjoymentinthemost
rewardinghobbyIcanthinkof–treasurehunting.Aheadofyouliefascinatingandexcitingexperiencesasyoustepintothe
past–uncoveringartifactslostbypastgenerations.Iwishwecouldsharetheseexperienceswithyou,andwewishyouthe
bestofsuccess.
YourTESOROMetalDetectoriscapableofmeetingyourneedsinanyconceivabletreasurehuntingsituation.Aswith
anydetector,operatingskillandfamiliaritywiththisinstrumentareprobablythelimitingfactorsindetermininghowsuccessful
youwillbe.Werecommendthatyoureadthismanualandunderstandfullybeforeattemptingtousetheinstrumentinthe
field.Asyoubecomemorefamiliarwithyourdetectorthroughpractice,yourrateofsuccesswillincreasedramatically.
TheTESOROMetalDetectorisaprecisionelectronicinstrument,whichwilllastforyearsifproperlycaredfor.Treatit
rightanditwon'tletyoudown.
GoodHunting!JackGifford
GENERALDESCRIPTION
TheStingrayIIisawaterproofVLF/TR/VLFDiscriminator,whichprovidesthreebasicoperatingmodes.Itcanbeusedas
anALLMETALdetector,asaTRdiscriminator,orasaMotionbaseddiscriminator.ItiscapableofprovidingMineralFree
operationinanyenvironment,ifadjustedcorrectly.
TheStingrayIIcanbeusedonland,inthesurf,orunderwatertodepthsof200feet.Itisperhapsthemostversatileofall
waterproofmetaldetector'syetmade.
Thedetectorissuppliedwithinstandardlandbasedmetaldetectorform,butisequippedwithabeltbracketforbody
mounting.Further,theStingrayIIcanbecompressedtouseablelengthsforthedivingTH'er.
TheStingrayIIisequippedwithawaterproofcoilconnectorsothatoptionalcoilscanbeutilizedonthedetector.
Aswithanydetector,thefamiliarityoftheuserwithhisinstrumentwillhaveagreateffectonhowsuccessfulhewillbe.
Werecommendthatyoureadandunderstandthismanualfullybeforeattemptingtousetheinstrumentinthefield.
ASSEMBLY
TheStingrayIIcanbeassembledintoseveralconfiguration,butthemostgeneralformsareeitherthepolemountorthe
bodymountconfigurations.Itisrelativelyeasytoconvertthedetectorfromoneformtotheother.Theinstallationofthelower
poletothesearchcoilisthesameregardlessofwhichconfigurationisused.
1. Insertthepoletipbetweenthemountingearsofthesearchcoil,afterremovingthescrewandthumbnut.Alignthe
holesinthepoletipandthoseinthemountingears.Besurethatthefrictionwashersareinplace.
NOTE:Itwillbemucheasiertodothisifyoumoistenthefrictionwashersfirst.
2. Insertthecoilmountingscrewthroughthecoilandpoletip.Installthethumbnutonthescrewandtightenbyhand.
3. Depressthetwospringbuttonsontheupperendofthelowerstem,andslideitintothemiddlestem.Pushthelower
stemupsothatthebuttonsclickintothethirdsetofholesfromtheendofthemiddlestem.
4. Thesmallendofthemiddlepoleistheninsertedintotheupperpoleandthepolelockistwistedtoprovideasnugfit.
NOTE:TheStingrayIIcanbesetupasadiver'spoleconfigurationbysimplyputtingthelowerpoledirectly
intotheupperpole.
5. Windthesearchcoilcablearoundthepole.
ThenextstepinsettingupyourStingrayIIwillbedecidingwhichdirectionyourfaceplatewillbe.
Pointingthefaceplateawayfromthecoilgivesyoulesschancesofhavingtheknobsturnwhenyousetthedetector
down.
Pointingthefaceplatetowardthecoilmakesitlesslikelythattheheadphonecablewillgetinyourway.Experimentwith
havingyourdetectormountedbothwaystofindtheconfigurationthatbestsuitsyourhuntingstyle.
Placingorremovingthedetectoronthepoleisaneasyprocess.Simplydepressonesetofspringclipsatatimeand
slidethedetectoronthepole.
Installthecoilconnectorintoitsreceptacleonthebackofthecontrolhousingandtightenitfingertight.
NOTE:Donotuseplierstotightenthecoilconnector.
CONVERSION
Obviously,convertingtheunitfrombodytopolemountorviceversa,issimplyputtingthecontrolhousingbackonthe
pole,orremovingitfromthepole.Besuretokeepthesearchcoilcablewoundtightenougharoundthepolethatitdoesn'tflap
rightoversearchcoil.TheStingrayIIispowerfulenoughtoseethefinewiresmoving,andcangiveyoufalsesignalsifthe
cableistoolooseenoughtofloparound.(Note:Usethetwovelcrostrapstoholdthecabletightagainstthepole.)
SPECIFICATIONS
TESOROElectronics,Inc.,reservestherighttomodifyorimprovethedesignwithoutfurthernotice.
CONTROLS
TheStingrayIIhasonlyfourcontrolsonitsfrontpanelbutthreeadditionalcontrolsareontheinsideofthecontrol
