Start with sensitivity at 2-3 bars below maximum indoors, then increase to 6-8 bars outdoors until you hear chatter. Set your ACE 400’s 10 kHz frequency to minimize EMI, and select Custom or Coins mode based on your site. You’ll want to notch out iron segments (0-19) while enabling Iron Audio for better target differentiation. Always ground balance away from metal during startup, and adjust discrimination patterns to reject trash while accepting coins and relics. The sections below break down each setting’s impact on your hunt’s success.
Key Takeaways
- Start sensitivity at 6-8 bars outdoors; reduce in mineralized soil or near EMI sources to prevent false signals.
- Use Custom Mode to save personalized discrimination patterns; notch out iron (0-19) for better target separation.
- Enable Iron Audio in Jewelry/Custom modes to detect ferrous targets while maintaining discrimination against trash.
- Adjust frequency shift through four options to minimize electromagnetic interference from power lines or other detectors.
- Use pinpoint mode with side-to-side sweeps to locate targets precisely; depth indicators show approximate 2-inch increments.
Understanding the 10 Khz Operating Frequency and Adjustment Options
The ACE 400’s 10 kHz operating frequency positions it strategically between entry-level 8 kHz models and higher-end 15 kHz detectors, delivering proven performance across the complete conductivity spectrum.
You’ll gain enhanced sensitivity on low-to-medium conductors—gold, lead, smaller relics—while maintaining competitive depth on larger targets through the 8.5×11″ DD coil configuration.
Frequency shift capability separates this detector from fixed-frequency competitors. Press the Frequency Adjust button to cycle through four shift options, eliminating EMI from power lines or nearby detectors.
You’ll hunt urban yards at maximum sensitivity without chatter.
For depth optimization, balance your eight sensitivity levels against ground conditions. The 10 kHz frequency trades marginal depth versus lower frequencies but delivers superior target separation and identification accuracy—critical advantages when you’re recovering masked targets in trashy sites. The ACE 400 features preset ground balance suitable for most environments, simplifying operation without requiring manual adjustments in the field. The Digital Target ID system displays values from 0-99, providing precise target identification to help distinguish valuable finds from common trash items.
Configuring Discrimination Modes for Target Selection
The ACE 400’s five preset discrimination modes—Zero-Disc, Jewelry, Custom, Relics, and Coins—provide immediate target selection frameworks through a 12-pixel notch system on the lower display scale.
You’ll configure these patterns using the DISCRIM (+/-) buttons to position your cursor and the (/X) button to toggle individual pixels on or off, effectively accepting or rejecting specific target ID ranges.
The Iron Audio feature activates when you set Iron Discrim at 35, producing a distinctive grunt sound that alerts you to ferrous targets while maintaining your primary discrimination pattern. Proper discrimination settings ensure you hear consistent target sounds and avoid false signals that compromise detection accuracy.
Your custom notch patterns save automatically when you power down the detector, preserving your preferred target acceptance configurations for future hunts.
Understanding Five Detection Modes
How does the Garrett ACE 400’s discrimination system actually determine which targets you’ll hear and which get silenced? You’ll control detection through five modes governing the 12-segment discrimination pattern.
Zero-Disc Mode accepts every metal target with all pixels active—essential for depth enhancement when you’re searching unworked ground. This mode proves particularly effective for general coin and relic hunting where you want maximum target exposure in diverse detecting situations.
Coins Mode powers on by default, rejecting lower conductivity trash while preserving battery management through focused high-tone alerts. The detector automatically switches to default coins mode following a factory reset performed by holding the power button for 5 seconds.
Jewelry Mode targets mid-range conductivity items like gold rings while silencing iron contamination.
Relics Mode broadens acceptance beyond coins for artifact recovery.
Custom Mode lets you program discrimination segments that persist after shutdown—your personalized hunting profile for specific site conditions.
Each mode instantly reconfigures which conductivity ranges trigger audio responses versus silent rejection.
Customizing Notch Discrimination Patterns
Why dig ten pull-tabs to recover one gold ring when notch discrimination lets you program exactly which conductivity ranges trigger your headphones?
Your ACE 400’s 12-pixel display represents the entire conductivity spectrum from iron to gold. Notch customization operates through two methods: navigate with DISCRIM buttons and press ELIM to toggle pixels, or press ELIM directly when detecting unwanted targets.
Custom mode preserves your discrimination patterns across power cycles—essential for site-specific hunts. Eliminate targets below 35 to bypass iron, or isolate silver rings by notching up to 65. Bottle caps often produce signals similar to valuables but can be distinguished by their iron audio signature when discrimination and iron mode work together.
Combine patterns with Iron Audio for pull-tab differentiation. Zero discrimination opens every range for extensive coin and relic recovery. Testing responses with known metal objects reinforces how your discrimination settings affect target identification across different conductivity ranges.
Your freedom lies in adaptive filtering that eliminates restrictions while maintaining control over detection parameters.
