Do you get a beep from sea weed in wet sand?

[Anonymous]

I have noticed that I get repeatable signals from sea weed in wet sand. Have any of you experienced this. On a single sea weed bunch I get about 2 to 3 repeatable beeps. I am doubting if there is acutally a target so I have not been digging them.
JT

 

[Anonymous]

I've never had a response from sea-weed of any kind except when they have entangled fish-hooks, sinkers, etc, which is quite common.
Bottom line is..if the detector is signalling a target, then chances are there maybe a tiny fish-hook or small brass swivel buried amongst all that weed...very hard to find.
Tony.

 

[Anonymous]

Tony: Couldn't it possibly be something of value? Better dig???

 

[Anonymous]

I did some tests with a Surfmaster PI some years ago and found that it bleeped when you touched wet seaweed, or dipped the search head into the water. Once it was fully in the water it was OK. The reason has to do with the shielding on the coil. Whites use a conductive plastic injection molding for their coil housing. When this touches seaweed or sea water, the electronic ground is temporarily connected to the water/seaweed/ beach ground. This equalises any small difference in potential that may exist on the electronics ground, and gives a spurious signal; hence the bleep.
Eric.

 

[Anonymous]

I used to check out what might be lurking in the weed, but never found any coins/rings..only lightweight junk/fishing line/hooks (ouch). It's hard sifting through thick weed and I try my best to avoid it.
I guess there's always the chance of it picking up a gold chain or bracelet though after coming in on a storm <img src="/metal/html/smile.gif" border=0 width=15 height=15 alt="">
Joebody...are you in USA or Australia...I may be wrong, but I recall that name on some of the prospecting sites down here.