housingandcanbeadjustedbyopeningthehousing.SincetheThresholdAdjust,VolumeandSensitivityforMotion
discriminateareseldomusedcontrols,theyareplacedontheinsideofthehousingtominimizethechanceofleaking.
1. ON/OFFTuneSpeed,BatteryCheck.ThepowertotheStingrayIIiscontrolledbythisswitch.Abatterytestis
accomplishedeachtimetheswitchisturnedonandtheswitchselectsthespeedofthetuningfornonmotionmodes.
Thecounterclockwisepositionturnsoffthedetector.Whentheswitchisturnedclockwisetothefastspeedposition,the
automaticbatterytestsequenceistriggered.Theaudiosoundwillbeveryloudforroughly45secondswhenfresh
batteriesareused.Asthebatterieslosepower,thesoundwillbelessintenseandwilldieawayfasteruntilthereisno
audioatallorjustashortchirp.Thislackofaudiosoundindicatesitistimeforfreshbatteries.Thenonmotionmodes
(TRDISCandALLMETAL)areretunedbacktothresholdbyplacingthisswitchintheFAST,MED,orSLOWposition.
Tuningspeedshouldbeselectedtosuittheparticularhuntingmodeandmineralconditions.
2. ModeControl.ThisswitchselectsthedesiredoperatingmodeoftheStingrayII.TRDISCisgenerallymoresuitable
forsearchingsaltwaterbeaches,andthedisclevelcontrolisusedtoadjustthedetector'sresponsetothewetsalt
beach,sincetheTRmodeisnotmineralfree.MOTDISCisthemineralfreemotiondiscriminatemode,andthedisclevel
controlcanbeusedtoadjustthedetectortoeliminatetrashitemsasdesired.ALLMETALisanonmotionmode,and
theGNDadjustcontrolcanbeusedtoadjustthedetector’sresponsetogroundmineralization.
3. DiscLevelControl.Thiscontrolisusedtoadjustthedetector'sresponsetounwantedtrashitemswhenthe
detectorisusedinmotiondiscriminateandtoadjustthedetector’sresponsetowetsaltbeacheswhenitisusedinthe
TRdiscriminatemode.Wetsaltbeachescanusuallybetunedneutralsomewherearound2to4onthedial.
4. GNDAdjust.Thiscontrolisusedtosetthedesiredresponsetogroundmineralswhenthedetectorisusedinthe
ALLMETALmode.Itdoesn'thaveenoughrangetocompensateforwetsaltbeaches,soisnotusablewhensearching
them.Thedetector'sresponsetogroundmineralsshouldbesetsothatasthesearchcoilapproachesnormalground,the
detector’sthresholdgoesslightlylouder.Thiswillkeepthedetectorfromreadingholesinthegroundwhenitisusedin
themotiondiscriminatemode.
NOTE:Thefollowingthreecontrolsaremountedinsidethecontrolhousing,sincetheyareseldomused
controlsanddonotneedconstantadjustment.
5. ThresholdAdjust.Thiscontrolisusedtoadjustthethreshold(thebeginningofsound)forthetwononmotion
modes.Thresholdshouldbeadjustedwiththecoilintheair,thetunespeedswitchonfast,andthemodeswitchinTR
discorALLMETALposition.Adjustsosoundisverylowjustbarelyaudible.
6. Volume.Thiscontroladjuststhevolumeoftheloudestsoundtobecomfortabletotheuser.Iftheloudestsounds
aretooloud,youmaybecomewearyofusingthedetector,andiftheyarenotloudenough,youmaymissthedeepest
targets.
7. MotionDISCSensitivity.Thiscontrolshouldbesetashighaspossible(clockwisedirection)whilestillallowing
quietoperation.Whenitissettoohigh,falsesignalsmaybecomepredominant,whichmayreduceyourabilityomake
outthefaintdeeptargetsignals.
TUNINGTHESTRINGRAYII
TheStingrayII,likeotherhighpowermetaldetectors,willgivemuchbetterperformanceifitisproperlytuned.Toachieve
maximumperformancefromyourStingrayII,besurethatyouunderstandthefollowingsectionsofthemanualandthatyou
useitinthebestmodeforthesiteyouarehunting.
1.TuningInTheAllMetalMode
TheGroundAdjustcontrolislocatedonthefrontpanelandisnotdesignedtobeusedasthegroundadjustcontrolwould
normallybeusedonalandbasedmetaldetector.Itshouldbesettthebestsettingfortheareasthatyouworkandthenleft
alone.
TheGroundAdjustcontrolshouldbesetsothatthemostnegativemineralbackgroundsthatyouwillbedetectingin
responsewithaslightpositiveincreaseinvolumeasthesearchcoilisloweredtotheground.Thiswillyieldthebestresults
whenthedetectorisusedinthemotiondiscriminatemodebykeepingthedetectorfromrespondingtonegativemineralsor
fromdetectingaholeintheground.
TheGroundAdjustcontroldoesn'thaveenoughrangetoneutralizesaltwaterbeaches.Saltwaterbeachesarealways
