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SAND SHARK 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 a wide range of treasure hunting situations. As with any detector, operator skill and familiarity is probably the limiting factor in determining how successful you will be. We recommend that you read and understand this manual fully before attempting to use the instrument in the field. Then, as you practice and become familiar with your detector, your rate of success will increase dramatically. Your 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 Sand Shark is the first Pulse Induction metal detector that is controlled by microprocessor technology. It combines new technology with Tesoro's time-proven PI circuits and interchangeable Spiral Printed coils. While simple to operate, the Sand Shark offers a wide variety of user definable controls that allow for precise fine-tuning of the detector. Don’t be fooled by its simplicity, the Sand Shark is capable of delivering peak performance by eliminating troublesome adjustments and complicated features creating an extremely simple to operate lightweight detector. The Sand Shark is packaged in a waterproof housing making it ideal for wet weather use, beach hunting, or diving in fresh or salt water. It is convertible to body/belt mount and requires no special tools. As a Pulse Induction instrument the Sand Shark will provide mineral free operation in virtually all ground mineral or salt water environments. Equipped with auto tuning the Sand Shark is a motion- based "all metal" detector. Though the searchcoil must be moving when pinpointing, due to the auto tuning, the amount of motion is so slight that pinpointing is easily accomplished. Designed as an all-purpose detector, the Sand Shark requires no special ground adjustments or complicated set-up. A variety of optional searchcoils provide the operator greater versatility and a wider range of site selection. A guide to selecting the proper optional coil is included in the section for "Selecting the Right Searchcoil." Be sure to complete and mail the
warranty registration UNPACKING THE BOX Your Sand Shark was shipped with these parts: 1 Upper Pole Assembly
1 Middle Pole Assembly With Pole Lock 1 Lower Pole Assembly
1 8” round printed spiral searchcoil with 8' cable 1 8-cell battery pack with 8 AA batteries installed 1 Tube of Dow Corning #4 silicone 2 Velcro cable straps 1 Operator Instruction Manual 1 Tesoro Warranty Card If any of these items are missing, contact the Tesoro Authorized Dealer where you purchased your detector immediately.
ASSEMBLING YOUR DETECTOR
Control housing mounted under arm
Control housing mounted under pole
Divers setup (lower pole set directly
into upper pole)
Body Mount
BATTERY INSTALLATION / REPLACEMENT The Sand Shark has been equipped with a drop-in battery pack. To install or replace the batteries, make sure the detector housing is dry, then release the two draw bolts securing the faceplate to the housing. Gently pull the control panel free being careful not to twist or strain the ribbon cable connecting the faceplate panel to the printed circuit board. The Sand Shark takes 8 AA size alkaline batteries. Also, make certain that you follow the polarity indicators on both the battery holder as well as the batteries themselves. Then check the polarity of the pack as it goes into the housing. Look inside the housing for the two spring clips and slide the pack so that the battery terminals meet the spring clips. There is only one correct way to put the battery pack in. If the batteries are put in wrong, the detector will not work. Replace the faceplate and use the drawbolts to clamp the faceplate back onto the housing.
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 recommended that 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 it. Failure to maintain the O-ring will result in extensive damage and will not be covered under warranty. ADJUSTMENT
QUICKSTART TEST AND TUNING PROCEDURES The Quickstart is designed to teach you how to use your new Sand Shark. It provides a quick and easy means of learning all of the functions of your detector and the concepts behind the functions. You will need the following items:
Here’s what you will do:
Prepare for the Quickstart Place your assembled Sand Shark on the nonmetal surface as shown in the photo. Make sure there are no metal objects near the coil and remove any jewelry from your hands and wrists.
Set the Threshold and Volume The Mode Switch controls all of the tuning functions on your Sand Shark. As we go through the other tuning steps, we will be resetting the Mode switch to the other functions.
Once the threshold has been set, you should adjust the volume control to a comfortable level. Please remember that the sound level will be affected by your surroundings. What may be just right in one location may be too high or low in another. The volume can be changed with the VOLUME adjust knob. Take a moment and find the level that is best for you now.
