BARACUDA-Legend-1

[sinclairuser]

Hi all can we have a consensus please, i propose we call the kit version "geotech barracuda" and the original "anchor barracuda".
my testing indicated to me that there are only 2 critical components between them, so we need to research them individually.
the ultimate goal being a nailed down version of the anchor barracuda.
thanks

[satdaveuk]

Hi
Your correct there never was a pinpoint switch on the original Barracuda , the unused pads which have often been mistaken for a pinpoint switch was more lightly than not test points for factory setup mode before been shiped out, however its never been confirmed as a certainty.
The FET that is connected to those pads is missing on the silverdog version , Secondly the TIP127 has been substituted.
Sinclair altered his silverdog version back to the original with ease by undoing the modifications with success .
I think but not certain yet that the Delay pot on the front panel was a multiturn type but still waiting for confirmation from owners of the original manufactured Barracuda.
It would make sense because the adjustment is course but lets just wait and see.

Hi
The original Barracuda delay pot on the front fascia was a single turn which was marked from 1-10 so my thinking was inaccurate.

[satdaveuk]

Hi
Your correct there never was a pinpoint switch on the original Barracuda , the unused pads which have often been mistaken for a pinpoint switch was more lightly than not test points for factory setup mode before been shiped out, however its never been confirmed as a certainty.
The FET that is connected to those pads is missing on the silverdog version , Secondly the TIP127 has been substituted.
Sinclair altered his silverdog version back to the original with ease by undoing the modifications with success .
I think but not certain yet that the Delay pot on the front panel was a multiturn type but still waiting for confirmation from owners of the original manufactured Barracuda.
It would make sense because the adjustment is course but lets just wait and see.

[tonyh]

Is the only difference in the TIP127? and obviously the pinpoint switch (which isn't attached on the original baracuda)

[satdaveuk]

Well done

Nice job Pepsi
I can honestly say Ive had so much entertainment and injoyment building this project together with various experiments.
The learning curve for me personaly far as PI has been paramount from start to finish.
The one thing that impresses me most is how and what the original developer was after and how he managed to do just that with small component count.

Conclusion that ive come to with this design through my experiments and others on here plus information hunting else where is it wasnt just looked at in a theory sort of way and thrown together
The man who designed this unique detector had done his home work both on and off field, after all he was a keen detectorist himself so he new what he wanted from the machine and he certainly got it.
Advise for anyone wanting to build this little wonder, Stick to the original specification from back to front end and you will replicate the Barracuda in all its former glory.
As Sinclair stated if you want a run of the mill, good performing PI just follow Silverdogs version but dont confuse it with a Barrcuda because its not.
By my and others experiments there are three main diffrences, Firstly the original design is non motion format where by Silverdogs is motion type , Secondly original gives washed out audio with iron and crisp cut sounds on coloured metals , Thirdly the original works happly on a 9v battery where by Silverdogs version requires 12V.

Putting it in a nut shell they oceans apart from each other , however both worth the build.

Regards

[Pepsy]

Hello all!

Ok so i finally finished my Baracuda today. Tomorow i will do some field test i hope Here are some pictures. The housing with lipo battery is separated from the circuit box. Also the upper frame is made from aluminium tubing and the lower part is made from fiberglass tube. The coil and coil housing is also home made. I think it turned up quite well. And thank you for all the help from you guys!

Ok now in figure 1 is the whole detector.


And now only the upper part with baracuda and lipo battery housing.


Have a nice day!

[Alexismex]

Yes, like say Sinclairuser :important is the tip transistor is required for true "barracuda" replication ... and you will have a small discrimination at the headphone

[sinclairuser]

tried to add a ps but was too late!
to answer satdaveuk directly the irf fet does seem to prefer 12v
IMHO the anchor original was never designed to run 12v and the 1.2v cells was a design choice.

[sinclairuser]

As readers of this thread will know, i built two barras now one as instructed and one to original design specs
and to sum up the kit as it stands is rock solid, easy to build/setup and uses common components.
the original specs however build a detector with a very different "attitude", the tip transistor is required for true "barracuda" repilication while the irf fet works well the tone shift is not as pronounced(viewed as audio changes), in my component swapping tests it was the one component that had the most impact on the audio changes.
the discrimination such as it is is done with the delay rejecting non iron what we need is away of inverting this to do the opposite (i know how simplistic that sounds) but it is still true.

[Alexismex]

Much much better Barracuda, easy to adjust no comparaison with Surf (i construct and try both)

[Aiko]

Big thanks guys!

[bernte_one]

hello
i can say only my opinion here
baracuda ist easy to build and easy to handle - switch on and go
but the performance has it limits but is much more you would expect
best results i get are something around 30-32cm for a 2 € coin in air with litle threshold
baracuda is able surpress unwanted targets a little (i dont want to say discriminate)
short delay and threshold some step under the breaktrough point
look youtube videos from me (Pi with light disc...)


surf pi (and pro) has much room for mods
best i have seen are unbeliveable 40cm for a 2€ coin in air
youtube video from bravodenisou
so i started to make the most mods which are proove an i can get 35cm too
but the setup is much more complicated and surf pi with highest gain also tends to run unstable

i would say you start with baracuda and you will have no trouble
then you collect some coins on the beach an order the surf pi kit from silverdog too

regards

[satdaveuk]

Hi Aiko
Thats a good question which I cant give a honest answer because I never built the Surf.
By reading the posts on here by people who have built both seem to all agree that the Barracuda has the edge over the surf however they both seem dan good builds.

[satdaveuk]

the standard 7660 cant handle 12v it should be no higher than 11.2 or your just creating heat.
if you must use 12v you need the irf fet and 7660a or 7660 sc but even then its just wasted power imho the barracuda was intended to run at 9.6v 8x1.2 AA rechargeable you can use six AA 1.5v high power alkaline giving 9v(thats what i did and it runs fine dont rate rechargeables in detectors that take separate aa cells).
pp3 9v batts just dont work well in fact the difference between 2x 9v pp3(9v config) and 6x 1.5 duracell extra were worlds apart in my own tests so i went that route irf fet and 7660a/sc is definatley the way to go as that has the most flexable power range 9v-13v.

Hi Sinclair
Like yours mine works great with 9v and I agree using 12v is just wasted power as the circuit was never designed for it.
Now here is a interesting one... Mine using a pp3 works fine and seems to work endlessly during a few hours of use.
The reason for this is proberly because I am using the the TIP127 where as I think the FET draws more current
Anyway will do a quick replacment with a fet and see if my findings are correct.
Regards

[Aiko]

Guys, how deep is this detector? Is it better then SURF PI?