verypositive,sotheTRdiscriminatemodeshouldbeusedwiththeDiscLevelcontrolbeingsettoneutralizetheconductive
natureofthebeach.
1. PuttheOn/OffcontroltofastandtheModeselectswitchtoALLMETAL.Holdthesearchcoilabouttwofeetabove
thegroundandrapidlylowerthesearchcoiltoabouttwoinchesabovetheground.
2. IfthereisnochangeintheThresholdsound,oronlyaslightpositiveincrease,thedetectorisproperlytuned.Ifthe
sounddecreases,thegroundadjustshouldbeturnedslightlyclockwise(inthedirectionlabeledMax).Ifthesound
increasesdramatically,turnthegroundadjustslightlycounterclockwise.
3. Repeattheabovestepuntilthethresholddoesn'tchangeoruntilthereisaslightpositiveincreaseinthethreshold
sound.
2.TuningInMotionDiscriminateMode
UsingthedetectorinMotiondiscriminateissimplyamatterofsettingtheDiscLevelcontroltothedesiredposition.The
detectorshouldnotbeaffectedbymineralization,unlessitisquitesevere.Aslightlyimprovementinresponsemaybenoted
byreducingtheSensitivityControlontheinsideofthehousing.
NOTE:BeverycarefulnottogetanysandordirtparticlesonthefrontedgeofthehousingorontotheOring
inthepanel.Anyparticlesinthissealcancausethedetectortoleakwhenitissubmerged.Whenclosingthe
housing,operatebothdrawboltsatthesametime,ratherthanclampingonesideandthentheother.Fromtime
totime,youshouldapplyabitofOringgreasetothepanelOringseal.
3.TuningInTRDiscriminateMode
TheTRdiscriminatemodewillprobablybeunusableinvirtuallyalllandlocationsduetomineralizationlevels.Itmaybe
themostuseablemodeoncertainsaltwaterbeaches,however,butonlyifthediscriminatelevelcontrolissettoneutralize
theeffectsofthecombinedmineralizationandconductivesaltwater.ThisobviouslymeansyoucannotusetheDiscLevel
controltoeliminateanytrashitems,sinceyoumustusedittoeliminatemineraleffects.
ItwillprobablybebesttotryusingtheMotiondiscriminatemodeonsaltwaterbeachessinceyoucanusetheentire
rangeoftheDiscLevelcontroltoeliminatesomeofthemoreprevalenttrash.
1. TurntheON/OFFcontroltothefastpositionandtheDiscriminateLevelcontroltoaboutmidrange.WiththeMode
switchintheTRDiscposition,holdthesearchcoilabouttwoinchesabovetheground.
2. Rapidlyraisethecoilabouttwoorthreeinches.Ifraisingthesearchcoilslightlymakesthethresholdsoundincrease
tomaximum,themineralizationlevelwillprobablymaketheTRdiscriminatemodeverydifficulttouse.Youmustbeable
tosweepthecoilfromsidetosideandstillmaintainthethresholdsound.AttemptingtooperateinTRdiscriminatein
heavilymineralizedgroundwillalmostalwayscausealargedecreaseindepth.
3. Onasaltwaterbeach,thediscriminatelevelcontrolcanbeusedtoessentiallygroundcompensatethedetectorifit
usedintheTRdiscriminatemode.ItwillbebesttoadjusttheDiscLevelcontrolforaslightincreaseinsoundasthe
searchcoilapproachesthewetsaltbeach.
SELECTINGTHEPROPEROPERATINGMODE
TheTRdiscriminatemodewillprobablybeunusableinmostlandareasduetothemineralizationlevelsencountered.
However,theTRdiscriminatemodecanbequitepossiblythebestchoicetouseonasaltwaterbeachbecausetheDisc
Levelcontrolcanbeusedtoneutralizetheconductivewetsaltsands.AlsoiftheMotiondiscriminatemodegivesalotoffalse
signalsonsuchabeach,theTRprobablycanbeadjustedtooperatequitewellwithoutallofthefalsesignals.
Inlandhunting,itwillbebesttouseeithertheALLMETALmodeortheMotiondiscriminatemode.Eitherofthese
modeswillbemineralfreeifthedetectorisadjustedproperly.Itwillbebesttoadjustthegroundadjustcontrolforaslight
positiveincreaseasthesearchcoilapproachestheground.ThiswillkeeptheMotiondiscriminatemodefromreadingholesin
thegroundasyourecheckatargetyouhavestartedtorecover.
NOTE:BeverycarefulnottogetanysandordirtparticlesonthefrontedgeofthehousingorontotheOring
inthepanel.Anyparticlesinthissealcancausethedetectortoleakwhenitissubmerged.Whenclosingthe
housing,operatebothdrawboltsatthesametime,ratherthanclampingonesideandthentheother.Fromtime
totime,youshouldapplyabitofOringgreasetothepanelOringseal.
ADJUSTMENT
Thesearchcoilangleandstemlengthshouldbeadjustedsothattheunitdoesnotbecomeuncomfortableortiringtohold
afterlongperiodsofuse.Thedetectorshouldrestinyourhandwitharmrelaxedallowingittoswingbackandforthwithout
