Using gold detectors effectively requires understanding the equipment, the environment, and proper techniques. Here's a step-by-step guide:

1. Understand Your Gold Detector
Read the Manual: Start by thoroughly reading the instruction manual. Each model has specific features, settings, and operational guidelines.
Familiarize with Controls: Learn the functions of different controls and settings, such as sensitivity, discrimination, ground balance, and pinpointing.

2. Select the Right Location
Research Gold-Bearing Areas: Use maps, historical records, and local knowledge to identify areas where gold has been found before, such as old mining sites, riverbanks, or gold-rich geological formations.
Check for Permits: Ensure you have the necessary permits or permissions to prospect in the area.

3. Prepare Your Equipment
Assemble the Detector: Follow the instructions to assemble your detector. Ensure all components are securely attached.
Adjust Sensitivity: Set the sensitivity level. Higher sensitivity detects smaller gold pieces but may also pick up more interference. Adjust based on the ground conditions.
Ground Balance: Set the ground balance to neutralize the mineralization in the soil. This helps in reducing false signals.

4. Begin Detecting
Swing the Detector: Hold the detector at a comfortable angle, with the coil close to the ground (1-2 inches above). Swing it in a slow, overlapping motion, maintaining a consistent speed.
Listen for Signals: Pay attention to the audio signals. A strong, consistent signal usually indicates a metal target. Gold often produces a distinct sound compared to other metals.
Use Discrimination: Adjust the discrimination setting to filter out unwanted metals like iron or aluminium, focusing on detecting gold.

5. Pinpointing and Digging
Pinpoint the Target: Once a signal is detected, use the detector's pinpointing feature to narrow down the exact location of the target.
Mark the Spot: Use a marker or flag to mark the area before digging.
Dig Carefully: Use a digging tool to excavate the target, starting with a small hole. Re-scan the hole and the excavated material to locate the gold.

6. Check and Clean
Re-scan the Area: After retrieving the target, re-scan the hole and surrounding area to ensure there are no more signals.
Clean the Gold: If you find gold, clean it carefully to remove dirt and debris.

7. Practice Patience and Persistence
Practice Regularly: The more you use your detector, the better you'll become at identifying signals and adjusting settings.
Be Patient: Gold detecting can be time-consuming, and success often requires persistence and thoroughness.

8. Maintenance
Clean the Detector: After use, clean the coil and control box with a damp cloth. Avoid getting the control box wet unless it’s waterproof.
Check Batteries: Ensure the batteries are charged or replace them if necessary.

Tips:
Noise: Be mindful of nearby power lines, cell towers, or other sources of electromagnetic interference, which can cause false signals.
Soil Types: Gold is often found in areas with specific types of soil, such as black sand or clay-rich environments.
Weather: Avoid using the detector in extreme weather conditions, as it can affect the device's performance and comfort.

With practice and patience, you can become skilled at using a gold detector to find valuable nuggets.