Ferret Finder Mk1 Revision 5 (Need Your Help) I Will Return

[Alex Micheal Brooks 1]

Hey im here to today to seek information about my mark one ferret finder (or mark 2 if similar inside). Basically im 17 and brought a mark one ferret finder last year, after stupidly leaving it outside for a week or two it broke but i managed to fix that problem by re soildering and replacing the speaker. in this time i looked at buying another and noticed they are very pricey !! around £100 for the box and collar at a low average. So seeing as im off six form for a while i am looking in to producing a ferret finder for as little as i can to help young/oud ferreters out by saving them the very pricey cost of a ferret finder made by deben. And it will hopefull encourage more to start. Seeing as i do not have an electronics based education im finding it hard to find all of the component names and value (seeing as they were rubbed off), this is were i need your help to fill in the gaps. In return i will sell my ferret finder for a little as i can to cover costs of materials and a little extra for future education (seeing as is costs so much)

 

Progress so far

i have produced some pcb's using cad sofware and etching using a printer etc. (and drilled holes).

found a suitable case (identical in size to origional) COMMENT IF YOU DONT LIKE ORIGIONAL

I have some fine wire mesh witch i will cover speaker holes to try and prevent and water entering case.

(starting to find devices similar to the depth wheel, but may have to include on off switch instead of the little click on the wheel :/

And alot more. im unsure of the patents and copyright deben have over the design of the mk1 but after reading up i believe that you can only hold a patent for a number of year, and seeing as deben are not using that design then it may not still be applicable.

I know that the frequency that the ferret finder operate on is 457 kHz but do not know how to replicate this in the small collar.

 

Below is a few picture of my deben mark 1 ferret finder

 

 

 

If you could comment in this format if you have an knowlege on the components i have labeled it would be much appreciated if you dont have much spare time use this format. (PS com5 is not a battery )

COM1 -

COM2-

COM3-

COM4-

COM5-

 

Also any comments you have like what you think the deben ferret finder mk1,2 lacked, or things you think could be improved on. Much thanks. i really dont want to come of as rude in the thread, just coming and asking for help, but i will will make it worth your while by suplying you witch CHEAP alternative to deben, its time someone knoked them down a peg.

 

Alex

 

 

[darbo 4,774]

i will have a go might not be much use. no1 a potentiometer or pot. no2&3 are ic intergrated circuits. no4 a wild guess at a inductance coil.no5 never seen inside this i just know it is filled with expoxy resin i think. i am a electrician with no real experience of electronics.disadvantages of a mk1 in my opinion not waterproof. colour grey for us blind lads. picked up interference overhead lines etc. the thumbwheel sometimes come loose or snapped.i could be wrong on the component list. im sure someone with electronic experience will help.

[Alex Micheal Brooks 1]

Thankyou alot for your input, instead of the wheel i plan to use a similar to this design (cheap and easy to replace) http://www.ebay.co.uk/itm/Pointer-Potentiometer-Knob-Black-Hard-Plastic-2-Pack-/300903165581?pt=UK_BOI_Electrical_Components_Supplies_ET&hash=item460f39ee8d . And the intergrated circuits do they come as standard or are the taloir made ? thanks again

Edited May 24, 2013 by Alex Micheal Brooks

[darbo 4,774]

Thankyou alot for your input, instead of the wheel i plan to use a similar to this design (cheap and easy to replace) http://www.ebay.co.uk/itm/Pointer-Potentiometer-Knob-Black-Hard-Plastic-2-Pack-/300903165581?pt=UK_BOI_Electrical_Components_Supplies_ET&hash=item460f39ee8d . And the intergrated circuits do they come as standard or are the taloir made ? thanks again

only my opinion i would take the box into a electronic shop and ask their advice about ics and the other components. good idea about the pot. i found with use the wheel which was connected by a small screw would in time work loose if you didnt check it regular. good luck.

[GreyRake 108]

It's a 14 pin IC (leg number is important with IC names) there will be a code along the top made up of letters and numbers, usually the longest code on the top that matters. You will need that to source more. Theres a good chance those ICs will be programmed which might be tricky to copy.

 

Poke around some electronic component supplier websites to get more familiar with your parts. Faranell is a popular uk based supplier.

[Leeview 791]

It's a 14 pin IC (leg number is important with IC names) there will be a code along the top made up of letters and numbers, usually the longest code on the top that matters. You will need that to source more. Theres a good chance those ICs will be programmed which might be tricky to copy.

 

Poke around some electronic component supplier websites to get more familiar with your parts. FARNELL's is a popular uk based supplier.

Edited May 24, 2013 by Leeview

[GreyRake 108]

My bad

 

.... Can't see on the photo, look close and tell me what letter/number is beside the parts in question on the pcb itself, ex - IC1/R6, should be able to help you more. Com4 looks like an inductor but can't say for sure - L#?

 

Sorry, just re-read how you can't see labeling because it's washed off, you might have a tricky project there. I take it your looking for someone else who owns an Mk1 to tell you what codes are on the parts and PCB?

Edited May 25, 2013 by GreyRake

[Alex Micheal Brooks 1]

yes apperently when deben produced there ferret finders they removed and componenet numbers. mainly becuase you could poroduce one for meer pounds and they sell there for an insane profit margin :/ there are no numbers on my chips sadly

[micky 3,325]

best of luck with your project mate

[ollywilli 49]

I bet if you take to any one who knows about small electeical stuff they will know what conponents they are. My uncle knows a lot about elecs but a idiot in every thing else, if your in yorkshire go and meet him. He's a bit odd though

[The one 8,476]

I took one to the electrical dept at the uni and the guys said while it would cost pennys to make it would take years of research as they had scrapped the numbers off the components and theres hundreds that look alike

[Country Joe 1,411]

I really cant understand Deben, post after post on hunting forums on the mark1. still making high prices on Ebay.

those who make mark1 collars and fix and service models never appear short of work.

They must know not everyone likes their new models, so why not update the mark1, not that it needs much, change the colour from the drab Grey .

there must be a lot of ferreters out there using the mark1 who love a new updated one.

If Deben managed to make them years ago, and technology has moved on so much, surely someone can bring out a similar working model.

[Guest scramble]

I really cant understand Deben, post after post on hunting forums on the mark1. still making high prices on Ebay.

those who make mark1 collars and fix and service models never appear short of work.

They must know not everyone likes their new models, so why not update the mark1, not that it needs much, change the colour from the drab Grey .

there must be a lot of ferreters out there using the mark1 who love a new updated one.

If Deben managed to make them years ago, and technology has moved on so much, surely someone can bring out a similar working model.

The reason Deben Changed the locator was some of the components were outdated and no longer being produced.

[The one 8,476]

 

I really cant understand Deben, post after post on hunting forums on the mark1. still making high prices on Ebay.

those who make mark1 collars and fix and service models never appear short of work.

They must know not everyone likes their new models, so why not update the mark1, not that it needs much, change the colour from the drab Grey .

there must be a lot of ferreters out there using the mark1 who love a new updated one.

If Deben managed to make them years ago, and technology has moved on so much, surely someone can bring out a similar working model.

The reason Deben Changed the locator was some of the components were outdated and no longer being produced.

 

Aye thats what i was told as well as the components got older they where harder to attain , but surely there must be newer smaller components available

[bjay 21]

Com -4 is an antenna

The box is a receiver for the transmitted signal just like a radio receiver

 

Have you got more pics from Com - 5 and did you remove green epoxy

 

B