havingtoliftwiththeelboworshoulder,whilekeepingthesearchcoilascloseaspossibletothegroundwithouttouching.The
polelengthisadjustedbydepressingthespringbuttonsandextendingorshorteningthelowerstem,tilltheyclickintothe
holesthatgiveyouthemostcomfortablesetting.Thesearchcoilshouldbeaboutoneinchabovethegroundwhilestanding
erect.Adjusttheangleofthesearchcoil,sothatthecoilisparalleltotheground.Tightenthesearchcoilthumbnutbyhandso
thatthesearchcoilwillmaintainthissetting.
FIELDUSE
Thedetectorshouldbeheldinapositionthatiscomfortableforyou.Swingthedetectorfromsidetosideinaboutathree
footarc,overlappingsucceedingstrokeswell.Thismotioniscalleda“sweep.”TheStingrayIIwasdesignedtogetmaximum
depthwithoutthefranticpacerequiredofearliermotiondetectors,sogoatapacethatiscomfortableforyou.Infact,tryingto
hunttoofastinDiscriminatemayevencausealossofdepthinheavilymineralizedlocations.
Itwouldbehelpfultoburysomecoinsandtrashmetaljunkitemsinanareathatyouknowisclearofothermetal
objects,andthentrytheunitinitsvariousmodes.ChecktheareainAllMetalModefirsttobesureitsclearoftrashthen
burythetargetsatleastafootapart,andfrom2to6inchesdeeptostart.Makeamapofthetestbedtobesureyouknow
whateachtargetisandhowdeepitis.Practiceonthesetargetstofamiliarizeyourselfwithyourdetector’stargetresponse.
ThiswillalsohelpyoulearnthepropersweeprateforDISCoperation.
InALLMETALmodeoperation,keepthedetectortunedsothatitisjustlightlybuzzing.Thisiseasytodobecausethe
groundmineralsdonotaffecttheALLMETALmodeifproperlyadjusted.Regardlessofwhichmodeyouareusing,trytokeep
yoursearchcoilheightconstantandclosetotheground.Mostpeopletendtoraisethecoilattheendofasweep,muchlikea
pendulum,especiallyiftheyhurry.Trytoavoidthis,asanyincreaseinheightwillcauseacorrespondinglossofdepth.
Inareaswithwellkeptlawns,theeasiestwaytomaintainaconstantsearchcoilheightistoallowthecoiltorestonthe
grassasyousweepfromsidetoside.Inroughandrockyareasitisbestnotto“scrub”thecoilontheground,astherocks
willactlikeabrasives,andwearawaythecoilbottom(anoptionalcoilscuffcoverwillprotectagainstthis.)Sweepthecoilas
closetothegroundaspossiblewithouttouching.Hittingthegroundorrocksmaycauseafalsesignalmuchlikeadesired
targetwould.Sweepingthecoiltoohighabovethegroundresultsinalossofdepth.
WhenoperatingintheMotionDiscriminateMode,some“falsesignals”maybecausedbyheavyconcentrationsoftrash
metalobjects,byverylargetrashitems,orbyelectricalinterference.Thesesignalswillsounddifferentthangoodtarget
signalsbecausetheyaregenerallyshort,choppysounds.Attheendofyoursweep,asyouthereversethecoildirection,the
detectorismostsusceptibletotrashinducednoise.Therearetwowaystotellwhetherthesesoundsaregooddeepsignals
ortrash“noise.”Thefirstisbyrepeatability.Trashinducednoiseswillnotberegularasyousweepthecoiloverthesuspected
targetseveraltimes,whereasagoodtargetresponsewillberepeatable.ThesecondmethodistoswitchtoAllMetalMode
andcheckthetargetresponsesound.Iftheresponseisweak,itmaywellbeadeep,goodtarget;butiftheresponseisvery
strong,itisprobablytrash.Notethatacoinclosetothesurfacecangiveadoublebeepsound,butitisregularand
repeatable.Raisingthecoilaninchortwowillrestorethesinglebeeponsurfacetargets.
Ifthereisanydoubtwhetheratargetisgoodornot,DIGIT.Forthissamereason,intheMotionDiscriminateMode,itis
bestnottouseahigherDISCLEVELsettingthannecessary.NickelsandmostsmallerringsarerejectedwhentheDISC
LEVELissettorejectpulltabsonanymetaldetectorthatisaTRDiscriminatorliketheStingrayII.Ifyoudon’tdiganyjunk
atall,youaresurelypassingupalotofgoodfindsaswell.SettheDISCLEVELonlyhighenoughtosuittheconditions
whereyouaresearching.
PINPOINTING
ThesweepspeedofthedetectorislowenoughtoallowpinpointingintheMotionDiscriminateMode,butwillrequirea
littlemorepractice.Movethecoilslowlyfromsidetosideandthenfromfronttobackoverthetarget.Raisingthecoilslightly
andslowingthesweepspeedwillnarrowdownthedetectionareaenoughthatit'seasytotellwherethecoilcenterisatthe
instantofthesound.
Anothereasymethodistosweepthecoilfromsidetosideacrossthetargetinveryshortsweeps,asyouslowlymove