Iron Audio Feature Benefits
Activate it by notching iron discrimination (typically 0-19) in Jewelry or Custom modes, then pressing the IRON AUDIO button.
Targets below your discrimination threshold produce low tones, while acceptable targets ring mid or bell tones.
That crackling signature warns you away from trash, while mixed responses indicate complex targets worth investigating.
You’ll distinguish Civil War buckles from scrap metal through subtle tonal variations.
The Digital Target ID works alongside Iron Audio to deliver precise information about what lies beneath the surface.
Iron Audio remains inactive unless discrimination pixels are notched out, preventing iron grunt sounds from alerting you to bottle caps and flat washers.
Setting Sensitivity Levels for Different Ground Conditions
You’ll find the ACE 400’s sensitivity sweet spot changes dramatically between your living room and actual field conditions.
Maxing out indoors often triggers constant falsing from electrical interference, while clean farmland might handle 7-8 bars without issue.
Mineralized soil demands you drop 2-3 notches from maximum to maintain stable operation, as hot rocks and iron oxides cause the machine to chatter and mask legitimate targets.
Start at mid-range sensitivity (4-5 bars) in unfamiliar ground, then incrementally increase until you hear false signals, backing off one notch to establish your working threshold for that specific site.
Maximum Sensitivity Indoor Challenges
While indoor metal detecting may seem like a controlled environment, electrical interference from power lines and household wiring creates significant challenges that demand drastically reduced sensitivity levels.
You’ll experience excessive false signals and blank targets when running maximum sensitivity indoors. Set your ACE 400 to 2-3 bars below maximum to maintain detection capability while eliminating electromagnetic noise from appliances and electrical systems.
Before hunting indoors, perform proper coil calibration away from interference sources. Battery maintenance becomes critical since weak power amplifies erratic behavior at higher sensitivity settings.
Your detector won’t function reliably when overwhelmed by the constant electromagnetic bombardment present in enclosed spaces. Lower sensitivity prevents the machine from signaling on household wiring rather than actual targets, preserving your freedom to detect productively without constant false alerts disrupting your hunt.
Balanced Settings for Mineralization
Ground mineralization forces immediate sensitivity reductions on your ACE 400 because the detector’s fixed ground balance can’t automatically compensate for iron-rich soil conditions.
Start at mid-range levels (5-7) for most metal detection scenarios, then test by pumping your coil vertically over the ground. If you’re hearing erratic chatter or false signals, drop to levels 4-6 until the instability vanishes.
Highly mineralized soils demand these lower settings to maintain reliable target identification across different coil types.
Max sensitivity works only on non-mineralized ground where you need maximum depth on deep coins or relics.
In variable conditions, cycle through F1-F4 frequency shifts while maintaining your adjusted sensitivity level—this combination minimizes ground noise from mineralization while preserving detection depth on legitimate targets.
Reducing False Signals Outdoors
Because the ACE 400 lacks automatic ground tracking, you’ll need to manually optimize sensitivity based on real-time ground feedback during your hunt. Start at maximum sensitivity, then reduce by two bars when mineralized soil triggers constant chatter.
In trashy parks, drop to 4-6 notches to eliminate false signals from nearby metallic debris. Near power lines, lower sensitivity until EMI-induced beeping stops—hold your coil at a consistent height above ground during testing.
If hunting with others, cycle through F1-F4 frequencies first before reducing sensitivity for interference. Battery maintenance affects stability; fresh batteries prevent erratic behavior that mimics false signals.
The control box’s waterproof features let you adjust settings in wet conditions without hesitation. Test air sweeps frequently—when the detector beeps without targets present, you’ve exceeded *ideal* sensitivity for current ground conditions.
Choosing the Right Search Mode for Your Hunt
Understanding which search mode to deploy determines whether you’ll walk past targets or fill your pouch with keepers.
Proper search mode selection separates successful hunters from those who repeatedly miss valuable targets in the field.
Zero Discrimination maximizes surface suppression across all conductivity ranges, requiring disciplined coil selection and deliberate sweep technique.
Coins Mode eliminates low-conductors while maintaining depth on silver and copper targets.
Jewelry Mode targets mid-to-high conductivity items, critical for beach recoveries where gold rings compete against foil and pull tabs.
Match your mode to site conditions:
- Trashy parks: Coins Mode with manual notching at 30-40
- Virgin ground: Zero Discrimination for complete target acceptance
- Beach hunting: Jewelry Mode with reduced sensitivity for wet sand
- Historical sites: Relics Mode to capture buttons and buckles
Custom Mode preserves your refined discrimination patterns and frequency adjustments (F1-F4) across sessions, eliminating repetitive programming.
Interpreting Target ID Numbers and Audio Tones
Audio tone categories let you hunt by ear without watching the screen. That distinctive belltone above 75 means high conductivity targets worth investigating.
Enable Iron Audio to expose ferrous contamination in high-number signals—suspect targets produce intermittent grunts beneath clean tones.
