Testing The Sun Ray CS-1 Probe

by Bill Ladd

(Reprinted with permission from Western & Eastern Treasures magazine November 2006 issue)

Author Bill Ladd looks on as Steve Henderson, 6, shows how simple the Sun Ray CS-1 probe is to operate on the new Fisher ID-Edge.

    By now, most treasure hunters in the hobby are probably aware of the wide range of accessories offered by Sun Ray Detector Electronics. Their many varieties of coils have been well received, but Sun Ray is perhaps even more famous for their "onboard probes" which work with the actual electronics of several top brands of metal detectors.

    I have tested Sun Ray probes and coils for two series of Fisher detectors, the CZ line and the ID Excel. However, fans of Fisher's top-of-the-line Coin$trike and newest entrant, the ID-Edge, began asking for accessories, too. Once the Sun Ray Invader CS-5 small coil was announced, it seemed natural for a probe to follow. So, the Sun Ray Invader CS-1 probe was born.

    It's important to note that the new CS-1 does far more than just function as a probe for Fisher's C$ (CoinStrike). This probe also works on the new ID-Edge as well, but that's just the beginning of the good news. In the past, Fisher owners had to purchase separate coils and probes for each individual unit. For example, I could never use my 10.5" Fisher Coin$trike coil on any of my other Fisher detectors. The new innovative Invader CS-1 solves this issue nicely. With the probe attached to an ID-Edge or C$, coils for both machines are now interchangeable! Even the adaptor plug for the Edge, which comes standard with the new Sun Ray CS-5 coil, is no longer necessary. So, basically, if you purchase the CS-1 probe, all your coils for both units will work, as the switchbox now makes that electronically possible. I feel that feature alone is super-beneficial, as I can now use my 10.5" C$ coil on my ID-Edge rather than have to buy, or carry, a separate 10.5" Edge coil. In fact, I did just that through much of my testing, with fine results.

    As mentioned in past test reports, some of the "pocket probes" I've owned seemed more trouble than they were worth. I always broke, lost, or left them on to drain the batteries. The Sun Ray probes are different. They are rugged, waterproof, and attached to the rod to function with the detector itself. Think of it as having a 1" searchcoil on hand - and yes, that includes discrimination capability, too. Though the probe may appear heavy, it's really lightweight and clamps under the arm cup to retain proper balance (much like units that place batteries under the arm).

    Like the Sun Ray ID-Excel FE-1 probe, the CS-1 keeps accurate number and 4-tone ID available to the user, right through the headphones! Again, it works like a coil, and having tone ID and discrimination was very helpful in iron-loaded foundation sites where goodies often lie in the same hole with iron square nails. Unlike pocket probes, the CS-1 delivered about 3" depth... no more raking through dug soil, hoping to come in direct contact with the metal object. Also, like the Excel probe, the CS-1 announces the "overload" signal while switching from "Coil" to "Probe." This prevents leaving the probe on when you're ready to hunt again. A separate switch on top of the small switchbox is the unit selector. Switch forward for the Coin$trike, and back toward you for the ID Edge. It's quite simple. Owners of both of the ID-Edge and C$ will find that a few extra strips of velcro for the clamps are all you'll need for swapping the probe back and forth, as I did during the field test.

    I was fortunate to have used prototypes of both the new CS-5 small coil and the Invader CS-1 probe at the same time for a couple of months, in many different applications. The CS-1 probe proved its worth at multiple sites - fresh plowed fields, woods, beaches, and cellar holes to name a few. I hunted two farm fields that were freshly plowed. In one instance, we actually followed the farmer while he plowed! Talk about fluffy dry soil. When I hunt rough, plowed fields like this, often I don't even need a shovel and can just use my foot, it's so powdery.

    Testing the CS-1 probe, I left the shovel behind and just stuck the probe into the loose soil to locate the object quickly and easily. This worked for jewelry hunting on a dry sand beach as well, with the proper ID number registering every time. The Sun Ray probe for the ID-Excel had some slight number differences on occasion, but extensive testing with many soil combinations showed the new Invader CS-1 was right on the money number wise.

A tiny Colonial dice hand carved from a musket ball and a rare 1830's Revenue Cutter ship button retrieved while testing the new Sun Ray Invader CS-1 Target Probe.

    I consider myself mainly a relic hunter, which means that I have to contend with conditions like deep leaves in the woods and mud in the fields, and tiny targets like buckshot, bits of lead, cuff buttons, etc. Often we use powerful all-metal modes, and the Sun Ray probes help find those tiny objects quickly. No more cursing the BB hiding under the leaves at a wooded cellar hole, or a drop of camp lead in a muddy field. No more picking up several handfuls of dark soil to run under the coil, as even the most experienced pinpointers have to do. The CS-1 probe helped me locate some special small-sized keepers in the plowed fields, my favorite of which is a tiny Colonial dice hand carved from a musket ball. Colonial cuff buttons, Indian Head cents, and a cut copper were other notable targets that the CS-1 sniffed out of the dry, powdery earth.

    When digging plugs, I also found the probe very useful with targets either in the clump, at the bottom of the hole, or in the side wall. I didn't switch to probe every time, but it was always at the ready, right under my arm cup, whenever the need arose. Often I forgot it was even there. Just having it available to operate multiple coils was a big benefit in itself. I allowed Steven, a 6-year-old treasure hunter, to try it out, and he grasped the concept quickly. He had a ball pinpointing various items, both trash and treasure, with the CS-1 on an ID-Edge, and found a 1929 Wheat cent as the photos for this article were being taken. This shows it's quite simple to operate, innovative, and a fun treasure tool for all ages. I enjoyed my time using the CS-1 on both the C$ and ID-Edge, and it will remain attached to one of those units during future treasure searches.

    For further details on the CS-1 probe and other detector hobby accessories offered by Sun Ray, be sure to visit their website at www.sunraydetector.com. Also, feel free to contact Ralph at Sun Ray at (319) 636-2244.