forwardandbackwardacrossthetarget.Slowdownthesweeprateandshortenthesweepsuntilyoujustbarelygeta
responseatonespot.Thetargetwillbedirectlybelowthecoilcenteratthisresponsetime.
TheeasiestwaytopinpointformostpeoplewillbetoswitchtotheAllMetal,sincenomotionisrequired.Topinpointa
targetthatdoesn'tsaturatetheaudio,justmovethecoilforwardandback,andsidetosideuntilyougetthestrongestsound.
Thetargetwillbedirectlybelowthecoilcenter.Iftheaudiosaturatesoveralargearea,holdthecoiloverthetarget
momentarilytodetunethedetector.Thiswillnarrowitsfieldofresponsetoallowyoutoonceagainseektheareaofstrongest
response.
BATTERYINSTALLATION
TheStingrayIIisequippedwithanautomaticbatterytestcircuitsothatyoucanalwaysbesureyouaregettingtop
performancefromit.Thebatteriesshouldbecheckedafterthedetectorhasbeenonforabout10minutes,andthen
periodicallyasyouareusingitforlongperiods.Totest,followtheproceduredescribedinthecontrolsectionofthismanual.
Toinstallorreplacethebatteries,makesurethedetectorhousingisdrythenreleasethetwodrawboltssecuringthe
controlpaneltothehousing.Gentlypullthecontrolpanelfree,beingcarefulnottotwistorstraintheribboncableconnecting
thecontrolpaneltotheprintedcircuitboard.Removethefoaminsertandliftoutthebatteryholder.Removethebattery
terminalsnapfromthebatteryholder.TheStingrayIItakes6AAalkalinebatteries.Makesurethattheterminalpolaritysnaps
fittightlytothepolaritysnapsofthebatteryholder.Alooseconnectionmaycausethedetectortofailtorespondortoact
erraticallywhenoperating.Alsomakecertainthatyoufollowthepolarityindicatorsonboththebatteryholderaswellasthe
batteriesthemselves.Placetheterminalendagainstthefoaminsertwheninsertingthebatteryholderbackintothebattery
compartment.
IMPORTANTNOTE:Alwaysmakesuretheinstrumentisdrybeforeopening.Water,ifallowedtomakecontact
withthecircuitboard,maydamageit.AlwaysmakesuretheOringiscleanandfreeofdirtorsand.Itis
recommendyouwipetheOringwithadryclothandlookfordamageandapplyanewcoatofdiver'ssilicone
greasebeforereplacing.FailuretomaintaintheOringwillresultinextensivedamageandwillnotbecovered
underwarranty.
DETECTORPROTECTIONCHECKLIST
Congratulations,youhavejustpurchasedanewmetaldetector,andwewishtothankyouforchoosingTesoro.
Somanypeoplearedisappointedwhentheirnew"stateoftheart"detectorbecauselessandlessexcitingtouse,and
doesn'tseemtogoasdeepanymore.Thereissomethingthatyoucandotokeepyournewdetectorworkingasgoodas
whenitwasnew.
Themostimportantthingistosimplytorememberthatyourdetectorisanelectronicinstrument,andtotreatitassuch.
Youwouldn'texpectyourTVsettooperateproperlyifyoustoreditinthetrunkofyourcar,wouldyou?
Wehavegeneratedthefollowinglisttohelpyoutakecareofyourdetectorandtohelpensurethatyoudonotvoidits
warranty.Ifyouwillfollowitsguidelines,youwillfindyourdetectorwillnotletyoudown.
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Operateyourdetectorexactlyasrecommendedinthisinstructionmanual.
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Donotattempttomodifyorrepairthedetector'selectronics;caution:openingofcontrolhousingmayvoidyour
warranty.
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Cableishardwiredintosearchcoil,donotattemptremovalofthespringretaineronthesearchcoilhousing.
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Useonlyhighqualitycarbonzinc,alkaline,ornicadbatteries.Neversubstituteadifferentvoltage.Brandshouldnot
bemixed.Donotattempttomodifythepowersupplysystem.
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NeverspraylubricantssuchasWD40oranytypeofcleaners,sealantsorotherchemicalpreparationonorintothe
detector.
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Avoidbangingthesearchcoilagainstrocksorfoundationwalls.
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Removeandcleanoutscuffcoversperiodicallytoavoidbuildupofmineralizeddirtparticleswhichwillaffect
performance.
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Aftereachuse,cleanthedetectorwithasoftclothtoremovedust,moisture,andothercontaminants.
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Donottransportorstoreyourdetectorinthetrunkofyourcar.