With the threshold and volume set, we will now check the batteries. Turn the THRESHOLD adjust knob all the way counterclockwise until you feel a click. You should hear a number of beeps. If the batteries are fully charged, you will hear 6 or 7 beeps. As the batteries drain, you will hear fewer and fewer beeps. When you hear no beeps or only one, it will be time to replace your batteries. Please remember that you will have to reset your threshold when you are done with the battery test. Try your battery test and reset your threshold before moving to the next step. Perform an Air Test in the VCO mode You are now ready to perform an air test in the VCO Mode. VCO stands for Voltage Controlled Oscillator. The VCO mode has a very distinct sound that makes it very easy to work with. As a target gets close to the coil, the rise in signal voltage causes the oscillator to change frequency and amplitude causing the audio part of the signal to become higher in pitch and louder in volume. These changes will leave no doubt in your mind that you
are close to a target. Try waving your targets in front of the coil. Start from a distance of 10 to 12 inches away from the coil and work your way towards the coil. Now try starting from 6 inches to the left or right side of the coil and working your way to the center of the coil. Notice how the audio signal changes. Your strongest signal will always be closest to the center of the coil, but additional information can also be learned by the signal strength. A deep or small target will give a smaller change in the threshold than a larger or shallower target will give. Take some time to try a number of different targets at different depths to find out how your detector sounds. Set the Audio Frequency for the Normal Mode
Perform an Air Test in the Normal Mode
Set the Pulse Width The PULSE WIDTH setting controls the amount of signal that the Sand Shark will transmit into the ground. A pulse induction detector works by transmitting a signal and then reading the residual eddy currents that are left on metal items. All of this takes place at approximately 600 pulses per second. Increasing the pulse width allows the detector to transmit longer and create more eddy currents on a metal target. These extra currents are more easily picked up during the receive phase and will therefore increase depth and sensitivity. However, more transmitted signal means more power used in the transmit phase, limiting the battery life. We have marked the best balance of battery life and depth and sensitivity on the faceplate at the mid-position on the PULSE WIDTH adjust knob. You will be able to increase or decease the PULSE WIDTH by turning the Pulse width adjust knob. Start with the detector in the factory recommended position and wave a few targets in front of the coil. Try turning the knob and see what effects it has on depth and sensitivity. CONGRATULATIONS You have completed the Sand Shark Quickstart Test and Tuning Procedures and in the process have learned quite a lot about your new Sand Shark. But experience is the best teacher. I would recommend that you get out and practice with your detector as much as possible. For your convenience, you may want to create a test garden in your lawn or work a local park. Any time spent using your detector will give you valuable experience. SELECTING THE RIGHT SEARCHCOIL Selecting the right searchcoil for the type of detecting you’re doing will add greatly to your success. The Sand Shark comes with a standard 8 inch Printed Spiral coil, which is a new and revolutionary design developed by Tesoro specifically for the Sand Shark. This is an excellent overall coil since most people who operate PI instruments are usually searching large sandy beach areas where targets are easy to dig and there is usually not an over abundance of trash. This coil will detect very tiny targets for its size and provides excellent target separation while giving more ground coverage. However, it is not always the right coil for the job. Therefore, Tesoro has made it possible to interchange coils and has developed a variety of its unique Printed Spiral searchcoil in a selection of sizes. In addition to the standard 8 inch open center searchcoil, three optional coil sizes are available for the Sand Shark. The 10 1/2 inch open center coil is designed for areas where digging is easier and where junk targets may not be too numerous. The 7 inch coil will be particularly useful when searching for smaller targets, such as gold nuggets. The 10 inch elliptical allows a widescan sweep pattern while keeping a good sensitivity to small targets. PINPOINTING Move the searchcoil slowly across the target from side to side and then from front to back at 90 degree angles. Raise the coil slightly, slow the sweep speed, and shorten the sweep to narrow the detection area enough to make it easy to tell where the coil center is at the instant of sound as you crisscross the target. 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 becomes 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 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.
