Instruction Manual MAGGIE Magnetic Locator Schonstedt Instrument Company 100 Edmond Road, Kearneysville, WV 25430 l www.schonstedt.com l schonstedt.inf@spx.
Table of Contents SECTION I: INTRODUCTION ............................................................................................. 3 SECTION II: OPERATING CONTROLS ON/ Volume .............................................................................................................. 4 OFF .......................................................................................................................... 4 GAIN .....................................................................................
SECTION I: INTRODUCTION The MAGGIE magnetic locator detects the magnetic field of ferromagnetic objects. It responds to the difference in the magnetic field between two sensors that are spaced approximately 20 inches apart. This difference is referred to as the “signal strength” throughout this manual and is represented in the instrument by an audio tone, the display of a bar graph, and a numeric indication.
SECTION II: OPERATING CONTROLS ON/ Volume : To turn the unit on, push this button. Upon turn on, the volume defaults to HIGH. Pushing the button a second time changes the volume to MEDIUM. Pushing the button a third time MUTES the volume. Additional pushes of this button cycle the volume through HIGH-MEDIUM-MUTE. OFF: To turn the unit off, push this button.
SECTION III: VISUAL AND AUDIBLE INDICATORS Gain Level Indicator: The gain range is indicated by a 4-segment LCD as shown in Figure 3; L (Low), M (Medium), H (High) and XH (Extra High). Upon turn on, the gain defaults to M (Medium). Each press of the UP or DOWN arrow buttons will cause the gain level indicator to change accordingly. Figure 3: Gain Level Indicators Battery Level Indicator: The battery level is indicated by a 4-segment LCD indicator, as shown in Figure 4.
SECTION IV: CONNECTORS AND ACCESSORIES Headphone Jack: The headphone jack is located on the side of the unit near the face of the locator. Headphones are optional, and may be purchased from Schonstedt as an accessory. The headphone jack is monaural. Standard stereo headphones available from many sources can be used, but they will produce sound in only one ear. When the headphones are plugged in, the speaker sound will be muted, but the ON/Volume button still controls the volume of the headphones.
SECTION VI: OPERATING RECOMMENDATIONS AND APPLICATION NOTES Search Procedure Turn the instrument ON, the gain defaults to Medium (M). Grasp the locator as illustrated in Figure 9. Because the upper sensor is near the handle of the locator, wristwatches may produce unwanted changes in the audio signal and in the meter indications, and should be removed. Keep the locator away from your shoes since they might contain magnetic material. To obtain maximum area coverage, sweep the locator from side to side.
Basic Signal Patterns When MAGGIE is positioned directly over a vertical target, the signal strength will peak (audio signal, digital readout, and bar graph) at either a positive or negative polarity. The audio signal, digital readout, and bar graph indications also peak over each end of a horizontal target. One end is positive, the other is negative. This will help you to distinguish between two vertical pipes or one horizontal pipe.
If you are looking for a corner marker and detect two or three signals in the same general vicinity, raise the locator several inches above the ground, or decrease the gain setting before you get a shovel. Any signal that disappears when the locator is held higher, or the gain is decreased, is probably coming from a smaller target.
Correct Stake Orientation When placing stakes, correct orientation is important. For checking purposes, the orientation of the pin relative to the locator is shown in Figure 15. Check the pin with one orientation. Then rotate the pin 180°. The orientation which gives the largest reading is the one that should be used. This reading should be positive in the Northern Hemisphere, and negative in the Southern Hemisphere. Figure 15: Checking a Stake’s Orientation An iron pin has two types of magnetization.
The great length of a well casing provides a strong field at the surface that makes it easy to locate casings buried up to 20 feet deep. Figure 17: Locating Water Well Casings MAGGIE can also be used to precisely locate the metal handles or reinforcing bars on septic tank covers at depths up to 6 feet. Figure 18: Signal Patterns provided by Septic Tank Covers Locating and Tracing Barbed Wire You can often trace barbed wire (from old fence lines) buried just beneath the surface.
Examine trees for bench marks and bits of embedded barbed wire. Hold the locator parallel with the direction of the wire. Figure 20: Tracing Pieces of Barbed Wire Embedded in Trees Searching Areas along a Chain Link Fence Searching in the vicinity of a chain link fence requires a reduced sensitivity setting and some control over the orientation of the locator. Position the locator horizontally with its long axis perpendicular to the fence as illustrated in Figure 21.
Figure 22: Abrupt Drop of Signal while Searching along a Chain Link Fence Locating Valve Boxes Both the valve and its casing, when iron, provide strong magnetic fields, which make them easy to locate. Plastic enclosures containing magnets (which are typically used with non-ferrous valve boxes) are easily located at depths of up to 11 feet. Figure 23: Locating Valve Boxes and Casings Locating Cast-Iron Pipes Cast-iron pipes produce the strongest magnetic signals at their joints.
After an initial sweep search identifies the general direction of the pipe, the steel pipe joints or transition points can be more accurately traced by the following procedure: 1. Set the Sensitivity control for maximum (XH indication). 2. Hold the locator vertically approximately 1 to 1-1/2 feet above the surface. 3. Walk along without turning or tilting the locator. 4. Mark the locations where the maximum signal levels occur. 5.
Locating Ordnance and Weapons The versatile, lightweight, cost-effective MAGGIE is also designed to aid EOD technicians and law enforcement officers during area search operations. Figure 26: Basic signal patterns from vertical and horizontal targets help to determine target orientation. Figure 27: A 175mm projectile can be located up to 4 feet deep. Figure 28: An 81mm mortar can be located up to 14 inches deep. Figure 29: MK81 low drag bombs can be located up to 10 feet deep.
Figure 30: A discarded hand gun can be located up to 14 inches deep. Other Notes 1. A burbling sound indicates the presence of an energized power line or the presence of 50/60Hz. This will not influence the meter indication unless associated with a magnetic structure. 2. The instrument will not respond to non-ferrous metals such as gold, silver, copper, brass and aluminum.
SECTION VII: SPECIFICATIONS (Specifications subject to change without notice) Output: Audio: Frequency increases or decreases with signal strength (gradient field intensity). Range: 30 to 4000 Hz. Visual: Expanding bar-graphs and +/- signs indicate polarity and signal strength. Digital readout shows gradient field intensity expressed in milligauss (mG).
SECTION VIII: TECHNICAL SUPPORT Schonstedt offers technical support and sales support. For any reason regarding usage and application please contact our technical support team at 888-367-7014. SECTION IX: WARRANTY / SERVICE INFORMATION Limited Warranty: Schonstedt Instrument Company (Schonstedt) warrants each product of its manufacture to be free from defects in material and workmanship subject to the following terms and conditions.