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Ifyourdetectorhasaprotectivespringatthecoilcableconnector,besurethatthespringdoesnotworkitsway
insidetheplug,causingashort.(OnTesorodetectors,thespringshouldextendapproximately5/8thfromthebaseofthe
connector.)
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Keepcablesproperlywoundaroundthepolestemsandprotectthemduringuse.Floppy,pinched,orcablesthat
becomesnaggedduringusemayshort,causingerraticnoisesorunnecessaryreplacementofthesearchcoil.
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Protectyourdetectorfromdust,moisture,andextremetemperaturesduringstorage.Avoidstoringitinplacessuch
asattics,basements,orgarages.Whenshipping,usetheoriginalfactorycartonorsimilarheavydutycontainer;aone
inchminimumclearanceofpaddingaroundthedetectormustbeprovidedwhenshipping.
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Treatyourdetectorasyouwouldanysensitiveelectronicinstrument.Thoughruggedlyconstructedanddesignedto
withstandthedemandsofnormaltreasurehuntingapplications,itisnotintendedtobeimproperlyoperatedorabused.
RECOMMENDEDRECOVERYMETHODS
Alwaysobtainpermissionfromthepersoninchargebeforehuntingonprivateproperty,schoolyards,parks,churches,or
stateparks.Evenwhenrelichuntinginthewoods,NEERLEAVEAHOLE!,ordamageanythingontheproperty.
PROTECTYOURHOBBYFILLALLHOLES
OPTIONALSEARCHCOILS
Selectingtherightsearchcoilforthetypeofdetectingyouaredoingwilladdgreatlytoyoursuccess.TheStingrayIIis
equippedwithan8"opencenterconcentricstylecoil.ToincreasetheflexibilityofyourStingrayII,Tesorohasdesigneditso
thatthesearchcoilisreplaceablebytheuser.Optionalsearchcoilsof7"and101/2"areavailablethroughyourdealer.
The8"unitfurnishedasstandardisprobablythebestoverallcoilsizeforusebymostpeople,sinceitoffersthebest
compromiseasfarasdepthvs.targetsizeareconcerned.Forpeoplewhoneedtofindtargetslargerthancoins,the101/2"
coilwillgreatlyincreasedetectiondepth.Forfindingsmallpieces,suchassomejewelry,the7"coilwillincreasethe
detector’sresponsetosmallertargets. 
Underthecopyrightlawsthisdocumentationmaynotbecopied,photocopied,reproduced,translatedorreducedtoanyelectronicor
machine readableform,inwholeorinpart,withoutthepriorwrittenconsentofTesoroElectronicsIncorporated,exceptfortheprivate
useofaStingrayIIowneroroperator,orinamannerotherwisedescribedinthisdocumentation.
©1995  1996TesoroElectronicsIncorporated.Allrightsreserved.PrintedintheUnitedStates.
WARRANTYSERVICE
YourTesorometaldetectoriscoveredbyaLimitedLifetimeWarranty,the
termsofwhicharelistedbelow.Ifyourmetaldetectorshouldrequireservice,you
mayreturnittotheTesorofactoryattheaddressbelow.
Ifyouhaveanyquestions,don'thesitatetocontactthefactory.
WATERPROOFMETALDETECTORWARRANTY
Thiswarrantygivesyouspecificlegalrights,andyoumayhaveotherrights
whichvaryfromstatetostate.
This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.
Duringthefirsttwoyears,TESOROwill,atitsoption,repairorreplaceany
instrumentcoveredbythiswarranty,withoutcharge,exceptfortransportation
charges,atitsfactoryinPrescott,Arizona,oratoneofitsauthorizedrepair
centers.Aftertwoyearsfromdateofpurchase,TESOROwillreplacedefective
partsatnochargeexceptanominallaborchangeandtransportationcharges.
Thiswarrantyexcludesbatteries,damagecausedbyleakybatteries,cable
breakageduetoflexingonbodymountunits,andwearofthesearchcoilhousing.
Alsoexcludedareinstrumentswhichhavebeenabused,altered,orrepairedbyan
unauthorizedparty.
Ifwarrantserviceshouldbenecessary,contactthefactoryfornearestrepair
center.
TesoroElectronics,Inc.715WhiteSparRoadPrescott,AZ,USA8630319287712646
OperatingFrequency 12kHz
SearchcoilType Concentric
SearchcoilSize 8"Diameter
CableLength Approx.3’
AudioFrequency Approx.750Hz
AudioOutput WaterproofHeadphones
Weight(mayvaryslightly) 33/4lbs.
BatteryRequirement
9voltDC
6AAalkalinepenlight
BatteryLife(typical) 15to30hours
OptimumTemperatureRange 30°to100°F
OperatingModes
AllMetal,nomotion
Discriminate,motion
Discriminate,nomotion
MaximumDepthRating 200ft.