SPECIFICATIONS
Tesoro Electronics, Inc. reserves the
right to modify RECOMMENDED RECOVERY METHODS Adapted from "Tools 'N Techniques" By Robert H. Sickler METHOD 1 - "PROBE AND DRIVER" Used in less moist lawns where targets are not so deep (1 to 4 inches) and where “plugging” is objectionable. This method requires more practice but is much less damaging to grass than Method 2- “Plugging” shown in the next section. After pinpointing the target, use a nonmetallic probe such as a modified fiberglass fishing rod or a metallic probe such as a blunted ice pick (the former causes less damage to the target) to locate the target depth (Figure 1A). Next insert an eight-inch screwdriver on center just above the target and rotate slightly to open the ground (Figure 1B). Now insert the screwdriver just under the target at an angle and lever the target to the surface (Figure 1C). Brush all loose dirt back into the hole and close the hole by exerting pressure all around the opening (Figure 1D).
METHOD 2 - “PLUGGING” Used only where allowed in natural wooded areas and very moist lawn areas. Plugging in hard dry ground can damage grass roots leaving yellow “dead spots” in time. After pinpointing the target, use a six-inch sturdy hunting knife to cut three sides of a four-inch cube around the target center (Figure 2A). Cutting a “hinged” cube-shaped plug rather than a complete cone-shaped plug will properly orient its return, prevent its removal by a lawnmower, and lessen the chance of scratching the target. With the knife blade, carefully pry against the cube side opposite the “hinge” and fold back (Figure 2B). Sweep the searchcoil over the plug and hole to isolate the target location. If the target is in the plug, carefully probe until located. If the target is in the hole and is not visible, probe the bottom and sides until located, then remove it (Figure 2C). Repeat sweep for additional targets. Replace all loose dirt with the plug. Seat the plug firmly with your foot (Figure 2D).
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. WARRANTY DESCRIPTION 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. 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. 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. 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 in the manner described in this documentation. © 2001 Tesoro Electronics Incorporated. All rights reserved. Printed in the United States.
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On
the lower pole assembly, remove the mounting screw and thumb nut
from the pole tip. 
Do
not rest the unit on the coil connector while clamping the faceplate.
This can cause excess wear and damage to the connector. 
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 until they click
into the set of holes that give you the most comfortable setting. The
searchcoil should rest about one inch above the ground while standing
erect. Adjust the angle of the searchcoil so that it is parallel to
the ground. Tighten the searchcoil thumbnut by hand so that the searchcoil
will maintain this setting. 
Start
with these control settings as shown in the photo: 
We
will start by turning the Mode Switch from off to VCO. At this time
you will hear a humming tone in the headphones. This sound is the threshold.
Its purpose is to give you a reference point to judge targets by. Some
targets may be small enough or deep enough that they will not be able
to generate an audio tone by themselves. By monitoring a threshold,
you already have a signal so changes in that signal are easier to hear.
However if the threshold is set too loud, the small changes will not
be noticed. Therefore, a low steady threshold setting is ideal. You
can change the threshold with the Threshold adjust knob. Try turning
it up and down to find the best possible setting for the machine. 
Perform
an Audio Battery Test 
In
the NORMAL tuning mode you will be able to preset the frequency of the
audio tone that you will hear in the headphones. The adjustment is made
by going into the “F” SET Mode on the Mode switch. Notice that the “F”
SET is highlighted in this mode and that “F” ADJUST written in the same
highlighting is found beneath the THRESHOLD adjust knob. When the mode
switch is in “F” SET, the THRESHOLD adjust knob now sets the audio tone.
Try turning the “F” ADJUST knob up and down to find the audio frequency
that you like best. While you are in the “F” SET mode, your Sand
Shark will not respond to targets. When you are ready, turn the
Mode switch to NORMAL. Please remember that once the frequency is set,
you must reset your threshold to a low steady hum. 
You
are now operating in the NORMAL Mode. In this mode only, one frequency
at a time will be heard and the volume of the audio signal will determine
signal strength. Try waving your targets in front of the coil. Start
from a distance of 10 to 12 inches away from the coil and work your
way towards the coil. Now try starting from 6 inches to the left or
right side of the coil and working your way to the center of the coil.
Notice the difference from what you heard in the air test in the VCO
Mode. Your strongest signal is still closest to the center of the coil,
but there was no change in audio frequency. Take some time to try a
number of different targets at different depths to find out how your
detector sounds. 
| Tesoro Electronics, Inc. | 715 White Spar Road | Prescott, AZ | 86303 | USA | 1-928-771-2646 |