Your digital readout sharpens identification beyond the cursor’s general indication, though soil conditions and depth create variability.
Test known targets first.
Ground Balance Techniques for Stable Performance
Unlike most mid-range detectors, the ACE 400 locks you into automatic ground balance with no manual override—a limitation that’ll frustrate you in mineralized soil but rewards you with superior depth in moderate conditions.
Auto ground balance sacrifices soil adaptability for impressive depth—a worthwhile trade-off if you hunt fields rather than red clay.
The system auto-calibrates during startup, compensating for ground minerals without your input. You’ll maximize depth by running factory sensitivity at level 13, accepting drift as the trade-off for 10+ inch penetration. Battery management directly impacts this auto-balance consistency—weak power causes calibration errors.
When entering problematic soil patches:
- Power cycle the detector for fresh ground balance calibration
- Position your coil away from metal objects during startup
- Maintain factory sensitivity rather than reducing to level 10
- Verify coil compatibility; aftermarket coils may destabilize auto-balance
This approach prioritizes detection range over stability—ideal for relic hunters seeking maximum depth.
Utilizing Iron Audio and Notch Features Effectively
When you’re hunting bottle cap-littered parks or Civil War sites with abundant square nails, the ACE 400’s Iron Audio transforms your detector from a blind beeper into a discrimination machine. First, establish your foundation: notch out the first two or five iron segments—setting iron discrimination at 35 eliminates silent iron below VDI 19.
Now press the Iron Audio button. Those previously silent targets suddenly grunt with distinctive low tones, revealing ferrous content hiding beneath mid-range signals.
Bottle caps betray themselves with mixed chirping and subtle grunts flanking each pass. Clean coins maintain pure high tones without grunting.
Test questionable targets from multiple angles—inconsistent VDI jumps combined with flanking grunts mean leave it buried.
This audio clarity saves hours of digging trash, letting you cherry-pick genuine finds efficiently.
Optimizing Depth Settings and Pinpoint Accuracy
The ACE 400’s sensitivity scale (1-8) directly controls detection depth, with each increment adding roughly one inch to maximum coin detection—but raw depth means nothing if your detector chatters nonsense.
Balance depth sensitivity against ground conditions: push to 7-8 in clean soil, drop to 4-5 in mineralized zones. Coil calibration resets automatically after factory defaults or coil swaps—verify your depth indicator matches field reality.
Master pinpoint mode through crosshair sweeps:
- Hold coil 1 inch above ground at fixed height
- Start sweeps from target’s side to avoid signal cancellation
- Mark peak audio (center coil alignment over target)
- Deep targets center near coil tip; shallow targets near outer edge
The depth scale shows 2-inch increments calibrated for coins—adjust expectations for different target sizes and always ground-truth your readings.
Frequently Asked Questions
Can I Use Aftermarket Coils With the Garrett ACE 400?
Break free from factory limitations—you’ll find excellent coil compatibility with your ACE 400. Aftermarket options like Detech’s coils expand your hunting versatility. Just remember: reset to factory settings after swapping coils for peak performance in any terrain.
How Long Does the Battery Last on Default Settings?
You’ll get 20-40 hours of battery life on default settings with four AA alkalines. The factory Coins mode doesn’t drain power faster than other modes, so you’re free to hunt all day without worry.
Is the Garrett ACE 400 Waterproof or Submersible?
The ACE 400 isn’t fully submersible—only its coil offers water resistance capabilities for shallow streams. Your control box can’t handle underwater detection since it’s weatherproof, not waterproof. You’ll need careful handling during water hunts.
What’s the Warranty Coverage for the ACE 400?
You’re protected like a treasure hunter’s prized find—the ACE 400 carries Garrett’s 3-year limited warranty coverage details against manufacturing defects. Warranty coverage details protect your detector and searchcoil, while repair process information flows through garrett.com registration for seamless activation.
Can Settings Be Reset to Factory Defaults Easily?
Yes, you’ll find factory reset procedures incredibly straightforward. Press and hold the power button for 5 seconds until you hear a double beep. This settings customization option returns your detector to coins mode without tools or technical expertise required.
References
- https://www.metaldetectingworld.com/660-1-garrettace400.html
- https://www.metaldetector.com/products/garrett-ace-400-metal-detector
- https://www.rodos-golddetectors.gr/uploads/M8m7lQge/garrett-400.pdf
- https://kellycodetectors.com/blog/garrett-ace-400-vs-at-pro/
- https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=J7gMKMCrhLE&vl=en
- https://detectorwarehouse.com/products/garrett-ace-400-discovery-pack
- https://garrett.com/garrett-ace-400-w-clearsound-easy-stow-headphones/
- https://www.myersdepot.com/products/garrett-ace-400/
- https://detectorpower.com/products/garrett-ace-400-metal-detector-with-8-5×11-waterproof-search-coil
- https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=JiwV3-zCSJY