Home

Summary

GENERAL DESCRIPTION

Product Capabilities

Details the Stingray II's waterproof, VLF/TR/VLF Discriminator features and operating modes.

ASSEMBLY AND SETUP

Component Assembly

Step-by-step guide for attaching the searchcoil, assembling the pole sections, and winding the cable.

CONVERSION AND SPECIFICATIONS

Configuration Conversion

Guidance on switching between body and pole mount configurations.

Technical Specifications

Key technical data for the Stingray II detector, including operating parameters and depth rating.

OPERATING CONTROLS

Control Panel Functions

Explains the primary controls: ON/OFF, Mode, Disc Level, and GND Adjust for operation.

TUNING PROCEDURES

Mode-Specific Tuning Steps

Detailed tuning guide for All Metal, Motion Discriminate, and TR Discriminate modes.

FIELD OPERATION GUIDE

Selecting Operating Modes

Advice on choosing appropriate modes based on hunting conditions.

Adjustment and Sweep Techniques

Guidance on ergonomic adjustment, sweep patterns, and handling false signals.

Target Pinpointing

Methods for accurately locating detected metal objects in the field.

MAINTENANCE AND PROTECTION

Battery Installation and Waterproofing

Procedures for battery replacement and O-ring maintenance for water protection.

Detector Care Checklist

Essential recommendations for maintaining detector performance and longevity.

Responsible Recovery Practices

Guidelines for obtaining permission and leaving sites undisturbed.

ACCESSORIES AND WARRANTY

Optional Searchcoil Selection

Information on choosing and using optional searchcoils to enhance detection capabilities.

Warranty Service Details

Details regarding the Limited Lifetime and Waterproof detector warranties.

Overview

1. Function Description
2. Usage Features
3. Maintenance Features

The Tesoro Stingray II is a versatile waterproof VLF/TR/VLF Discriminator metal detector designed for treasure hunting on land, in the surf, or underwater to depths of 200 feet. It offers three basic operating modes: ALL METAL, TR discriminate, and Motion discriminate, and is capable of providing mineral-free operation when correctly adjusted.

Function Description

The Stingray II operates as an ALL METAL detector, a TR discriminator, or a Motion-based discriminator. The ALL METAL mode is a non-motion mode where the detector's response to ground mineralization is adjusted using the GND Adjust control. The TR discriminate mode is a non-motion mode primarily suitable for searching saltwater beaches, where the Disc Level control is used to neutralize the effects of wet salt. The Motion discriminate mode is a mineral-free motion discriminate mode, allowing the Disc Level control to eliminate unwanted trash items.

