I found something I need help with....

[wxdude]

I am new here so I apologize before hand if I am not properly posting in the right area here. Truth is, while cleaning out my fathers garage today I came along what I believe to be an "old" metal detector, clearly marked as "Teknetics 6500" I am guessing my father won it in a poker match, or some like fashion but either way, had a lot of dust on it and was tucked away. It requires 16 "AA" batteries it appears and that is ALL I know about it. So far, googling has only brought me here for information. My only experience in the past with a detector was a cheapy for christmas many moons ago so I am not that familiar with detectors other than to say I remember cutting them on and listening for an audible peak on a speaker that was actually on the face of the unit I think? This, "Teknetics 6500" obviously an upgrade from the 6499? Seriously, if I put batteries in it, and it somehow works, will it work well enough for me to introduce detecting to my kids maybe with some minor treasure hunting at the local park maybe? It appears to have a phono plug-in on the side, and I don't know if that means that is the only way to "hear" it pick up metal or if it does in fact have a built in speaker? And, if you do happen to know anything about it, can you tell me about the 2 dials on the face? One is obviously an on/off with "store" and "norm" and "charge mode" also selectable, and the 2nd knob just below has a dial "1-8" that says "nails", "foil", tabs, and "Screw caps"? Obviously no one at the manufacturer was optimistic enough to label any of the numbers as "coins" or "cash/jewelry?" Any info would certainly be greatly appreciated.


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[muleskinner]

Did you say it takes 16 AA batteries? If it does and you power it up, my guess is all your neighbors within a block of you will lose TV reception. You should be able to pinpoint coins lost in China.

 

[mlayers]

If I remember right the 6500 came out around 25 years or a Little more ago. One know is the on/off and the other is the discimnation should run it around 3 or 4. Yet it took a lot of batteries but I don't really remember how many. If you put batteries in it and it works you should be able to find coins with it. Good luck

 

[allen]

those older machines should still work.

 

[Charlie P. (NY)]

Killer, isn't it? Batteries, that is. Some Garretts of that age and others took four 9V batteries.

The "nails, foil, tabs, screw caps" is the discrimination dial. Set that to the highest item you want the detector to ignore (i.e. set it to "Foil" and it will ignore nails on up to foil). Note that if you select out screw caps you also lose most gold, all nickels and probably cents. No such thing as a free lunch. My recommendation would be to set a nickel on the ground and turn up the dial until it no longer registers and then back it off again until the nickel gives a good beep.

Adding a headset will extend the life of the batteries (if it has an external speaker).

"Charge Mode" implies that it was set up to use rechargeable batteries. But if you don't have the charger you may be S.O.L. It will depend how those 16 batteries are set-up to determine the voltage. Could be half sere in parallel or some such.

"Store" would indicate it has the ability to remember a setting. Possibly the ground balance

 

[kenley]

I have a 5000 coin computer and have used it since 1987. It is on loan now to a cousin tromping the mountais around Durango, Mexico. It loves rings. Probably have the book around here somewhere. Yes..16 AA, but they last forever and give the unit great balance. Some guy in NE Texas specializes in repairs. Well worth getting it cranked up. This is not the Teck..that is on the market now. Same name/different company. Hope this helps. Kenley

 

[Casull]

Some Garretts of that age and others took four 9V batteries.

Hey Charlie, my Garretts ADS Deepseeker III takes 8 9V batteries (I believe - haven't used it in a while), but ONLY 6 if you use rechargeables (if I'm wrong then it's 6 alkalines and 4 rechargeables). Yep, battery change costs about twenty bucks. LOL

 

[CRAZY-TEXICAN]

I have a 5000 coin computer and have used it since 1987. It is on loan now to a cousin tromping the mountais around Durango, Mexico. It loves rings. Probably have the book around here somewhere. Yes..16 AA, but they last forever and give the unit great balance. Some guy in NE Texas specializes in repairs. Well worth getting it cranked up. This is not the Teck..that is on the market now. Same name/different company. Hope this helps. Kenley

Is it a Teknetics machine?? mine takes 14 and it goes DEEEEP but i hate replacing bateries on it after a few hours .. Hey Kenley , Whay part of Durango Mx. is your cousin in? the Northern mountains are famous for gold especially by the rivers, just curious ,i have loads of distant relatives in that state...

 

[kwkstar]

I found this site on the web Vintage Metal Detectors
http://members6.boardhost.com/classicdetector/msg/1238428328.html