The detector features an ON/OFF Tune Speed, Battery Check switch that controls power, initiates an automatic battery test, and selects the tuning speed for non-motion modes (FAST, MED, SLOW). The Mode Control switch allows selection of the desired operating mode. The Disc Level Control adjusts the detector's response to trash in motion discriminate mode and to wet salt beaches in TR discriminate mode. The GND Adjust control sets the response to ground minerals in ALL METAL mode, ensuring the detector doesn't respond to negative minerals or holes in the ground when used in motion discriminate.

Inside the control housing, there are three additional controls: Threshold Adjust, Volume, and Motion DISC Sensitivity. The Threshold Adjust sets the beginning of sound for non-motion modes, ideally adjusted to a very low, barely audible level with the coil in the air and the tune speed on fast. The Volume control adjusts the loudness of the sound for user comfort, ensuring deep targets are not missed. The Motion DISC Sensitivity control should be set as high as possible for quiet operation; setting it too high can lead to false signals and reduce the ability to detect faint deep targets.

Usage Features

The Stingray II can be assembled in various configurations, including pole mount or body mount. The lower pole is installed by inserting the pole tip between the searchcoil's mounting ears, aligning holes, and securing with a screw and thumb nut, ensuring friction washers are in place. The lower stem slides into the middle stem, clicking into place, and the middle pole is inserted into the upper pole, secured by twisting the pole lock. For a diver's pole configuration, the lower pole can be inserted directly into the upper pole. The searchcoil cable should be wound tightly around the pole to prevent false signals from movement. The faceplate direction can be chosen for user preference, either facing away from the coil to prevent accidental knob turns or toward the coil to keep the headphone cable out of the way.

For optimal performance, proper tuning is crucial. In ALL METAL mode, the Ground Adjust control should be set so that lowering the searchcoil to the ground results in a slight positive increase in volume, preventing responses to negative minerals or holes. This mode is not suitable for saltwater beaches. In Motion Discriminate mode, simply set the Disc Level control to the desired position to eliminate trash items. The detector should not be affected by mineralization unless severe. In TR Discriminate mode, the Disc Level control can be used to ground compensate for wet saltwater beaches, as this mode is generally unusable in mineralized land areas. The detector should be held comfortably, swinging in a three-foot arc with overlapping strokes, keeping the searchcoil close to the ground without touching. Maintaining a constant searchcoil height is important for depth.

Pinpointing targets in Motion Discriminate mode requires practice; slowly move the coil side-to-side and front-to-back over the target, raising it slightly to narrow the detection area. The strongest sound indicates the target's location directly under the coil center. For easier pinpointing, switching to ALL METAL mode is recommended. If the audio saturates, momentarily detune the detector by holding the coil over the target to narrow the field of response.

Maintenance Features

The Stingray II is equipped with an automatic battery test circuit that activates each time the detector is turned on. A loud audio sound for 4-5 seconds indicates fresh batteries, while a less intense sound or a short chirp signifies low battery power. The detector uses 6 AA alkaline batteries. To install or replace batteries, ensure the housing is dry, then release the two draw bolts and gently pull the control panel free, being careful not to strain the ribbon cable. Remove the foam insert, lift out the battery holder, and replace batteries, ensuring correct polarity and tight terminal snaps. The battery holder is then reinserted, with the terminal end against the foam insert.

Crucially, the instrument must always be dry before opening the control housing to prevent water damage to the circuit board. The O-ring must be kept clean and free of dirt or sand. It is recommended to wipe the O-ring with a dry cloth, inspect for damage, and apply a new coat of diver's silicone grease before replacing. Failure to maintain the O-ring will void the warranty.

To protect the detector, operate it as recommended in the manual. Do not attempt to modify or repair the electronics, as this may void the warranty. The searchcoil cable is hard-wired; do not attempt to remove the spring retainer. Use only high-quality carbon-zinc, alkaline, or nicad batteries of the correct voltage and do not mix brands. Avoid spraying lubricants or chemicals on the detector. Do not bang the searchcoil against hard surfaces. Periodically clean scuff covers to prevent mineralized dirt buildup. After each use, clean the detector with a soft cloth to remove dust and moisture. Avoid transporting or storing the detector in a car trunk. Ensure the protective spring at the coil cable connector does not work its way inside the plug. Keep cables properly wound around the pole stems to prevent damage and erratic noises. Protect the detector from dust, moisture, and extreme temperatures during storage. When shipping, use the original factory carton or a similar heavy-duty container with at least one inch of padding around the detector. Treat the detector as a sensitive electronic instrument, avoiding improper operation or abuse.

Tesoro Stingray II Specifications

General

Type	VLF (Very Low Frequency)
Search Coil Size	8 inch
Sensitivity	Adjustable
Power Supply	9V battery
Operating Modes	All Metal, Discrimination
Discrimination	Yes
Audio Tone	3-tone
Audio Output	Built-in speaker, headphone jack